C1 Chapter 1

“Mia, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Mr. Warden’s voice cut through the silence, cold and disdainful.

I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “I… I didn’t take any money. I don’t know where this is coming from.”

Ms. Hawthorne’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp and calculating. “Really? Because that's exactly what a thief would say"

“What? No!” I shot a glance around the room, looking for anyone who might back me up. My eyes landed on Adrian at the head of the table. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable.

“Mr. Knight, you don’t believe this, do you?” I tried to keep my tone respectful. But the desperation slipped through.

His gaze met mine, but there was no comfort in it, no reassurance. “This isn’t a good look, Mia.”

The words hit me like a slap. I felt my heart sink, but I forced myself to keep my head up. “You know me. You know I wouldn’t… I didn’t do this.”

Adrian’s silence was crushing. Lisa, who’d been a friend—or so I thought—leaned forward, an amused smile pulling at her lips.

“Oh, Mia, don’t act so innocent.” She gave a little shrug. “It’s like they say: ‘Desire can inflate a person’s ego.’”

I turned to Lisa, the betrayal tightening my throat. “Lisa, how could you—”

“We all see it, Mia,” she cut in smoothly. “You thought you’d get away with it because of how… cozy you are with certain people here.”

“Enough.” Mr. Warden’s voice was firm, dismissing me without another word. “Mia, this company trusted you, and everyone here sees exactly what you’ve done.”

I swallowed back my anger, ignoring the shame prickling at my skin. “Thank you for the opportunity to speak,” I said, barely managing to keep my voice steady. “I’ll… leave now.”

---

The walk home felt longer than usual, each step weighed down by a thousand thoughts. I kept replaying every moment, every word, hoping to understand how everything had fallen apart so suddenly.

When I finally reached my apartment, I unlocked the door and stepped inside, ready to collapse from the day. All I wanted was to talk to Greg, tell him about everything. But as I walked in, I heard voices—laughing, and not just Greg’s.

“Greg?” I called out, moving toward the sound, my stomach twisting. “I just… I had the worst day, and I need to talk to you.”

I reached the living room, and froze.

There he was, laughing with a woman I’d never seen before. She was seated close to him on the couch, her hand resting casually on his shoulder as if she belonged there.

They looked up, both of them startled. The woman smiled, almost smugly, as if daring me to react.

“Mia…” Greg started, but he didn’t move away from her. He just sat there, watching me like he was the victim.

“Am I… interrupting something?” My voice was quiet, a bitter edge breaking through.

The woman arched an eyebrow. “Well, this is awkward,” she murmured with a smirk, standing up slowly. She looked me up and down, as if assessing and dismissing me all at once. “I’ll leave you two to… talk.”

Once she was gone, Greg sighed, standing up and shoving his hands into his pockets. “Look, Mia. Things between us… they’ve been off for a while. You’re always so stressed, always working late—”

“Oh, so this is my fault?” I cut him off, feeling the anger push away the hurt. “You cheat on me because I’m working to build a future?”

He shrugged, not meeting my gaze. “Maybe we just want different things. I can’t be with someone who’s obsessed with their job.”

I laughed bitterly, crossing my arms. “You knew exactly what I was working for. And now, because things got a little difficult for you, you throw it all away?”

He didn’t respond, just sighed, as if he was bored of the conversation. Finally, he grabbed his coat. “Maybe this is for the best.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, watching him go. “Maybe it is.”

The door closed, and I stood there, alone in the quiet, trying to process everything. Betrayed at work, accused of something I didn’t do, and now… this.

I wanted to scream or cry or collapse. But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Not now. I had bills to pay, and a second job waiting for me.

---

The warm, familiar sounds of the café wrapped around me as I tied on my apron. The murmur of voices, the clinking of dishes—it was a kind of comfort, a temporary escape from the mess of my life.

“Rough day?” Sam, my co-worker, asked, handing me a tray of orders.

“You have no idea,” I mumbled, attempting a smile.

“Well, you’re here now,” he said with a grin. “One cup of coffee at a time, right?”

I nodded, focusing on the task at hand. I could do this. I had to.

As the evening wore on, I settled into the rhythm of taking orders and serving customers. The repetition numbed the sting of the day, if only a little. But then I looked up and felt my heart skip a beat.

Adrian was standing at the counter, watching me.

I blinked, unsure if I was imagining things. But no, it was him—my boss, the same man who’d stayed silent when I needed him most. I set down my tray, wiping my hands on my apron as I approached.

“Mr. Knight,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I… I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I think we’re past formalities, Mia.”

“Right.” I forced a smile. “I just… I wanted to tell you that I didn’t do it. I would never steal from the company—”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “I know.”

The words caught me off guard, leaving me speechless. “You… know?”

“Yes.” His gaze softened just a little, a hint of something like regret crossing his face. “But there was no other option. For now, someone had to take the blame. You were… a convenient scapegoat.”

“A scapegoat?” My voice trembled with frustration. “I’ve been nothing but loyal to the company. I worked hard for everything, and now I’m just—”

“Mia.” His tone softened. “I know who you are. I know what kind of person you are.”

“Then… how do I fix this?” I asked, desperation slipping into my voice. “How do I clear my name?”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze steady on mine. Then, with a look that I couldn’t quite read, he leaned in closer.

“There’s one way,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I frowned, searching his face. “What are you talking about?”

“Marry me,” he replied, his tone serious and steady.

The world seemed to tilt around me. I blinked, sure I’d misheard. “Excuse me?”

He didn’t flinch. “Marry me, Mia. It’s the only way to fix this.”