Chapter 4

Jacob’s mind games were becoming increasingly blatant. To speed up the process of breaking my heart, he began stepping on my boundaries at every single turn.

I was running a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, shivering all by myself in my rented apartment. I called him, and the call rang six times before he finally picked up.

“Jacob, I have a high fever. Can you please take me to the hospital?”

My voice sounded incredibly weak. Half of it was from being genuinely sick, and the other half was just me playing along with the script.

The background on his end was loud, and Ruby’s laughter came through the speaker as clear as day.

“Just take some painkillers. You’re a grown-up. How are you still so needy?” Jacob said impatiently. “Ruby is moving into her new place today, and I can’t leave. Figure it out yourself.”

With a click, he hung up on me.

I tossed the phone aside and poured myself a glass of water, my face expressionless.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Thinking it was the medicine I had ordered online, I pulled open the door, only to find myself stunned.

Louis was standing right outside. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, his tie was loosened, and his usually immaculate hair was a little messy. There were even beads of sweat on his forehead.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, completely caught off guard.

Without saying a word, he took a big step inside, slammed the door shut behind him, and immediately pressed his warm palm against my forehead.

“You’re burning up,” he said with his brow furrowed, his voice dropping to a terrifyingly low register. “Get your coat. We’re going to the hospital.”

I was carried and put into his car.

Once we arrived at the hospital, he handled everything, from getting the IV drip set up to picking up the prescription, with a stone-cold face. He didn’t say a word, but his movements were incredibly gentle.

The hospital room was dead quiet. I leaned back against the headboard of the bed, watching him clumsily blow on a spoonful of chicken soup to cool it down before bringing it to my lips.

“Do you usually do this for other people?” I couldn’t help but tease before taking a small sip.

Louis froze and then lowered his gaze, avoiding my eyes.

“Only for my fiancée.”

I let out a soft laugh and reached out to poke the back of his hand. It was just a simple gesture, but he recoiled instantly as if an electric shock had struck him.

The tips of his ears flushed red, and the blush quickly spread all the way down his neck.

“Stop moving around,” he muttered, his voice slightly raspy and betraying his panic.

Seeing him flustered, I secretly laughed to myself. My father really managed to pick an absolute gem for me this time.

Right then, my father called.

“I heard you’re sick, Nat,” he said, his voice filled with fatherly affection. “That broke kid can’t take care of you at all. Once you’ve had enough of playing around, come home. Next Friday is the Hill family’s gala. Attend it with Louis, and use the occasion to finalize the engagement.”

“Sure thing, Dad,” I replied obediently as I looked at Louis standing not too far away. “I’ll do whatever you think is best.”

After hanging up, I saw a notification showing that Hill Group’s shares had been officially transferred under my name.

Well, I hope my father would be able to keep that smile on his face next Friday.

Over the next few days, I continued to play the part of the miserable, heartbroken girlfriend suffering through his cold shoulder. Jacob’s attitude toward me had deteriorated to the point of unmasked disgust.

He no longer bothered to hide his intimacy with Ruby. He even went so far as to move her toiletries right into our shared bathroom.

“The pipes at Ruby’s place burst, so she’s staying here for a few days,” he offered, his explanation incredibly half-hearted. “Don’t start making a scene out of nothing.”

Looking at the matching toothbrushes lined up on the sink, I didn’t feel anything.

“Okay.”

Seeing my calm face, Jacob’s frown deepened. He thought my reaction was odd. According to his script, I was supposed to be crying and screaming. Then, he would use that as an excuse to break up with me and crush my spirit. However, what he didn’t know was that my tears had long since dried up.

On Thursday evening, Jacob unexpectedly approached me on his own initiative.

“There’s an investment gala tomorrow night, and your father will be there as well,” he said while looking down at me arrogantly. “You’re coming with me.”

I lifted my gaze to look at him. I knew that he was about to reel me in. This was the grand finale that my father had scripted for him: to dump me publicly in front of the entire elite social circle, humiliate me, force me to face reality, and make me crawl home to accept the arranged marriage.

“Sure,” I smiled softly. “I’ll dress up for it.”

Watching my smile, Jacob’s gaze seemed to waver for a second. However, he quickly forced a stern expression on his face again.

“Just don’t dress too cheaply. Don’t embarrass me.”

Embarrass him?

It remained to be seen exactly who would be embarrassed tomorrow night.

…

On Friday night, the Park Hyatt top-floor ballroom was filled with people dressed in haute couture and the clinking of champagne glasses. Dressed in the custom gown that Louis had sent over, I stood alone in the shadows of a corner.

Up on the second-floor VIP balcony, my father swirled his glass of red wine, looking down at the venue. He was waiting for the satisfying show of my total submission.

The doors swung open, and Jacob walked in with Ruby on his arm. Ruby was wearing a loud, flashy red dress, while Jacob was clad in a tailored designer suit. He looked absolutely radiant, cutting the perfect figure of a successful young rising star in the investment world.

As they walked into the center of the room, they naturally drew quite a few looks.

Jacob scanned the crowd and finally spotted me standing in the corner. Leading Ruby along, he walked straight over to me.

“Natalie.”

Jacob stopped right in front of me. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was just enough for everyone nearby to hear him clearly. His eyes were cold and filled with a patronizing sense of superiority.

“Let’s break up.”

Ruby hid slightly behind his shoulder, her lips curling into a smug smile as she chimed in with fake sympathy, “Miss Hill, please don’t blame Jake. You can’t force love.”

Up on the second-floor balcony, my father swirled his wine glass, looking thoroughly pleased.

Jacob continued to deliver his lines perfectly according to the script. “This past year has been exhausting for me. You’re too immature and, frankly, too naive. We just don’t belong in the same world. The one I truly love is Ruby. She understands me far better than you ever could.”

He paused for a moment, waiting for me to break down. He was waiting for me to do what I always did in the past—to clutch his sleeve with tear-filled eyes and beg him not to leave.

The entire ballroom fell silent.

I looked at the face of the man I had once thought was my saving grace and found the entire situation utterly hilarious. Slowly and deliberately, I opened my clutch, drew out a pre-prepared check, and held it out right in front of Jacob’s face under the bewildered stares of the crowd.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Grey,” I said calmly. “This is the final payment of two million dollars, covering your acting fees for the past year plus today’s wrap-up scene. We are officially settled.”

Jacob froze and stared blankly at the check.

“You… What did you just say?”