Chapter 260
Chapter 260
“Mia”
“Zoc”
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Zoe’s eyes narrowed, her expression full of disbelief as she tried to peek past Mia into the office. “What are you doing here?” Zoe asked, her voice sharp, laced with mockery, as if Mia being there was the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Mia didn’t flinch. She stood tall, even if her heart was hammering in her chest. She met Zoe’s eyes head–on. “What does it look like, Zoc?”
Zoe’s lips curled, her brows furrowing. “Where’s Alex?”
“Shouldn’t you know?”
That stopped Zoe for a moment. She blinked, finally taking a real look at Mia, as if she had only just realized that Mia wasn’t some shadow but was actually standing there, in Alex’s office.
For a moment, Mia considered stepping aside, maybe Alex had asked Zoe to come too?
It would be easier to walk away, to avoid any kind of fight with Zoe. She was not about to repeat history. That will never be her life again.
But something deep inside her clenched. Something told her not to move, not to move an inch. Whatever Alex and Zoe had or didn’t have…
She refuses to believe Alex would drag her into some stupid game.
Zoe’s face twisted with disgust. “You’re like a mutt I can’t get rid of, Mia. What in God’s name are you even doing here?”
The insult was sharp, meant to wound, but Mia didn’t even blink. She tilted her head slightly, letting her words drip with calm venom. “I should be asking you that, Zoe. Weren’t you a princess in Willowcrest? Why are you outside your kingdom?”
That one hit. Zoe’s composure cracked for a second. Her eyes darted away, nervous, and suddenly she didn’t look like the untouchable Zoe from Willowcrest anymore. She looked smaller, cornered, different. Something had happened to her, Mia realized. She didn’t know what, but the air around Zoe wasn’t the same as before. Maybe time had changed them both.
Zoe recovered quickly though, snapping her head back and glaring at Mia. “Get out of the way, Mia.”
“I can’t let you in, sorry.” Mia’s tone was flat, but her arms folded across her chest as if daring Zoe to try her. “If something were to go missing, all fingers will point at me.”
Zoe’s eyes darkened. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying Alex left me in here alone. Why don’t you wait outside? When he comes back, you can come in with him.”
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Chapter 260
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The smirk that slid across Zoe’s lips was meant to belittle. She chuckled and looked away, shaking her head like Mia was pathetic. “It seems you still don’t know your place. When are you going to stop following him around. Mia? It’s been five years.”
Mia’s chest tightened, the memory of those years biting at her. But she refused to let Zoe see any weakness. Instead, she laughed. It wasn’t soft or forced. It was sharp, almost bitter.
“I guess we’re on the same boat, don’t you think?” Mia said, smirking now, her eyes glinting.
Zoe’s head snapped, her glare burning holes in her.
“Except Alex loves me,” Zoe snapped, her voice rising. “I will always be the one in the middle of the picture, Turner.”
She dragged Mia’s last name like it was dirt, spitting it out as though it could cut her deeper.
Mia’s lips twitched into a smirk. “You know, Zoe, I let you intimidate me for months back in Willowcrest because I thought you meant something big to Alex. I thought you mattered.” She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “But I was so wrong. For five years that I was gone, you couldn’t even get him to put a ring on your finger. You couldn’t solidify your place in his life?”
Mia paused then, deliberately letting her eyes trail to Zoe’s hand. She tilted her head and blew gently on her own fingers as if brushing away invisible dust. “Honestly, Zoe… I’m disappointed.”
Zoe stiffened, her jaw clenching. “You better watch your mouth, Turner.”
“Or what?” Mia’s voice was low, daring, every ounce of defiance pouring out of her.
She didn’t care if Alex still had something with Zoe. She didn’t care if Zoe thought she still had a claim. Alex can be with whoever he wants, Mia refuses to be toy with. She had swallowed her pride once, let herself be humiliated once. Never again.
For the first time, Zoe faltered. Her mouth opened but no words came. She actually looked taken aback, and Mia’s chest swelled with a quiet triumph.
Before Zoe could recover, before she could sling another insult-
“Zoe.”
Both women froze.
They turned at the same time toward the hallway. Alex stood there, confusion written across his face, his brows furrowed, his voice carrying a sharp edge.
“Zoe, what are you doing here?”
Zoe whipped her head toward him, her confidence slipping. “I–I thought we could have lunch together,” she stammered.
Alex blinked, his brows drawing even tighter. “Since when did we start having lunch together?”
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Chapter 260
His voice was cold, almost harsh.
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Mia crossed her arms tighter against her chest, watching Zoe squirm, watching her lose ground. The proud, composed Zoe she knew from years ago was nowhere to be seen.
Alex stepped closer, his tone cutting now. “I set some boundaries with you, Zoe, and you promised me you’d respect them. What are you doing?”
Zoe shifted uncomfortably, doing everything to avoid Mia’s eyes. Her hands twisted together in front of her, and she looked utterly out of place.
“What is she doing here then?” Zoe blurted suddenly, desperate to shift the spotlight, pointing at Mia like she was the problem.
Alex’s eyes narrowed, his voice steady, his words firm and without hesitation. “Do I have to explain to you why my woman is in my office?”
Mia’s heart stopped for a moment, then fluttered wildly against her ribs. Can he stops calling her that?
Her chest felt warm, too warm, butterflies stirred wildly in her stomach, but she forced her face to stay neutral. She couldn’t let Alex see how much those words made her feel.
Zoe looked at Mia, then back at Alex, her lips parting but no words came out. Her shoulders sagged, and for the first time, she looked defeated.
“I’m sorry,” Zoe mumbled, barely audible, before turning on her heel and rushing down the corridor toward the elevator.
Mia let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. For a flicker of a moment, she almost….almost….felt sorry for Zoe. Almost.
She glanced at Alex “You know, I could just leave so you can have lunch with her instead.”
Alex’s eyes darted to her, sharp and unamused. “Shut up,” he muttered, pushing his office door wider and grabbing her arm to drag her inside.
