Chapter 2
I pulled out my phone to call 911.
Jessica panicked. She put on a magnanimous
act. “I got my bracelet back. I don’t want to
make a big deal out of this. Calling the police
will be bad for Ethan’s company. Let’s just forget it.”
“This isn’t over for me. I didn’t steal your
bracelet. Unless you admit you framed me,
I’m calling the police.”
I stared at her, waiting for her response.
Jessica turned to Ethan, her face a mask of
. “Ethan, for your sake, I’ve been more than
reasonable. She’s making a scene. It’s going
to embarrass you.”
Ethan looked at me, disappointment in his
eyes.
I tried again. “Mr. Miller, I didn’t steal-”
He cut me off. “Enough. This is over. No one
is to mention it again.”
Disappointment washed over me. Ethan
wasn’t just not defending me; he was taking a
neutral stance, implying my guilt.
If this wasn’t cleared up, I’d be labeled a thief
forever.
I shook my head. “No. I need to clear my
name.”
Ethan frowned, impatient. “Sarah Matthews,
^
enough is enough. Are you enjoying this?”
“I know your mom is sick. You need money. That’s why you targeted Jessica’s bracelet.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “You don’t
believe me?”
Ethan looked down at me, condescending.
“How can I believe you? You have the motive.
The evidence is all there.”
“Sarah Matthews, I told you, I’ll help you with
the money. Why did you have to do this?”
I looked at him, his familiar face now strange
and distant.
Ethan was the CEO. His words gave my
colleagues license to condemn me.
“I can’t believe we have a thief in our
company. It’s a disgrace!”
“I always knew she was shady. My rose tea
kept disappearing from the office. She
probably took that too!”
“She’s so cheap! She should be fired!”
“Fire her!”
Ethan glowered. “That’s enough. No one is to
mention this again.”
Everyone fell silent, but their eyes held
contempt.
The hospital called again. I answered and
hurried out of the room.
L
The wind was cold, but not as cold as my
heart.
A Rolls–Royce pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing Ethan’s
handsome profile.
I ignored him and kept walking.
Ethan’s voice was sharp. “Get in the car. Do
you want everyone to see you like this?”
“I don’t need a ride from Mr. Miller. That way,
no one will see me.”
I hailed a cab and got in.
Ethan and I had been dating secretly for three
vears.
At first, it was my choice. I wasn’t sure about
the relationship’s longevity, and I didn’t want
to deal with office gossip.
But since Jessica had returned, everything
had changed. Ethan had become distant and
disdainful.
I guess our relationship was over.
