You Cheated I Moved On novel Chapter 10

Tension hung thick in the office the moment Jane stepped out of the conference room.

Set on winning over her new colleagues, she pasted on a friendly smile and addressed the room warmly.

“Hi everyone, I’m Jane Crawford. I’ll be working with you starting today. I’ll buy everyone coffee—please guide me if I have questions,” she said, hands clasped in front of her, bowing politely to look docile and approachable.

No response came.

Colleagues ignored her overture completely, heads down as they kept working, as if she hadn’t spoken at all.

Embarrassment surged through Jane, her face flushing red, then paling in quick succession.

Jasper, unable to bear the awkwardness, slammed his desk. “What are you all doing? Haven’t you noticed our new colleague? You never work this hard on a normal day!”

Mandy slowly peeked over her monitor, gaze sharp on Jane. “Oh, Mr. Clarke, we’re just afraid our sources might get stolen, too. Better stay busy while we still have work,” she said, her implication crystal clear.

Humiliation washed over Jane, and she instantly realized Chloe’s earlier silence wasn’t weakness—it was a scheme to turn the team against her.

Disgusting.

She maintained her kind, generous facade regardless.

Seeing Jasper about to scold Mandy, Jane stepped forward to stop him, apologizing in a soft voice.

“I know I took over the interview with Mr. Price, but it’s only because of my war correspondent experience. I know Apex Group well and have connections there—that’s why Mr. Clarke gave me the task. It’s not what Chloe implied.

“I hope no one will hold a grudge against me. I want to work well with all of you.”

Veteran colleagues quickly caught the subtle dig—she was hinting that Jasper considered her more capable than Chloe.

Reluctant to offend the man who signed their paychecks, they softened their stance now that she’d backed down.

Newer staff, barely acquainted with Chloe, had stayed quiet to follow the veterans’ lead.

Jane’s explanation prompted them to offer kindness—tidying a desk, fetching a computer, and wiping surfaces clean for her.

Elsewhere, Chloe sat at the restaurant’s prime table, overlooking the scenery. Eager to savor her rare vacation, she’d invited Tatiana to dine there.

With her friend not yet arrived, she scrolled through her phone idly.

A voice message from Mandy popped up, recounting Jane’s manipulative act in the office.

“Does she think we’re all newbies? Who doesn’t know your work ethic? Stealing your interview and playing the innocent victim—it’s disgusting. Ben and I want nothing to do with her.”

Mandy, Ben Hale, and the others had joined Velocity Magazine after Chloe.

As a senior, she’d helped them countless times, making them furious on her behalf.

“It’s fine. Don’t let this affect your work. I’m on vacation and enjoying every minute,” Chloe replied.

Money and free time rarely aligned for her—years of catering to others had made this respite all the sweeter.

“How can you relax?” Mandy pressed, panicked. “If Jane actually interviews Ethan, she’ll walk all over you at the magazine!” She had no desire to work with such a schemer.

“Calm down. She stole the project, but there’s no guarantee she can pull it off,” Chloe said.

She pulled out her phone, calling Liam immediately.

“Ms. Shaw?” Liam sounded surprised, glancing at his boss instinctively when he answered.

“Can you pass a message to Ethan?” Chloe lowered her voice. “I want to call off our engagement.”

A long silence stretched on.

Just as she thought Liam had hung up, a deep, magnetic voice filtered through the line. “May I ask why, Ms. Shaw?”

The tone was low, nothing like Liam’s.

Chloe’s eardrums tingled—this had to be Ethan.

Clearing her throat, she replied firmly, “I have no fondness for men who string along two women. I’m willing to make amends if we can cancel the engagement.”

Confusion crossed Ethan’s face, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly at the “string along two women” accusation.

He said nothing, leaving Chloe unsure if he knew about the girl.

“Having someone by your side is a blessing, Mr. Price. Taking responsibility is the least a man can do. I’m dining. So, take your time to think it over and contact me whenever,” she continued.

She hung up before Ethan could respond.

Even without meeting him, her impression of him had plummeted.

A man without a sense of responsibility, no matter how rich, was worthless.