Chapter 2

I picked up the coffee that had just been brought to my table and took a sip.

Chloe stared at me for a full two seconds, her face burning red.

"Cheap? This is a diamond from Sotheby's. One point five million."

"Adrian fought a bidding war down to the last second to get this ring. You're just eaten up with jealousy."

One point five million?

I glanced at it.

That was clearly a Tiffany display piece. Priced under eighty thousand.

But whatever.

Whatever the price was, I'd square every last dollar of it with him.

Chloe suddenly turned her head and pointed at the staff behind the counter.

"Are you all blind? How dare you make her a coffee in my store?"

"Who made this cup? Get out. Don't bother coming in tomorrow."

A girl with a ponytail hurried over, trembling, and reached for my cup.

"I'm... I'm sorry, ma'am. We're not allowed to serve you..."

I placed my hand on the cup and frowned.

"Whether this store belongs to her isn't up to her."

"Don't be scared. She can't fire you."

The girl looked up, her eyes full of confusion.

I didn't explain.

The property deed for this café had my name, Vivienne Ashford, written on it in plain black and white. How could Adrian have possibly given it to Chloe without my approval?

Not to mention, every operating cost, every paycheck came out of my account.

By any reasonable measure, I was the employer.

What right did she have to fire my people?

"You!"

Chloe was trembling with rage.

"What are you trying to say?"

Then her eyes went wide, and she pointed at me like she'd just cracked the case.

"I get it now."

"You've been chasing Adrian because you wanted this café."

"You? You think you can replace me as the owner's wife? Are you out of your mind?"

I didn't answer her. I set the cup back down and picked up my phone.

My assistant had just sent me a message on iMessage.

【Ms. Ashford, all assets and authorized cards under Mr. Cole's name have been frozen.】

"What are you doing?"

Seeing me ignore her, Chloe leaned in.

"I'm talking to you."

The next second, my hand was empty.

She'd snatched the coffee from my hand and thrown it in my face, drenching half of me.

I hadn't seen it coming. I shot to my feet.

"What is wrong with you?"

Chloe stepped back, looking pleased with herself as she slowly lowered her hand.

"In my store, no one would say a word to me even if I threw acid on you. Coffee is nothing."

"This is what happens when you don't take me seriously."

The live comments were scrolling faster than before. I didn't read a single one.

But the whispers around me came through, sharp and cutting.

"Wow, the nerve on her. She's actually planning to wait until Mr. Cole gets off work?"

"I'm dying. The date didn't even happen and she's already trying to take his store?"

"Ms. Ramsey really is a boss. For a gold digger who won't take a hint, a splash of coffee is getting off easy."

"Ms. Ramsey should just call him. Let her see for herself who Mr. Cole has in his heart."

That last one lit Chloe up.

She glanced down at the phone streaming the live and shoved it into the hands of the woman next to her.

Then she pulled out another phone and dialed with sharp jabs.

"Since you don't know when to quit, let everyone watch Adrian reject you to your face."

"Let's see what kind of nobody you really are."

The call connected. Adrian's voice came through.

"Baby, I'm in a meeting. What's going on?"

I was dabbing at the coffee on my face with a napkin. My hand paused.

That voice. I'd listened to it for five years. There was no mistaking it.

I suddenly remembered our wedding day, when he'd held me and sobbed, promising he would never hurt me.

But now, behind my back, he'd been with Chloe for a full three years.

The moment Chloe heard his voice, her tone pitched up into a whimper.

"That woman! Your... your date!"

"She really is waiting at the café for you!"

"If I hadn't come by today, she would've latched onto you again!"

"Adrian, please come..."

The other end of the line went silent for a long moment. Then Adrian's voice came through, panicked.

"Chloe! Didn't I tell you to leave her alone? Why did you go..."

"Just... just stay right there. Don't move. I'm coming down."