Olivia

    b52 /b

    55 vouchers

    I froze, my coffee cup halfway to my lips, as Ryan’s words hung in the air between us. What the hell was he ying at? My mind raced, trying ito /iunderstand why he’d suddenly appeared in my life again, throwing usations about my marriage.

    I set my cup down with deliberate care, buying myself a moment. Five months ago, this man had shattered my heart when I caught him with Sophia. Now he was sitting across from me, looking at me with those familiar eyes, spewing nonsense about my marriage.

    “What are you talking about? Where did you hear that bullshit?” I hissed, leaning forward myself.

    “I didn’t hear it anywhere. I figured it out.” He tapped his temple. “Think about it. You’ve always been cautious, methodical. You wouldn’t even move in with me after years together. But suddenly you’re married to your boss.”

    “So your evidence is that I married too quickly for your liking? That’s riching from you.”

    “There’s more to it.” His eyes narrowed. “Carter Enterprises‘ stock jumped ten percent after your marriage announcement. There were rumors about session issues in the Carter family. Then suddenly Alexander is married to a normal, respectable woman with no scandalous past.” He shrugged. “Looks like a business arrangement to me.”

    My heart hammered against my ribs. How had he put these pieces together? What did he know?

    “You’re crossing a line,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “You cheated on me with my friend, and now you have the audacity to sit here and insult my marriage? Who do you think you

    you are?”

    “I’m someone who cares about you,” Ryan said, reaching for my hand.

    I jerked away from his touch. “Don’t.”

    17:29 Sat, Sep b6 /bN

    b52 /b

    55 vouchers

    “Look, I know I messed up. Badly. The thing with Sophia was a stupid mistake. I’ve regretted it every day since.”

    “Funny how you never called to apologize until I married a billionaire.”

    Ryan flinched. “That’s not fair.”

    “No, you know what’s not fair? Me walking in on you having sex with my friend. That wasn’t fair.” I grabbed my purse from the chair beside me. “This conversation is over. Don’t call me again. Don’t text me. We’re done.”

    “Wait,” Ryan said, his voice urgent. “I’m not finished.”

    “Well, I am.”

    “I’m going to find out the truth,” he pressed on. “Why did you marry him? Whether it’s real or just for his money.” His eyes hardened. “And if you were cheating on me with him before we broke up.”

    I almostughed at the absurdity. “Cheating on you? That’s riching from the man I caught with his pants down.”

    Ryan’s face flushed red. “I know what I did was wrong. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

    “One of many, apparently,” I snapped. “Including this conversation.”

    “I’ve changed. These past months without you made me realize what I had.” His eyes softened in a way that once would have melted my resolve. “I miss you. I miss

    us.”

    I stared at the man I’d once believed I would marry, a humorlessugh escaping me. There was a time his soft eyes and remorseful voice would have melted my resolve. Not anymore,

    “You miss what you had? That’s too bad, because I don’t,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “Even if I weren’t married now, I would never take you back. Ever.”

    His face fell. “Liv, please-”

    “It’s Olivia,” I corrected sharply. “And I meant what I said. You destroyed any

    17:29 bSat/bb, /bSep b6 /bbN /b

    …

    chance of reconciliation the moment you slept with Sophia.”

    b52 /b

    b55 /bvouchers

    “It was a mistake!” Ryan’s voice rose slightly, drawing nces from nearby tables. “One stupid mistake.”

    “And here you are, making another one by thinking I’d ever care.” I signaled the waitress for the check. “You know what’s funny? I should thank you.”

    “Thank me?”

    “Yes. If you hadn’t cheated, I might still be with you, settling for less than I deserve.” I smiled tightly.

    Ryan’s face contorted with anger. “Less than you deserve? I gave you everything!”

    “Did you? Everything except loyalty and respect.” I reached for my wallet. “And now you dare to question my marriage? To insinuate that I’m with Alexander for his money?”

    “Come on, Olivia. You went from dating me, a regr guy with a regr ie, to marrying one of the richest men in Los Angeles. It doesn’t add up.”

    “Maybe the problem is you can’t imagine someone choosing me for me.” I pulled out enough cash to cover our coffees and tossed it on the table. “Unlike you, Alexander values me. He respects me. He doesn’t need to sleep with my friends to

    feel validated.”

    Ryan’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t about what happened with Sophia.”

    “It’s exactly about what happened with Sophia. You broke us. You broke my trust. And now you can’t stand that I found happiness with someone else.”

    “Found happiness? Or found a bank ount?” His voice dripped with bitterness,

    I leaned across the table, lowering my voice. “Let me make something crystal clear, Ryan. My rtionship with Alexander is none of your business. My life is none of your business. You lost the right to question my choices the moment you dropped your pants at Sophia’s party.”

    “I made a mistake!” His voice rose, drawing nces from nearby tables.

    17:29 bSat/b, Sep 6

    N

    …

    52

    55 vouchers

    “Lower your voice,” I hissed. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

    “I’m trying to help you! Can’t you see that? What if he’s using you?”

    Augh bubbled up from my chest, genuine and unfiltered. “Using me? That’s riching from the man who borrowed money from me six times and never paid it back.”

    Ryan’s face flushed crimson. “That was different. We were together.”

    “And now I’m with Alexander.” I stood, grabbing my purse from the chair. “Look, I don’t know what you hoped to aplish here, but we’re done. Don’t call me again. Don’t text me. Don’t try to ‘save‘ me from my billionaire husband.”

    Ryan stood too, his eyes hardening. “I’m going to find out what’s really going on, Olivia. No matter what.”

    “Go ahead and try.” I turned to leave, then paused and looked back at him. “But let me save you some time. I’m happier now than I ever was with you. That’s the only truth that matters.”

    His face darkened further, but I didn’t wait for his response. I walked out of Baker’s Cafe with my head high, feeling lighter than I had in months. Making Ryan squirm had been unexpectedly satisfying.

    AD