After He Ghosted Me, I Left for Australia

Chapter 5

The absurd, gut-wrenching scene before her sent ice water coursing through Georgia's veins.

She closed her eyes, silently making a wish. 'Felix, I swear, for the rest of my life, I never want to have anything to do with you again.'

The second Felix lowered his hand, Georgia fluttered her eyes open right on cue.

Standing in front of her, Felix gazed at her with a wide, warm grin. "Honey, what did you wish for? C'mon, tell me."

Georgia's eyes locked on the smudged lipstick at the corner of his mouth. She was just about to speak when Felix shook his head. "Nah, never mind. Wishes don't come true if you say them out loud, right?" He reached out and ruffled her hair, his voice soft with a forced, saccharine tenderness. "Whatever you wished for, I hope you get it. But even if fate doesn't grant it, I will."

Georgia stared at him, forcing her lips into a slow, faint smile. "Really?"

Felix nodded firmly. "Yeah. That's a promise."

Fireworks exploded across the night sky right behind him, painting the darkness in bursts of gold and red. And at that moment, the only reflection in his eyes was her.

Georgia shoved down the raw, burning ache rising in her chest and smiled back at him. "Okay."

Just then, Ophelia abruptly spoke up. "Felix, I've got something I need to take care of. I'll leave you two alone."

Felix spun around on instinct, his thick brows knitting into a tight frown. "Where are you going?"

Ophelia held up her phone and waved it at him. "Some friends called me to hang out."

Felix pressed his lips into a thin line, his voice turning sharp and cold. "Send me your location when you get there, and tell me exactly who's going to be there."

A giddy, lovesick glint flashed across Ophelia's eyes. "Okay!"

Felix didn't turn back around until her figure had vanished completely from sight, only to find Georgia staring straight at him.

His chest jolted, and he spoke in a low, hasty voice. "I told you, didn't I? Ophelia's brother, Stephen, is a good friend of mine. If something happens to her while she's interning at my company, I'll owe him an explanation."

Georgia stared at his flustered face, and a memory from her first year of university popped up unbidden.

Back then, Felix had just taken over Stone Group. He was so swamped with work he barely had time to breathe, but he still carved out time every single day to come visit her at school. His crisp business suit stuck out like a sore thumb surrounded by casually dressed university students, but he didn't care who was watching. He'd lace his fingers through hers and stroll laps around the sports field like they were the only two people in the world.

He'd grinned and said, "I want everyone to see you're mine, Georgia. No one else gets to even think about touching you."

You had to hand it to him, he'd pulled it off. Everyone knew Georgia was off the market. But now? He could ignore her for a whole year without a single text or call, and he was suddenly overly concerned about another woman's safety.

Georgia let out a small, empty laugh. Her mouth was full of a bitter, metallic taste. "I get it. The fireworks are over. Let's head back."

On the way to the parking lot, Felix seemed to remember something and spoke up, "Oh right, Georgia, you free this weekend? Stephen just got back from overseas, and we're throwing him a welcome party. Come with me?"

Georgia's eyes dropped to the ground. Stephen, Ophelia's older brother. He'd gone abroad to study back in high school, and she barely knew him at all.

Felix gave her hand a little shake, his tone cajoling. "C'mon, Georgia. You're not gonna make me go alone, are you?"

Georgia pulled her hand away. "Got it. Send me the address ahead of time, and I'll show up."

Felix finally relaxed. He dropped Georgia off at her dorm before peeling out in his car.

Before she knew it, the weekend rolled around.

Georgia followed the address Felix had sent her and arrived at an ultra-exclusive, super private club. Rumor had it a group of wealthy heirs from their social circle had opened the place together.

A server led her to the door of a private room, and she heard raucous hoots and catcalls coming from inside.

"Hey, Stone, you froze Georgia out for a whole year and she's not even mad? You won her over with just a couple of sweet lines?"

Georgia's fingers curled tight at her sides, the cold of the hallway seeping through her coat.

"No wonder you always say she's the only one you'd marry. Hell, if you brought your side woman home to fool around, she'd probably meekly give up the master bedroom for you two without a single complaint!"

Then she heard Felix scolding them, his tone laced with lazy, mocking amusement. "Georgia's the wife I've already picked out. Doesn't matter how much I fool around on the side, she'll never hear a single thing about it. And shut your damn mouths, you assholes. Don't let me catch any of you bringing her up again."

The room went dead quiet for a beat, then someone spoke up, voice tentative and careful.

"Uh, Stone? Ophelia's carrying your baby. What are you gonna do about that?"