Chapter 2

Ethan stood up, pressed his lips together, and his expression grew complex.

"I've wronged you. For the projects we've collaborated on before, I'll give you 20% of the profits. If you need my help in the future, just ask."

"I only have one request—you're very important to Sophia. She doesn't want to lose you as a friend."

I looked up at him as if I'd heard the biggest joke in the world.

Even my tears came out from laughing.

Three months ago, I had used this very reason to ask him to take care of my best friend.

Three months later, I had become the one being asked.

I heard my voice trembling slightly.

"Ethan, don't you two think you've gone too far?"

"What makes you think I, Charlotte, deserve to be trampled on by you? I'll expose everything you've done to the public. If you dare do it, you should dare own it."

Ethan took a step back and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Charlotte, don't throw a tantrum. You built everything from nothing and got to where you are today through hard work. Don't destroy yourself over a momentary impulse."

His voice carried a hint of warning, making me shiver.

Ethan looked down at me from above, completely adopting the posture of someone in power.

People often said Ethan was cold and ruthless.

I never agreed.

But now I suddenly realized the rumors were true.

He had simply given his tenderness to me before, and now he'd given it to someone else.

"I'm going back. Without me, she won't sleep well at night."

"I'll take her away tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience tonight."

The door closed, and I finally collapsed onto the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably.

Outside the window was the bustling city landscape.

I had rushed home after a long journey, only to be placed in this cold hotel.

A few hundred meters away, the two most important people in my life

were being intimate in my home, in my bed.

How ironic.

The next day, I covered my swollen eyes with sunglasses

and parked my car outside a dessert shop.

Sophia wore her work uniform. When she saw me, her eyes lit up at first, then she lowered her head dejectedly.

She brought me coffee and sat down across from me.

Her smile was forced as she spoke carefully.

"Charlotte, I know you're angry with me. I'm sorry. I know you've been good to me. All these years, thanks to you..."

"Look, I'm working now. Everything I owe you, I'll definitely pay back..."

I couldn't help but sneer as I looked at her.

She was just a baker, yet she wore jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Pay me back? With your current job?"

Sophia froze.

She had gotten married right after graduation and became a housewife.

Her former husband had treated her decently, indulging her every whim.

Combined with my unconditional support, Sophia's life had been smooth sailing.

Until six months ago, when her husband cheated with his secretary.

Within two months, he had divided their assets and kicked her out.

If I hadn't arrived in time, she might have starved on the streets.

She wanted to start a new life, but years of being disconnected from society made it hard for her to handle ordinary jobs.

Fortunately, as a housewife she had enjoyed studying baking, so she applied to be a baker at this dessert shop.

I said nothing, just gestured with my hand.

The shop manager walked over respectfully and stood before me.

"Ms. Smith, you're here."

Sophia's face went white, her eyes widening.

I removed my sunglasses and spoke coolly.

"After your divorce, you had a breakdown until you said you wanted to work and start a new life."

"Sophia, you're not stupid. Why didn't you wonder why you kept getting rejected everywhere, but then this dessert shop just happened to hire you—a baker with zero work experience?"

"I gave you everything I had. Is this how you repay me?"

Sophia's eyelashes trembled as tears fell. Her voice shook badly.

"I didn't know... I didn't know..."

She suddenly grabbed my hand.

"But he's good to me. He loves me. Charlotte, you're so capable—you'll be fine without anyone. But I can't."

"You said before that you'd share everything you have with me. I don't want anything else anymore. I just want him, okay?"

I looked at her quietly. We'd known each other since we were three—twenty-five years of friendship.

In this moment, it became unrecognizable.

"Since childhood, I've given you whatever you wanted."

"But Sophia, taking without asking—that's stealing."