Chapter 59
Monica sat cross–legged on her bed, her tear–streaked face buried in her hands. Her phone lay next to her, its cracked screen flashing notifications from countless messages. The words from various group chats demanded confirmation of what everyone had seen during the event. Each notification felt like another dagger twisting in her chest.
“Ma, what should I do now?” Monica asked, her voice breaking as she wiped her tears. She glanced at the email from HR that had arrived earlier. The subject line alone–Meeting Request Regarding Workplace Conduct–made her stomach twist.
Across the room, Amalia paced back and forth, her hands wringing together. She stopped suddenly, turning to Monica, her face pale and tight with frustration. “I told you to stay away from Calen!” she snapped. “But no, you wouldn’t listen. You just had to throw yourself at him, didn’t you? Look where it’s gotten you now!”
Monica flinched, her hands gripping the edge of the bed. “I didn’t plan for this to happen! It just… it just did, okay? I didn’t think it would come out like this!”
Amalia let out an exasperated sigh and resumed her pacing. “You didn’t think? That’s your excuse? Monica, how many times have I told you to be smart about these things? Calen is Izzy’s fiancé! Did you think you could just sneak around forever without consequences?”
“I wasn’t sneaking!” Monica shouted, her voice rising. She grabbed the phone and held it up. “I don’t even know how that video got out! Someone set me up! Someone is trying to ruin me!”
“Ruin you?” Amalia stopped, her eyes narrowing. “You ruined yourself! Do you think anyone is going to believe you were set up after seeing that video? They didn’t just show some text messages, Monica. They showed you in his lap! Kissing him! Whispering things!”
Monica said nothing. So, Amalia continued. “I told you to limit your interaction with him. You can always do it once Calen marries her and live in this place! But you wouldn’t listen! You really liked the thrill, didn’t you?”
“Mom…. it’s not like that. I— “Monica’s face crumpled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “I… I don’t know what to do. HR wants to meet with me tomorrow. What if they fire me? What if
everyone-
“Of course, they’re going to fire you!” Amalia cut her off, “Do you think Weiss Inc. is going to keep you on after this scandal? You’ve embarrassed the company, their golden boy, and Izzy, of all people! You’re lucky they haven’t already sent you a termination letter!”
Monica sobbed harder, clutching her phone like a lifeline. “I can’t lose my job, Ma! You don’t understand! If I lose this job, I have nothing!”
Amalia sat down heavily in the chair by the desk, rubbing her temples. “You should’ve thought about that before you got involved with him. I told you, Monica, I warned you! But you were so caught up in your delusions that Calen would choose you over Izzy.”
Monica sniffled, looking at her mother with desperation. “You’re supposed to help me, not make me feel worse! What am supposed to do now?”
Amalia leaned forward, glaring at her daughter. “You’re going to that meeting, and you’re going to beg. You’ll tell them you’re sorry, that you regret everything, that it was a lapse in judgment. Say whatever you need to say to save your job. Do you hear me?”
“And what about the messages? The videos?” Monica gestured toward her phone. “People are calling me names! They’re saying I’m
I don’t care what they’re saying!” Amalia interrupted, her voice harsh. “You brought this on yourself, Monica. Now you need to deal with it stop crying and figure out how to clean up your iness. Because if you lose this job, don’t expect me to support
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Chapter 59
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Izzy lifted an eyebrow as she accepted the wine glass Liam handed her. The chilled surface pressed against her fingers as she took a sip, her gaze drifting to the large windows that framed the sprawling view of San Francisco. The city sparkled like a constellation, shivering lights spread across the horizon, stretching endlessly into the night.
“Are you satisfied now?” Liam asked, breaking the silence as he eased into the chair across from her.
Izzy snorted softly, tilting her head away from him, her eyes lingering on the view. “Satisfied?” she echoed, her voice carrying a trace of something unspoken. She swirled the wine in her glass, watching the ripples form before she took another sip.
Liam didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she heard the faint scrape of his chair as he shifted. The sound was followed by his presence drawing nearer, and when she glanced out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him sitting beside her, much closer than before. The faint brush of his sleeve against hers made her pulse quicken for just a moment, though she kept her face neutral.
“Did you know?” she asked abruptly, her gaze fixed on the skyline. “That Calen was going to propose?”
Liam leaned back slightly, resting his forearm on the arm of his chair as he regarded her. “Does it matter?”
Izzy turned to respond but found herself caught off guard. He was close–closer than she’d realized. The faint scent of his cologne mixed with the lingering aroma of wine in the air. His presence seemed heavier now, more tangible, and it sent a ripple of awareness through her.
For a fleeting moment, she thought about shifting away, but she didn’t. Instead, she met his gaze head–on, her brows furrowing slightly as though daring him to clarify his response.
Liam didn’t move, his gaze steady on hers before his lips curled into a faint smirk. Without a word, he turned his attention back to his glass, swirling the wine with slow precision.
Izzy inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening subtly around the glass in her hand. She turned back toward the view, determined to refocus her thoughts. The city’s lights blurred slightly, looking like a shimmering mirage as her mind wandered.
Her original plan replayed in her head. She had wanted to wait, to expose Calen and Monica on her birthday in front of Amalia, making her deceit perfectly clear to the one person who had always claimed to care. But Calen’s impulsiveness had left her no choice.
The proposal was reckless and manipulative, and she couldn’t let him control the narrative. Luckily, she had already chosen that very moment to reveal the truth to the light, where no one could look away. Now, she wanted to see what Calen and Monica would do just to fix this situation.
As she sipped her wine again, she became acutely aware of Liam’s proximity. His movements, deliberate yet unhurried, drew her attention back to him. His posture was relaxed, yet his focus seemed to remain partially on her, as though he could sense the weight of her thoughts.
“What?” she asked finally as her eyes lingered on his unbutton shirt. She had seen him unbutton his shirt before but this was the first time that she had become hyper aware of it. What is happening here?
“Nothing,” he replied, but the slight curve of his lips suggested otherwise. He leaned in just a fraction, enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him. “I just think you handled it perfectly.”
Izzy arched an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to him before returning to the city lights. “Perfect isn’t the word I’d use.”
“No” Liam asked, his voice laced with a quiet challenge as he leaned back, his glass resting lightly in his hand. “What would
izzy didn’t answer. Instead, she took another sip of her wine and turned her head away, refusing to give him the satisfaction
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Chapter 59
of a response. The silence stretched between them.
For now, she thought, she had accomplished what she needed to. She’d shown the world the truth, let everyone see th betrayal for what it was. Calen and Monica had thought they could manipulate her, but they had underestimated her
resolve.
Beside her, Liam shifted again, drawing her attention momentarily. She glanced at him, her expression unreadable, b looking back at the window
If nothing else, she thought wryly, Liam seemed to be enjoying this far more than he should.
“What?” Liam suddenly asked. She turned to him.
“What do you mean?”
Liam tilted his head slightly, studying her. “Why are you reacting like that?” he asked.
Izzy turned to him fully, setting her glass down on the small table beside her. “Reacting like what?” she asked, her expre guarded.
“Like you’re annoyed at me.”
She crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. “Because it feels like you’re enjoying this a little too much,” she said bluntly. just got cheated on, exposed Calen and Monica in front of a room full of people, and somehow, you look like this is all entertainment for you. It’s like you’re mocking me.“.
Liam didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned back, resting his glass on the arm of his chair. “Mocking you? You think that’s what
is?”
Izzy didn’t respond immediately, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gauged him. She didn’t have the time to argue, not tonight. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. “Goodnight, Liam,” she said, stepping away from her chair. “I’m going to
rest.”
She moved to leave, but before she could take another step, Liam reached out and caught her hand. The sudden warmth his grip startled her, and before she could pull away, he tugged her toward him with a firm but measured motion.
In an instant, she found herself on his lap, her legs brushing against his as his arm wrapped securely around her waist. Her breath hitched, and her hands instinctively pressed against his chest for balance.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, glaring at him.
Liam smirked, his eyes locked onto hers. “I’m not mocking you, Izzy. I’ve never mocked you. And I think you know that.” She opened her mouth to respond, but his free hand moved to cup the side of her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. The intensity of his gaze made her freeze, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the city outside the window.
Then he leaned in and kissed her.
