Chapter 3
Jacob kissed Sophia tenderly and deeply while the audience, who had piled into the consultation room, watched in awe. The reporters’ cameras were rolling, and some of them were on live streams with millions of viewers.
And yet, Eloise was nothing more than a prop in this dramatized love affair.
“You guys caught that, right? Any more questions about me and Sophia?” Jacob asked stonily as he pointed at the swarm of reporters and obsessed fans who had squeezed their way through the door.
He continued, “I’ll tell you the whole story of how Sophia and I got together, seeing as you’re so eager to know! I’ve had a crush on Sophia since junior high, and I finally told her how I felt when we were in high school.
“We’ve been dating for eight years, and she’s the only woman I’ve loved in all that time! I will only ever love her for the rest of my life!
“I’ll throw her a grand wedding. Of all the women in this world, only Sophia is worthy of my love! No one else deserves my heart more than she does!”
It was a love declaration for the ages, and the audience—both in real life and on the livestreams—were stunned by it.
Suddenly, a loud and crisp applause filled the air, cutting through the pin-drop silence. Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Eloise standing there in her white coat, her shoulder-length hair accentuating her pretty face.
She had a gentle, composed air about her as she smiled and clapped. The fans, reporters, and busybodies who had gathered in and outside the room followed suit as they applauded the happy couple.
Jacob, to his credit, looked somewhat shamefaced when he met Eloise’s gaze.
Eloise mused sarcastically, “Congratulations, Mr. Kilbourne and Ms. Whitmore. What a moving, romantic declaration.”
A dark look passed over Jacob’s face when he heard this. “Save your well wishes for someone else. We’re done here.”
With that, he wrapped an arm around Sophia’s shoulders and shoveled through the crowd.
When the couple left and the fans and reporters dispersed, an abrupt silence filled the office. Eloise gripped her aching waist as she eased herself into her chair. She breathed out quietly as the sharp pain shot up her side, and she lifted her blouse to see two bruises forming under her rib.
That afternoon, Eloise was about to get off work when her phone chimed with a notification. She checked and saw that someone had requested to follow her on Instagram. He had also sent her a private message, saying, “It’s William Huntington.”
William Huntington? It took Eloise a moment to recall the name.
She had only spoken to him twice on the phone. In all fairness, they were marrying soon, and it was a matter of course for them to follow each other on Instagram. With that in mind, she approved his request.
She clicked on the conversation page and stared at the blank messaging space for a while. She racked her brain for something to type but couldn’t come up with anything witty, so she exited Instagram altogether.
After that, Eloise packed up her things and got ready to leave.
She worked the day shift today, but by the time she finished her rounds at the inpatient ward and left the hospital, the sky had darkened. As she was about to hail a cab, a black Maybach rolled to a stop before her.
The car window rolled down to reveal Xavier Lockwood. He was grinning at her as he waved her over, “Hey, Eloise. Jack’s bar’s grand opening is today, and he told me I had to pick you up from work so we can join in the party.”
He emphasized the word “had” as if it implied something more and chuckled.
Jack Sommers and Xavier were Jacob’s childhood friends, and they got along with Eloise just fine, too. She had no plans on souring her friendship with Jack, especially now that he had invited her to the bar’s launch party.
Eloise got into the car, and Xavier handed her a bottle of water. He said apologetically, “I was at Sophia’s birthday party, too.”
Eloise twisted open the bottle cap and took a few sips of water. She had watched the recording from Sophia’s birthday party. When Jacob proposed to Sophia, Xavier lifted his arms and cheered, “Say yes! Say yes!”
Xavier explained, “Jacob pulled the same stunt every year on Sophia’s birthday, so I thought it was a joke and played along. I doubt Jacob was serious, but believe me, we were shocked when Sophia actually said yes.
“In hindsight, she had ulterior motives for agreeing to his proposal, but that doesn’t make this fair for you.”
“Thank you for recognizing that,” Eloise said bitterly.
Xavier added slowly, “Yeah, but Jacob only wanted to help Sophia.”
Eloise asked, “As a friend, if I wanted you to choose between me and Sophia, who would you pick?”
“You, of course,” Xavier answered without hesitation.
She laughed. “Well, I’m relieved, even if I know you’re lying.”
He shook his head and insisted, “I’m not. I know Sophia and I go way back, but I like having you as a friend more.”
“Right, which is why you came to pick me up from work and why I got into your car,” Eloise said. “But could you do me a favor and avoid bringing up Jacob the next time we hang out? You know I’ve broken up with him.”
Xavier stuck out his tongue. “People say impulsive things in the heat of the moment, so your break-up doesn’t count.”
Eloise’s brows furrowed. Did Xavier think she was angry and hadn’t truly meant to break up with Jacob?
Jack had converted an old house with a courtyard into his new bar. The house was tucked in the far end of an alley, and its walls were decorated with intricate murals. The courtyard also had a pond and antique hanging lamps.
Its ambiance was quiet yet romantic, transporting its patrons to a different time.
Xavier pointed Eloise toward the room in the east wing and hurried off to the restroom.
She stopped before the door, but before she opened it, she heard Jacob’s angry voice coming from the other side. “Are you done, Jack? She’s the one who broke up with me, not the other way around!”
Jack sighed tiredly. “You were in the wrong, Jacob.”
“Was I supposed to let Sophia handle her problems alone?” Jacob demanded.
“But Eloise—”
“Eloise means nothing to me! She can’t even begin to compete with Sophia!” Jacob roared.
“You—” Jack broke off, upset and furious. “You’ll regret this one day, Jacob!”
“No, Eloise will! She always made a fuss and threatened to break up with me whenever I helped Sophia, but she always came crawling back shamelessly. This time is no different. She just needs to cool off and come to her senses.”
Jack hissed, “Fine, then. Go ahead and delude yourself into thinking that Eloise loves you enough to put up with your nonsense, but even her love has limits. I got you a bouquet of roses. You’d better apologize to Eloise and give her the bouquet when she shows up later.”
Upon hearing this, Eloise took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Jack quickly stood up. “Hey, Eloise. I’m so glad you could make it.”
She had gotten Jack a gift in anticipation of his bar’s grand opening. It was a cat-shaped table ornament. “Congratulations on the opening, Jack. May your business thrive,” she said as she handed him the gift.
He took it graciously. “Thanks.” He glanced at Jacob over his shoulder as if to signal him before turning to Eloise. “Make yourself comfortable while I greet the other guests outside.”
“I won’t be staying,” Eloise replied as she followed Jack out. “I’ll come back some other time.”
“Eloise—”
“Thank you for the effort, though,” Eloise said meaningfully, casting an apologetic smile at him before turning to leave.
However, she had only just reached the door when Jacob caught up to her. “I’ve had enough of your nonsense, Eloise!”
She ignored him and continued forward, but her indifference spurred him on. “I’ve already explained the whole story to you! What more do you want from me?”
He sped up and blocked her way, glowering at her impatiently. She narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed. “I heard what you said back there. I was too stupid and naive to think I was good enough for you, Mr. Kilbourne.
“I made a mistake and spent the last eight years being punished for it. Trust me, I won’t let this happen again.”
Eloise was about to brush past him when Jacob gripped her wrist. His hateful gaze bore into hers as he growled, “Must you let things end like this?”
“Let me go!” she snapped.
Jacob’s fingers tightened painfully around her wrist, his eyes burning with rage. However, a beat later, he dragged her toward his car.
“I am not getting into your car, Jacob!” Eloise protested.
“We’re going home!” he barked.
“No, we’re not!”
Jacob hissed, “I must not have given you enough attention lately if you could bring yourself to break up with me! How dare you!”
