Chapter 3

The woman's hands clutched tightly around the man's neck.

Ethan was covered in sweat but held the woman's waist tightly, pressing her closer to himself.

With a powerful thrust, the woman let out a muffled moan.

"Baby, why are you being so rough?"

"What if someone hears us?"

Ethan laughed softly.

"You little temptress. Even on duty you can't help seducing people."

"You sent me those photos this afternoon—wasn't that you tempting me with your uniform?"

"I've been waiting since this afternoon. How can you not handle it already?"

"Besides, so what if someone hears? Your dad owns this hospital. Who would dare say anything?"

The man thrust forward again mischievously, earning a bashful laugh from the woman.

My heart sank. I realized his rushing over tonight wasn't for me at all.

I recalled the information Mia sent this afternoon. Sophia Summers—a nurse at this very hospital.

So he pretended to be worried about me, but what he was really thinking about was another woman's uniform seduction.

How laughable.

My heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar, so cold I couldn't breathe.

I tremblingly took out my phone and captured the image of the two people entangled before me.

Then I silently returned to the hospital room. Just as I lay down, a message popped up on my phone.

"See? He loves me. All I have to do is crook my finger and he comes running back to me."

"You filthy bitch, he doesn't love you anymore. If you weren't still somewhat useful, he would've dumped you long ago."

"I'm warning you—get lost while you still can. Don't humiliate yourself."

It was Sophia Summers.

She'd seen me.

She'd deliberately called Ethan over.

I coldly looked at the compromising photos she sent, one after another, then downloaded and saved them.

Since the enemy was foolish enough to provide evidence herself, I would gladly accept it.

When I woke up the next morning, the space beside me was still empty.

A message from Ethan lay on my phone.

"Charlotte, something urgent came up at the company. I'm going to handle it. Discharge yourself."

"Be good. I'll bring you a present tonight."

Though I'd expected it, my heart still couldn't help but ache.

I packed up my things alone and prepared to handle the discharge, but at a corridor corner I ran head-on into the man who'd just said he was busy handling company business.

Ethan was coaxing a pouting Sophia Summers with a grin.

"Sweetheart, I lined up early this morning to buy these macarons. Just try one bite."

My brow twitched slightly. I used to love these macarons, but Ethan always said waiting in line was a waste of time.

So he didn't mind wasting time—he just minded wasting time on me.

The woman huffed and threw a tantrum.

"Who knows if you bought them for me or for that bitch? If I hadn't found out, you were even going to buy her a present!"

The man coaxed her gently.

"Of course they're for you. I already told you, I'm just using her. With the company about to go public, once the project succeeds, I'll break up with her immediately."

"The present I was going to give her was just a freebie from when I bought your necklace. You're even jealous of that?"

I couldn't take it anymore and threw my bag at him.

"Ethan, this is what you call playing along?"

The man looked up and met my eyes, a flash of panic in them.

Sophia Summers beside him furrowed her brow and pushed me hard with disgust on her face.

"Why haven't you left yet, you bitch? Still haunting us like a ghost. Who gave you the nerve to hit someone?"

I barely steadied myself and was about to slap her across the face when Ethan reached out and blocked me. The scar on the back of his hand was particularly clear.

That was from when we'd just started our business and landed a big project, then got targeted by competitors for revenge.

He'd blocked a bottle someone smashed at me with his bare hand, leaving that scar.

And now he was using that same hand to block my retaliation against someone else.

Ethan grabbed my hand, impatience on his face.

"Charlotte, that's enough. You're going too far."

"Go home first. Don't make a scene here. We'll talk about it slowly when we get back."

People gradually gathered around, pointing and whispering at us.

"Look at that guy—this woman's probably a mistress coming to demand money."

"These days mistresses are so brazen. What is the world coming to?"

I was about to retort when Sophia Summers in front of me pulled out a booklet and threw it at my head.

"She is a mistress. Already divorced my boyfriend, but still won't let go."

I looked at the divorce certificate on the ground, my expression freezing.