Page 203 of My Ruthless Opponent

“I have to say, the man chose illegal ways to find him. Anyway, he was successful and we have our man now. I’ll keep you updated.” He hangs up.

I rake my fingers through my hair, my eyes roaming around the room aimlessly as if the answers to my questions are hidden in here.

“Hannah?” I look toward the door and find Brielle walking in.

She doesn’t stop until she is rounding the desk and is standing in front of me. She folds her arms around me and hugs me.

“How are you holding up, honey?” Brielle asks softly.

“I’m okay…” I need to come clean now. I am going to tell her about my resignation and the merge.

“I am so sorry for what happened. You poor girl.” She leans back and rubs my upper arm.

Okay, now I am seriously lost.

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

“That asshole.” When my frown deepens, she adds, “That jerk, RJ. I hate him!”

I take a step back. “Why are you calling him names whenIleft him at the altar?”

“He told us everything. He came clean after you left.”

My brain feels like it’s going to explode. I pinch the bridge of my nose. My mind is still reeling from the news my PI gave me and now this. I am failing to keep up.

“Explain to me from the beginning, please.”

She looks at me with pity in her eyes. “When everyone in the tent began asking about why you and Archer left like that, RJ told us how you both found out that he was bluffing since the beginning. He told us that he was never in love with you and that he was using you to get Victor’s contractandthe promotion.”

My eyes widen.

She nods her head. “Yeah, you weren’t there so you probably don’t know about it. Archer is going to merge the two departments.” She grimaces. “While we were in the dark about the merge, RJ got wind of it and put his plan into motion. He used you to get promoted. That’s why you called the wedding off, right? Archer must have heard your whispered argument at the altar and left.”

I grip the desk because my legs are threatening to give out.

“Now that the truth is out. He decided to quit. Rightfully so. He is packing up his shit right now. You are going to get that promotion, Hannah.”

No.

No. No. No.

This time, my legs do give up on me and I slump on my chair, weeping in my hands.

“Hannah! Oh, honey… please don’t cry.”

He is giving up his career for me.

He spent his hard-earned money to locate Baron even before I told him anything about the fraud. If this is not love, I don’t know what is. And if he thinks I am going to let him quit just like that then he has got another thing coming.

My tears continue to stream down my cheeks. I don’t bother to wipe them. When I go to sidestep her, she holds my elbow.

I stare at it then up at her. “I have to go, Brielle.” My voice is urgent.

She frowns. “Where are you going?”

“I am going to him. I have to stop him, Brielle. I can’t let him quit.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t get it. Why are you still being so forgiving after what he did? This is all his fault.”

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