Quinn didn't cry out loud, but she couldn't stop the silent tears that streamed down her face.
Her blurred eyes fixed coldly on Ivan, hoping he might still have the slightest shred of conscience and ask Grace to let her go. But Ivan didn't even glance her way. Instead, he stared at Grace with a fawning, flattering smile.
Grace was momentarily stunned when Ivan suddenly grabbed the hot coffee on the table and splashed it across Quinn's face. Then she let out a mocking laugh.
"As expected of you," Grace sneered, "even your girlfriend—the one who spent all her savings to help you build a career—you call her nothing more than a burden. If you can betray her, what's another woman to you?"
She leaned closer to Quinn's ear, her voice dripping with scorn."Did you really think you'd found yourself a good man? Let me tell you the truth—he's worthless, except for that face you've been staring at."
Grace straightened, pacing around as if enjoying the performance."The little company he bragged about in college? That was all thanks to his girlfriend's money. After graduation, his business ventures? Nothing but failure. He doesn't have real skills—just spends more time preening in the mirror, pretending to be some kind of prince, than actually working."
Her tone grew harsher, more cutting with every word."When his girlfriend's parents saw through him and tried to keep her away, he wanted to prove himself. So he went behind her back and threw her money into the stock market. Took out leverage too, thinking he'd strike it rich."
Grace gave a mocking clap. "Guess what happened? Lost everything. Even his pants."
Quinn's breath hitched, her heart breaking further as Grace continued.
"When his girlfriend found out, he cried, begged, promised to change. She forgave him. But he went right back into the market, again in secret. And of course—he lost again."
Grace smirked, enjoying the way Quinn trembled."He knew she wouldn't forgive him this time, so what did he do? He proposed. Manipulated her into draining her family dry for him. Once she realized the truth, she kicked him out. No money, no dignity, nothing. And now? He comes crawling to you. No wonder. Only a foolish woman like you would still fall for his tricks."
Her voice dripped with venom."Next time you try stealing someone else's man, do yourself a favor—open your damn eyes."
The truth crushed Quinn like a tidal wave. Now she understood Ivan completely—every mask ripped away, every lie exposed. He had never been the man she thought he was.
But she had no time to mourn. Around her, people were pointing, whispering, glaring as if she were some shameless mistress. Passersby on the street outside even stopped at the café windows to watch the spectacle.
Quinn wanted to disappear. She wanted to run, to escape the suffocating humiliation. If someone gave her two choices—stay and endure this, or jump off a building—she knew which she would choose.
At that moment, the café door burst open.
"Quinn!"
It was her best friend, Lily. She froze when she saw the scene, Quinn drenched and trembling, Ivan sneering, Grace smirking. Lily's eyes burned red with fury.
"What the hell are you doing? Let her go!" Lily shouted and rushed forward, but two of Grace's bodyguards immediately stepped in her way.
They were massive—over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, easily twice Lily's weight. She pushed, clawed, but it was useless.
Desperate, Lily pulled out her phone. She wanted to call the police, but hesitation froze her hand. Reporting this would only deepen Quinn's shame, painting her as the mistress in an ugly scandal.
No—she needed someone who could actually help. Someone with influence.
With trembling hands, Lily dialed Jason.
Her words tumbled out, frantic and broken, but Jason pieced them together.
"So Quinn went to meet her so-called first love," Jason muttered after hanging up, leaning back in his chair. "But that guy turned out to be some washed-up con artist, and now she's caught in the middle, treated like a mistress?"
To be honest, Jason didn't fully understand what was going through Quinn's head. Why she would even go see a man like that, why she put herself in this position.
But in his eyes, one fact was clear: whether she truly was a mistress or not, she had crossed a line.
If it had been his girlfriend sneaking off to meet her ex behind his back, Jason wouldn't tolerate it. Even if nothing happened, trust once broken was hard to mend.
Still, Quinn wasn't his girlfriend. She was single, free to make her own mistakes. Jason wouldn't lecture her—but silently, he marked her down in his heart.
"Who's this Grace anyway?" Jason asked Lily. He wanted to know what kind of power he'd be stepping into. If the price was too high, it wasn't worth it.
Because for Jason, everything came down to balance.
He would measure carefully before making his move.
Holly Larson had dealt with conflicts before, but most of the time she didn't even bother thinking about them too deeply.
This time, Jason felt Quinn bore some responsibility. She had walked into the situation herself. So it wasn't something to rush blindly into—he needed to see the whole picture first.
"How should I know? What does this even have to do with anyone?" Lily asked anxiously on the phone.
Jason, unfazed by her panic, said calmly, "Take a photo and send it to me. I'll check it out."
Lily quickly snapped a picture of Grace and the man beside her, Ivan, and sent it over. Jason opened it, pulled some strings through a couple of business groups he had recently joined, and within half an hour he had the basics.
The woman was Grace, president of CloudTech Solutions, a mid-sized tech company. Her background wasn't anything special. Not someone hard to deal with.
In fact, Jason realized there didn't even need to be a conflict here. This could be solved smoothly. And perhaps, even better—it was an opportunity. He had been thinking about finding a legitimate channel to transfer money to his father's small construction firm. CloudTech's products and services were closely aligned with automation, which would make the partnership look natural.
Jason swung his leg over his motorcycle—and sped toward the café. The deep growl of the engine roared down the street, and by the time he pulled up outside, heads were already turning.
The bike was sleek, menacing, and expensive. But it wasn't just the machine that drew stares—it was the rider. Jason carried himself with the kind of unshakable confidence that couldn't be faked.
Lily, who had been holding back tears beside Quinn, finally exhaled in relief. She pointed quickly, "Jason, it's her—that woman."
Jason's eyes swept the room once, then fixed directly on Grace.
The two bodyguards stepped forward, trying to block him. Jason paused, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. He could handle them easily if he wanted—but part of him thought, maybe it was time he hired people of his own. Doing everything himself, no matter how capable, sometimes felt beneath his status.
But then Grace noticed him.
Her heart skipped a beat. She was used to entertaining boy-toy types like Ivan, but the man standing before her wasn't just handsome—his aura was sharp, commanding.
And then her eyes caught on his watch.
A Richard Mille Black. Even among the rich, few could recognize it, but she could. Million dollars on one wrist. She had money, sure—president of a tech firm—but she wasn't anywhere near that league.
Immediately, her demeanor shifted. She waved her hand, motioning for her bodyguards to step aside, and plastered on a professional smile.
"This handsome gentleman," she said smoothly, "what can I do for you?"
Jason didn't waste words. He pointed at Quinn, who stood trembling, coffee dripping down her face.
"Ms. Grace," Jason said evenly, "she's my classmate. Let her go."
The respect in his voice wasn't a request.
Grace froze, then quickly loosened her grip and stepped back.
For the first time that night, uncertainty flickered across her face. This woman… how on earth did she know a man like this? Why was someone of his level walking into a place for her sake?
The instant Quinn was freed, Lily rushed forward, squeezing past and catching her in a desperate hug. Tears welled in both their eyes as Lily whispered comfort.
Jason, however, simply pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Quinn.
"Here. Wipe it off."
Quinn looked up at him, and in that moment, she broke down completely. Her tears spilled faster, every ounce of humiliation flooding out.
To her, Jason standing there was like a real prince—not like Ivan, not like Grace, who only thrived off of others. Jason carried real strength, and that strength demanded respect.
And in that instant, something in her heart shifted.
Quinn: Favorability +10.
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