The Girl Who Got Played Chapter 2

Our conversation was cut short by a call from Katey. Liam’s attempt to explain was derailed by the sound of her crying. He left with a hurried, “I’ll be back,” and never returned.

I discharged myself from the hospital and packed my things alone. The young nurse couldn’t stand it, helping me while she complained. “He admits he’s your family but then disappears when you need him.”

She was indignant, but I didn’t care. Luckily, I never changed my passwords, so my phone was still usable. I found my new address in my notes app and took a cab.

As I was leaving my new apartment building, the man at the bakery on the corner called out, “The usual?”

On a strange impulse, I nodded. A moment later, I was holding two buns. Cabbage filling. I hated cabbage.

The second I walked into the office, a coworker sidled up to me. “Bringing Mr. Hayes his buns again?”

Before he finished speaking, the bag was snatched from my hand. Katey’s face was beaming. “Oh, Sienna, these cabbage buns are my favorite!”

Her cloyingly sweet tone made me frown. I snatched the bag back and handed it to my coworker. “These are for you,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Just be careful not to get any of that fake sweetness on them.”

He froze, but before he could react, Liam was there. He pulled a red-eyed Katey behind him and looked down at me.

“Just because Katey and I have the same taste, you have to pick on her?”

The other employees, who had been gathering to watch, fell silent at his words, their expressions shifting as they looked between the three of us. After all, the two main characters in this drama had become the office's hottest topic yesterday.

My silence stretched on for too long. Someone was about to step in and defend me, but Katey’s sobs started first. Tears streamed down her face, a picture of perfect misery. “I didn’t know you started liking this flavor after I left,” she whimpered. “When I saw the familiar wrapper, I thought they were for me.”

Liam shot me a warning look before gently wiping her tears away.

My eyes were glued to the watch on his wrist. I had seen a matching one—a woman’s version—on the nightstand at home.

By the time I tuned back in, Katey was delivering her final line. “If it bothers you, sister, I can apologize.”

The saccharine act was so over the top it was almost impressive. I blinked. “Then apologize.”

Katey choked on her next sob, the tears instantly drying up.

I, on the other hand, felt a smile spread across my face. I pointed to my ID badge. “You’re an intern. Are you sure you want to make an enemy of a department manager?” I said, emphasizing the word “manager.” “I know you’ve got a big mouth, but you don’t have to use it to talk out of your ass.”

According to company policy, Katey should have been fired for her affair with a manager. It was Liam who had taken the fall, accepting a demotion to protect her. I sighed. I couldn't understand his stupidity. Last night, I'd gone through every single one of our chat logs. We had been in a secret relationship for three years. He had never made us public. Seeing him protect Katey like this now filled me with a complex mix of emotions I couldn't name.

But my expression remained neutral. I put on a pleasant face, picked up a box of his things, and handed it to him.

“Time to move to your new desk, Liam.”