Chapter 3

The line went dead.

Chloe thought Adrian's panic was concern for her. She lifted her chin at me, looking smug.

"You hear that?"

"Adrian doesn't take you seriously at all."

"The second he gets here, I'm going to make you get down on your knees and apologize to me."

I balled up the napkin and tossed it in the trash.

"Sure."

"I was starting to worry he wouldn't have the guts to show up."

The whispers around us picked up.

The customers who didn't recognize Chloe started murmuring.

"That woman doesn't seem nervous at all. Something feels off here."

"Wait. What if the assistant is the actual homewrecker?"

That set Chloe off.

She whipped around, half her face flushed red.

"My boyfriend proposed to me. You think that's fake?"

She sneered and scanned the room.

"You all think I'm making this up?"

"Fine. I'll call Adrian's mother right now."

"When she gets here, all of you can apologize alongside this shameless woman."

She pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Mrs. Cole, are you nearby?"

"There's a shameless woman here trying to force a date on Adrian. I've had enough."

"Can you come down here?"

Whatever the other end said, I couldn't be bothered to listen.

I just glanced at the iMessages Adrian had sent me.

【Vivienne! My car's been immobilized! They said you gave the order! Tell them to release it now!】

【And what the hell happened to my cards?! They're all suspended! I can't even get a ride!】

I laughed.

I texted back.

【Adrian, you can't even catch a ride without me. Where do you get the nerve to keep a homewrecker?】

【You have thirty minutes. Walk here.】

Then a shadow fell across me.

My phone was snatched from my hand and slammed to the floor with a sharp crack.

Chloe stood in front of me, gloating.

"Scared now? Trying to call for backup?"

"I'm telling you. Too late."

She stomped down on my screen.

"It doesn't matter who you text now."

Just then, the café door opened.

A well-dressed woman walked in.

"Chloe, what's going on?"

"Who dares to harass you on Adrian's turf?"

The crowd stirred immediately.

"Isn't that Mr. Cole's mother? I've seen her before. That's definitely her."

"Wow, even Mr. Cole's mother came down. Looks like Ms. Ramsey and Mr. Cole are the real deal..."

"Can't wait to see how that woman gets herself out of this. Ha."

I turned toward the voice, and the next second I almost laughed out loud.

Of course it was her.

Our housekeeper. Martha Bennett.

The moment Chloe saw her, she rushed over, her voice cracking into a sob.

"Mrs. Cole, that woman has been horrible!"

"She refuses to leave, and she said even if you came, she wouldn't be scared!"

Martha frowned and took a deep breath.

"Unbelievable. Doesn't she know this entire building belongs to Adrian?"

"How dare she treat..."

Her head turned. The moment she saw me, her whole body flinched backward.

"Ms... how are you..."

Chloe didn't notice. She shook Martha's arm as if it were obvious.

"Mrs. Cole, Adrian gave this café to me right in front of you."

"She's the one trying to break us up. What right does she have to be here?"

"I say we blacklist her right now. Ban her from ever coming back."

"Don't you agree, Mrs. Cole?"

Martha's eyes darted elsewhere. She couldn't meet mine, and she took half a step back.

"What are you saying?"

"A café is a public place. Anyone can walk in."

She paused, her eyes landing on me before darting away again.

"You, on the other hand. Aren't you going to apologize to Ms. Ashford?"