Chapter 3
That evening, to welcome the new hires, Mr. Anderson organized a team dinner.
The venue? ||
A lively ning joint with unlimited beer on tap ||
Everyone was gathered around the long wonden tables, flipping steaks and ribs on the sizzling tabletop grills, passing around side dishes, and clinking their idrinks together. ||
post come back from the sauce station, a cup of dipping sauce in her hands. []
She walked perfectly fine down the steps leading to ourr talde. ||
But the moment sh
she teached mum–on completely flat ground–she suddenly tripped, and the entire cup of sauce went flying straight onto my shirt.
A few roworkers who witnessed the whole thing exchanged looks, their faces turning sour.
“Really? What is this, a reality show catfight? That was so olivious.” ||
sophia straightened up, brushing nonexistent dust off her outfit like nothing happened. ||
“My bad” she said, her tone light and sickeningly sweet. ||
“Didn’t mean to ruin Luces linte sweetheart’s night=”||
Her passive aggressive smick made my stomach hig
One of the other girls had had enough.||
She yanked Sophia by the sleeve, ready to go off. ||
bate girls like you,” she snapped. ||
“You know you were the side chick, so stay in your damn Isnet” ||
“You really think that whole innocent ne still works ||
before she could finish, a hand showed its way between them, pushing her back.
Lucas.
He pulled Sophia into his arms like she was some delicate princess, shooting me a furlouglare
“Emily, when did you become this petty? [
stared at bin. []
My stained shirt was right there.
And yet, he acted like in atidret exist. []
The pain and confusion I felt just moments
moments ago?-1
“Gour. Replaced by something calmer, sharper. []
“Luras,” I said, my voice fat. []
“Are those eyes of yours just for decoration?” ||
He had known me for years. ||
Never once had 1 spoken to him like this. []
Even when he hurt me, I’d just swallow it, let it silde, wait for him to realize he was wrong and come make it up to me. []
but not this time.
ΕΠ
Capin)
Sophia dung to his chest, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. |
“It’s my fault,” she murmured. ||
She didn’t trip me—I just lost my balance and spilled my sauce
“Don’t be mad, okay? It’s not good for you.”
“She’s just a little upset, and that’s totally normal. I’ll apologize to her
She
spun her linle web of lies so effortlessly
“I know you two were promised to each other since childhood.” she added with a sad smile. “You’re meant to be together.”
“I understand if you take her side.-||
Lucas cut her off.
I’m not letting you suffer because of her.”
He turned back to me, his eyes cold
There was no childhood engagement:“[]
“My mom was just joking around
“Like hell I’d ever h
ever be interested in a jealous, scheming little fake like you.“]
With that, he wrapped his arm around Sophia and led her away.
She backed her face in his chest, her voice muffled.]
“Take? You n
mean that white lotus thing you told me about before?
“Wow you really hit the nail on the head. ||
1 clenched my fists
He got to say whatever he wanted
And all I co
11 could do was stand there and take it
I went to the bathroom and tried to scrub the sauce off my dress ||
The cold, damp fabric clung to my skin, and for a second, it felt like my whole heart had trozen over.
When I returned, Sophia was all smiles. Inoking spotless and radiant
Lucas was sitting next to h
And their table? Il
her
Full of guys–guys who were practically tripping over themselves to pour her drinks, serve her food, and hang onto her every word
by coworker se
My
scoffed
Why do men always go for girls like thar-]]
“Yours did. Mine did too.“||
I knew her ex–husband had cheated on her with a manipulative little homewrecker.[
She’d kicked them both out, and now they we
were struggling to get by
Honestly, I kind of admired her for it
Telt like I was also saying goodbye to my past
“He’s not my man.” I said, giving her small hug–one that felt like
“He’s hers. They’re perfect for each other.”
She looked surprised. []
“After all these years, you’re really just letting him go?”
I sat back down and picked up my chopsticks.||
You ever heard of the sun
the sunk cost fallacy?“||
This wasn’t just about Sophis
Lucas himself was the problem.
And in a way, I owed her a thank you.]]
She showed me exactly who he was–while I still had time to walk away.
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise
