Chapter 1
My husband asked me to go to the office ten minutes early to make coffee for his secretary When I refused, he completely lost it.
“Sophia loves her morning coffee. Is it really that hard for you to spend ten minutes making it for
her?”
I shook my head, and he stormed out, slamming the door after throwing down a pile of
documents.
“Fine, Lily Evans, you’re fired! Don’t come back tomorrow!”
As I looked at the papers scattered across the floor, I felt utterly disappointed in Ethan Cole.
Without hesitation, I dialed an international number: “I’m willing to accept your offer. I’ll start next week.”
The moment I hung up, Sophia Moore walked right into my office without even knocking, moving about as if she owned the place.
“Lily, who were you talking to? It sounded like a man’s voice.”
Her insinuations sparked curiosity from those outside the door, and soon everyone was craning their necks to catch the gossip.
‘Mr. Cole just stormed out angry. Don’t tell me you’re sneaking around with another man behind his back!”
I looked her straight in the eye. “Who taught you to speak like that? Spreading sexual rumors comes with legal consequences!”
Sophia scoffed. “Please. I’m just stating facts. Even if Mr. Cole walked back in right now, I’d say the same thing.”
I glared at her and turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm. Leaning closer, she lowered her voice into a threat.
‘Lily Evans, you’d better step away from Ethan. I’m the one he wants now.”
‘If you know what’s good for you, divorce him and get out of this company. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what comes next.”
I couldn’t believe how far a mere secretary thought she could go.
Just as I was about to shake her off, she suddenly flung herself to the ground.
“Ethan, you’re finally back!”
I turned toward the doorway and saw Ethan Cole storming in, fury in his eyes.
Without a word, his hand cracked across my face.
I stumbled back, hitting the edge of the coffee table, pain spreading instantly across my temple.
“Lily Evans, what are you doing?!”
Before I could speak, Sophia burst into tears, playing her part.
“Mr. Cole, Lily told me to pick up the papers on the floor. I was a little slow, so she shoved me down! My ankle feels twisted-it hurts so much!”
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Her pitiful act tugged at Ethan’s heartstrings. He knelt beside her, worried and tender, completely ignoring the blood on my forehead and the red marks across my cheek.
“Where does it hurt? I’ll call a doctor for you right now.”
“I’ll have them prescribe the best medicine-you’ll recover quickly, I promise.”
Sophia leaned into his arms, but her eyes flicked toward me with a smug smile.
“No need, Mr. Cole… It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset Lily. She’s just in a bad mood lately Once she vents, she’ll be fine. I’m okay.”
“She’s in a bad mood, so she gets to shove people?” Ethan snapped, his eyes sharp as ice.
“When did you become so vicious, Lily Evans?”
Wicious? My fingers brushed the warm blood on my temple. Three years of marriage-managing his company’s affairs, caring for his sick mother, even pawning my inheritance jewelry during his Failed startup-and in his eyes, I was nothing but a cruel woman.
“I didn’t push her.”
forced my voice steady, though the pain had already numbed me.
“There are security cameras outside this office. Check the footage and you’ll know.”
Sophia’s face went pale. She clung tighter to Ethan’s sleeve.
“Mr. Cole, I forgive Lily. Let’s just forget about today, okay?”
