When he saw me with my head down, Ansel nudged my ann. “Come on. You’re a brilliant analyst. Don’t tell me you’re backing out now. You can read the stock market like a pro, but you’re scared to face one cheating ex?”
He frowned as he said it.
My lips parted slightly, but in the end, I said nothing. I wasn’t scared–just uncomfortable.
1/1
11
Meanwhile, Ivana seemed hell–bent on provoking me. She kissed Clarence right in front of me, Clarence is officially my boyfriend now.”
then turned to his classmates and announced loudly, “Everyone,
Ansel didn’t hold back and scoffed. “Wow. I didn’t realize some people were that eager to play the mistress.”
I tried to stop him, but it was too late. The confrontation had already started.
“Ansel Reed, what the hell is your problem?” Clarence snapped.
He used to speak to Ansel with basic respect. But now, he was spitting out his full name. That alone showed how furious he was.
Then, Clarence turned to me, his gaze sharp. “Janelle, don’t forget that we’re already divorced.”
His hands were shaking from how angry he was, like I had wronged Ivana somehow. But they were the ones humiliating me in public. Wasn’t I the one being disrespected?
Moreover, seeing him speak to Ansel with that kind of hostility pushed me over the edge. My anger boiled over. In the next second, I slammed my hand on the table and stood up.
“Divorced? Sure. But the paperwork isn’t even finalized, and you’re already this desperate to move on?” I spat. “Ansel’s right. We’re still legally married, so that makes her a mistress, And she’s not just any third party. She knew exactly what she was doing.”
For once, I didn’t care about shielding Clarence’s pride.
He stood frozen to the spot. Almost immediately, whispers rippled through the room. My classmates, in particular, were quick to take my side. Everyone had seen how obsessively Clarence had pursued me back then. They knew what I had sacrificed for him, too.
We were all in the finance world. It was no secret that my family had helped keep Kirk Group afloat. And now, he was burning the very bridge he had crossed. Just like that, his reputation crumbled.
Clarence clearly wanted to leave, but Ivana wouldn’t let him. She still wanted to show off in front of her former classmates. Ignoring his discomfort, she dragged him through the crowd.
I didn’t dwell
on it.
After all, Ansel and I had come for a reason.
We were eyeing several investment projects, and the guy in charge just happened to be one of our former classmates. He was here tonight, too.
Once the drama had died down, Ansel and I went to find him. We weren’t looking to talk our way in. All we wanted to know was if we had a shot at bidding.
To our surprise, the conversation went well. By the end, he agreed to let us enter the bid. Ansel and I both exhaled in relief.
While Ansel went to mingle, I stepped out onto the rooftop for some air.
“Do you hate me that much?”
I had only been alone for three minutes when Clarence appeared.
He still had that same arrogan
posture, but the exhaustion in his eyes was obvious. I could tell he was tired.
Clarence cared deeply about his image. After what happened, he could’ve walked away with his pride intact. But for Ivana’s sake, he stayed.
Since that was his decision, he needed to bear the consequences. He was a ruthless and decisive CEO, after all. He should’ve been able to handle a little fallout. What I didn’t expect was for him to show up just to blame me.
“I do,” I replied flatly.
His expression hardened at my words. After a pause, he said with a frown, “You’re the one who filed for divorce. Even if you regret it now, “Why would I regret it?” I cut in. “It was my decision.”
