A week later, James cornered me in the hospital parking lot. His tall frame loomed over me, jaw tight, voice rough with frustration.

"Rosalie! What’s got you so worked up?"

We’d been together three years, and from the get-go I knew I was just a fling to him—a guy who always gets what he wants. If he hadn’t sprained his ankle on that Alps ski trip and ended up in my clinic, we never would’ve crossed paths in a million years.

He chased me hard, but I didn’t have it in me to get tangled up with him. I figured it’d fizzle out once he got bored. Except somewhere along the line, I went and let myself hope we might actually have a future.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, fighting back tears. Drew a shaky breath.

"The day Lily said she was pregnant… was she really just joking?"

James let out a laugh, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. "You’re telling me all this drama is over that?"

"Rosalie, I’ve told you a hundred times! Lily and I are just childhood friends. Hell, I’ve never even looked at her that way!"

The comments kept playing on a loop in my head:

["Bullshit! When she sent him that private photo, he hesitated for a second before saving it!"]

["Lily followed him into the living room for some alone time, and he smirked, asking when she’d gotten so bold. She flirted right back, asking if he wanted to find out!"]

["And when she ‘accidentally’ dropped her towel on camera, he cornered her in the hallway later, telling her not to pull that shit again. Dude was green with jealousy."]

A sharp ache squeezed my chest. I met his mocking stare with a cold smile.

"Then tell me this—after our last fight, where did you go when you got drunk?"

For the first time, the ever-composed heir looked flustered. He raked a hand through his hair in frustration before he spoke again.

"Fine, I admit it—I went to see Lily that night."

"I’ve already explained it to you—her prank videos are just her gig, she didn’t mean anything by it! But you had to make a scene and storm off, embarrassing me in front of everyone."

"So yeah, I was pissed and went to see her just to spite you, but nothing happened between us!"

Those usually charming eyes now searched mine, pleading. "Baby, I swear I never cheated on you!"

["To be fair, he’s not totally lying. From where he’s standing, he just crashed on Lily’s couch wasted."]

["Lily told him nothing happened, and he felt this wave of relief, clueless she was already pregnant!"]

I stared right into his eyes.

"Why are you so hell-bent on patching things up with her?"

He looked at me like I was crazy. "We’re friends. What, am I supposed to let her face the music alone?"

"If that bottle had hit me, would you still be bending over backwards to make amends?"

James paused, a beat of silence. Then: "No. If she’d hurt you, I’d make damn sure she paid for it."

I laughed—a harsh, bitter sound that made him frown and kiss me, like he was trying to shut me up.

"Yes, I screwed up, I admit it. But breaking up? That’s off the table."

I closed my eyes, utterly drained, not wanting to argue anymore.

"Let’s make a bet."

"If you can prove your promises are worth a damn, then I’ll pretend I never mentioned breaking up."

Lily just posted an update.

["Claiming to be pregnant at a friend's engagement party: watch the bride and groom's reaction."]

Some random person commented, "Not funny. That's completely crossing the line."

Her followers jumped in to defend her, pressuring them into deleting their comment.

I switch off my phone and get ready to head home from work.

Suddenly, notifications popped up again.

["Heads up! Someone's planning to jump you."]

["Lily pretended to be your die-hard fan, spreading bullshit in the fan group that you hospitalized her for revenge."]

["A couple of thugs her fans hired are already waiting for you in the clinic parking lot!"]

Alarm bells went off in my head.

I decided to take the fire escape stairs, and sure enough, near my car in the parking lot, there was a handful of sketchy-looking guys hanging around.

I snapped a photo and call Lily right away.

She sounded surprised when she picks up, but then her voice turned challenging. "James and I are at a friend's place having a pool party. Wanna stop by?"

When I got there, the party was in full swing—they were playing truth or dare. James and Lily got dared to kiss for a solid minute. The second Lily spotted me, she smirks and leaned in to kiss him, but James shoved her away, looking flustered but desperate to calm me down.

"Baby, what are you doing here?"

He moved in to hug me, but I sidestepped him and hold up my phone so Lily can see.

"This is your doing."

Lily glanced at the photo, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, but she quickly sneered. "Seriously? What the hell are you talking about?"

I looked her dead in the eye.

"Lily, I already thought it was disgusting that you used 'prank videos' as an excuse to flirt with other people's boyfriends."

"I never imagined you'd sink this low."

"I'm warning you—I'm not someone you can just mess with. If you keep pulling this nasty crap to hurt me, I will fight you to the bitter end."

Everyone was stunned.

To James's friends, I've always been the calm, rational type, the one who never seems to get angry. Even when Lily had straight-up kissed James in public, I'd just walked away without a word.

They never expected I'd confront her like this, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

The whole vibe turned awkward.

James tried to soothe me, his voice gentle. "Babe, maybe there's been a misunderstanding?"

I scoffed and hold up my phone. "Misunderstanding? Did I hire these guys to jump me?"

"She got her followers to come after me. If I hadn't found out ahead of time, what do you think would've happened to me today?"

My voice shook with fury.

James wrapped his arms around me, probably hoping to calm me down. "Baby, just breathe. You didn't actually get hurt, and one photo doesn't prove anything. Maybe someone's just messing with you..."

I snap. My patience finally ran out. I shove him away, yelling, past holding anything back:

"Remember when you swore you'd make her pay if she ever hurt me?"

"So what, I have to get kidnapped, beaten, or worse for you to actually believe it?"

"James! I never forced you to trust me! You can let her walk all over our three-year relationship, let her do whatever the hell she wants between us, and trust every word out of her mouth!"

"But you have no right to stop me from protecting myself!"

I was shaking with rage, almost hysterical.

James has never seen me like this.

Lily bit her lip, looking hurt and accusing. "James, we've known each other for twenty years, and you're just going to let your ex humiliate me like this?"

Suddenly, she smashed a bottle and presses the jagged edge to her wrist, threatening to cut.

James roughly shoved me aside and grabs the broken bottle from her. "Are you insane?!"

She collapsed into his arms, sobbing hysterically. "I don't need you! You pig!"

I watched the scene unfold.

With a scoff, I turned to leave.

Desperate, James let go of her and rushes to grab me. "Wait!"

"Get lost!"

I slapped him hard across the face.

"From now on, don't you ever come near me again!"

As I slammed the door behind me, I hear James's furious shout.

"Rosalie, if I go back to her, then I'm the biggest damn fool alive!"