Chapter 5
Looking at the photos scattered on the floor, I realized Ryan had misunderstood my relationship with Max.
I met his angry gaze calmly. “Perfect. Saves me the introduction.”
“Introduction?” His voice was tight with anger.
I shrugged. “He’s your new assistant. We signed the contract today.” I pulled out the
and spread them on the bed.
His face darkened with each page he turned. “Who gave you permission to end your
contract?”
papers
“How else do we get divorced?” I said coldly.
That stopped him short. He stared at me. “Divorce… Emma, you’re serious?”
I placed the signed divorce papers next to the assistant contract. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Ryan stood frozen, his voice unsteady. “Emma, I’ve told you a hundred times. There’s nothing between Olivia and me. That kiss at the gala was pure PR for the show’s release. We’re adults – can’t you stop obsessing over nothing? I don’t have energy for this.”
From where I stood, the bite mark on his collarbone was clear as day.
I smiled faintly. “High school sweethearts… honestly, Ryan, even I’m starting to root for you
two.”
The front door opened. Olivia stumbled in, calling weakly, “Ryan…” He rushed to catch her.
She touched his face with trembling fingers, tears in her eyes. “Ryan, I was so worried. I
drove back all night.”
Ryan cupped her face, his voice soft with concern. “Why would you do that? What if something happened? Look at your feet – these heels have destroyed them.” He turned to me, pleading. “Emma, enough fighting, okay? You can see she’s hurt. We need to go. Be good and wait here. We’ll talk later.”
Too Late to Say Sorry
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Chapter 5
I smiled, handing him his jacket. “Cover up. Paparazzi are everywhere.”
He gave me a grateful look, already hurrying out. He was in such a rush he grabbed the wrong shoes.
As they disappeared, I slammed the door. Then I called the housekeeper to pack all Ryan’s things and put them outside.
For three days, their “romance” dominated social media. When Ryan called, I was just getting into bed.
The doctor had warned me to take it easy with this being my first pregnancy.
“Emma, listen. These past days, I was at the hospital sorting things with Olivia. I wasn’t avoiding you. All those rumors – the couple bracelets, the ring, the pregnancy whispers – they’re all lies.”
“What are you talking about?”
His voice fell. “Emma… haven’t you seen what’s trending?”
–
I hadn’t. I’d deleted all social media apps. These three days, I’d focused on early nights and healthy living. Applying my face mask, I said calmly, “Ryan, when are you free to finalize
the divorce?”
“Emma, I won’t divorce you!” he snapped.
Thirty minutes later, he was at the door, demanding to know why I’d locked him out and thrown out his things.
Max sent me messages:
[Emma, paparazzi caught Ryan outside a villa.]
[They’re threatening to leak før a million. What do we do?]
Seeing Max’s panic, I replied calmly:
[This is part of the job. Ask the people involved. I’m retired from crisis management.]
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Chapter 5
[Got it, Emma.]
I slept peacefully. By morning, my phone was flooded with calls and messages.
I opened one- Max: [Emma, you’re actually married to Ryan? How did none of us know?]
Not just Max, but reporters, directors, actors I’d worked with all messaging about Ryan
and me.
I instinctively replied: [You’ve got it wrong, Max. We’re not like that.]
[Emma, stop lying! Ryan just tweeted!]
Shocked, I reinstalled Twitter and turned on entertainment news.
There was Ryan’s tweet:
2500円
“HELP! My wife @EmmaTheAssistant kicked me out. Taking suggestions.”
With two photos: Ryan standing pitifully by his packed bags, and our marriage certificate.
The comments exploded:
[OMG Ryan this announcement is WILD]
[Wait so the high school sweetheart story was fake??]
[Who does Emma think she is? She’s 30!]
[Bet she seduced him when she was his assistant]
www
[Y’all see the date?? FIVE YEARS AGO when he was a nobody!]
[So she’s been there from rock/bottom to stardom??]
[Not for fame, didn’t leave in hard times. That’s real love.]
[If Emma’s the wife what’s Olivia? Those looks between them ain’t innocent]
[Nah Olivia’s the homewrecker. Ryan’s just promoting the show but who knows what she
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Chapter 5
