Chapter 3
The air felt frozen in that instant.
Andrew's face went from ashen to purple with rage right before everyone's eyes.
He locked his gaze on Sophia and James as they clung to each other, his eyes looking like they could spit fire.
A new boyfriend?
How dare she!
We just broke up a week ago and she's already moved on?
No way, that's impossible.
She must've hired some guy just to piss me off,
Yeah, that's definitely it,' Andrew reassured himself.
His ego wouldn't even let him consider any other possibility.
"Sophia, are you done with your drama?" Andrew's voice was tight with barely contained fury.
"Come back with me. I can act like none of this ever happened."
He even acted all magnanimous, as if Sophia just had to swallow her pride and he'd forgive everything.
Olivia, standing off to the side, looked pretty sour too.
She'd been expecting to see Sophia looking all down and out today, but instead, she walked in on this scene.
What made her even more jealous was that the guy with Sophia was just as good-looking as Andrew, maybe even outshining him in both looks and presence.
Olivia discreetly pinched Andrew's arm and coaxed him in a gentle voice, "Andrew, don't get upset. Sophia probably just lost her mind for a moment and is playing pretend with some actor she hired."
She deliberately stressed the word "actor," both to reinforce Andrew's suspicions and to humiliate Sophia.
Sophia was so exasperated by their twisted logic that she almost laughed.
Seriously? I've spelled it out for them, and they still think I'm faking it?' Sophia thought, shaking her head.
She leaned into James's arms and lazily lifted her eyelids.
"Mr. Campbell, can't you understand plain English? We're over," Sophia said, her tone flat but cutting.
"Who you're with is none of my business. And who I'm with is none of yours," she added, her words landing like a slap.
Her tone was calm, but every word cut deep, slashing right through Andrew's heart.
Andrew's chest rose and fell rapidly, his breath coming in sharp bursts.
He had never been defied by Sophia like this before.
She used to be gentle and obedient, always doing as he asked.
When did it all start to change?' Andrew thought, bewildered.
"Fine. Very good," Andrew let out a cold, furious laugh.
He jabbed a finger at James, his voice sharp. "So you're really going to cut all ties with me for some pretty boy?"
"What do you think he can offer you? Whatever it is, I can give you the same—or even more," Andrew sneered.
He still convinced himself that Sophia was just trying to get back at him, using another guy to boost her own worth.
James finally made a move.
He looked down at Sophia in his arms, his voice low and gentle. "Sophie, your ex really isn't all there, huh?"
His words weren't loud, but they cut through the room like a knife—everyone heard him.
Andrew's face instantly turned as dark as a thundercloud.
"What did you just say?" Andrew snapped, his voice sharp with rage.
But James didn't even spare him a glance. He just kept his eyes on Sophia, like she was the only person in the world who mattered.
"The jewelry here is way too ordinary for you. You deserve something much better. Let's go check out somewhere else," James said, his tone gentle but firm.
With that, he took Sophia's hand and started to walk away.
"Stop right there!" Andrew snapped.
He moved like lightning, stepping in front of them to block their way.
"Nobody's leaving until we talk this out!" he growled.
His eyes blazed with fury, like an enraged lion about to attack.
"Sophia, I'm giving you one last chance. Cut him off and come back to me. I'll overlook everything you did today," Andrew said, his voice dripping with arrogance.
He said it like it was nothing, as if it was just the way things were supposed to be.
Like letting Sophia return to him was some huge privilege she should be grateful for.
Sophia looked at him, and suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over her.
For the three years of her youth she'd lost, and for the man in front of her, so blinded by his own ego he couldn't see what was right in front of him.
"Andrew," she said softly, a hint of pity in her voice, "do you honestly still believe everything I've done is just to make you notice me?"
"Isn't that what you're doing?" Andrew retorted.
Sophia shook her head.
"You've got it all wrong," Sophia said, her voice steady.
"I throw money around—not to make you jealous, but because I've got the means," she said, cool and unapologetic.
"I found a new boyfriend, not to spite you, but because I just don't love you anymore," she added, her words sharp and final.
"And as for you..."
Sophia paused, her eyes flicking from him to Olivia, that sarcastic smile never leaving her face.
"You and your so-called true love? In my eyes, you're nothing at all," she said, her voice laced with scorn.
Every word hit Andrew like a ton of bricks, crushing his ego.
The wealth he flaunted, the charm he thought was unbeatable—Sophia's cool, effortless words made it all mean nothing.
Olivia's face went pale.
She never expected Sophia would dare to be this audacious.
"Sophia, how could you talk to Andrew like that? He loved you for three years..." Olivia said, trying to sound all concerned, but her tone was anything but sincere.
"Love?"
Sophia scoffed as if she had just heard the most ridiculous joke ever.
"Ms. Reed, tell me—if a man really loved you, would he toss you a card worth 1.5 million dollars and kick you out the second his first love showed up?" Sophia shot back, her sarcasm sharp as a knife.
Olivia was stunned into silence, completely lost for words.
Andrew's face looked like he'd swallowed a whole storm.
The black card he'd once called "compensation" or "a gift" was now nothing but a joke.
"Sophia!" he growled through clenched teeth.
"Don't say my name. Just hearing you say it makes my skin crawl," Sophia shot back, her voice icy.
With that, she didn't spare him another glance. She grabbed James's hand, walked right past him, and headed straight out of the store.
This time, Andrew didn't try to stop her.
He just stood there, frozen, like his blood had turned to ice.
All around him, people were staring, their eyes like needles pricking at his skin.
Mockery, contempt, and the thrill of watching a train wreck—all of it was written all over their faces.
Andrew, the golden boy, had never been humiliated like this before.
Sophia—this is all her fault!' Andrew raged, his thoughts spinning out of control.
'That woman! She's the reason for all of this!' he cursed, fury twisting inside him.
A flood of hatred and bitter resentment surged in his chest, threatening to explode.
He wasn't about to let this slide.
He'd make sure Sophia learned exactly what happens to someone who betrays him.
He was going to make her pay—she'd suffer so much for what she did today, she'd wish she'd never crossed him.
He'd have her on her knees, sobbing, begging to come back to him.