chapter 3

In the end, they killed the hen for the egg, and whatever affection remained went up in smoke.

I could still recall him asking the doctor after my heartbeat stopped, “How's the baby? Is it safe?”

In this life, I'd never let him near the drug.

An IV drip of saline finally eased the burn in my stomach.

I didn't expect the lab's security alarm to shriek.

Moments later, Olivia posted another update on social media, which read, "Grad thesis almost done! Rising star of new drug research!"

In the accompanying photo, she wore a lab coat and flawless makeup, posing beside the microscope with no mask, my research notebook clutched in her hand.

The alarm kept wailing.

The security feed showed the two of them locked together atop my worktable—Olivia straddling Ryan with her eyes glazed over and lips parted, rocking up and down.

The white lab coat I'd cherished so carefully lay on the floor, buttons torn off.

I'd always known Ryan didn't love me, but watching years of work trampled underfoot still hurt more than I'd imagined.

In disbelief, I swiped my tears away with the back of my hand.

Then, I charged toward the lab.

Ryan and Olivia were forehead to forehead, kissing as if the world had melted away on the stainless-steel bench.

The air reeked with an indescribable musk that turned my stomach.

“You broke into my lab and stole experimental data. I'll sue you into bankruptcy, believe it or not!”

Interrupted, Ryan wiped the smear of lipstick from his mouth, irritation clouding his face as he snapped, “Come on, Grace. I bankrolled half this place. Isn't it just a bunch of numbers? Your results will be public anyway. What's wrong with letting Olivia use them for a paper? Besides, you haven't finished the trial. First to publish, first to own it. Got it?”

I gaped at his shamelessness and pointed at the camera. “Every second is recorded. All of it is my evidence.”

Ryan let out a dismissive snort. “You'd do anything to get my attention, wouldn't you?”

It felt as though the air itself caught fire around me.

Maybe he'd never seen me grit my teeth with such fury, for he hesitated briefly.

Just then a message from my father popped up.

The photo showed a tall man in dark Armani, sunglasses on, rolling a suitcase through the airport like a moving shadow. It was none other than Ethan, Ryan's elder brother.

He was also the one I was supposed to marry.

My father texted, "He's landed. He'll be at the dinner tonight."

At the same time, Ryan seemed to have received a message of his own as the worry on his face morphed into smug confidence. “Go ahead and sue me, Grace. I dare you. Don't say I didn't warn you—my brother is one of the best attorneys in the industry.”

He pulled out a cigarette and flicked his lighter.

“No smoking in the lab!”

I finally grabbed my mug and dumped its content over his head.

Ignoring his curses and Olivia's shrieks, I walked out.

That evening marked the first family gathering between the Harris and the Bennett families before our official engagement.

Ryan arrived with Olivia in tow, and I made sure to sit far from them.

Noticing my sour mood, Ryan slid into the chair beside me. He draped his arm over my seat, blew smoke toward the ceiling, and smirked. “Got a temper now? Is riling me up your new version of playing hard to get?”

When I ignored him, he leaned closer. “Cold water can be a kink, but you scared Olivia. After dinner, you'd better apologize.”

His gaze dropped to my bare fingers, and he frowned. “Where's the ring I gave you?”

I finally met his eyes with a frown. “Wrong seat, Ryan. That's for the host.”

Caught by my stare, he crushed out his cigarette, then felt embarrassed about it. “Why not? Tonight's practically our public engagement. Aren't I the host?”