Chapter 4

There was nothing.

Only the same cool distance.

The presentation order was drawn by lot.

I went before Vanessa.

I walked to the front calmly, opened my deck, and explained every design concept and inspiration behind our plan.

While presenting, I forced myself to focus on nothing else.

When I stepped down, the applause was thin.

The only person clapping with genuine enthusiasm was Nora, a young intern who had followed me since graduation.

Ethan's face remained unreadable.

Our department head kept stealing glances at him, trying to guess what he thought.

Then it was Vanessa's turn.

She naturally met Ethan's eyes.

They smiled at each other.

The colleagues below exchanged looks, their faces bright with gossip.

Nora leaned close to me and whispered, "Sophie, are we going to lose?"

I pulled at the corner of my mouth and forced out a small smile.

Vanessa finished her presentation.

Her applause was much louder than mine.

Even leadership clapped for her with excitement.

Ethan's lips lifted slightly.

There was a thirty-minute break.

Lately, the rumors about Ethan and Vanessa had wrapped around me until I could barely breathe.

His gaze toward me was too cold. It made my heart clench.

From office gossip, I learned more and more about their past.

Ethan had pursued Vanessa first.

He had walked her back to her dorm every day, brought her breakfast, and shown up rain or shine.

Everyone from their university class knew how much Ethan had loved Vanessa.

I sat frozen in my chair.

Watching Ethan and Vanessa walk out side by side, my nose stung.

The man I had worked so hard to win had always carried the woman I hated most in his heart.

Only Nora and I remained in the conference room.

She held my hand.

When the break ended, the result was announced.

Ethan and the Cole Group representatives had already left.

Our department head delivered the decision.

There were three votes.

All three had gone to Vanessa.

As the result was announced, my eyes burned and blurred.

I forced the tears back.

Our department head exchanged a look with Vanessa, silently praising her.

Several coworkers surrounded her.

"Vanessa, you're incredible."

I quietly left.

But Vanessa followed me.

"Sophie."

I stopped.

Her eyes curved in a smile.

"Even if you're his wife, I'll always be first with him.

"Everything you worked so hard to get is effortless for me."

She was right.

At fourteen, Vanessa had easily taken Richard's love from me.

Now she had taken Ethan's heart too.

Far away, Ethan was being escorted into the elevator by our leadership, looking lazy and composed.

A wave of exhaustion rolled over me.

I no longer wanted to fight Vanessa.

I no longer wanted Ethan either.

The elevator was held open.

Our department head, eager to please, quickly invited Vanessa and me to join Ethan inside.

The elevator descended.

He started flattering them immediately.

"Mr. Cole, you and Vanessa look perfect together.

"A perfect match."

Several others chimed in.

"Exactly. I heard Mr. Cole and Vanessa are already married. Mr. Cole is such a devoted husband, choosing our company for his wife."

I listened numb, unable to feel much of anything.

Then I sensed a hidden, burning gaze beside me.

I looked over.

Ethan's face stiffened.

I met his eyes calmly.

Our department head nudged my arm, signaling for me to say something too.

"Sophie, don't you agree? Mr. Cole and Vanessa are a wonderful match."

"Yes," I said. "They are."

Panic flickered across Ethan's usually indifferent eyes.

His lips parted as if he wanted to say something.