The charity student my fiancé was sponsoring had her eyes on the prize: him. The girl slammed her Columbia University acceptance letter and a box of ultra-thin condoms onto Julian’s desk simultaneously. She looked shy but acted bold. "You said if I got into the Ivy League, you’d grant me a wish... I only want you." I was standing outside the door, trembling with rage. I was about to burst in and slap the entitlement out of her. Suddenly, floating text scrolled across my vision. [Let the side character slap her. It just makes the Male Lead feel sorry for the Heroine.] [The Male Lead is already planning to give the Heroine a title. One slap from the fiancée, and he’ll break the engagement for sure.] [Wait for the angry fiancée to storm off, then the Male Lead will lift the crying Heroine onto the desk... hehe... possessive daddy vibes. One box won't be enough.] It hit me. I was just a cannon fodder side character in a CEO romance novel. I paused for two seconds. Then, I thoughtfully closed the door for them, opened the interior surveillance app on my phone, and hit Record. 1 Through the crack in the heavy oak doors of the CEO's office, I could see everything. The girl was wearing a pleated skirt and a hoodie, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She looked fresh-faced and innocent. The way she slapped that acceptance letter down screamed youthful arrogance. "Julian, you promised me a reward." "You..." Julian leaned forward, tapping her forehead playfully. "The letter just arrived and you’re already here to collect? Do you think I’d shortchange you?" Mia put her hands on her hips, a mix of cunning and nervousness in her eyes. "I’m just afraid you can’t afford what I want." Julian slowly rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes held the arrogance of a man on top of the world. "Mia, don’t underestimate my bank account. If you asked for the stars, I’d find a way to buy them." "I want you!" Mia suddenly pulled out a small box. She spoke fast, terrified he’d say no. "Before finals, you said you’d buy me a condo or a car. I don’t care about those. From the beginning, the only thing I’ve wanted is you." I clutched the doorframe, my heels wobbling. I knew the student Julian sponsored had a crush on him, but I didn't expect her to be this brazen. Inside, Julian stared at the box labeled "Ultra Thin." His gaze darkened. "...You know I have a fiancée, right?" I let out a small breath. Julian and I had been childhood sweethearts. We clawed our way up from rock bottom together. When we got engaged last year, this usually reserved man professed his love to the media. He never took off his engagement ring. He knew boundaries. "So what?" Mia pouted, unconvinced. "You aren't married yet. I still have a chance." Julian said coolly, "Vanessa and I plan to get our marriage license by the end of the year." "I can be your mistress," Mia blurted out. Her eyes turned red, tears welling up until her voice cracked. "Julian, don't bully me just because I love you... it's too cruel." My blood boiled. I’ve seen plenty of ungrateful people, but someone actively trying to wreck a home while taking the homeowner's money? She was a first. I cracked my knuckles, ready to go in there and teach her a lesson in reality. But the air in front of me shimmered with comments again. [Just let the fiancée hit her. See if the Male Lead’s heart breaks for her.] [Lol, the only reason the Male Lead brought up the fiancée was to test the Heroine’s feelings. The fiancée actually thinks he cares about her.] [The Male Lead is looking for an excuse. One slap, and the engagement is toast.] What? Julian would leave me for a charity case? You have to be joking. But then I saw it. My fiancé, the man I trusted with my life, picked up the box of condoms and chuckled. "Do you even know how to use these? And you’re trying to tempt me?" Before Mia could answer, his large hand grabbed the back of her neck, and he kissed her. 2 My scalp tingled as if it had been electrified. If the comments were real, barging in now would be suicide. So, I quietly pulled the door shut. I opened the surveillance app connected to the CEO's office and hit record. They kissed for nearly ten minutes. When Mia finally collapsed against Julian’s chest, gasping for air, I adjusted the heavy thermos in my hand and turned the doorknob. "What are you two doing?" "V-Vanessa..." Mia whimpered, pushing Julian away and clumsily stuffing the small box into her pocket. "I'm so sorry, it’s all my fault, don’t blame Julian..." Panic flashed across Julian’s face before he smoothed it over, buttoning his slightly rumpled shirt. "Why are you here?" The comments scrolled by: [I thought the side character finally grew a brain when she turned to leave, but nope.] [Hahaha, I can already picture the Male Lead impatiently telling her to get out.] [Once the fiancée gets kicked out, he’s going to lift the crying Heroine onto the desk... Hehe... one box is definitely not enough!] I was calm. Dangerously calm. Julian was soft-hearted to those who played nice, but ruthless to enemies. He held the majority of the company shares. If we broke up now, I’d get nothing. So, I pulled the lunchbox from behind my back. "You always forget to eat when you’re working. I spent all morning making this. Two dishes and a soup. Try it." I smiled warmly, as if I hadn't seen a thing. Julian grabbed my hand. "...Did you burn yourself?" He blew gently on my fingers, his tone reproachful but affectionate. "We have a chef at home. This isn't something the heiress of the Lin family should be doing. Just tell the staff what you want." "Oh, stop," I cooed, softening my voice. "The chef's food doesn't taste like love. You must be starving. Eat." I was the youngest grandchild in my family, spoiled rotten by my grandfather. I was raised to be proud and direct. Julian used to call me his "Little Princess." When I acted spoiled, he usually couldn't resist. He coughed lightly and turned to Mia. "You should head back. I’m going to eat with Vanessa." Mia blinked her wet, doe-like eyes. "When will you have time for me? For the graduation gala, I want to wear the dress you picked out." Julian’s eyes darted around. He explained to me unnaturally, "The kid did well on her SATs. Since she’s the first student our group publicly sponsored, I thought we should celebrate." Mia’s eyes curved into crescents. "Vanessa, you have to come too. You and Julian are the two people I’m most grateful to in this world." She was baiting me. I took her hand and patted it, my smile flawless. "Time flies. Mia, you’re such a pretty young lady now. Remember eight years ago in that remote village? Your mom was trying to sell you to a thirty-year-old bachelor. Julian said you were so dark and skinny he couldn't even tell you were a girl." "I insisted on saving you," I continued. "I said you had a fire in your eyes. Look at you now. Prophecy fulfilled." "..." Feeling I’d performed enough, I made a graceful exit. As soon as I left the office, Mia grabbed Julian’s tie and kissed him messily. "That old woman is gone. Why won't you look at me? ...An engagement isn't a marriage. Let me compete with her fairly, okay?" She touched him somewhere, making him groan. "Mia, don't move." Mia’s face was flushed. "You don't have any desire for her, do you? I saw you using my panties to relieve yourself that night." "Admit it, Julian. You want me. Otherwise... why are you reacting like this?" 3 Julian was clearly turned on, but he pushed her away and left the room, dropping one sentence behind him. "Vanessa is your benefactor. Like she said, without her, you wouldn't be here today. Before she finds out about your feelings... let's stop this." I stopped listening. I contacted a contractor. While Julian was out, I quietly installed several more hidden cameras around his private office. Over the next few days, I watched Mia relentlessly throw herself at Julian. They staged scenes of tender romance and reluctant partings daily. I didn't even show up, yet I was the villain tearing them apart. The comments were roasting me: [What is the side character doing? She ruined the uniform play scene I was waiting for! (Crying emoji)] [The older man's restraint vs. the younger girl's seduction... this book would be so spicy without the fiancée.] [Don't worry, the Heroine won't give up on seducing Daddy. Tonight's gala is the perfect chance.] The text hurt my eyes. It made my years of trust in Julian look like a joke. I pulled myself together and called my stylist. The gala was at a five-star hotel downtown. All of Julian’s business partners were invited. I knew exactly what this was—he was paving the way for his "little girl" before she even started college. I arrived late and saw Mia holding Julian’s arm, schmoozing with CEOs. Someone winked at Julian. "Smart, pretty, and younger than the Mrs. You’re a lucky man, Julian." "You misunderstand," Mia said, glancing at Julian with a mix of resentment and affection. "I think of him as an uncle. We have a purely..." "Sponsor and student relationship," Julian finished smoothly, though I saw his hand pinch her waist behind her back. "Oh, Vanessa is here!" Mia was wearing a platinum mermaid dress, her hair pinned up elegantly. You couldn't see a trace of the poverty she came from. She asked a waiter for three glasses of champagne and handed me the one on the far left. "I wouldn't be here without you and Julian. A toast to you both." I didn't take it. Because the comments said: [To stop the fiancée from ruining the mood, the clever Heroine spiked her drink with sleeping pills. Once she passes out, they'll lock her in a room!] [The scene where Vanessa wakes up weak in a closet, listening to the girl's moans next door, imagining her fiancé railing Mia... I can't wait!] "It was your own hard work." I smiled perfunctorily. Under Mia’s panicked gaze, I snatched the glass on the right—the one meant for Julian—and downed it in one gulp. [OMG she grabbed the Male Lead's drink! That one has drugs too!] Dammit! Why didn't you say that sooner? [High-grade aphrodisiacs. In the original book, the Male Lead took one sip and went for three hours straight... The fiancée drank the whole thing!] I choked, coughing violently. Julian patted my back. "Slow down. What's the rush?" I grabbed his arm tight. "The wine... there's something in it." Julian glanced at Mia’s pale face and chuckled. "You're probably just tipsy. I'll have the driver take you home." I realized instantly: Julian was covering for her. "If you don't give me an explanation, I'm calling the police right now." I held up my phone, tears of anger and betrayal in my eyes. "A blood test will prove it." 4 "Vanessa, don't be mad. Those two glasses were... to help spice things up for you two." "Oh?" I sneered. "So you drugged me for my own good?" Mia twisted her fingers together, finally cooking up a lie. "I heard people in the company saying Julian hasn't been home in days. I was worried about your relationship, so I thought..." Julian hadn't been home because he claimed he was busy. But the surveillance showed Mia with him from dawn to dusk. "Mia meant well. Go to the hospital and get your stomach pumped. Let’s drop it," Julian said coolly. "These are important guests. Don't make a scene." It was absurd. "I'm the one who was drugged, and you're forgiving her on my behalf?" Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Julian frowned. "She's just a kid. You're a grown woman. Why are you holding a grudge against a child?" I literally watched you stick your tongue down that "child's" throat. Mia shrank behind Julian, giving me a look of pure provocation. I took a deep breath. I blinked, squeezing out a tear. "But I feel so sick, Hubby. Come with me to the hospital?" The comments said the Heroine planned to bag the Male Lead tonight. I wasn't going to let that happen. "With a drug like this, I don't trust anyone else. I need you." Julian hesitated, his expression softening. "Alright..." Suddenly, Mia grabbed the middle glass and downed it. "Now I've drunk it too." "Vanessa, I'm punishing myself the same way. Is that enough?" Of course not. She drank the one safe glass—or maybe the one with the sleeping pill? But then, Mia collapsed into Julian’s arms like she had no bones. "Julian... the effects... I feel so hot..." "Idiot! Why did you drink it if you knew!" Julian scolded her, his voice low, but his hand firmly grasped her lower back. "Her reaction is severe. I need to take her to get treated." In front of everyone, my suit-wearing fiancé scooped Mia up in his arms and walked away without looking back. The comments mocked me: [One is barely 18, one is pushing 28. Any idiot knows who to pick.] [The fiancée failed to block them. Look, her face is green lol.] [I wonder how the Male Lead will "treat" her. Hard to guess. (Wink)] [Do you believe they went to a hospital, or do you believe I’m the Queen of England?]
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