Chapter 3

"Mrs. Wilson, Noreen's houses are her private property. No matter how close we are, I have no right to ask her for one."

Ethan's mom's face soured instantly. "Why are you so stubborn? It's just borrowing a place, not keeping it! Once Ethan makes it big, he'll pay her back tenfold, a hundredfold!"

"Exactly," Ethan's dad chimed in. "Young people should know how to use their connections. You've got a goldmine like Noreen and don't even know how to tap it. So foolish."

I stared at their ugly expressions, my stomach churning. "That's just how foolish I am. I'm done eating. Enjoy your meal."

"Julissa!" Ethan's face burned with anger. "How dare you talk to my parents like that!"

"I just told the truth. If you think I'm wrong, I have nothing more to say." I walked out of the private room without looking back.

Behind me, Ethan's mom's shrill voice echoed. "Unbelievable! We don't need an ill-mannered woman like her in our family!"

Back at the apartment, I started packing.

I couldn't stand another second in this place full of lies and schemes.

Soon, Ethan stormed in, yelling as soon as he saw me. "Julissa, did you mean to embarrass me today?"

"I just didn't want to play along with your act." I stuffed the last shirt blindly into my suitcase and zipped it shut.

"What are you doing? Running away?"

"Not running away. Breaking up. Ethan, we're done."

He laughed like I'd told a ridiculous joke. "Breaking up? Julissa, are you out of your mind? What do you have without me? You think you're something special? Just a plain office worker with a meager salary and average looks. I'm doing you a favor by being with you! Don't try that hard-to-get nonsense with me. It won't work! Apologize to my parents now, or else..."

"Or else what?" I cut him off. "Or else we break up, and you can openly chase your 'true heiress' Noreen?"

Ethan's face went pale.

He hadn't expected me to call it out so bluntly. "What... what are you talking about!"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. "Ethan, haven't you always thought I'm beneath you? Now I'm setting you free. Good luck taking over the Palmer Group and winning your beauty."

As I opened the door to leave, my phone rang.

I put it on speaker, and Noreen's affected voice came through. "Julissa, did you and Ethan fight? He just called me, sounding really upset. Don't hold it against him; he's just thinking about your future. Guys need their pride, you know. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Ethan got me an invitation to the Palmer Group gala. Let's go together!"

Ethan snatched my phone. "Noreen, don't worry about her! She's just crazy! Trust me, our plan hasn't changed. On the gala day, I'll have a huge surprise for you!"

Noreen let out a coy giggle on the other end. "Awesome, I can't wait."

Ethan hung up and smirked at me triumphantly. "Hear that? Julissa, I don't need you to succeed. Now you're the one begging me not to break up. Just behave, and when I... when I secure the Palmer Group with Noreen, you'll get your share."

I looked at his smug, despicable face and felt nothing but disgust.

Without a word, I pulled my suitcase and walked out of that suffocating place.

Downstairs, my dad's driver, Walter, had been waiting for a while.

He took my suitcase and respectfully opened the car door. "Miss, the chairman says, welcome home."

I slid into the car, watching the city streets blur past the window.

This test I orchestrated was finally reaching its final act.