Chapter 4: The CEO's Unexpected Claim

“What in the world... What’s going on?”

“Why did the CEO suddenly come over? Why is he holding Winnie?”

“What kind of shocking news is this?”

The moment Lucas spoke, all the whispers around us stopped.

“It took me six months to finally win Winnie over. Do you really think she would leave me and fall for your boyfriend?”

Nicole froze completely. She stood there with her mouth open, unable to say a word.

“Ah… Mr. Parker, I didn’t… I mean…”

Blake’s face had turned dark. He stared at me as if he had just discovered a secret he had never imagined existed.

I was equally stunned. Lucas Parker was the CEO of our company. He had always been distant and professional, and I could barely remember having a proper conversation with him before tonight.

So where had this story about six months of courtship come from?

Lucas did not give Nicole the chance to recover.

“If you have something to say about Winnie, you can say it to me directly. But don't stand here making accusations without evidence.”

His voice was calm, yet there was an unmistakable warning in it.

Nicole's face flushed red. She glanced at Blake, clearly expecting him to defend her.

Blake finally stepped forward. “Mr. Parker, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Winnie and I have known each other for a long time. Nicole was upset, and she didn't mean to cause trouble.”

I almost laughed.

He had just proposed to Nicole in front of the entire company, yet he still wanted to speak as though he had the right to explain my feelings.

Lucas turned his gaze toward him.

“Then you should have made sure the situation was clear before allowing it to become a public spectacle.”

Blake's jaw tightened. He had spent years building his reputation as a talented and dependable employee. Being reprimanded by the CEO in front of so many colleagues was clearly the last thing he wanted.

Nicole, however, was not ready to give up.

“Mr. Parker, I only reacted because Winnie was holding onto Blake. Anyone would have misunderstood.”

Lucas glanced at the hand Blake had grabbed earlier.

“From what I saw, Mr. Carter was the one holding her arm.”

The surrounding employees exchanged uncomfortable looks. The same people who had been whispering about me moments ago suddenly found the floor fascinating.

For once, no one rushed to call me shameless.

I gently stepped away from Lucas. Although I was grateful that he had intervened, I did not want anyone to think I needed a powerful man to speak on my behalf.

“Thank you, Mr. Parker,” I said quietly. “But I can handle this myself.”

Lucas looked at me for a moment, then nodded.

“I know you can, Ms. Cooper.”

His answer surprised me. He did not argue or insist on protecting me. He simply stepped aside, leaving me room to speak.

I turned toward Nicole.

“You called me your best friend, but you never once asked me what happened. You saw Blake grab my arm, yet you chose to slap me before asking a single question.”

Nicole's lips trembled. “You were trying to take him away from me!”

“Take him away from you?” I repeated. “Nicole, you have him now. You got the ring, the proposal, and everyone's congratulations. What more do you want from me?”

She opened her mouth, but no answer came.

I looked at Blake next.

“And you. If you've chosen to marry Nicole, then stop calling me by a nickname you used when we were together. Stop grabbing me, and stop telling me that we need to talk as though I owe you another chance.”

His expression changed.

“Winnie, please. Just listen to me once.”

“I've listened to you for ten years, Blake. I've heard every promise you ever made. I think I've heard enough.”

For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something important. Then Nicole caught his arm and pulled him toward her.

“Blake, are you really going to let her speak to you like that?”

He did not answer immediately.

That hesitation told me more than any explanation could have.

I turned away from them and walked toward the exit. This time, no one tried to stop me.

I had barely reached the corridor when I heard Lucas's footsteps behind me.

“Ms. Cooper.”

I stopped and turned around.

He held out a small paper bag. Inside was a cold pack and a bottle of water.

“Put this against your cheek,” he said. “The slap was hard enough to leave a mark.”

I accepted the bag, unsure how to respond.

“Thank you. You didn't have to do all this.”

“I know.” He paused. “But I wanted to.”

For some reason, that simple answer made me more uncomfortable than his public declaration had.

I lowered my eyes. “Mr. Parker, about what you said in there—the six months of pursuing me...”

“I owe you an explanation,” he admitted.

“I'd appreciate one.”

He glanced toward the banquet hall, where the noise had begun to rise again.

“Not here. Come to my office tomorrow morning at nine. I'll explain everything, and you can decide what you want to do afterward.”

I studied his face, searching for a hint of mockery or hidden intention. There was none that I could recognize.

“All right,” I finally said.

He nodded and walked away, leaving me alone in the corridor once more.

That night, I returned to my apartment and sat on the edge of my bed without turning on the lights.

My phone was filled with messages from coworkers. Some asked whether Lucas and I were really dating. Others wanted to know how long we had been together. A few offered awkward apologies for the things they had said during the event.

I ignored them all.

Then I opened the photograph I had taken of my hospital report. The pregnancy test result was clearly visible, along with the date of my appointment.

I placed one hand over my abdomen.

“Whatever happens, I'll protect you,” I whispered.

I didn't know what kind of mother I would become, or how I would manage everything alone. I only knew that my child would never have to earn love by spending years hiding in someone else's shadow.

My phone vibrated again.

This time, the message came from an unknown number.

“Winnie, it's Blake. I know you blocked me. Please don't make any decisions until we talk. There's something you don't know about Nicole.”

I stared at the screen.

For ten years, Blake had been the person I trusted most. Now, every word he sent felt like another attempt to pull me back into a life I was trying to leave behind.

I deleted the message without replying.

If there was something I needed to know about Nicole, I would find it out in my own time.

The next morning, I arrived at the office fifteen minutes early. I had barely sat down when my assistant informed me that the CEO was expecting me.

I took a deep breath and walked toward Lucas Parker's office.

He was standing beside the window when I entered. A folder lay open on his desk, and his expression was more serious than it had been the previous night.

“Please sit down, Ms. Cooper,” he said.

I took the chair opposite him.

Lucas closed the folder and looked directly at me.

“Before I explain why I intervened last night, I need to ask you something.”

My fingers tightened around the strap of my handbag.

“What is it?”

His gaze remained steady.

“Are you planning to resign because of what happened with Blake Carter?”

I had expected questions about our supposed relationship. Instead, he had asked about my job.

“I haven't decided yet,” I answered honestly. “But I won't let a personal betrayal destroy the career I've worked ten years to build.”

For the first time, a faint expression of approval crossed his face.

“Good,” he said. “Because I have no intention of letting you lose your position over someone else's choices.”

He pushed the folder across the desk.

“Now, let's talk about what happened last night—and why I had a feeling you were going to need someone on your side.”