False Love

I’d served Cole Warrington for a full year, like a dutiful servant.

If his clothes got stained, I washed them. If his sneakers got dusty, I cleaned them.

If he was hungry, I brought him food. If he was thirsty, I fetched him water.

If he got blackout drunk, I helped him back to his place.

If he went on a date and spent the night with a woman, I stood guard outside.

Everyone around knew how groveling I was.

But Cole always treated me coldly. When he was happy, he used me for amusement. When he was angry, I was his punching bag.

His group of friends all thought I had a screw loose. They couldn’t understand why I willingly fawned over him like a dog when he treated me like one.

I never told anyone the truth. This diligent people-pleaser of mine was actually hired by Cole’s older brother, Kael, for three hundred thousand a month.

Cole thought I was his obsessed follower, but I saw him as my meal ticket.

1

Cole got into a fight with his new girlfriend, Mona. Furious, she ripped the necklace from her neck and threw it into the swimming pool.

That necklace was a gift from Cole, worth a fortune.

Cole never knew how to appease people. He was always the one being appeased. Getting him to admit he was wrong was like trying to move a mountain.

Cole kicked over a wicker chair and roared, “If you don’t want to play, then get the hell out!”

Mona’s shoulders shook as she sobbed. Being humiliated like that in front of so many people, she covered her face and ran out.

Cole’s face was dark enough to kill.

This was another golden opportunity for me, the people-pleaser, to make some cash.

So I promptly sent Kael a message.

Within minutes, my Alipay notified me of a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer.

Without a second thought, I took off my coat and jumped into the pool.

The moment I hit the water, a commotion erupted from the shore.

“Jumping in in this freezing weather?”

“If there’s a runner-up for biggest simp, Jolie’s it!”

“She’s really going all out just to get Cole to look at her, huh?”

…

The water was bone-chillingly cold. By the time I finally found the necklace and climbed out, my hands and feet were numb, and I couldn’t stop shivering.

Cole stood at the edge, arms crossed, watching me with amusement.

I held up the necklace and waved it. “Cole, look! I found your necklace!”

He sneered. “Did I ask you to get it?”

Ha…

No matter how bad his temper, he was still my golden goose.

I climbed out of the pool and put on an act. “Cole, everything I do is just to make you happy. Don’t be mad, okay? Even a frown from you breaks my heart. If you don’t like it, I’ll throw it back in.”

Everyone around seemed grossed out by my cheesiness, looking at me like I was a ghost.

Honestly, I almost threw up myself.

But Cole’s expression slowly softened.

He liked hearing that.

He said flatly, “No need. That necklace is trash anyway. Since you fished it out, it’s yours.”

I grinned excitedly. That necklace was worth at least seventy to eighty thousand.

Cole gave me a contemptuous glance. “Jolie, do you really like me that much?”

I nodded emphatically!

Three hundred and sixty thousand a year base salary, plus Kael’s occasional bonuses, not to mention the “trash” Cole threw my way. Only an idiot would say no, right?

Cole shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at me. “But I’ll never love a woman with such bad taste as you. Stop dreaming!”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes and continued, “It’s okay if you don’t love me. Just give me a chance to love you.”

Cole nodded with satisfaction and turned away arrogantly.

People pointed and whispered, but I didn’t care.

Making money isn’t shameful.

I deserved an Oscar!

2

When I was seven, my father kicked my mother and me out of the house.

Within two months, he moved his mistress and her daughter, Sienna, into the Warrington estate.

Sienna was only a year younger than me, which meant my father had cheated on my mother shortly after they got married.

My mother had little education and sold vegetables to put me through school.

A year ago, she had a cerebral hemorrhage and was hospitalized.

I went to my father for money, but he and his new wife threw me out.

His wife sneered at me, “Your mother can’t afford treatment? That’s her bad luck. If you think you’re getting a cent from us, dream on!”

Just when I was at my wit’s end, Kael found me.

He offered me a high salary to be Cole’s people-pleaser because my eyes resembled Yvonne’s, Cole’s first love.

Yvonne had been with Cole for three years, and they were about to get married when she cheated on him.

She dumped him and went abroad with her new boyfriend.

The shock triggered bipolar disorder in Cole.

He couldn’t control his emotions and often did outrageous things.

As a people-pleaser with a thirty-percent resemblance to Yvonne, my purpose was to let Cole vent his anger and resentment toward Yvonne through my servitude.

In other words, I was Cole’s medicine.

3

I had just sold the necklace Cole had tossed to me when I got a call from the nanny.

She said Cole had crashed his race car into a guardrail and was hospitalized.

As his people-pleaser, I rushed to the hospital.

The moment I entered the room, I threw myself onto his bed and sobbed dramatically.

Cole crossed his arms and glared at me coldly. “I’m not dead yet. Who are you crying for?”

Okay, I overdid it.

I wiped my tears and started peeling an apple for him.

“Jolie, what do you like about me?”

I flinched, and the apple peel broke. If I said his money, would he kill me?

I cleared my throat. “I like your eyes, your nose, your lips, your collarbone, your chest, your abs—”

He cut me off with a scoff. “Are all women this shallow?”

Of course not. If women only cared about looks, he wouldn’t have been dumped by Yvonne!

I chuckled sheepishly. “What can I say? You’re just too handsome.”

Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around my waist. I was still holding the fruit knife, and it scared me half to death.

He stared at my lips and said seductively, “Since you like me so much, I’ll give you a chance. Be my girlfriend. How about that?”

No way!

You bastard, trying to cut off my income?

4

What had gotten into Cole to set his sights on me, his people-pleaser?

If I refused him, wouldn’t that ruin my people-pleaser persona?

If I went along with it, who would compensate me for my thirty-thousand-a-month salary?

I hesitated, unsure how to answer.

My silence made Cole misunderstand.

He said, “Jolie, are you so happy you’ve gone dumb?”

I chuckled awkwardly.

But Cole suddenly let me go and lay back against the headboard, uninterested. “I was just messing with you. Did you really think I’d fall for you?”

I think he’s not bipolar—he’s a drama queen with too much inner monologue!

I steadied myself, cut the apple into small pieces, and smiled as I handed him the plate.

“You’re in the hospital now. You need to eat more fruit to get your nutrients.”

He put his hands behind his head and stared at me for a few seconds, lost in thought.

After a moment, he said, “Feed me.”

I flinched, almost dropping the plate.

He smirked. “It’s just a chance to feed me. Why are you so worked up?”

I was speechless. Sure, you’re handsome, but being this arrogant is baffling.

I forced a smile, picked up a piece of apple with a toothpick, and held it to his lips. “Eat.”

It took him half an hour to finish one apple. My hand was about to fall off.

I mentally calculated how to ask Kael for some injury compensation.

“What are you thinking about?” Cole’s annoyed voice broke my thoughts. “You’re spacing out while with me?”

Come on, only money can keep me focused, okay?

He grabbed my chin and turned my face toward him, studying me with interest. “Jolie, I’ve suddenly realized it’s not just your eyes that are pretty. Your lips are too.”

What does that mean?

I froze, not daring to move.

5

His face leaned in, his lips approaching. Just as he was about to kiss me, my hand was ready to slap him.

“What are you two doing?”

Mona’s shrill voice cut through the air.

Honestly, Mona was the most dramatic of all Cole’s girlfriends.

But at that moment, she felt like a godsend.

I jumped back quickly. “Mona, don’t misunderstand! He just slapped me!”

Mona looked at me suspiciously. “Really?”

Cole snorted and spoke before I could. “No, I was about to kiss her.”

God, I was earning this money on a knife’s edge!

And he had to make it worse. “I gave her the necklace you threw away.”

Mona’s tears started flowing. “Cole, what do you mean?”

Cole said lazily, “It means I’m done playing with you. You’re dumped.”

And there went Mona, running off crying again.

If you’re breaking up, fine, but why drag me into it?

The next day, Mona came after me.

I’d invested in a bubble tea shop and hired two part-time college students. I occasionally dropped by to check on things.

Mona came to my shop and ordered thirty cups of brown sugar boba milk tea, insisting I make them myself.

I’m the owner—I don’t know how to make tea!

Mona got angry, calling me a shady business owner for opening a tea shop without knowing how to make tea.

Then she started crying, accusing me of stealing her boyfriend.

A crowd gathered, and the moment they heard about a love triangle, they got all excited.

I tried to pull Mona aside, but she slapped at me. I dodged, but her acrylic nails scratched my face.

It hurt badly. Had she scarred me?

6

I put up with Cole’s crap because at least I got paid.

But why should I take his ex-girlfriend’s abuse?

I was about to slap her back when I forced myself to stop and covered my cheek instead.

Because I saw Kael coming.

I couldn’t ruin my innocent little flower act.

Kael was wearing a tailored Italian suit, his impossibly long legs almost reaching my waist.

“Miss Mona, as far as I know, my brother has already broken up with you. Since he’s single, he’s free to date whoever he wants.”

Kael’s presence was overwhelming. Mona’s bravado melted away, and she shrank back like a scared quail.

“Don’t let me see you bothering Jolie again.”

His voice was so sharp that Mona trembled and fled with her tail between her legs.

She ran so smoothly I almost felt sorry for her.

With that kind of speed, she should join a track team.

Thanks to Kael’s clarification, the crowd dispersed.

I immediately pulled out my phone and opened the camera.

Her cheap nails had left a shallow red mark on my jawline.

Luckily, it wasn’t deep and probably wouldn’t scar.

“Does it hurt?” Kael raised his hand as if to touch my wound, but his fingers paused and dropped.

It didn’t hurt much, but I still forced a whimper and squeezed out a tear. “It hurts… Mr. Warrington, this counts as a work injury, right?”

He smirked. “Then I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup.”

That’s not necessary…

I coughed awkwardly. “Mr. Warrington, you’re a busy man. I wouldn’t dare trouble you with a minor injury. I can go to the hospital myself, but the medical expenses…”

Kael chuckled. “Jolie, you can be more direct.”

Over the past year, most of my communication with Kael had been through text.

Behind a screen, I could shamelessly talk about money.

But face-to-face, it was embarrassing.

Maybe it was his strong presence, or maybe it was because he was too handsome.

I couldn’t even look him in the eye.

He pulled out his phone and transferred me a generous “work injury compensation.”

I happily accepted it. “Thank you, Mr. Warrington!”

“I have a meeting to attend. Feel free to text me if anything comes up.”

With that, he turned and left.

He and Cole were brothers, but how could they be so different?

I went back to my shop, grabbed a bandage, and was about to put it on when Kael returned.

He handed me a plastic bag with iodine, cotton swabs, and a box of bandages.

I froze. He said flatly, “You should disinfect it first. Do you need help?”

Him applying medicine to me?

I couldn’t even imagine it.

I shook my head and refused. “No, I can do it myself.”

He didn’t say anything else and left again.

Like a gust of wind…

7

Cole asked me to go stargazing with him on the mountain.

In this freezing weather? No thanks.

I wrapped myself in my coat, shivering, while Cole sat next to me, drinking beer after beer.

He got drunk, leaned his head on my shoulder, and his alcohol-laden breath made me dizzy.

“Jolie, the stars are so bright tonight.”

I hummed in agreement.

Did he really think stargazing on a winter mountain was romantic?

I was just cold. I couldn’t help but sneeze.

Half-drunk, he squinted at me for a moment, then smirked. “You’re cold? Let me warm you up.”

He pulled me into his arms and even rubbed his chin against my forehead.

His stubble scratched my skin.

“Jolie, do you like me?”

I lied. “Yeah.”

“How much?”

Was he having another heartbreak episode and wanted to hear me confess again?

I took a deep breath and repeated the spiel I’d said so many times: “A lot. So much. More than anything. You’re always first in my heart.”

He was satisfied and chuckled softly.

I sighed in relief.

Cole had a terrible temper, but if you knew how to handle him, he was easy to manage.

The place was far from the city, and since Cole had been drinking, we stayed at his villa in the suburbs.

I helped him to the bedroom. Just as I was about to leave, he called out, “Aren’t you going to take off my shoes? How am I supposed to sleep?”

…

I clenched my fists, wanting to knock him out.

I held back and took off his shoes, socks, and jacket.

His eyes were hazy as he stared at me, making me nervous.

“What?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly reached out, pulled me into his arms, and flipped me onto the bed.

?

What was he trying to do?

8

Cole stroked my cheek with his right hand. It tickled, so I turned my head slightly.

Even that small movement annoyed him.

He grabbed my chin and forced my face back, narrowing his eyes. “Are you rejecting me?”

I wondered if he’d been drinking fake alcohol.

He was pressing down on me, and I was starting to have trouble breathing.

I tried to reason with him. “It’s late. You should rest.”

Cole smirked. “Yeah, it’s late. So don’t leave. Stay with me.”

?

I loved money, but I wasn’t about to sacrifice my dignity.

His hand moved to my waist, and he leaned in, his lips getting closer.

I gritted my teeth, lifted my head, and slammed my forehead into his chin.

He hissed in pain. “Jolie, are you crazy?”

You’re the crazy one. Your whole family is crazy!

I pushed him off and ran out of the house in a panic.

Given Cole’s recent behavior, I couldn’t handle the Warrington money anymore.

The villa was halfway up the mountain, and it was pitch black. As I walked down the path, my mind filled with horror movie scenes, and I ran back in fear.

I didn’t dare go back inside, so I sat on the steps at the entrance, waiting for dawn.

After some thought, I texted Kael. “Mr. Warrington, thank you for your support over the past year. I’d like to resign.”

It was almost eleven at night, and I assumed Kael was asleep.

But within two minutes, he called me.

“Can you tell me why?”

How was I supposed to say it? “Your brother tried to sleep with me, and I wasn’t having it”?

I thought for a moment and said vaguely, “Your brother is a nice guy, but I don’t like him.”

There was silence on the other end. My heart pounded nervously.

Kael suddenly chuckled softly. “I know my brother’s personality better than you do. You’ve been through a lot this year.”

He was strange. He paid me so well and still thought I was mistreated? How was he different from other capitalists?

“Did something happen just now?”

I bit my lip. “Cole got drunk and might have mistaken me for Yvonne.”

His tone turned serious. “Where are you now?”

“At your villa on Autumn Mountain.”

“Alright, wait for me. I’ll come get you.”

“Mr. Warrington, you don’t have to!”

“It’s the middle of the night. It’s not safe for a girl to be out alone.”

9

Just as I hung up, a light rain started falling.

By the time Kael arrived, my hair and clothes were half-soaked.

He held an umbrella over me. “Why didn’t you go inside to wait?”

I didn’t answer.

He understood and said quietly, “Sorry, I was late.”

He must have just showered. His bangs were damp and falling over his forehead, making him look unusually gentle.

Since I was wet, Kael worried I’d catch a cold, so he took me to another Warrington villa on the mountainside and told me to take a hot shower.

I was stunned. Did rich people buy villas in bulk?

Kael said casually, “This whole area was built by my family.”

Alright, I was just too ignorant.

This house was his private residence.

He handed me a white shirt to use as pajamas. “Sorry, I don’t have any women’s clothes here. This shirt is new. You’ll have to make do.”

For some reason, my cheeks felt hot.

When I reached for the shirt, my fingertips accidentally brushed his. I jerked my hand back like I’d been shocked.

He pulled his hand away too, and the shirt fell to the floor.

I stammered, “Sorry, static electricity!”

We both bent down to pick it up at the same time, and his hand landed on mine.

I almost stopped breathing. Panicking, I tried to pull away, but when I looked up, I banged my head against his chin.

God, I’d managed to hit both brothers’ chins in one night.

Could I be any dumber?

I grabbed the shirt and rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was as red as a tomato.

So embarrassing…

I stayed in the bathroom for an hour, too embarrassed to come out. Kael must have thought I’d passed out, because he knocked on the door. “Jolie, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I steeled myself and opened the door.

Kael had changed out of his suit and was wearing dark blue pajamas.

He handed me a carton of milk. “I just heated it up. It’ll help you sleep better.”

“Thanks.”

The light was dim, but I noticed his ears were red. I couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Warrington, are you having an allergic reaction?”

Kael noticed where I was looking and touched his ear, clearing his throat. “Yeah. I’m going to bed. You should get some rest.”

He turned and walked away, his retreating back looking a lot like Mona’s when she fled. It was, well, hurried.

10

I lay down in bed and pulled out my phone. There were a few unread messages on WeChat.

One was from my half-sister, Sienna. “Sis, I’m back. Let’s have dinner this weekend.”

Another was from Derek, a guy Sienna had had a crush on since childhood. “Jolie, I’m back. Want to grab a meal sometime?”

Honestly, Sienna and I had never gotten along.

Even though her mother was the mistress, she insisted my mother was the one who broke up their family.

After Derek confessed to me, Sienna’s attitude toward me got even worse.

She thought I was trying to steal Derek to get back at her.

I thought she was crazy. Derek was a boring nerd who only cared about classics and math. Unless I went insane, I’d never fall for an old fossil like him!

Derek found me at my shop before Sienna did.

His confession was just as cheesy as it was years ago. I waved him off. “You’re not my type. Give up!”

He stammered, “What’s your type? I can learn.”

I snorted. “I like rich guys. Can you learn that?”

He pursed his lips and left without a word.

Lately, all I’d been doing was watching people’s backs!

Ugh.

Even worse, the next day, Derek came back with a bank card for me.

I was stunned.

He said shyly, “This is all the allowance I’ve saved since I was a kid. It’s about two million. Take it. I’ll start working soon, and I’ll give you all my future earnings.”

?

Kid, are you stupid?

I reached out and touched his forehead to see if he had a fever.

But he grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go.

“Jolie, are you cheating on me?”

A chill ran down my spine. How did this disaster, Cole, show up again?

Cole grabbed my left hand and tried to pull me behind him, but Derek was still holding my right hand.

“Jolie, who is he?”

They spoke in unison, and my temples throbbed. What kind of hellish love triangle was this?

“What are you three doing?”

It was Kael!

Great, four of us. Might as well play mahjong.

11

The situation was too chaotic. I didn’t know how to handle it.

Cole and Derek were both holding my hands, refusing to let go. The three of us looked ridiculous.

Luckily, Kael stepped in. He said sternly, “Let her go. Can’t you see her wrists are red?”

Kael’s presence was overwhelming, carrying an authority that couldn’t be ignored.

As soon as he spoke, Cole and Derek let go almost simultaneously.

Derek looked clueless. “Jolie, who’s this scary guy?”

Cole was arrogant. “Who am I? I’m the man Jolie loves!”

I was speechless. I turned and met Kael’s gaze. His eyes were dark, fixed on me.

For some reason, I felt a strange, indescribable emotion.

Derek froze for a second, then turned to me and asked, “Jolie, is he rich?”

My mouth twitched. This idiot was trying to get me killed!

I lunged forward and covered his mouth, whispering, “Shut up.”

He nodded obediently.

Maybe the gesture was too intimate, because Cole exploded again. “Jolie, do you think I’m dead?”

He wasn’t dead, but he was driving me crazy.

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight, but Kael stopped him.

Kael frowned slightly. “Cole, when are you going to grow up?”

Cole looked almost pitiful. “Bro, Jolie is… she’s messing around behind my back!”

…

Afraid Cole would cause a scene, I had to coax Derek into leaving first.

The idiot had learned to negotiate after two years abroad. “Promise to have lunch with me this weekend, and I’ll listen.”

I had no choice but to agree.

Derek grinned foolishly. “I’ll pick you up on the weekend.”

After he left, I hurried back.

The brothers were still at a standoff.

“She’s been chasing me for a year. How could she do that with someone else?”

His tone was so pitiful, as if I were the fickle one and he was the one groveling.

Kael’s expression shifted slightly. “Whether Jolie likes you or not, you have no right to interfere with her normal social interactions. I don’t think she did anything wrong. On the other hand, when will you stop making me worry?”

Cole was willful and spoiled, but he listened to Kael. His emotions gradually calmed. “But I feel awful.”

Kael patted his shoulder. “Go back. I’ll talk to Jolie.”

Cole shot me a resentful glare. My heart skipped a beat, and I guiltily looked away.

12

After Cole left, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. “Mr. Warrington, thank you for helping me out.”

Instead of responding, he asked, “Your wrists are still red. Do you want to buy some ointment?”

His focus seemed a bit off?

I glanced at my red wrists. “It’s fine. My skin is so fair that any bump or bruise looks really red. It’s always been like this.”

He nodded and changed the subject. “Bear with it for a couple more days. I’ve found Yvonne. She’ll be back next week. You’ll be free soon and won’t have to put up with my brother’s temper anymore.”

“Yvonne? Didn’t she cheat?” I was confused.

“No. My father didn’t approve of the Yvonne family and used some methods to force her to break up with Cole.”

I fell silent. This was too melodramatic. I felt like I was in a soap opera.

With Cole’s true love returning, I, the substitute people-pleaser, could finally bow out.

But it was a shame about that thirty-thousand-a-month salary. The thought stung.

I let out a long sigh.

Kael frowned slightly, looking displeased. “Yvonne’s coming back. Aren’t you happy?”

I didn’t react in time. “A little.”

So much money!

Kael’s voice dropped eight degrees. “Jolie, didn’t you say you don’t like my brother?”

It was the first time he’d used my full name.

When we first met, he politely called me Miss Jolie.

Lately, he’d been calling me Jolie.

I could hear the grit in his teeth, so I quickly explained, “I just feel a bit of a letdown, like losing my job.”

Kael’s expression softened slightly, and he smirked. “Don’t you still have this tea shop? Or if you want to try something else, just tell me. I can help you invest.”

Was there a better boss than Kael in this world?

He was firing me and helping me find a new job!

I got a little excited. “I’ve always wanted to open a coffee shop, but the investment is too big, and I don’t have enough capital. Or a flower shop. That sounds nice too. And…”

I rambled on and on, and Kael sat next to me, listening patiently.

“Have some water.” He poured me a glass of warm water.

“Thanks.” I smiled awkwardly. “Do you think I talk too much?”

“No.” He looked at me directly, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

I couldn’t help but wonder what lucky woman would end up with such an amazing man.

13

A few days later, Yvonne returned.

For the entire following week, Cole never contacted me.

Until I saw a post on a friend’s social media showing Cole and Yvonne at a bar.

In the dim light, Yvonne’s features really did resemble mine by about fifty percent. No wonder Kael had sought me out.

Since Cole and Yvonne were rekindling their old flame, I could bow out gracefully.

I decisively deleted Cole’s WeChat and blocked his number.

I thought that was the end of it.

But then Cole showed up at my doorstep, drunk, and accused me, “Why did you block me?”

I was confused.

Wasn’t Yvonne back?

Why was he coming to me?

Even more confusingly, Cole started blaming me. “Jolie, you’re such a fickle woman!

“You said you’d only marry me, that you loved me to death, that no matter what happened, you’d always be by my side.

“You’re a liar! How dare you mess around with that idiot behind my back!

“For two weeks, I waited for you to explain, but you heartless woman blocked me!

“Why do you think you can come and go in my world as you please?”

I was stunned.

What was all this?

I pulled out my phone. “What’s Yvonne’s number? I’ll call her to pick you up.”

Cole snatched my phone and smashed it. “Ha… you’re annoyed with me. ‘Forever,’ ‘always’—you’re just a liar!”

With a temper like his, if it weren’t for the money, I wouldn’t have lasted a second, let alone a year.

“You owe me a phone!” I had just bought a Mate 40 Pro for seven thousand, and he smashed it. I was going to lose it.

Cole grabbed my waist. “It’s just a stupid phone. I’ll give you myself instead. Jolie, you’re getting a great deal!”

Then he kissed me.

I was about to lose my mind.

14

I had no idea why Cole had suddenly snapped, but he dared to take advantage of me!

Enough was enough!

He was holding me too tightly for me to push him away.

In desperation, I grabbed a book from the side table and hit him over the head.

I swear, I just wanted him to let go. I didn’t expect to knock him out.

Great. The book had a hard cover.

I panicked and checked his breathing. Luckily, he was still alive.

Afraid I’d given him a concussion, I decided to take him to the hospital.

I called a taxi and paid the driver extra to help carry Cole inside.

“Can you hurry?” I urged.

“Sure.”

The moment the driver spoke, the car shot forward.

I was terrified, gripping my seatbelt and leaning back as hard as I could.

At a red light, the driver slammed on the brakes. Cole, who was lying in the back seat, rolled off and hit his head on the door.

He clutched his head and sat up, dazed. “Jolie, why does my head hurt so much?”

Ha…

It hurts because you deserve it.

“Since you’re awake, go home.”

I told the driver to pull over.

As soon as I stepped out, Cole followed.

He grabbed my arm. “Jolie, don’t go. Wait for me.”

I was annoyed, but considering how much money he’d made me, I felt obligated to provide after-sales service.

I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. “What else do you want?”

He frowned. “Why… why are you suddenly so cold to me? Before, even when I tried to drive you away, you wouldn’t leave. You said you’d never leave me.”

Poor kid, that was a lie…

Telling him the truth might trigger him. It was hard, but I had to keep smiling and finish my job.

“You only let me stay because I looked like Yvonne.

“Now that she’s back, I have to step aside.

“Cole, I can’t stand in the way of your happiness.

“I’ll be fine on my own in the future. Don’t worry about me.”

Cole froze for a moment, then grabbed my hand and placed it over his heart. “What if I said you’re my happiness?”

I’d probably be scared to death…

I choked. “Cole, are you joking?”

Why would he go for a fake like me when he had the real deal? Had I hit him too hard?

He said seriously, “I’m not joking. Before Yvonne came back, I thought I still loved her.

“But when she came back and said she still loved me and wanted to get back together, I wasn’t happy.

“These past few days, all I’ve thought about is you.

“When you ignored me, I felt terrible.

“I know I treated you badly before, but can you stop using that idiot to make me jealous?

“Seeing you with other men makes me want to kill them!”

I’d never seen him so serious, and I started stammering. “Cole, calm down…”

“I’m calm.”

But I wasn’t.

The real love falling for the substitute? What kind of soap opera was this?

I had to pacify him first. “My mind is a mess. Give me some time to sort things out, and I’ll get back to you, okay?”

He frowned. “I’ll give you ten minutes. That’s enough, right?”

“No.”

“Half an hour?”

“No.”

“An hour. That’s my final offer.”

“Three days.”

“Three days? Why not three years?”

“That works too…”

“Jolie!” He stomped his foot. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Fine, two days.”

Two days would be enough for Kael to come up with a plan, right?

I was definitely handing this hot potato to him.

Cole snorted. “Two days. You’re mine in the end anyway!”

Kid, aren’t you a bit too confident?

The next day, I told Kael everything.

“Mr. Warrington, can you think of a way to make him give up on me?”

He answered with a question. “He kissed you?”

Awkward…

I should have skipped that part.

Kael’s aura turned icy. “You knocked him out?”

I nodded nervously, worried he’d be mad since he doted on his brother.

But instead, he said, “Good work.”

Now that’s a real brother!

“I’ll handle this. Don’t worry.”

Kael’s reassurance put me at ease. I had an inexplicable trust in him.

He then asked, “Have you thought about the investment we discussed? I had my assistant compile some case studies. She’ll send them to your email. Take a look.”

I’d only mentioned it casually, but he’d remembered.

I was flattered. “Thank you.”

He reached out and ruffled my hair. “You’re welcome.”

Then he paused. “Jolie, I actually regret something.”

I looked at him, confused. “What?”

15

“I regret dragging you into this. Cole’s temper is wild and fearless. You must have suffered a lot.

“I brought Yvonne back, thinking everything would return to normal. But I forgot that the heart is the hardest thing to control.”

He stopped talking and turned to look at me.

His gaze was so intense that I felt nervous, my heartbeat quickening.

A night breeze swept by, chilling me. I couldn’t help but sneeze.

Kael took off his black wool coat and draped it over me.

His fingers accidentally brushed my neck, and the cold touch made me shiver.

He caught the small movement and chuckled softly. “Don’t be nervous. I’m not Cole. I won’t force you to do anything.”

I knew that. In my mind, Kael was the epitome of a gentleman.

“I wasn’t thinking that. I just…” I wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start. Was I supposed to tell him I was shy?

Kael tightened the coat around me. He was standing close, and my cheeks burned. I couldn’t even look up.

He sighed softly. “Jolie, I underestimated you, overestimated Cole, and overestimated myself.”

For a moment, even the wind seemed to stop.

I could hear my own heartbeat, chaotic and uncontrollable.

My voice was barely a whisper. “What do you mean?”

Kael looked at me deeply. “What do you think?”

Then he took a step back.

I was too stunned to react. Should I say something?

“Oh no, I think I scared you.” Kael laughed. “But what can I do? It’s the first time I’ve lost control of my heart. I don’t have much experience, so you’ll have to bear with me.”

Was it what I thought