Dumped Me, Now He's Begging For Mercy

At my engagement party with Edward, his closest female friend, Lily, cried so hard that she actually passed out.

Edward ditched me, scooped her up, and rushed straight to the hospital.

When he finally came back, he hadn't even bothered to clean the white stains off his shirt.

That night, Lily posted on social media: [To the one who defined my youth. It's finally time to say goodbye. No matter what happens in the future, I wish you happiness.]

Overnight, I became the wicked woman who destroyed their true love.

My best friend, Chloe, was so mad that she wanted to tear that jerk and his little mistress apart.

I stopped her, slowly closed my social media app, and let a sly smile curl on my red lips.

I said, "Don't rush.

"First, leak those photos of Edward and Lily getting intimate at the hospital. Spread the word that the Sinclair Group's heir broke his promise for love and is ready to hand over all his shares.

"Oh, and don't forget to attach that video of him begging me to invest. Make sure it's in HD."

Hashtags: [Sinclair Heir Ditches Fiance for Love], [Feel Bad for Lily; Capitalism Turned Her into the Other Woman], and [Stella Is So Toxic] hit the trending list.

Chloe slammed her phone down on the table, her whole body shaking with anger.

She said, "Stella, did you see this? These lying jerks are twisting the whole story. I'm gonna hire a bunch of trolls and spam their comments so hard that they'll have no choice but to turn them off."

I idly swirled my wine glass.

I said, "No need. Let them stir things up.

"The bigger the drama, the harder they'll fall."

Just as I finished talking, the front door burst open. Someone had kicked it in.

Edward stormed inside, practically freezing the room with his anger, his usually handsome face twisted in fury.

Lily was clinging to his arm, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Edward demanded, "Stella, what the hell are you trying to pull?"

He slammed his phone onto the table, the screen ablaze with the photos and videos I'd told Chloe to spread all over the internet.

In the photos, he and Lily were making out in some hospital corner like nobody was watching, totally wrapped up in each other.

And in the video, he grabbed onto my dress like his life depended on it, desperately begging me to invest in his project.

I set down the scissors and deliberately wiped my hands with a wet wipe.

I said, "Edward, you should at least knock before you barge in. Even a toddler knows how to be polite."

Edward was so pissed that he actually laughed.

He snapped, "You did all this to me, and now you're lecturing me about manners?"

I gave him a look full of sarcasm.

I shot back, "Did I doctor those photos? Did I use AI to fake that video?

"Or was it me who made you ditch me, your fiance, at the engagement party, and run off with another woman?

"Or maybe that disgusting mess on your shirt was just some hospital air freshener?"

Edward's face kept switching between pale and furious, like he was about to explode.

Lily nervously clung to his sleeve, tears falling from her eyes like scattered pearls.

She whimpered, "Edward, please don't blame Ms. Grant. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have fainted or messed up your engagement party.

"Ms. Grant, I'm begging you, could you please delete those posts from the internet?

"Edward can't lose the Sinclair Group. His reputation can't just go down like this."

She started to bow down as she spoke.

I shot her a cold look and said, "Save your innocent act for someone who cares. It doesn't work on me."

Edward yanked Lily into his arms, shooting me a furious glare.

He snapped, "Stella, don't push it. Lily and I are just close friends, nothing more. If you've got a problem, bring it to me."

I stood up and walked right up to him, my gaze icy.

I said, "You're exactly who I'm after.

"Edward, did you really think my family picked you as my fianc because you're the Sinclair Group's heir? No, it's because you're a Sinclair.

"You trashed our engagement, and now you've slapped both our families in the face.

"So tell me, what do you think your father's going to do to you?"

Edward's phone started buzzing like crazy. When he saw who was calling, his face went white as a sheet.

It was his father, Andrew.

Edward didn't dare not answer.

Andrew's thunderous roar came through the phone, so loud that I could hear every word, even from across the room.

He demanded, "You disgrace! Get your ass back here, right now!"

Edward hung up, shooting daggers at me, his eyes full of hate.

He spat, "Stella, just you wait. This isn't over, not by a long shot."

Edward walked off, and Lily followed right behind, clinging like a parasite.

I watched her walk away with a cold snort.

She'd never hesitated to use the "buddy" card to shut me up.

Now that she had Edward, why keep up the charade?

Just then, Chloe texted me: [Holy shit. Stella, the Sinclair family's stock just hit rock bottom. That move you pulled: talk about pulling the rug out from under them. Savage.]

I replied: [The real show's just getting started.]

That afternoon, a car pulled up outside my house.

It was Edward's parents, Andrew and Fiona

The atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.

Fiona forced a smile that looked more like she was about to cry, gripping my mother's hand tightly.

She said, "Emily, please don't be mad. This whole mess is on Edward. We clearly failed as parents.

"He and Lily just grew up together as good friends, that's all. There's absolutely nothing else going on, I swear.

"When he gets back, I'll make sure he learns his lesson and comes crawling over to apologize to Stella himself."

My dad sat at the head of the table, his face so dark that it could've scared off a storm, not saying a word.

I picked up my coffee and took a sip.

I said, "Mrs. Sinclair, since when do 'good friends' bawl their eyes out at an engagement party and then lock lips in the hospital?

"That's some deep friendship, huh?"

Fiona's face flushed bright red.

Andrew cleared his throat and said in a deep, serious voice, "Thomas, I'll admit, Edward was in the wrong here.

"But the marriage between him and Stella was something both our families decided on. It's tied to billions in future business deals. This is serious, and not something we can just walk away from.

"If Stella agrees, the Sinclair family is willing to give up another five percent of the profits in our partnership.

"And I promise, Lily will never be anywhere near them again."

That was quite the offer.

But if there was one thing the Grant family wasn't short on, it was money.

My dad let out a cold laugh.

He sneered, "Five percent? Mr. Sinclair, are you trying to buy us off like we're some beggars?

"You really think you can put a price on what my daughter went through?"

Right at that moment, Edward strode in.

The slap marks on his face were still fresh, but his eyes were just as defiant as ever.

"Dad, why are you begging them?" he barked.

He stared straight at me, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He sneered, "Stella, don't get ahead of yourself. You really think I want to marry you? Get real. It's just a business deal between our families.

"Stop causing all this drama. What? You want the whole world to know you're just some rejected bride nobody wants?

"Face it, your family's the one desperate for this deal, not us.

"You'd better wipe all that crap off the internet, or I'll make sure we both go down in flames."

My dad sprang to his feet and landed a vicious slap on Edward's other cheek.

He roared, "You bastard! You think you can threaten my daughter?"

Edward clutched his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I stood up slowly and walked right up to him.

I said, "Edward, it seems like you're the one who's confused here.

"It's not the Grant family that needs you. It's your project that needs our investment to survive.

"Without me, your new energy project is nothing but a pile of scrap metal.

"Going down together? Do you think you're even in my league?"

Edward's eyes narrowed sharply.

His biggest secret, the one he'd always been so proud of, was just casually exposed by me.

His so-called new energy project had already swallowed up a fortune in upfront costs, turning into a bottomless pit.

It was only because my family kept bankrolling it nonstop that it managed to keep up the illusion of success.

Andrew and Fiona looked visibly shaken.

They clearly had no idea that the son they were so proud of had gotten himself into such deep trouble without them knowing.

Edward stammered, "H-How do you know?" His voice was trembling.

I smirked, a hint of mockery in my smile.

I said, "If you didn't want anyone to find out, maybe you shouldn't have done it.

"Edward, you took my family's money to bankroll Lily, and now you think you can use me as your stepping stone to climb higher? Do you really think the world works that way?"

My father's face turned stone cold. After fighting his way through life, nothing pissed him off more than being made a fool of.

"Bravo, the Sinclair family. Really impressive!" he spat, voice thick with sarcasm.

My dad let out a laugh, cold and furious.

He said, "The engagement's off. And so is our partnership."

Andrew, flustered, sent a swift kick to Edward's leg.

He barked, "You ungrateful brat. Apologize to Mr. Grant and Stella, now!"

Edward stood his ground, defiant as ever, refusing to yield.

My father snorted dismissively and stepped aside.

He said coldly, "I don't need his apology.

"Mr. Sinclair, since your golden boy is so full of himself, why not let him patch up that multi-billion-dollar hole all on his own?

"We are done playing your game."

My dad showed Andrew and Edward the door, and Fiona followed after them, her head hanging low in humiliation.

Chloe's message popped up again.

She texted: [You nailed it. But Stella, the Sinclair family won't let you off that easily. Be careful.]

I watched the Sinclairs' car drive away and texted back: [I know.]

Edward had more backbone than I ever gave him credit for.

Or maybe he was just cornered, ready to burn his bridges and go all in.

That night, Lily started a livestream.

She was bare-faced, wearing a simple white T-shirt, sitting in a rundown rental apartment.

On camera, tears streamed down her face, making her look heartbreakingly fragile.

She sobbed, "I never wanted to come between Edward and Ms. Grant.

"Edward and I grew up together. My family never had much, and he's always been there for me.

"I know I shouldn't have crashed the engagement party.

"But when I heard he was getting engaged, it hurt so bad that I could barely breathe. I swear, I didn't do it on purpose.

"Ms. Grant is from such a powerful family. With just a word, she could wipe out everything Edward and I have. We never stood a chance against her.

"Please, everyone, stop blaming Edward. All of this is on me. I'll take whatever comes."

With those words, she turned herself into the perfect victim, innocent, fragile, and oppressed by the powerful elite.

And me? I was cast as the villainess, the spoiled heiress who crushed others just because I could.

Public opinion did a complete 180 in seconds.

One commented: [See? It takes two to make a mess. If there wasn't something shady going on, none of this would happen.]

Another commented: [Feeling for Lily, sending virtual hugs. Rich girls like Stella are just untouchable.]

Someone else commented: [All Edward did was take the girl he cares about to the hospital. Is it really that unforgivable? Stella is just making a huge fuss over nothing.]

Chloe was so pissed that she almost chucked her brand-new phone across the room.

She fumed, "Seriously, if Lily doesn't get an Oscar for that performance, it's a total injustice. I'm getting her livestream nuked right now."

I said, "Don't.

"Let her play the victim.

"Everyone loves a good show. Let's make the stage even bigger for her."

Edward's counterattack came faster and hit harder than I ever saw coming.

The very next day, an alleged "internal financial report" from the Grant Group blew up all over the internet.

The file accused my father's company of dodging taxes and screwing over its workers.

It was a complete forgery, but so convincing that even the pros would be fooled.

Suddenly, the Grant Group was under fire, caught right in the middle of the storm.

The stock price started tanking, and our partners were blowing up our phones, all desperate to know what was going on.

My dad was so pissed that his blood pressure nearly exploded. He pulled an all-nighter with the board, scrambling to put out the fire.

Right then, my phone lit up with a call from Edward.

His voice oozed with smug satisfaction and the thrill of payback.

He sneered, "So, Stella, how does it feel to be dragged through the mud for once?

"I warned you, Stella. Don't ever back me into a corner.

"Here's your chance.

"Hold a press conference right now. Apologize to Lily, and announce that our engagement is still on.

"Marry me, and we're family. Your father's little crisis? I'll make it disappear."

He paused, his voice dropping to a condescending murmur.

He said, "I'm even generous enough to let you keep pouring money into my project. You can even call yourself Mrs. Sinclair.

"So? How about it? Tempted?"

Listening to Edward gloat, I just found it ridiculous.

I asked, "Edward, do you really think you've won?"

"Isn't that obvious?" he fired back, all cocky.

I chuckled lightly.

"You'll find out soon enough. You really picked the wrong person to mess with," I said, my tone icy and full of warning.

After hanging up, I dialed another number.

I asked, "Interested in a little collaboration?"

The man on the other end let out a low chuckle.

He replied, "Of course. I never say no to you.

"So, how do you want to play this?"

I let out a small laugh.

"I want Edward to lose everything: his reputation, his name, all of it dragged through the mud," I said coldly.

Vincent Foster was a name everyone in the city knew. He was basically a living legend in our social circles.

He came back from Wallinton, a financial shark who kept things quiet but struck hard and fast when he wanted something.

It only took Vincent three years to build a business empire from scratch.

When it came to Vincent, the Sinclair family could only play second fiddle.

Even more importantly, he was the son of our family's closest ally, the one for whom my father always had the highest hopes.

But Vincent had been living abroad for years, so it had been ages since we last met.

I never wanted to drag Vincent into my personal drama.

But when Edward messed with my family, that was my last straw.

That night was the annual charity gala.

I made my entrance with my father, arm in arm.

In a split second, all the flashes turned our way.

Reporters rushed over, their microphones almost poking my father's face.

One of them asked, "Mr. Grant, are those financial documents online for real? Is the Grant Group dodging taxes?"

Another pressed, "Ms. Grant, rumor has it your engagement to Mr. Edward Sinclair is off. Was it because he found out about your family's financial mess?"

Someone else asked, "Is the Grant family about to go bankrupt?"

The questions just kept coming, each one more ruthless than the last.

My dad's face looked awful, but he held it together and didn't lose his temper.

Just then, Edward and Lily made their entrance.

Edward was dressed to the nines in a custom-tailored suit, looking like he owned the place.

Lily wore a flawless white evening gown, her arm linked with Edward's, a smug smile playing on her lips.

They strode right up to me, and Edward looked down at me with a superior air.

He asked, "Stella, have you thought it through yet?

"Just give me a nod, and I'll have these reporters gone in no time."

Lily jumped in, her voice dripping with fake concern.

She said, "Ms. Grant, Edward's only looking out for you. Don't be so stubborn."

I stared at their phony little act, just about to speak up and shut them down, when a cold, commanding voice rang out from behind us.

The voice snapped, "Since when do you get to boss around my VIPs?"

The crowd parted as Vincent strode in.

Vincent was dressed in a sharp black suit, his posture straight and his presence so powerful that no one dared meet his eyes.

He walked right up to me, slipped off his suit jacket, and draped it over my shoulders, shielding me from all those judgmental stares.

He leaned in and asked softly, "Are you cold?"

The whole room fell silent.

The reporters were so shocked that they forgot to even lift their cameras.

Edward's smug grin stuck awkwardly on his lips.

He stared at Vincent, looking like he couldn't believe his eyes, and stammered, "M-Mr. Foster? What are you doing here?"

Vincent didn't even bother to spare him a glance.

He picked up the microphone, his gaze sweeping the room. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner.

Vincent said, "I've called you all here tonight to set the record straight on a few things.

"First, all those rumors about the Grant Group are nothing but malicious slander. My legal team has already gathered the evidence, and you'll all be getting a lawyer's letter tomorrow.

"Second, the Grant Group is my most important partner for the future. Anyone who messes with them is messing with me."

He paused, his gaze landing on me, a soft, almost doting smile on his lips.

He continued, "Third, and this is the most important thing, Stella Grant is the woman I'll protect with everything I have, for the rest of my life.

"Anyone who dares to make her suffer, even for a second, had better be ready to be wiped out by the Fosters."