I thought I’d misheard. “What?” His voice was
husky. “Beg. Like you did before.” He didn’t
need to finish the sentence. He wanted to
regain the pride he’d lost, begging me over the
phone. I wasn’t too proud to grovel for ten
million dollars. So, under Ethan’s stunned gaze,
I lowered my head, pouted, and pleaded.
“Please, Ethan, honey… forgive my youthful
stupidity. Okay? I really, really love you. I can’t
live without you.” He seemed to soften, and I
was about to ramp up the theatrics when I
remembered something important. I’d forgotten
to refill Money’s food bowl. My poor baby, still
growing, he must be starving! The fake tears
vanished. “Hold that thought. I need to make a
call.” I turned, pulled out my phone, and called
Jessica. “Hey, Jess, SOS! I forgot to feed
Money. Can you go over and give him some
food?” “Yeah, the spare key is under the
flowerpot by the door.” “He’s a good boy. His
toys are next to the couch.” “Thanks so much!
Mwah!” I hung up and turned to find Ethan
<
standing right behind me, scowling. “Your son?”
“Money?” His sudden anger confused me. “I
was worried he’d be hungry, so…” I asked my
colleague to feed him. He cut me off, his voice
icy. “What a ridiculous name.” I stared at him.
I’d tolerated his insults about my “amateur”
tactics, but insulting my precious pup? “My son
is a perfect, slightly chubby, round–faced angel
with eyes twice the size of yours. There’s
nothing ridiculous about him.” I needed an
apology. Or Money would be biting him next
time. Ethan looked even angrier, his face like
thunder. “Bella. You have a son, and you’re still
flirting with me? Bravo.” He stormed off. It
finally dawned on me. He thought Money was
my human son. I tried to explain via text, but
the message wouldn’t send. Blocked again.
Sugar Mama materialized, beaming. “How did it
go? Where’s Ethan? Getting you a snack?” “I…
may have pissed him off. And gotten blocked
again.” I sighed. I was supposed to be the
“other woman,” but Sugar Mama’s words made
me feel strangely like the wronged wife. My
<
phone buzzed. Ethan had unblocked me.
[Explain yourself.] Sugar Mama peeked at the
screen, her face lighting up. “Progress!” I typed:
[Money is my dog.] He replied instantly: [Your
son is my son.] [No thanks, my mutt is too lowly
for Mr. Carter.]
Somehow, Ethan and I were back together. “So,
what about Chloe?” I asked. Ethan considered
this. “A talented actress.” His sudden attempt
at humor threw me off. I glared. “You’re awful.”
I felt a pang of sympathy for Chloe. She didn’t
even get the “ex–girlfriend” title. Men who
sought replacements were truly the worst. I
stared at him, then down at my phone. A text
from Sugar Mama confirming the final payment.
Mission accomplished. Time to disappear.
Ethan noticed my gaze and tried to peek at my
phone. I pushed his face away. He chuckled.
“Don’t bother hiding it. I know.” “Know what?” I
turned off the screen, looking at the ceiling,
feigning ignorance. “About your deal with my
mom. She didn’t even give me that much
Che really, boo
thing for ALL
n’t
<
money. She really has a thing for you.” I wasn’t
surprised he knew. “Well, it’s your fault for
upsetting her with that… actress. You made me
look like the perfect, virtuous, elegant
daughter–in–law material.” As I said it, a
disturbing thought occurred to me. I stared at
Ethan. “You did this on purpose?” He lounged
on the couch, a lazy smile on his face. “Took
you long enough.” He picked up his phone and
showed me a text from Chloe. Four words:
[Good working relationship.] Everything clicked
into place. Chloe, the supposed replacement,
didn’t bother avoiding me, even requesting me
specifically for the project. Ethan insisted on
designing the gift himself, yet he left it entirely
to me. And Chloe’s behavior the disrespect
–
towards Sugar Mama, the empty words at the
–
birthday party, the constant defiance none of
it fit the image of an actress trying to impress
her future mother–in–law. Ethan was right, my
tactics were amateur. But they worked. Chloe
was easily dispatched. A few minutes to
change, and she never reappeared. Unless she
<
was truly clueless, her actions had a single
purpose: to annoy Sugar Mama. And Chloe, a
successful actress, was anything but clueless.
My heart raced. I’d walked into a trap. Ethan,
the seemingly unsuspecting prey, had laid the
bait, waiting for me to confidently strut in,
blinded by my own game, and then… he
pounced. I took a deep breath, my perception
of him shifting. “You even used your own
mother?” Sugar Mama thought she’d chosen
- me. She never suspected Ethan orchestrated
everything. Every act of Chloe’s disrespect,
every instance of Ethan’s indulgence, fueled
Sugar Mama’s desire to see me back with him.
