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Semua Bab I Chose Me: Bab 1 - Bab 10

10 Bab

Chapter 1

The company had been buzzing all morning about our newest investor.He was handsome, brilliant, born into money, and already running one of the most powerful family-owned groups in the country.His name was Ethan Cole.My husband.The moment I found out he was the client, I knew the quiet war between Vanessa and me was already over.In the break room, my coworkers were whispering about him like he was a celebrity."Apparently, the investor is the CEO of Cole Group. Ethan Cole himself.""If our team's design gets picked by him, our numbers are going to look incredible for the rest of the year.""My bet is on Vanessa's team. I heard Mr. Cole's first love works in our design department.""That's Vanessa, right? They dated back in college. They were each other's first everything. I bet this whole investment is really because of her."My chest tightened.I walked back to my office in a daze.By then, everyone knew Ethan was involved.A little later, our department head called V

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Chapter 2

Then, trying to make it sound like a joke, I added, "Are you going to pull strings for me?"Ethan's brows drew together.He answered seriously. There was not the slightest trace of humor in his eyes."This was a decision made by senior management."The final proposal won't be decided by me alone."In other words, even as his wife, I would not be an exception.I stopped asking.He was always like this: calm, distant, principled, logical. He never made exceptions for me.And I was always humiliating myself by hoping that one day, I might become one.Ethan walked away and entered the study.He did not close the door completely.From the living room, I could hear him on the phone.The woman on the other end was Vanessa.Every now and then, Ethan answered her with a low laugh.After the call, he came out of the study, picked up his coat from the entryway, and changed into his dress shoes."I have a dinner meeting tonight."I nodded.Ethan was painfully handsome. Sharp featu

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Chapter 3

We hated each other on sight.Her mother entered my home like she belonged there.My mother spiraled into depression and tried to end her life.I almost lost her.In high school, Vanessa and I ended up at the same elite school.She missed the cutoff by one point, but my father, Richard Reed, pulled strings to get her admitted.That same year, my mother left the country.I stayed in the Reed house.I thought if I behaved badly enough, Vanessa and her mother would get the message and leave.My methods were childish, even stupid.I poured ink into their cups, but because I was afraid they might actually drink it, I used obvious black ink they would see.I only wanted to scare them.I wanted Vanessa to know I would not be easy to push around.Instead, Vanessa complained to Richard.His face turned dark with anger as he scolded me.I hated them, but I never dared to do anything truly cruel.Everything I did only made Richard feel more sorry for them.After graduation, Vanes

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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

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Chapter 5

The elevator doors opened.I walked out quickly.Behind me, Ethan's low, urgent voice called, "Sophie."I did not hesitate.I did not stop.I kept walking until I escaped the crowd.Only then did the tears come.All the hurt and resentment I had pressed down surged up at once.At fourteen, I learned that my mother was in the ICU after trying to kill herself, and that my father had another woman outside our family.I had been lost and terrified.When Ethan stopped Richard from slapping me, I saw him as my rescue.Everything I tried desperately to keep slipped away from me and drifted toward Vanessa.My luck always seemed to fall one step short.I hid in the underground parking garage and cried until I could breathe again.Just as I finally stopped, Ethan's tall figure appeared in the garage.His pace quickened.The moment he neared me, I hit the gas and drove away.I went back to the Reed house.Richard, Vanessa, and her mother were not home.Only the housekeepers rem

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Chapter 6

When she was not around, a coworker joked, "Mr. Cole really spent all this money just to make a beautiful woman smile."One of the younger unmarried girls looked dreamy."Good men really are never on the market."Mr. Cole and Vanessa dated in college, right?"And he was the one who chased her first."Then someone said, very inconveniently, "I thought Mr. Cole was married."The discussion exploded."No way. So Vanessa is Mrs. Cole?"Mr. Cole came here to protect his wife."During all of this, Ethan called me.The ringing was urgent.I declined the call.He called again.I turned on Do Not Disturb, and finally the phone went quiet.Nora leaned against my desk and looked at me with concern.She lowered her voice."Sophie, don't be sad."I know this probably isn't the best thing to say, but if Vanessa is Mrs. Cole, then she has Mr. Cole behind her."And I heard Richard Reed from Reed Group is her father too."My father and my husband had both somehow become hers.I pres

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Chapter 7

To marry Gloria, he actually signed the agreement.After his death, everything he owned would be mine.Even if I divorced Ethan, I would still receive half of Ethan's marital assets.Vanessa got Richard's affection and Ethan's heart.That was fine.I got the money.Back at the office, I immediately began handing over my work.Nora told me there would be a gathering that Friday to celebrate Vanessa's win.I did not plan to attend.Everyone saw me packing and preparing handover materials.Vanessa's team thought I was a sore loser.I understood why they stood with her.She was their manager.Everyone was just trying to make a living. Naturally, people followed whoever had resources.So I did not bother arguing.Nora tugged at my sleeve."Sophie, are you really leaving?"I looked down and hugged her."Yes. I'm leaving."The process has started. Once I finish handing over my work, I'm gone."I'll start packing a few things now."I had seen enough of workplace politics.

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Chapter 8

I moved through the dim lights, left the bar, and took the elevator down to the parking garage.In the rearview mirror, I saw Ethan's elegant figure.He was walking quickly toward my car.I slammed the gas and drove out of the garage.His face darkened.He immediately got into his own car.A black sedan followed close behind me.I tried hard to shake him off.In the end, we reached the garage at home one after the other.He shoved open his car door, his expression cold and grim."Do you know how dangerous it is to drive that fast?"I ignored him.Inside the house, he caught my arm and pulled me by the waist."I can explain what happened in the elevator."I never said Vanessa was my wife."His voice trembled."Sophie, she and I are over."I nodded lightly."I know."In the past, I would have screamed, cried, and cursed Vanessa for trying to step into my marriage.Now, I no longer had the energy to care whether Ethan still had feelings for her.I shook off his hand a

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Chapter 9

I went to the office to complete my final resignation procedures.Mr. Walker apologized to me with almost desperate respect."Sophie, this was my fault."I'm sorry."I let the rumors get to me. I assumed Mr. Cole was blinded by her — that he only invested here because of her."So I made the decision myself. I told everyone Cole Group had selected Vanessa's proposal, then put her in charge of the project to give her more chances to work with Mr. Cole."I thought it would please him."He bowed deeply."Could you ask Mr. Cole to be lenient?"I worked so hard to reach this position. My family depends on me."I looked at him."Mr. Walker, I'm here to finish my resignation."The design department lost all its arrogance.Nora and I had one last meal together.She was excited as she told me everything that had happened."Sophie, you should have seen how proud Vanessa and her little followers were before. Now they're just as embarrassed."Mr. Walker has been removed too. The new

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Chapter 10

I did not see Richard again for a long time.I spent New Year overseas with my mother.After the holiday, news came from home.Richard was dying.I flew back once.He lay in a hospital bed with a breathing tube, his breath heavy and uneven. He had lost so much weight he seemed to have shrunk.When he saw me, he tried anxiously to get up.His voice was strained. He gripped my hand tightly."Sophie, Dad doesn't have much time."You finally came back to see me."I knew he had wanted to fly overseas to spend New Year with me.But his body could no longer handle the trip.I did not know what to say.When I heard the voices of Gloria and Vanessa approaching, I let go of his hand."Vanessa is here."I'll step out."He grabbed me in a panic."Sophie, I want to look at you."His eyes reddened quickly, and tears slid down his face.I stayed with him for the afternoon.Gloria took very good care of him.Even Vanessa, his stepdaughter, cried.A month later, Richard passed awa

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