After I Become the CEO, My Heiress Ex Proposed to Me

Chapter 3

The weekend sun filtered through the curtains, casting lazy stripes of light across the floor when I got a text from Sophia Reynolds.

She said she was heading to the badminton court.

She'd been buzzing about it the night before—making plans with her best friend, even buying a new racket just for the occasion.

I stared at her message for a long time before finally dialing her number.

Her voice answered, sharp and impatient.

"Now? Vincent Wilson, are you kidding me? I'm already at the court!"

There was a pause before she snapped,

"Do you even realize how rude it is to cancel last minute?"

I didn't flinch. I just repeated exactly what Justin Chambers had told me.

Silence.

Then a cold laugh crackled through the line.

"That's it?" she said, her voice edged with irritation.

"Vincent, your paranoia is seriously exhausting."

My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles went white.

"I just—"

"Enough!" she cut in sharply.

"What, do I need to file a report every time I hang out with a guy now?"

Each word sliced deeper than the last.

I bit my lip to stop my voice from shaking.

"You really don't believe me?"

There was a sharp breath on the other end. Then—silence.

Finally, her voice returned, a little quieter, a little less angry.

"Look... I get that you're insecure. After the graduation defense, I'll talk to Justin. I'll clear everything up."

Outside, a couple sparrows landed on the windowsill, chirping like nothing was wrong.

Suddenly, everything felt heavy—my limbs, my chest, even my breath.

"My dad's been pushing me to quit law," she added, her voice dropping.

"We're fighting constantly. I just... I need some space, Vincent."

I knew her father had never liked me. I was the broke scholarship kid from nowhere—an easy target.

Then, just before the line went dead, I heard her say it:

"Let's not talk for a while."

She meant every word.

For the next month, she ghosted me.

But from the library windows, I saw her sometimes—head down, studying late into the night. Always with Justin by her side.

Then came graduation exhibition day.

My Thorn Rose collection drew the attention of a rep from Mystic Jewelry.

The moment I signed the letter of intent, camera shutters fired like gunshots.

"Mr. Wilson," a reporter called out, "you've been accused of plagiarizing Justin Chambers' designs. Care to comment?"

I froze.

Then Justin stepped out from the crowd, red-eyed and clutching a bundle of sketchbooks.

"Vincent," his voice cracked, "I let it slide when you copied my homework. But this? These were Sophia's birthday designs. How could you—"

I turned, heart pounding, and saw her.

Sophia.

Out of nowhere, standing just feet away.

Wearing the same white dress from our first date.

The moment our eyes met, she looked away.

"Sophia," I whispered, my voice unsteady.

"Tell them the truth."

She didn't look at me.

Instead, she stepped up to the mic, her voice barely audible.

"I saw Justin sketching those designs with my own eyes."

And in that instant—

I swear something inside me shattered.