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Chapter 3
“I’m not avoiding you,” Gloria said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Elijah stepped into her personal space, his designer cologne overwhelming her senses. “Bullshit. You’re practically running a marathon to dodge me every day. Won’t even look at me when we pass in the hallway. What else would you call that?”
“Is it because of me and Jenna? That’s it, isn’t it?”
“God, no!” Gloria took a step back. “Mr. Phillips, I’m actually happy for you both. Seriously. I’ve finally gotten the message–you’ll never feel that way about me. I’m done.”
His expression darkened. The idea of Gloria not pining after him seemed to physically offend him.
“Right. When I shot down your confession, you wouldn’t quit. When I rejected your endless DMs and gifts, you kept pushing. So what’s this new angle? Playing it cool to get my attention?”
He watched her face like a hawk, catching her startled expression. That was all the confirmation he needed.
Moving closer, his voice went arctic as he spotted the box in her arms. “If you’re so ‘over me,‘ what’s with all these love letters? These sketches? After stalking me for years, you expect me to buy that you just magically got over it?”
“You don’t see how pathetic this looks?”
Gloria met his gaze. Of course it sounded ridiculous–she’d been the girl who cried wolf too many times. But this time was different.
“Look, I get it. I was crazy about you, Mr. Phillips. But you’ll never love me back, so I’m moving on. For real this
time.”
To prove her point, she dumped the box’s contents at his feet. Then, methodically, she shredded every letter and sketch into confetti.
Through the falling pieces, she noticed his expression growing darker rather than relieved. Before she could process this, his voice cut like ice.
“Keep playing your little games, Gloria. But get this through your head–Jenna is the only one who matters to me.
Period.”
They didn’t speak after that. Gloria had nothing left to say, and Elijah, convinced she was manipulating him, gave her the cold shoulder.
The tension peaked at the Phillips family dinner. Once upon a time, these gatherings had been Gloria’s show, with the family doting on her until Elijah had to rescue her from the attention overload.
Now? It was the Jenna show. Obviously–she was the future Mrs. Phillips. Gloria? Just the awkward houseguest who’d overstayed her welcome. Everyone got the memo about the new pecking order.
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Addio To The Stand–In Past. This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 3
“I’m not avoiding you,” Gloria said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Elijah stepped into her personal space, his designer cologne overwhelming her senses. “Bullshit. You’re practically running a marathon to dodge me every day. Won’t even look at me when we pass in the hallway. What else would you call that?”
“Is it because of me and Jenna? That’s it, isn’t it?”
“God, no!” Gloria took a step back. “Mr. Phillips, I’m actually happy for you both. Seriously. I’ve finally gotten the message–you’ll never feel that way about me. I’m done.”
His expression darkened. The idea of Gloria not pining after him seemed to physically offend him.
“Right. When I shot down your confession, you wouldn’t quit. When I rejected your endless DMs and gifts, you kept pushing. So what’s this new angle? Playing it cool to get my attention?”
He watched her face like a hawk, catching her startled expression. That was all the confirmation he needed.
Moving closer, his voice went arctic as he spotted the box in her arms. “If you’re so ‘over me,‘ what’s with all these love letters? These sketches? After stalking me for years, you expect me to buy that you just magically got over it?”
“You don’t see how pathetic this looks?”
Gloria met his gaze. Of course it sounded ridiculous–she’d been the girl who cried wolf too many times. But this
time was different.
“Look, I get it. I was crazy about you, Mr. Phillips. But you’ll never love me back, so I’m moving on. For real this
time.”
To prove her point, she dumped the box’s contents at his feet. Then, methodically, she shredded every letter and
sketch into confetti.
Through the falling pieces, she noticed his expression growing darker rather than relieved. Before she could process this, his voice cut like ice.
“Keep playing your little games, Gloria. But get this through your head–Jenna is the only one who matters to me.
Period.”
They didn’t speak after that. Gloria had nothing left to say, and Elijah, convinced she was manipulating him, gave
her the cold shoulder.
The tension peaked at the Phillips family dinner. Once upon a time, these gatherings had been Gloria’s show, with the family doting on her until Elijah had to rescue her from the attention overload.
Now? It was the Jenna show. Obviously–she was the future Mrs. Phillips. Gloria? Just the awkward houseguest who’d overstayed her welcome. Everyone got the memo about the new pecking order.
AJ T- The Coand In Dant This Time I Chose To Doclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 3
In one brutal morning, Gloria watched the family roll out the red carpet for Jenna. Mrs. Phillips immediately clasped the family’s priceless vintage Cartier bracelet around Jenna’s wrist–a piece Gloria had never even glimpsed in her previous life.
Over dinner, wedding plans dominated the conversation. By dessert, they’d locked down a date at some exclusive
venue.
As Gloria tried to slip out with the others, Mrs. Phillips cornered her for a “quick chat.”
The moment her study door closed, the woman didn’t bother with pleasantries: “Gloria, sweetie, time to back off.”
“Elijah and Jenna are engaged now. Hanging around here just makes you look desperate. What exactly are you hoping to achieve?”
The contempt in Mrs. Phillips’s voice made Gloria’s chest tight. This woman had once treated her like a daughter–until Gloria’s confession turned her into persona non grata. After that, she became the family scandal, the gold–digger, the social climber…
Gloria dug her nails into her palm. “Don’t worry. I’m out of here.”
She pulled out her immigration paperwork. “Just talked to Dad about moving to London. He’s lined up some eligible bachelor for me there. I won’t be around to ‘embarrass‘ your son anymore.”
Mrs. Phillips scrutinized the documents like a hawk before her ice queen facade cracked slightly. “See that you follow through.”
After Mrs. Phillips clicked away in her Louboutins, Gloria exhaled, stuffing the papers back into her Prada tote. As she stood to leave, she found Elijah lounging in the doorway.
“Running away from someone?”
Gloria’s brain short–circuited. She had no idea how much he’d overheard, but her gut screamed not to mention
London.
“No one. You’re hearing things.”
She tried to squeeze past him, but his words froze her mid–step.
“Look, you don’t have to flee the country. After the wedding, stay. Your dad’s my oldest friend–I’ll take care of you.
Forever.”
Gloria’s jaw dropped. Behind Elijah, Jenna, who’d come looking for her fiancé, went absolutely still.
Catching Jenna’s murderous glare, Gloria did the only thing she could–she ran.
Chapter 3
