#Chapter 4: Team Up

Taylor POV

The silence of the hallway makes my shoe squeak like a loud scream revealing my presence.

After taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I finally decide to step out, revealing myself.

My throat feels like fire as I try to speak, "Hi…I'm Taylor."

"Why are you here?" Aiden stares at me intensely with eyes that seem to cut through all my defenses to reveal my deepest truth.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop." My voice keeps trembling even though I try to steady it. "I was running from the security. I somehow ended up here."

"I don't care who you are or why you are here. Just leave," Ella says  without even sparing me a look, clearly impatient about my sudden interruption of their very private conversation.

"Actually…" My voice falters, wondering if I should still warn Ella about Dylan even though I made the worst first impression.

"Actually, the real reason I'm here is because of you, Ella. I came to talk to you about Dylan," I decide to say it anyway.

I push my legs to move forward with purposeful slowness, as if I were balancing on a thin wire line.

"Dylan is my ex," The words taste bitter on my tongue. "He used my credit card. He bought gifts for you with my money. He thinks he can win you over with it, like he always does. And when I asked him to pay me back, he just—he refused. He laughed."

I swallow hard, my words coming out faster now. Thank God I got them out before I lost the courage to say them.

I glance over at Ella, she finally raises her eyes to look at me, her face full of her judgment.

"He's not a good person. You should be careful around him. What he has for you isn't about feelings—it's about what he can take. He's probably just after your money. He did this to me too," I continued.

I know I sound like a crazy ex-girlfriend, but they're the truest thing I've said all night.

Ella doesn't hesitate. She rolls her eyes at me, slow and deliberate, like she doesn't give a flying shit about what I have to say. Her lips curl into a proud, practiced smirk as she folds her arms across her chest, her gold bracelet on her wrist shakes catching the light like a blade flashing in warning.

Whatever broken, sad look she was portraying earlier when speaking to Aiden is none gone, wiped clean as if it never existed.

In its place is only arrogance, her chin is held high, her smile cold, like she's determined to show me just how little I matter.

"Your name's Taylor?" Her tone dripping with mockery.

I nod, forcing my spine straight, bracing myself for what is coming.

"Oh, so you're the ex-girlfriend Dylan mentioned— " Her voice is sharp, teasing. "He said he knew you'd come to accuse him. I won't fall for your tricks, though. I know you are just a gold digger trying to get more out of him after you guys broke up. He owes you NOTHING."

"By the way, are you the girl on the kiss cam today?" Ella smirks, tilting her head, as if she's studying a curious insect.

I blink, caught off guard.

"I didn't see your faces. But judging from your hair.... And the man seems to wear the same hat as you, Aiden." Ella turns to Aiden with a sneer.

"She grabbed and kissed me," Aiden answered immediately, trying to distance himself from me. "I just happen to sit next to her."

"Looks like Taylor got her new target.  Just be careful."

Damn, Her words sting sharper than I expected. Imagine I came here to warn her, to protect her from the same trap I fell into, and instead… she insults me. I even sympathize with this girl when she was sharing her story.

Heat begins to rise in my chest. My jaw tightens. "I'm not lying," I snap, letting the anger rise through my words, "Dylan fooled me, and he'll fool you too."

Ella produces a brief dismissive laugh before she shakes her head. "Let's just stop it here. I don't want to continue our meaningless conversation anymore." She then turns around, about to leave.

"But we-," Aiden stops her by grabbing her arms.

"Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you either." Then Ella just walks away while her high heels produce a rhythmic sound on the wooden floor.

I manage to stop myself from lashing out by forcing words down my throat.

She doesn't believe me.

I look at Aiden, who remains completely silent after Ella left. He stands there the whole time like a statue with his arms folded and his expression impossible to read.

He doesn't even look angry—just… distant.

Maybe he's already made up his mind. Or maybe he's thinking about Ella. Does he actually not want to end their marriage?

Okay, Taylor, think. Maybe if I… butter him up a little. Make him think I'm on his side.

Make him feel like… maybe I can help. "You seem… like a really nice guy," I say cautiously, forcing myself to smile.

"Maybe… we could team up? If you… if we could let Ella see the truth about Dylan, maybe she'd break up with him. And maybe you can take the change to win her back too," I rush out, the sentences awkward but desperate.

I know it's bold. I know it's asking a lot. But what choice do I have?

Aiden shifts his head to the side as his eyes grow darker. Then he shakes his head, and the coldness in his tone cuts like ice.

"I've seen women like you before," he says, his words deliberate, slow and sharp.

What does that even mean?

"Poor and greedy. When you realize you can no longer get more out of Dylan, you begin to trick me into your scheme. With the kiss and everything."

My stomach drop, I feel like I just got a punch in the gut.

This is probably the worst day in my life...

First cheated by Dylan. Then Lost all my savings. Now this?

The burning sensation of humiliation spreads from my chest all the way to my feet. My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms.

"Now I understand why Ella is divorcing you." The words come out sharp, unfiltered. I feel a tremor in my chest as I say them. "You're not poor. But so what?"

Aiden narrows his eyes.