Page 2 of Reckless Billionaire's Ruthless Claim

At that moment, the woman in the green dress, Alina, snapped her head toward them. "What are you even saying? Listen to yourself." She scoffed, glaring at Ellie with disdain. "What lookalike? My best friend andthisthing? Olivia and her only have a slight resemblance. That’s why she’s just a temporary replacement for Olivia in Sawyer’s life."

"Replacement?" one of the black-haired men, Elliot, asked, raising a curious brow.

"Obviously," Alina smirked, her tone sharp. "Olivia is the owner of a massive business empire like Whitlock Industries. How could this replacement even compare to Olivia? Does she even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as her? It’s a fucking insult." She scoffed.

The group erupted in snickers, and Alina leaned back in her seat, radiating smugness.

Ellie, however, ignored their taunts and turned her attention to Sawyer. As he sat on the couch, she knelt beside him. Her knees pressed against the cold floor, and she gently wrapped her hand around his arm.

Her voice was calm and soft as she said, "Husband, let’s go home now, okay?"

Sawyer recoiled as if her touch burned him, jerking her hand away, his face hardening into a scowl.

He took a slow sip of his whiskey, then set the glass down with a deliberate clink.

Rising to his full height, he towered over her, his expression hard with irritation. “I’m not your husband. I’ve told you a thousand times—stop calling me that! Have you really started thinking of yourself as my girlfriend?” His words were ice-cold, slicing through the noise around them. “Don’t forget that you’re just a woman I’m having fun with. And I pay you for that, don’t I?”

A stunned silence fell over the group, but it was quickly replaced with smirks and whispers. Alina leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, her lips curling into a triumphant smile.

Ellie rose back to her feet, her legs a little unsteady. She faced Sawyer, her smaller frame barely reaching his chest, making her feel even more aware of how close he was.

Sawyer grabbed his whiskey glass again, casually pulling a card from his coat pocket. With a careless flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Ellie. “Here’s five thousand dollars. Take it and leave this place right now.”

The card landed with a soft click on the floor, and Ellie’s gaze followed it, her heart sinking.

‘You want to get rid of me so easily?’ she thought, her face fell even further, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

She looked up at Sawyer, meeting his cold, dark eyes. "Do you really think I came here for your money?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sawyer took another sip of his whiskey and scoffed, a smirk curling on his lips. "What? It’s not enough?"

He pulled out another card from his pocket. "Here. Ten thousand. Is this enough to get rid of you?”

Ellie stared at the card, her hand tightening into fists. Her eyes filled with tears, but she held his gaze, struggling to keep her voice steady. “So in your eyes, everything I do for you is just for your money?” she asked softly. "Do you seriously think I’m a person like that?"

Sawyer’s expression didn’t change. If anything, it grew more indifferent, more bored as he held the card extended toward her.

Just as he was about to lower it, Ellie choked out, “Alright. Fine! I’ll leave you alone then.” Her words were thick with emotion. “I’ll take your money and leave you alone!”

She snatched the card from his hand, wiping her tears with her other hand as she quickly turned, heading for the door.

Sawyer’s cold gaze followed her retreating figure, uncaring.

Ellie had only taken two steps when her feet froze, her body trembling. Behind her, Alina’s mocking voice rang out, “What happened? The money’s still not enough for you to leave? How greedy are you?”

Ellie sniffled, her breath hitching as she wiped another tear from her face. She turned back, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Her eyes met Sawyer’s—hesitant, filled with care. She looked at the whiskey glass in his hand, her fingers still clutching the card as she spoke softly.

"Don’t drink anymore," she said quietly. "Your stomach will hurt. Come home early."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out of the house.

Sawyer watched her retreating figure, his gaze lingering as she wiped another tear from her face. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he set the whiskey glass down without taking another sip.

‘She’s really in love with me,’ Sawyer thought, recalling the way she’d worried about him.

Elliot broke the silence with a mocking chuckle. “Wow, even after you tore her apart like that, she’s still worried about you.” His tone dripped with amusement as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. Leaning back lazily, he took another slow swig of whiskey, letting the burn settle before smirking. “Doesn’t she have any self-respect? What is she? Blind in your love?”

As Ellie disappeared from view, Sawyer finally took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. His expression darkened. He turned to Elliot, muttering, “It doesn’t matter.” His voice was low, almost detached, but there was a rough edge to it.

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