Chapter 8
Just as I reached the door, Lily arrived with a small group of
for you.]
“Perfect timing,” she said, flashing a casual smile. “My
friends.
With that, she pushed open the door.
But the second she stepped inside, her smug expression vanished.
The room was empty.
exhausted. They need a place to rest.”
Her gaze darted around, scanning every corner like she couldn’t accept what she was seeing.
Her voice grew tense as she called out, “Jo? Where are you?”
At that moment, the bathroom door creaked open, and a man–someone I had never ‘seen before–stepped out.
Lily’s face twisted.
Then, suddenly, she lunged forward, shouting, “Jo’s in the bathroom!”
Her friends followed, rushing past the man and practically shoving the door open. Nothing.
Lily’s expression darkened with frustration as she turned back to the stranger.
“Where’s Jo? Where’s the woman who was just in here?”
7:34 AM
<
→
The man looked confused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came in alone. No one was here when I arrived.”
He moved to leave, but I stepped in his path, my eyes locking on Lily.
“Lily, do you know him?”
She hesitated. Just for a second.
Then she shook her head. “No.”
I grabbed the man’s wrist before he could escape, my voice sharp.
“Funny. He looks shady as hell–almost like a thief.”
I turned to Lily. “Should we call the cops?”
Panic flickered across the man’s face.
“Ms. Carter, tell them I’m not a thief!” he blurted out, trying to yank free.
But before he could escape, a few expensive–looking jewelry pieces tumbled out of his pockets, glinting under the light.
I let out a cold laugh. “Well, well. Looks like we caught ourselves a real thief.”
The man paled. “Ms. Carter, you-”
“I know him!”
Lily’s voice cut through the air, her face ashen.
She forced a smile, speaking quickly.
“I forgot for a second. He’s… he’s a courier. I asked him to deliver some jewelry.”
She turned to Jason–still was my body–and all but pleaded.
“Jason, just let him go.”
I let go of the man’s wrist.
Muttering a curse under his breath, he snatched up the jewelry and stormed out, throwing Lily a glare as he went.
Lily’s face was a mess of emotions–frustration, anger, and something dangerously close to panic.
She had just lost some of her favorite pieces.
And worse–her plan had backfired.
I stepped back, dusting off my hands.
“Since Jo isn’t here, I’ll be heading out.”
Lily barely acknowledged me, too busy replaying where things had gone wrong.
Back in the suite, Jason had finally sobered up.
The second he saw me, his face filled with guilt and regret.
“Jo… I’m so sorry. I almost got you into serious trouble tonight.”
His fists clenched as he let out a shaky breath.
“I never thought Lily would go that far.
“I was blind. I-”
He swallowed hard.
“I was so, so wrong about her.”
I gave a small nod.
Tonight had been close. Too close.
If I hadn’t already known what kind of person she was, I might not have made it out unscathed.
After finishing up with the last of the guests, I stopped by the restroom before leaving the venue.
Just as I stepped out, Lily was standing there, blocking Jason’s way.
Her voice was sharp with barely contained rage.
“Jo, you got lucky tonight. Next time, you won’t be so lucky.”
Jason’s gaze was unreadable as he looked at her.
But there was something new in it–something cold gu
“Give it up, Lily.”
His voice was quiet but final.
“No matter what you do, I… Jason will never love you.”
Lily let out a dry laugh, her expression twisting into something
“You think I’ll just let that happen?”
She sneered, “I won’t let him be with a manipulative bitch like you.”
With that, she spun on her heel, her high heels clicking furiously against the
I stepped up beside Jason.
as
she
stormed off.
“I have a recording of her in that room.”
His eyes snapped to mine, suddenly alert.
“If you want her to stop, it’s up to you how you use it.”
Jason straightened, something steely settling into his features.
For the first time tonight, he looked like the Jason Miller I once knew.
“Jo, I swear–I won’t let her hurt you ever again.”
I studied him for a moment. I neither believed him nor disbelieved him.
Because even if he failed, I had my own way of handling things.
Chapter 9
The next morning, I woke up to find myself back in my own body.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror–my real face, my real voice.
A wave of relief crashed over me. It was over.
Jason was just as relieved
C
“Jo, we’re finally back to normal!”
He grinned, looking genuinely excited.
“Now we can focus on ourselves again.”
His phone buzzed.
It was Lily.
She wanted to meet for lunch.
Jason agreed, intent on ending things on
and for all.
I followed him to the restaurant, disguised and seated a few tables away.
Jason’s face was serious, unwavering.
“Lily, Jo is my girlfriend. She’s the only one I love.”
He paused, his voice turning cold.
“I know everything that happened that night.
“From now on, stay away from her. If you don’t, don’t expect me to show any mercy.”
A flicker of panic crossed Lily’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself.
Her voice softened into something small, fragile, wounded.
“Jason, I don’t know what she told you.
“But I didn’t do anything. She’s lying because she’s jealous of us.”
Her lower lip trembled as she reached for his hand, eyes glistening with unshed
tears.
“She’s manipulative, Jason. She’s turning you against me.””
Jason flinched, then yanked his hand away.
His patience snapped. “Enough!”
The restaurant went silent.
Lily froze, her breath hitching.
Jason pushed back his chair, towering over her.
“The only thing I regret is not seeing your true colors sooner.
“Don’t ever contact me again.”
He turned and walked away.
Lily’s voice broke as she called after him.
But he never looked back.
A week later, the fallout was everywhere.
Lily had been disowned.
Her father had cut ties, revoked her inheritance, and kicked her out of the family.
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