Too Late Now, Ex Lover

My mother, who divorced my father fifteen years ago after he brought his mistress and illegitimate daughter into our manor, gasped in delight.

"That's good to hear, dear. Wrap up your business in Italy. I’ll send a private jet in four days."

“Okay.”

I hung up and hailed a taxi.

My chest was tight and I couldn’t think straight, so I needed a drink.

Just as I stepped into a VIP club, fate decided to twist the knife deeper.

I saw Jordan, already drunk, surrounded by his usual crowd. Adeline also sat beside him.

Her gossipy friends circled them like flies on sweetness, giggling and whispering behind their cocktails.

“Adeline,” one of the girls cooed while clinging to her boyfriend’s arm, “how did your sister’s husband end up so obsessed with you?”

Adeline laughed, pressing a hand to her chest with false modesty.

“Oh, don’t say that. He just… cares for me. Like a sister,” she said coyly. “I told him I was terrified of giving birth. I was worried that I couldn’t give Young Master Walton a child if we ever married.”

Then, with a soft smile, she added, “But Jordan said he’d make Casey pregnant soon and promised to give their first child to me. So, I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.”

A girl squealed, “Oh my god, he’s such a sweet brother!”

The air knocked out of my lungs.

So that was why Jordan suddenly pushed so hard for a baby.

Not because he wanted a family with me, but he wanted a child to hand over like a trophy to her.

I grabbed the drink the waitress just placed before me and downed it in one gulp.

But as I reached for another, a group of Young Masters slithered toward me like snakes.

“Well, well, what happened to the Ice Queen of the Stevens family?” one sneered, tapping my shoulder.

Another wrapped an arm around my waist. “Right? The Ice Queen finally thawed?”

"Bored, Casey?" the third grinned, pinching my chin. “Finally want to play with us, huh?”

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, shoving them off with shaking hands.

My voice rose above the music, immediately caught Jordan’s attention.

His eyes sharpened the moment he saw me.

Maybe it was instinct, or guilt, he rushed over and yanked the men away, shielding me like he used to—when I was still someone he wanted to protect.

The others backed off, murmuring drunken apologies as they scattered.

Left alone with him, Jordan looked me up and down, confused. “What are you doing here, Casey?”

I let out a bitter laugh, my eyes narrowing. “Really? You ask me why I’m here?”

I stepped closer, voice cold. “Then tell me, where should I be? At the amusement park—waiting like a fool under the summer sun for hours?”

I poked his chest with my finger as I scolded him, “You promised to pick me up, but you never came.”

His eyes widened. He pressed his fingers to his temple, groaning. “I’m sorry, Casey… I forgot.”

My fists slammed against his chest, tears stinging but never falling. “You’re a bastard. I hate you!”

Then, like she had rehearsed it all, Adeline slipped between us, voice sweet.

“Please don’t punish your husband, Sister. He didn’t mean it. After helping me, he drove me to meet my friends at the club. He just… accidentally forgot.”

I opened my mouth to scream at her. But before I could speak, someone shouted, “Watch out!”

A screech tore through the ceiling.

The massive disco ball chandelier shuddered, then broke loose.

It plummeted down—straight above us.

In the past, Jordan would’ve thrown himself over me without a second thought.

But that night?

I watched as he wrapped his arms around Adeline, shielding her entirely as they dove out of harm’s way.

And me?

The chandelier struck me and darkness was the last thing I could remember.

But the pain didn’t stop there. Even in unconsciousness, they followed me into my dreams.

It was a scene from a week ago, when I had received a heartless HR notice, [Casey Stevens will be removed from her position as Vice President of Marsell Jewelry.]

Feeling confused, I stormed to the HR Director’s office.

But as my hand reached for the doorknob, I froze.

Through the narrow crack, I saw them.

Adeline Stevens—my father’s illegitimate daughter—locked in a lover’s grip with a man whose back was all too familiar.

Jordan Young.

Their mouths tangled in a slow, wet kiss, her leg hooking around his waist as he pinned her against the wall.

“Shh,” he murmured, kissing down her jaw. “Don’t make a sound. Someone might walk in.”

Adeline giggled, breathless. “Let them. I want her to see.”

She looked straight at me and smirked. “You were honest when you said you only love me, right?”

Jordan didn’t even glance up, kissing her neck. “Of course. Only you are in my heart. Casey’s nothing compared to you.”

I stumbled back, dizzy.

I returned to the office I once called my sanctuary. The shared space Jordan and I once filled with laughter.

He said he liked it. “Same house, same room, same office,” he told me.

Now, it was suffocating.

His laptop sat open and a message popped up on WhatsApp Web.

[Rudy: You really are amazing, Mr. Walton. Pretending to be just an orphan, marrying that Ice Queen Casey just to take over Marsell Jewelry, and get close to your real crush, Adeline. Bravo!]

[Jordan: Adeline’s always been the bullied illegitimate daughter. She protected me thirteen years ago. Now it’s my turn. Marsell Jewelry is hers by right. Once she’s Vice President, I’ll divorce Casey and propose to Adeline.]

[Rudy: No need for a proposal, Mr. Walton. Just take your bride. You’ve already announced the Walton-Stevens wedding plan, right?]

My vision blurred.

Jordan Walton—the hidden heir of the Walton family, the very man my father once praised as Adeline’s future husband, was actually the soft-spoken husband who held my hand at night?

I wanted to scream. To break something. But I didn’t.

Instead, I pretended I didn’t know.

But during that week, my loyal team were fired one by one by Adeline.

Then she entered my office like a queen claiming her throne.

“As long as you won’t step down for me, sister,” she said sweetly, “I’ll keep firing your precious little army. Let’s see how long you last without them.”

I gritted my teeth and immediately confronted Jordan. “She’s firing people just because they support me!”

He didn’t even glance up. “Adeline has evidence. If they’re incompetent, they deserve it.”

“They’re not incompetent! She’s purging everyone loyal to me.”

“She’s restoring order,” he replied coldly. “Maybe it’s time for you to step back.”

The next day, without warning, Adeline fired my assistant.