Chapter 3

Two hundred thousand dollars.

To buy out our three-year relationship.

Never mind the five million I’d spent saving his company.

Over those three years, I had paid more than that for Olivia’s rent, fresh food every day, jewelry, and clothes.

I had kept the prices to myself because I didn’t want to make her feel inadequate. Apparently, she really believed I was some broke kid.

And now he wanted to get rid of me for two hundred thousand.

What a joke.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on me, eager to see whether I would lash out or grovel.

Mason looked especially pleased with himself, ready to enjoy the show.

As if he had already ended my relationship and taken my place.

I didn’t look at Richard. I turned to Olivia.

I needed one final answer.

She had kept her head lowered the entire time, acting as though none of this concerned her.

“Olivia,” I said. “Is this what you want, too?”

She stiffened, her shoulders trembling slightly.

A few seconds of silence stretched into an eternity.

Finally, without lifting her head, she forced out one word.

“Yes.”

That word shattered what was left of me.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. The sound shook my chest.

“Good. Very good.”

I stood and looked around the room.

Richard frowned, clearly unhappy with my reaction. “What are you laughing at? Two hundred thousand isn’t enough? Don’t get greedy, Ethan!”

“No, it’s plenty.” I shook my head, my smile turning colder.

“For someone who’s about to lose everything again, two hundred thousand is a lot of money.”

Richard’s expression changed. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you wishing ruin on me?”

“Dad, stop wasting your breath!” Olivia finally spoke, her voice sharp with irritation. “Ethan, what do you want? Do you have to make this so ugly?”

“Ugly?” I looked at her. “Olivia, it became ugly the moment you let him sit here and humiliate me.”

I pointed at Mason.

“I’ll agree to the breakup.” My smile disappeared, my expression going cold. “But not right now.”

Everyone froze.

Mason scoffed. “What? Trying to drag this out? Let me make one thing clear. Olivia’s going to be mine. Stalling won’t change that.”

“I just think…” I slowly straightened my cuff.

“Olivia getting guaranteed admission is a big deal. And with your company back on track, Richard, you’ve got two reasons to celebrate. Why not throw a proper party? Invite everyone who should be there.”

“We can announce our breakup at the party. End things on good terms and give this relationship a little closure.”

My proposal left Richard and Mason staring.

They couldn’t figure out what I was planning.

As far as they were concerned, I was volunteering for a public execution. Letting them strip away the last of my dignity and grind it underfoot.

But Mason wasn’t about to pass up another chance to humiliate me. “I think that’s perfect. With so many witnesses, he won’t be able to back out.”

A calculating gleam appeared in Richard’s eyes.

He liked the idea, too.

For him, it was an enormous opportunity.

He had been looking for a chance to announce his family’s comeback and show off his wealthy future son-in-law. If I wanted to build him a stage, why wouldn’t he perform?

“Good! That takes character!” Richard slapped his thigh and beamed.

“Ethan, I didn’t know you had it in you! It’s settled. I’ll arrange the party. We’ll make it a night to remember!”

Mason smiled, too, looking at me with contempt and pity. “Try not to cry when the time comes. Need me to buy you something decent to wear?”

I ignored him and gave Olivia one last look.

She seemed confused, uncertain, and perhaps just a little guilty.

She looked as though she wanted to say something. In the end, she said nothing.

But what did it matter? She had chosen her own path.

And she would have to take center stage for this grand finale.