Chapter 4

Nate dried her hair, pulling the towel tighter around her.

"You're such a baby. There are cameras everywhere. Look at you, soaking wet in front of everyone."

Wrapped in a towel someone had handed me, I gripped it so tight my knuckles turned white. Watching the gentle way he looked at Lexi through the crowd, my throat grew tight.

Lexi tugged his sleeve affectionately and muttered, "Stop it. It's your fault for spoiling me on the team."

The two of them flirted right there in public. She was being playful, and he was laughing.

Watching this unfold, I felt so suffocated I could barely breathe.

In the past, I probably would have rushed up, grabbed Lexi, and demanded an explanation.

But now, every extra second here felt like torture. I didn't want to ask anything anymore.

"Nate, you have to stand up for me. She keeps saying the training center you gave me is hers. How can I let her get away with that?"

Following Lexi's gaze, Nate finally got a clear look at me, drenched and pale.

The moment our eyes met, panic flickered in his eyes, but he quickly forced a self-righteous look on his face.

"What? Did you finally figure it out? Do you regret it? Is that why you came?"

Seeing Nate's attitude, Lexi's friends immediately chimed in to suck up to him.

"Nate, isn't this your ex-agent? She really went crazy after you fired her."

His lips parted, but he didn't say anything.

The onlookers caught on, and their laughter grew even louder.

"I told you! Just a washed-up agent trying to get some attention!"

"Lexi even sent out invitations in the group chat, saying Nate is throwing her a massive birthday party on a private yacht next month! This crazy woman is definitely just jealous, so she came to crash it!"

Hearing this, I stared dead at Nate, tears welling in my eyes.

No wonder he wouldn't let me go to the victory party. No wonder he had the nerve to ask to borrow my private yacht.

It turned out he wanted to bring Lexi along and use my boat to play the generous host, throwing a massive birthday party.

Nate had calculated it so perfectly. Mooching off my money to pay his bills, and using my boat for free to win her over.

A chill shot up my spine. I had never felt so ridiculous.

Noticing my expression, Nate quickly leaned in and lowered his voice.

"Haley, it's not what it looks like. Go home. I'll explain everything later."

Seeing me just stare coldly at him without moving a muscle, Nate took a deep breath and added quickly,

"I went and bought you that necklace you liked. Go home. Don't make a scene. Just go home, and we'll talk."

"Don't forget your place. Are you really going to ignore me?"

His threat only added fuel to the crowd's mockery, and their jeers grew louder.

I clenched my fists, letting the pain wash over me.

I laughed coldly. "My place? Nate, why don't you say it out loud in front of everyone? What exactly have I been to you for the past ten years?"

The room instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to Nate.

Under their gossiping gazes, Nate's face turned pale. He avoided my eyes, rubbing the back of his neck and stammering.

Just as he was about to speak, Lexi suddenly stepped forward and shielded him.

With a crisp slap, a burning pain spread across my cheek.

I stared with bloodshot eyes at Nate, who was hiding behind Lexi, not daring to make a sound. My heart went completely cold.

I raised my hand, ready to slap her back.

A man in a sharp suit with a commanding presence strode over, pushed through the crowd, and stood protectively beside me.

"Miss Haley, since you have officially sold this facility to my company, the job of taking out the trash belongs to me. Please, don't dirty your hands."

The man turned around, shielding me behind him. His cold gaze swept the room. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense weight. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Julian, CEO of Cross Group."

He paused. "And Haley's fiancé, chosen by the Astor family."

"Today, I'm here to bring the sole heiress of the Astor family home."