Taylor POV

The silence of the hallway makes my shoe squeak like a loud scream revealing my presence.

After taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I finally decide to step out, revealing myself.

My throat feels like fire as I try to speak, "Hi…I'm Taylor."

"Why are you here?" Aiden stares at me intensely with eyes that seem to cut through all my defenses to reveal my deepest truth.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop." My voice keeps trembling even though I try to steady it. "I was running away from the security. I somehow ended up here."

"I don't care who you are or why you are here. Just leave," Ella says without even sparing me a look, clearly impatient about my sudden interruption of their very private conversation.

"Actually…" My voice falters.

I wonder if I should just warn Ella about Dylan after I made the worst first impression.

"Actually, the real reason I'm here is because of you, Ella.” I decide to say it anyway. “I came to talk to you about Dylan."

I push my legs to move forward.

"Dylan is my ex," The words taste bitter on my tongue. "He used my credit card to bring you on dates. He thinks he can win you over with it, like he always does. And when I asked him to pay me back, he just—he refused. He laughed."

I swallow hard, my words coming out faster now. Thank God I got them out before I lost the courage to say them.

I glance over at Ella, she finally raises her eyes to look at me, her face full of judgment.

"He's not a good person. You should be careful around him. What he has for you isn't about feelings—it's about what he can take. He's probably just after your money. He did this to me too," I continued.

I know I sound like a crazy ex-girlfriend, but I just have to tell her the truth.

Ella doesn't hesitate. She rolls her eyes at me, slow and deliberate, like she doesn't give a flying shit about what I have to say.

Whatever broken, sad look she was portraying earlier when speaking to Aiden is now gone, wiped clean as if it never existed.

In its place is only arrogance, her chin is held high, her smile cold, like she's determined to show me just how little I matter.

"Your name's Taylor?" Her tone dripping with mockery.

I nod.

"Oh, so you're the ex-girlfriend Dylan mentioned— " Her voice is sharp, teasing. "He said he knew you'd come to accuse him. I won't fall for your tricks, though. I know you are just a gold digger trying to get more out of him after you guys broke up. He owes you NOTHING."

"By the way, are you the girl on the kiss cam today?" Ella smirks, tilting her head, as if she's studying a curious insect.

I blink, caught off guard.

"I didn't see your faces. But judging from your hair.... And the man seems to wear the same hat as you, Aiden." Ella turns to Aiden with a sneer.

"She grabbed and kissed me," Aiden answered immediately, trying to distance himself from me. "I just happen to sit next to her."

"Looks like Taylor got her new target. Just be careful."

Damn, Her words sting sharper than I expected.

Imagine I came here to warn her, to protect her from the same trap I fell into, and instead… she insults me.

Heat begins to rise in my chest. My jaw tightens. "I'm not lying," I snap, letting the anger rise through my words, "Dylan fooled me, and he'll fool you too."

Ella produces a brief dismissive laugh before she shakes her head. "Let's just stop it here. I don't want to continue our meaningless conversation anymore." She then turns around, about to leave.

"But we-," Aiden stops her by grabbing her arms.

"Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you either." Then Ella just walks away while her high heels produce a rhythmic sound on the wooden floor.

She doesn't believe me.

I look at Aiden, who remains completely silent after Ella left.

He doesn't even look angry—just… distant.

Maybe he's already made up his mind. Or maybe he's thinking about Ella. Does he actually not want to end their marriage?

Okay, Taylor, think. Maybe if I… butter him up a little. Make him think I'm on his side.

Make him feel like… maybe I can help.

"You seem… like a really nice guy," I say cautiously, forcing myself to smile.

"Maybe… we could team up? If you… if we could let Ella see the truth about Dylan, maybe she'd break up with him. And maybe you can take the change to win her back too," I rush out, the sentences awkward but desperate.

I know it's bold. I know it's asking a lot. But what choice do I have?

Aiden shifts his head to the side as his eyes grow darker. Then he shakes his head, and the coldness in his tone cuts like ice.

"I've seen women like you before," he says, his words deliberate, slow and sharp.

What does that even mean?

"Poor and greedy. When you realize you can no longer get more out of Dylan, you begin to trick me into your scheme. With the kiss and everything."

My stomach drops. I feel like I just got a punch in the gut.

This is probably the worst day in my life...

First cheated by Dylan. Then lost all my savings. Now this?

The burning sensation of humiliation spreads from my chest all the way to my feet.

My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms.

"Now I understand why Ella is divorcing you." The words come out sharp, unfiltered. I feel a tremor in my chest as I say them. "You're not poor. But so what?"

Aiden narrows his eyes.

"Actually, I bet you don't have any real friend or family." The words rip from my mouth before I can even stop them, sharp and venomous. "Your self-centered, toxic bias will make you die alone."

Taylor POV

Aiden's jaw tightens.

The corridor light reflects off his cheekbone to create a harsh expression, making his face appear unyielding and dark.

The heat inside me starts to fade after I finally lashed out.

I turn my back to him while my leather jacket swings behind me as I sprint down the corridor.

The night air outside slams against me, sharp and cool.

No security guards are searching for me anymore, but I still slip through the shadows carefully until the stadium noise fades behind me.

My lungs burn as I push into a run, sneakers slapping against the cracked pavement.

My legs are trembling, but I don't slow down—not until I spot a familiar figure standing by her car, her phone screencasting a blue light across her face.

"Kiera!"

"Taylor!" She waves at me.

Kiera lowers her phone, eyes searching mine as I stumble closer. "Did you find Ella?" she asks, her voice quick and anxious.

"I did," I admit, breath still ragged. "But it didn't go well. She—she wouldn't listen. I don't know how I'm supposed to get the money back now." My shoulders sag in disappointment.

Reaching out, she rests a hand on my arm. "Hey. We'll figure it out," she tells me.

"Yeah I know, it's not over, I'll find another way," I reply.

"That's my girl."

"By the way, the man you just kissed—people found him online! He is Aiden Kincaid! Billionaire! Quarterback! Every sport lover girl's wet dream!" Kiera thrusts her phone toward me.

The screen shows a grainy replay of the kiss cam. My back is front and center, hair spilling down my jacket, while Aiden shows his jawline only.

I'm not a sport lover, but I heard Aiden Kincaid's name from Dylan before.

"How could they know he is Aiden Kincaid from just a jawline and a hat?" I doubted.

Kiera has already searched him up online. Looking at the pictures on G****e, I realize that the guy I kissed is really Aiden Kincaid.

I start searching the video on my own phone.

Only the back of my head is visible, which is a small mercy.

But the comment section burns worse than any stadium spotlight.

"Lucky girl—where do I sign up?"

"I wish it was me kissing Aiden"

My stomach twists. I'm torn between horror and disbelief.

People are actually envious of me?

"The billionaire star player has haters too though" Kiera scrolls down and shows me more of the comment section.

"Aiden Kincaid is just an arrogant prick."

"He only dates white blonde and his whole family disrespects poor people. Gross."

"Isn't he married?"

I have to say I agree more with the haters.

My chest still echoes with his cold voice from earlier.

Poor and greedy, he said.

"He's got zero respect for anyone but himself." I start typing my comment and send it out without even hesitating for a second.

Then I tap likes on every insult aimed at him.

Arrogant. Heartless. Fake.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

"Oh, speaking of drama—I found Ella and Dylan too,"

"What?" My head jerks up.

Kiera shoves her phone back at me, scrolling to a different feed.

There is also a video of Dylan kissing Ella. Then they both expose their faces to the camera, looking panicked.

There aren't many posts yet, but the headlines are eye-catching:

Celebrity marriages in meltdown.

Ella spotted with Dylan.

Aiden rumored with a mystery woman. Divorce on the horizon.

"People are saying it's like some reality show," Kiera explains.

My throat tightens. "But none of it's true. At least—not like that."

"Truth doesn't matter online," she says with a shrug. "Only the story people want to believe."

I scroll through, and find a new statement on his official page — a polished and professional announcement that he and Ella are divorcing, and it will be finalized within a week.

"Rich people don't fight dirty online. They fight with lawyers and PR teams, "Kiera says.

And she's right. Because when we check again a few hours later, almost every post mentioning me, Aiden, Ella, or Dylan is gone.

Just like that. He erased all the noise about the four of us.

When I finally get home that day, I realize my apartment feels emptier than before.

The scent of Dylan's cologne is slowly fading. And I notice gaps where his sneakers used to line the door, a shelf missing his watch box, drawers that slide too easily now.

He has been peeling himself away piece by piece and I didn't even notice.

I sink into my pink furry couch, with a wave of sadness pooling in my chest.

Even though I'm really angry at him, his absence still hurts.

Then my mind starts to drift to things that are more urgent.

Not Aiden, not Ella, not Dylan.

But my rent. My bills. My future.

But then—finally—something breaks the storm. An email. A job offer.

I have been sending out my resume for over three months, trying to get a full-time job in a higher ranking and well-equipped sports team. I believed it would be a vital step in my career.

I probably lost a lot today, but I finally got a job offer.

Not glamorous, not permanent, but real. A well-known team wants me. An internship as a team physiotherapist.

Thank God.

I clutch my phone to my chest, I feel so relieved. For once, I feel like the universe is giving me something instead of taking it away from me today.

I was asked to join a week later.

When my first day for that team finally came, I wake up early and put on my most presentable blazer to get ready for my new job.

Walking into the training facility, I immediately like how the building itself has a vibrant atmosphere: a combination of squeaking sneakers on shiny floors, the strong scents of antiseptic and sweat, and the distant sounds of voices in the hallways.

With my clipboard in hand, I follow the staff coordinator into a room that smells faintly of muscle rub and laundry detergent.

"You'll be starting simple," she says, gesturing toward the table set in the middle. "Warm-ups, relaxation massages, that kind of thing. First player is waiting."

I nod, forcing confidence into my spine.

This is it. My fresh start.

Then the door opens. My breath catches.

Aiden Kincaid walks in.

How could I forget it's HIS team?

Great now.

I managed to piss off my first client and my big boss even before my very first day.