Chapter 3

I used to think it was that girl who spoke up for Aria, but there was no reason for her to be interested in me so soon.

Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Just as I was lost in thought, my manager showed up.

"I've gotten five calls and three emails today, all about you. People are asking to work with someone else. I need you to sort out your own mess and not let it affect your job," he said.

"I'll take care of it as soon as I can," I replied.

He said, "I'll give you some time off. Just focus on your personal matters for now. Come back once you've got everything sorted," he said.

"But, I..." I tried to explain.

He just waved me away, not wanting to listen, so I had no choice but to leave.

I dragged myself home, weighed down by worry. I didn't want to lose this job. I had to sort this out, fast.

But I still couldn't figure out how things had spiraled out of control like this, or who was pulling the strings behind that account.

William was just an average guy. He was quiet, genuine, and down-to-earth. I was willing to interact with him more because of that. I thought he wasn't someone who would lie.

How did things escalate to him wanting a divorce? And confessing to me publicly in the company group chat? Was he really mad for love?

I couldn't make sense of it, so I decided to stop overthinking. But I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I had to take action.

*****

A week later, with just three days left before the shoot, I made a strong comeback to the office, clutching a letter of intent from Xenith.

"Whoa, you actually scored Xenith's first partnership with a local company?" Lexie exclaimed.

"Let's see who dares to badmouth you now." Lexie was practically bouncing with excitement as she spoke.

Xenith was a world-famous luxury label, and the fact that they picked us for their first-ever partnership in the country was huge. It put our products on the international map. The manager was all smiles, totally forgetting he'd benched me just days ago.

That night, he even set up a victory dinner for me.

At the party, everyone was having a blast. Nobody cared about the drama anymore. At this company, results spoke louder than anything else.

As the party was wrapping up and the manager had already left, someone finally snapped.

The girl who always stood up for Aria stormed over, phone in hand, and slapped me.

"You're out here showing off at this celebration, but you pushed Aria to jump off the roof! Do you even have a heart?" she yelled.

On her phone, I saw Aria standing on the hospital rooftop, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I don't want a divorce," Aria said, her voice shaking.

She continued, "Sophia, you're gorgeous, everyone's into you. Why do you have to steal William from me?"

"He's just a regular guy. He's got nothing to offer you, no money, no connections. Can't you just leave him alone?"

I caught sight of the camera tucked into the flower basket on the table, and without missing a beat, I slapped that girl right back.

"If she wants to jump, that's her business. What does it have to do with me? Or with you?" I snapped.

Then I turned to her phone and sneered. "And you. Guess what? I am good-looking, and plenty of people like me. Does that make you jealous or something?"

My cocky words were like poking a hornet's nest, instantly riling up everyone in the room.

"Shameless! How can she say that so righteously?"

"She's basically pushing the wife over the edge!"

In the video, Aria's eyes widened in shock. She probably thought I was insane to say such things in front of everyone.

But then, a grin spread across her face. Insane or not, this only benefited her.

With that thought, she put on a humiliated expression, tears trembling on her lashes, her lips quivering. "Fine, if that's what you want, I'll just end it all right now, so you two can finally be together."

As she said it, she actually put one foot over the edge.

"Don't do anything crazy, Aria! They're not worth it!"

"If something happens to Aria, her blood's on your hands! Are you really still not going to give up on William?"

The colleague holding the phone was both trying to calm her and fuming with righteousness.

I glanced around and saw everyone staring at me like I was something filthy they'd just stepped in.

Even Lexie, the one who'd been closest to me lately, shot me a look of disapproval. "Sophia, just try to calm her down and let William go. If she really jumps, you'll be the one held responsible."

Aria was waiting, and so was everyone else. They were waiting for me to finally give up on William.

But I just shrugged and said, "You're standing on one foot. Aren't you tired yet? Careful. Don't actually slip and fall. If you do, that's on you, not me."

Aria just froze there, her foot half over the edge. She couldn't bring herself to pull back, but she couldn't go through with it either.

In the end, William burst onto the scene and grabbed Aria, pulling her away from the ledge. "Honey, I messed up! Please, don't jump!" he pleaded.

When William finally showed up, I couldn't help but grin. The star of tonight's show had finally made his grand entrance.

Otherwise, how could my revenge be truly satisfying?

The whole time I was stuck at home, I couldn't stop wondering how things got so messed up.