Chapter 3

Lexi's friend got the hint and immediately held up her phone, going live on social media and shoving the camera right in my face.

Riding on the massive popularity of last night's party, the live feed was instantly flooded with fans obsessed with them as a couple.

Lexi, who was arrogant just a second ago, instantly teared up the moment she faced the camera. She looked so delicate, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

"Haley, I know Nate just fired you and you're feeling bitter. If anyone here can help you, we definitely will."

"But bringing a fake deed covered in alcohol to steal my venue is just too much. Who in our circle doesn't know Nate bought this place for me?"

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she squeezed out two fake tears, acting like she was the victim.

I reached out to grab the phone, but just as my fingers touched the edge, someone shoved my shoulder hard from behind.

My back crashed into the armrest of a lounge chair, and a sharp pain shot up my spine.

The comments on the live feed instantly flooded the screen.

Someone even posted a blurry photo of me wearing a wedding dress outside the victory party last night.

[Wow, this is the fired agent? She looks scary.]

[That's the crazy woman who waited outside the party in a wedding dress last night, right? She failed to force a proposal so she came to crash the party.]

[Let's go, guys! Let's head to the pool and stop this woman from bullying our Lexi!]

The screen full of insults pierced my eyes. I clutched the hem of my skirt, my chest tightening.

Seeing me clutching my back in silence, Lexi deliberately pushed the camera closer to me.

I stared at this arrogant idiot. The pain in my back made me wince, and for a moment, I didn't have the strength to speak.

I didn't know what it was about me that triggered yet another round of cyberbullying.

At this moment, my lawyer finally broke free from the bodyguards, squeezed through the crowd, pulled tax records from his briefcase, and held them high toward the cameras.

"Everyone, I have tax records here that prove this venue belongs to my client, Haley..."

Before he could finish, a commotion came from the entrance.

Someone yelled, "Nate is here!"

A sliver of hope rose in my heart, thinking the truth would finally come to light.

But Lexi acted like she was crazy. She suddenly grabbed my wrist.

She used her momentum to drag me down with her, straight into the deep end of the pool.

I had no time to react. We both crashed into the water. The splash soaked the lens of her phone.

Freezing cold pool water instantly flooded my mouth and nose.

I struggled desperately in the water, looking up and reaching out toward Nate on the edge.

The moment I saw him jump in and swim over, a part of my heart actually softened.

But the next second, he reached out and grabbed Lexi beside me.

He supported her to the surface, carefully carried her out, and wrapped her in a large towel.

It wasn't until that moment that the last bit of warmth in my heart completely died.

When security finally pulled me out, what awaited me wasn't concern. Instead, Lexi's friends surrounded me, holding up their phones and hurling insults.

I slumped on the cold tiles, my tears falling uncontrollably.

I had told myself I didn't love him anymore, but right now, my heart still ached.

He knew his precious teammate was a strong swimmer since childhood, and he definitely knew I was terrified of water.

"Why don't you look in the mirror? You think you can steal Lexi's man looking like that? Keep dreaming!"

"Exactly. A washed-up agent trying to ruin someone else's relationship. Disgusting."

Someone reached out and tried to shove me back into the pool.

Hearing the commotion, Lexi lifted her head from Nate's chest, tears streaming down her face.

"Nate, it was her. She crashed my party and pushed me in. If you had come any later, I don't even know what would have happened..."