Chapter 3

I hugged my resignation papers to my chest, watching the endless stream of cars pass by. My thoughts drifted uncontrollably.

I remembered when Sydney had just returned from overseas, Greg had broken company protocol to hire her as his assistant. Back then, he had even explained it to me.

“Zoe, she ran into some trouble. I’m just helping out. Don’t overthink it. I’ve known her for years. There’s really nothing between us.”

I believed him. I even foolishly helped him with arranging a place for Sydney to live. Yet, what happened after that?

At company dinners, every dish on the menu was something Sydney liked. She worked sporadically at best, yet she was always by Greg’s side, dumping all her responsibilities onto me. They shared a single straw when drinking iced coffee. Sydney would apply sunscreen for him, eat the lunch I made, and then replace it with the sandwich she brought.

Once, she caught a simple cold, and Greg skipped my birthday dinner because of it. I forgave them again and again. However, all I got in return was their growing lack of boundaries—bolder and more shameless with each interaction.

My engagement to Julian was never publicly announced. Half a month later, the engagement party arrived as scheduled. As a minor underboss under the Rossi mafia family, Greg also received an invitation. He walked in arm-in-arm with Sydney, looking arrogant and self-assured. However, the moment he saw me seated at the main table, he froze.

Frowning, he strode toward me, irritation clear in his voice.

“Zoe, you haven’t apologized to Syd yet, and that means you’re no longer my fiancée. You have no right to attend the Don’s engagement banquet. You either apologize right now and attend as my fiancée or get out immediately.”

Whispers erupted around us, followed by open mockery.

“This woman has no shame, pursuing Mr. Willis so desperately.”

“Exactly. She doesn’t even know her own place, yet she has the nerve to show up here.”

I smiled calmly, took the invitation from my bag, and gently placed it on the table.

“Mr. Willis,” I said lightly, “I’m here by invitation. I didn’t stalk you.”

Sydney suddenly spoke up, her voice soft. “Zoe, your invitation… It’s not fake, is it? Invitations to events like this aren’t something just anyone can get. Forging one just to see Greg… Aren’t you trying to embarrass him?”

Her words only fueled the ridicule around us. Greg’s expression darkened briefly before returning to his usual air of superiority.

“Zoe, even if you managed to get a fake invitation, it changes nothing. As long as you apologize to Syd right now, I’ll be generous and bring you into the venue with me.”

My gaze swept over Sydney, and I let out a soft laugh. “Miss Carlson, you don’t even have an invitation yourself. What gives you the right to question mine?”

Sydney’s face flushed red. She stammered, unable to say a word.

Seeing that, Greg immediately stepped in front of her protectively and said, “Syd is here as my family. She’s my sister!”

“Sister?” I curled my lips in mockery. “Mr. Willis, the engagement of Don Rossi only allows spouses to attend. Sisters aren’t permitted. You wouldn’t be ignorant of that, would you?”

The murmurs started again, quieter but sharper.

Sydney’s eyes reddened as she looked at Greg, voice trembling. “Greg… is Zoe still angry with me?”

Greg looked at me with obvious impatience, his voice threatening. “Zoe, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Coming with a fake invitation like that, are you trying to humiliate me?

“I’ll make it clear. The photo of Syd and me already has nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine likes. She’s about to go from ‘sister’ to my wife. Apologize to Syd right now. Otherwise, there’s no chance of reconciliation between us.”

I sneered, pulled out my phone, and tapped the like button on their photo.

“Now it’s ten thousand,” I said calmly, crossing my arms as I looked at them. “You can get married now.”

Greg’s expression darkened instantly.

“Zoe, it seems I’ve really spoiled you rotten.”

He raised a hand. Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, reaching for me. They shoved me roughly, causing me to lose my footing and fall to the ground.

At that moment, a long, powerful hand suddenly appeared in front of me and steadily pulled me to my feet. The crowd fell silent. People instinctively stepped back.

The man scanned the room before fixing his gaze on Greg, his voice icy.

“Who,” he asked, “is bullying my fiancée?”

I looked up. My eyes met Julian’s deep, unfathomable gaze.