Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 17

| placed the box on a shelf in my new apartment.

| didn’t open it again. Didn't even brush the dust from the corners. | wasn’t going to throw it away or burn it

either. That memory-what we buried-it wasn’t just about Ethan. That paper held a version oftoo. A girl who

used to believe in something.

My phone vibrated. Ethan.

| stared at the screen. He'd been calling more often lately. Maybe he could feel it too-that we were done. That

this thing between us was already dead. | didn’t answer. | didn’t hang up either. Just let it ring until it stopped.

A few seconds later, | got a new text. From Mike.

“Mr. Green will be attending a meeting at Ashmoon Hotel on Friday afternoon. You may deliver the suit at that

time.”

Ashmoon Hotel? That's... secluded.

My brows furrowed. Why would Alexander want to meetat a hotel? And why now? | didn’t want to read too

much into it. | wasn’t naive, and | sure as hell wasn’t desperate. But it did feel strange.

Still, | didn’t reply. Not right away. | needed to think.

Two hours later, | pulled out of the Duskhollow Pines gate, sunglasses on and my hair pulled into a neat low bun.

But my fingers slammed the brakes the moment | saw that familiar blood-red Ferrari parked down the road.

My heart sank.

Ethan.

He was leaning against the side, smoking. His expression behind the curtain of smoke wasn’t hard to read. He

was pissed off and intentionally was parked in my way.

| knew | couldn't avoid this. | parked behind him, grabbed my bag, walked over, and slid into the passenger seat

with- out being invited.

| spoke first. “Why are you here?”

His

eyes

didn’t move. “You tell me, Olivia. What the hell are you doing here?”

| frowned: “You followed me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the phone from his dash and threw it into my lap. “Explain.”

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| looked down. On the screen was a list of property owners in Duskhollow Pines.

My nwas there. | closed my eyes for half a second, then met his stare.

“I bought a condo,” | said, calmly. “With my own money. From my own savings. It didn’t cost you a single cent.”

“That's not what I'm asking,” Ethan said, jaw tight. “Why here? Why this building? Why hide it?”

“I didn’t hide it. | just didn’t tell you. And | didn’t think | needed to.” | turned toward him. “Do | need your permis-

sion to have something of my own?”

His eyes sharpened. “So that’s what this is about? You buying your independence?”

“Would that be so bad?” | shot back. “I've been working for years. Building your projects. Following your orders. |

just wanted one space that’s mine.”

He looked away and let out a short laugh-more like a scoff. “You think | ever held you back? Every gift | gave you

-each necklace, bracelet, trip-you think that was control?”

| didn’t respond.

Ethan continued, “For your kind information, the necklaces you wear are all expensive than this piece of property

you brought. All | did that was for you.”

He then pulled his wallet from his back pocket, yanked out his black card, and shoved it toward me. “Take it. Go

buy ten more houses.”

| stared at the card for a second, then pushed it gently back into his lap. “Alpha Ethan is very generous.”

His lips thinned. “You know | didn’t mean it like that.”

Maybe for the money, | could choose to continue to put up with his betrayal and be an emotionless gold-digger.

But | didn’t want to live like that. | had a self-esteem and a conscience, unlike him.

“Thanks, but | don’t want to be bought.” | unzipped my purse and dropped his card inside. “If | ever need your

mon- ey, I'll ask. But not today.”

| reached to close my bag, but he grabbed my wrist.

“Do you trustat all, Olivia?”

“Does it matter?” | paused. “You live your life the way want to, anyways. You can keep living like that.”

He didn’t speak. | pulled my hand free.

My phone buzzed.

My spine stiffened. Could it be Mike? | didn’t reply to his text earlier, maybe he was confirming via call.

Ethan noticed.

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His eyes narrowed. “Who is it?”

| flipped the screen toward me. Amelia. Thank god.

“Luna Amelia,” | said, making sure he could hear the name. “Want to say hi?”

He hesitated.

“I'm serious,” | said, already answering.

| put the call on speaker. “Hey, Amelia. I'm with Ethan” | hoped she could getand won't say something about

our

deal.

Amelia's voice cthrough the line, slightly surprised. “Oh, | didn’t know you were with Ethan. Never mind,

dear. Just calling about the bag. Still want it?”

“Yes,” | replied quickly. “Sent all mine for cleaning. | need at least one.”

“Alright then. I'll have it sent over.” She hung up.

Ethan looked over at me, puzzled. “Since when are you two close?”

| shrugged. “Would you rather we fight every day?”

He had no comeback for that. The best way to shut people like him would be to ask rhetorical questions.

He started the engine. “I'll drop you off.”

“Okay. But I still have my car here.”

“Don’t worry. I'll have someone bring your car back.”

| stayed quiet.

The drive back was tense. | pretended to scroll through my phone just to avoid looking at him.

Back at home, | watched from the porch as Ethan's car finally disappeared into the main road. I let out the

breath I'd been holding. That was too close.

The next few days, | stayed indoors. Didn't step outside. Didn't want to risk Ethan seeingagain. | knew he'd

ex- plode the moment he found out about the divorce filing. And | didn’t want to be anywhere near that mess.

So, | planned a trip.

Maldive. Somewhere far. Somewhere | could be unreachable for a while.

Just enough tfor Ethan to cool off.

Ava called that afternoon. Her tone was more serious than usual.

“You sure you're ready to deal with Amelia?” she asked.

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Chapter 17

#1 248 Nouchers

I lay back on my bed. “She won’t touchuntil I sign those divorce papers.”

“You trust her not to throw a wrench in this?”

“She’s more afraid than | am,” | said.

“She knows I've filed. She's pyghably

the one l§34Rg hk XX OF

Hawthrone-Windsor engagement

rumors.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“You really think so?”

“I'd bet on it.”

Ava sighed. “Just be careful.”

I nodded.

On Friday, | was sitting at my desk,

finalizing my plane yickess @henl hy

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phone fab) Afreiia The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| picked up, wary.

“I need you to cin and sign something,” she said.

“What kind of something?”

“Just a revised agreement. It’s nothing big.”

| glanced at my calendar. “I'll have my lawyer look at it.”

“Olivia,” she said, her voice crisp now.

“You're asking for $250 millio, We're

not sending doasnénfs'o your

lawyers office. You're meeting me. In

person. Today.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| stayed quiet.

“I'm at the Ashmoon Hotel. It’s private. Discreet. No reporters.”

My eyes flickered.

Ashmoon?

Mike's text crushing back.

Alexander was supposed to be there today.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

Was this all a coincidence?