Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Days later, Ryan texted me: “Mia, don’t ever try to cross me again!”
“Like I said before, if you behave, you can be my secret lover. If not, you’ll suffer even
worse than this.”
I didn’t respond. I just dragged my battered body out of Berkeley.
Romance was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t have time to deal with him anymore.
I had been blind, but now I needed to get my life back on track.
On my first day back home in California, I applied for a master’s program at Stanford.
Three years later, I graduated and, through university connections, landed a job at Google’s California headquarters.
But even after all this time, that nightmarish evening still haunts me.
I never gave up on getting justice for what they did to me.
ོན་ང་ཅན་
During those three years, Ryan climbed the corporate ladder with Jessica’s family connections, but he never stopped harassing me.
When they got married, he sent me their wedding photos to flaunt his happiness.
After his first promotion, he sent me a picture of his appointment letter: “Guess what, Mia?
I’m a manager now! Overseeing more than ten people!”
“I’m starting to think Jessica isn’t good enough for me anymore. Sure, her family has money, but she’s just a temp at the office…”
“Mia, it’s not too late to reconsider. Want to be my secret lover? This is your chance.”
“Why haven’t I heard anything.about you these past years? You must be struggling without me, right? If you beg me, I could arrange a job for you.”
Reading these messages, I couldn’t help but smirk.
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Ex Left Me for a Rich Girl–Now I Marry His Boss
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Chapter 4
I was so young and naive back then, unable to see Ryan for who he truly was.
His entire career was built on riding Jessica’s family connections. Yet the moment he tasted
a bit of success, he started looking down on others.
People like him never learn gratitude. Being a snake is coded into his DNA.
His latest message came just yesterday.
“Mia, our director is retiring. I’m getting another promotion!”
I thought about what my boss, CEO Alexander Hayes, had told me that same day: “Mia,
headquarters feels the Berkeley branch has been underperforming. They’re sending me to
restructure things for a few years.”
“I’ve looked into it – their weakest division happens to be your specialty. I can bring one
person with me. Would you like to come?”
Of course I would. This was the opportunity I’d been dreaming of.
On Alexander’s first day at the Berkeley office, all the mid–level managers gathered in the
conference room.
All except Ryan, who was mysteriously late.
Everyone was waiting for him. Alexander was reviewing quarterly reports while I stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows, taking in the Berkeley scenery.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence.
“Sorry I’m late, Mr. Hayes!” Ryan’s voice was eager and ingratiating. “Traffic was terrible this morning.”
“More likely his wife wouldn’t let him leave the house,” someone whispered, triggering laughter around the room.
I turned around and immediately understood the joke.
Ryan’s otherwise confident face bore a distinct red mark – clearly a scratch from a woman’s fingernail.
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Ex Left Me for a Rich Girl–Now I Marry His Boss
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Seemed like Ryan’s married life wasn’t exactly blissful.
His face flushed. “That’s not it. My zipper caught my skin.”
As he spoke, his eyes landed on me standing beside Alexander.
Surprise. Panic. Fear. Each emotion flashed across his face in rapid succession.
Ryan had clearly never imagined running into me in this setting.
Without warning, he pulled me aside and hissed, “Mia! What the hell are you doing here?”
“What’s your game? If you have something to say to me, we could’ve talked privately!”
I savored his panic, saying nothing in response.
Until Alexander’s displeased voice broke the tension.
“You know Ms. James, Mr. Wells?”
Ryan froze for a second, then quickly released my arm. With a forced smile, he said, “We were college classmates.”
“Perfect,” Alexander replied calmly. “Let me introduce everyone. This is Ms. Mia James, a technical consultant from headquarters and also my executive assistant. Please welcome her to the team.”
As applause filled the room, Ryan stood there in disbelief before hurrying back to his seat.
I knew exactly why he was so rattled.
His former boss and protector had retired, replaced by Alexander Hayes.
The promotion he’d been chasing required Alexander’s approval.
And now, standing beside Alexander was me–the woman he and Jessica had set up and betrayed.
His career, which he’d spent years building, was suddenly in my hands.
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