Chapter 3

3.

Two hours later, as I was handing over my work to a colleague, Jasper sent me an iMessage.

[Bring me a coffee.]

He was incredibly picky. It had to be Jamaican Blue Mountain with two pumps of vanilla syrup and oat milk.

In the entire firm, I was the only one who could make it exactly how he liked it.

With a sigh, I got up to prepare his coffee.

I didn’t expect to see Chloe in the breakroom.

Seeing me, Chloe’s lips curled into a disdainful smirk as she slowly stirred her own coffee.

“Do you really think you’re Mrs. Thorne?”

She leaned against the counter, her eyes dripping with contempt. “Honey, wake up. Jasper just needed a… placeholder.”

She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“If he really loved you, why have you waited three years for a wedding that never happened? Face it, Stella―you’re just keeping my seat warm.”

I looked down, grabbed the coffee beans, and started grinding them. My voice was terrifyingly calm.

“Want a cup? Freshly ground Blue Mountain. It’s pretty good.”

My composure seemed to throw Chloe off. She looked me up and down as if I were some kind of freak.

“What’s with the cool-girl act? Do you really think Jasper won’t divorce you?”

She stepped closer again, her voice laced with malicious glee.

“Let me tell you the truth. Jasper only married you because of a bet I made with him.”

“I bet him he wouldn’t dare get married before he turned thirty―he only married you to prove me wrong.”

“Otherwise, why would he get a marriage license with you but never actually have a wedding?”

“Chloe! That’s enough!”

Jasper’s tall frame squeezed into the breakroom, his voice echoing in the small space.

He looked flustered, shooting a reprimanding glance at Chloe.

But Chloe, instead of getting angry, just linked her arm through his coquettishly.

“Was I wrong? Jasper, you know you only agreed to marry Stella to win that bet.”

Jasper’s expression became incredibly complicated. He seemed to want to defend himself, but he just opened and closed his mouth, unable to say a word.

His eyes darted around, avoiding my gaze, his face a canvas of guilt and confusion.

I stood there, stunned, Chloe’s words ringing in my ears.

In our relationship, I had always been the one to initiate everything.

I pursued him for five years, from my shy confession in law school to finally gathering the courage to propose.

He had always maintained an ambiguous stance―never rejecting, but never accepting.

The day Jasper suggested we go to City Hall, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep all night.

I was ecstatic, thinking I had finally won him over, thinking he actually had feelings for me.

But now, the brutal reality sliced through all my fantasies like a sharp knife.

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched my lips. I pushed the freshly brewed coffee toward Jasper.

“Mr. Thorne, your coffee is ready. I’ll be leaving now.”

Without waiting for his panicked reaction, I turned and walked away in silence.