Chapter 004

  “Baby, what’s going on here?” she asked sweetly, and there was something almost mocking in her voice.

  Jake stiffened for a moment, then sighed. “Uhmm, you shouldn’t have come down from the car,” he muttered. “I told you I’d handle it.”

  Beth ignored him and turned to me, giving me a once-over look like she was inspecting something she found distasteful.

Then, right in front of me, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to Jake’s cheek. My breath hitched.

  “Baby, Amelia's found herself a boyfriend.” Jake’s lips curled into a wicked smirk before he pulled Beth into a deep, exaggerated kiss, making sure I saw every second of it.

  I stood frozen, my heart pounding so loudly I barely registered the way Beth smirked at me when they finally pulled apart.

 "You see baby, I was right after all, she was gonna replace you anyways". She said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “You don’t deserve Jake, Amelia.”

  The words stung, but what hurt more was Jake’s lack of reaction. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t correct her. He just stood there, watching me, waiting for my reaction like he was enjoying the show.

  I forced a breath into my lungs. “Jake?” I managed to say, searching his face for any trace of the man I once knew.

  He let out a short, cold laugh. “What? You thought I’d stay by your side forever? You think I’d just wait around while you played your little power games?”

  “Power games?” My voice cracked but I tried not to break.

  Jake took a step forward, his eyes dark with resentment. “Your father’s company is collapsing, Amelia. You knew that, didn’t you? Yet, you never gave me the contract you promised.”

  I felt the ground shift beneath me. “That’s what this is about?” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

  He scoffed. “Of course it is. You think I was with you because of love?”

  My vision blurred as I tried to process his words. He had never loved me. He had been waiting, calculating. And all because he thought my father’s company was failing?

  It was a few months ago but we're getting back on our feet quite well. My father’s company was fine. But I didn’t correct him. I didn’t owe him anything anymore.

  “Heaven knows I was patient, Amelia…” He continued. “...I waited. I played the good boyfriend, thinking maybe, just maybe, you’d actually give a damn about my future. But no. You've had all this power and influence, and you did nothing for me.”

  I felt sick. The sheer audacity of his words left me speechless.

  “You make it sound like I owed you something,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

  Jake shrugged, completely unmoved.

  Beside me, Logan tensed. His fists clenched at his sides, but he let Jake dig his own grave before speaking.

  “As a matter of fact...,” Beth cut in, flipping her hair dramatically, “...my father will be giving Jake a $50 million deal and making him CEO of our company. Something your dad couldn’t do, despite years of you being with him.”

 Beth's father was just as famous as my dad, just as wealthy, but not up there. Her dad made her the center of everything, giving her anything she wanted. And Jake wants to use her but for what reason. I can't believe she's this stupid.

  Jake grinned, glancing at her like she was his golden ticket. “She didn’t even put in a word to her dad for me, baby.”

  That’s when Logan stepped forward.

  “You really are pathetic, aren’t you?” he said, his tone cold and razor-sharp.

  Jake’s smirk twitched. “What?”

  Logan scoffed. “So, let me get this straight, you were willing to leech off her, use her, manipulate her, and when she didn’t hand you the world on a silver platter, you ran straight into the arms of the next available wallet?”

  Beth gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Logan shot back, barely sparing her a glance. His eyes were locked onto Jake, filled with nothing but disgust. “You’re a grown man crying over..what, a contract you didn’t get? News flash: you earn it, you don’t beg for it. And you sure as hell don’t get it by sleeping your way into a position.”

  Jake’s expression darkened, but Logan didn’t stop.

  “The fact that you think Amelia owes you anything is hilarious. She's worked her ass off to get where she is, without her father. Meanwhile, you were waiting around like some helpless brat, expecting her to hand you success, which I'm glad she didn't.” Logan shook his head, letting out a sharp laugh. “You are a coward, A coward that is just too weak to build anything on your own.”

  Jake clenched his jaw. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “I know enough,” Logan shot back. “And I know that you’re nothing without her.”

  Beth let out a laugh. “Oh- uhm, and who are you again? Where do you belong? Heir of what company?”

  Logan barely blinked. “You should really do your research,” he said. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

  Beth's smirk widened. “Oh, you should. You should even be honored to have a conversation with me. On a normal day, I wouldn’t look at you twice.”

  She waved her hand dramatically, making sure we both saw the massive diamond ring on her finger.

  My entire body went numb.

  Jake grinned. “Mrs. Jake soon,” he said, pressing a kiss to Beth's hand.

  I stared at the ring, my mind spiraling. That was supposed to be my ring. He was supposed to be mine.

  I fought the tears burning behind my eyes. No. I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction. He didn’t deserve my pain.

  Then, just as I was about to turn away, I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist.

  Logan.

  He pulled me close, his warmth steady against my side. Then, to my shock, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against my cheek. My breath caught as I turned to look at him, but he only winked at me, a silent promise that he had this under control.

  “Good for you,” Logan said smoothly, his voice calm and unwavering. “Good for both of you.”

  Then, in one fluid motion, he took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. 

  I stiffened, my heart hammering. “Isn’t that right?” he asked me, his eyes locking onto mine.

  I hesitated, unsure of what he was doing but then I understood. 

  “Yeah,” I said quickly, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  Jake’s smirk faltered for a split second. I saw it. I felt it

  Beth scoffed. “Pathetic,” she muttered under her breath.