Chapter 16 Fired
He turned to storm off when his phone buzzed with a special alert. He glanced at it—and then froze.
His eyes darkened.
Plastered all over social media was a photo of Anya and Luca. His hand rested on her head, fingers slipping through her hair, while she leaned into him.
It looked intimate. Too intimate.
The news was everywhere—trending, shared, and speculated on across every platform.
'Luca Stanson snapped with his lady love—a rare sight. Is a wedding finally on the cards?'
'For the first time, Luca Stanson is seen with a woman. Rumors swirl—could she be his childhood sweetheart?'
‘Spotted: Billionaire Luca Stanson finally off the market? Intimate photo fuels dating rumors.’
‘The woman who tamed the untouchable Luca Stanson? Sources say she’s more than just a fling.’
‘The notoriously private, Billionaire co-owner of Carter Diamonds, Luca Stanson seen getting cozy in public!’
‘Exclusive: Luca’s romantic side exposed—never-before-seen moment captured.’
His jaw clenched tight. At that auction, she had looked at Luca like he was nobody. Like she didn’t even know who he was. But this photo—this was saying something else entirely.
His grip tightened around the phone, his blood boiling. Without thinking, he spun around and marched back to her. He shoved the phone in front of her face.
“This is what you were hiding from me?” he growled. “You don’t have a ‘friendship’ with Luca, Anya. You’re his fucking girlfriend?”
“What?” Her eyes widened, confused. She stared at the photo. “No—Dante, this was when he gave me the ring. We were talking, and he touched my head for a second. That’s it. Someone took this photo and twisted it. It’s not what it looks like—please, listen to me—”
She reached out, her hand trembling as it brushed his.
Her breath quickened as she looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. “Can you please listen to me? You’re not even letting me explain. Dante, there’s nothing between me and Luca. I swear on everything.”
“I believe what I fucking see,” he gritted out, yanking his hand from her grip. He turned his back on her and stormed toward his car.
“Dante—wait!” she cried out, chasing after him.
She reached out to grab his arm, but he pulled away before she could touch him, still storming off.
Thrown off balance, she stumbled and crashed to the ground with a cry. Her leg twisted beneath her, pain shooting through her as she hit the pavement.
He didn’t look back. Not once.
He got into the car, slammed the door, and drove off.
Anya sat on the cold ground, her ankle throbbing, her dress torn at the hem. Tears streamed down her face, and she clutched her chest like it could hold her heart together.
“Why won’t you believe me?” she sobbed. “I was going to tell you everything… You didn’t even give me the chance.”
They were supposed to start a new life together.
Love.
Marriage.
And instead, he left her without a second thought.
***
Anya limped back into the Carter residence, every step sending a sharp ache through her leg. Her eyes were still wet, her heart hollow.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Charles, sitting in the hallway working on his laptop, looked up—and his eyes widened. His expression changed in an instant—worry replacing his usual calm.
“Anya?” He shoved the laptop aside and rushed to her side as she staggered forward, concern etched across his face. “What happened?”
“I fell,” she whispered. Her voice was barely audible. “Twisted my leg.”
Without asking more, Charles wrapped her arm around his shoulder and helped her to the couch, his face filled with concern.
“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath, his tone protective. “Come on. Sit down. Let me get some ointment.”
Anya sank onto the couch, blinking back more tears. Not just from the pain in her leg… but from the pain in her chest.
Charles glanced around, panic in his eyes, then quickly turned and rushed off to grab the first aid kit.
Luca, who had been working in the backyard, heard Anya’s voice and came over in a hurry. His brows pulled together when he saw her—clothes slightly dirtied, her face pale and trembling like she was on the verge of breaking down.
Immediately, he crouched down in front of her, his voice low but filled with worry. “Anya, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, she tried to hold herself together. But seeing the look on his face and her dad hurrying toward them with equal concern made the tears she had been holding back spill down her cheeks.
“Dante refused to marry me,” she choked out, her voice raw and strained.
Luca blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked, though a flicker of hope passed through him—something he hated himself for feeling.
Anya sniffled, then removed the ruby ring from her finger and handed it back to him. “I can’t accept this ring.”
Luca didn’t argue. He took it from her hand without a word and softly asked, “Anya, tell me what happened.”
She drew in a shaky breath, fighting through the tightness in her throat. “He misunderstood... He saw this ring and assumed I was hiding something. That I was involved with you.”
Her voice cracked.
“We went to get the marriage certificate today. I was going to tell him everything—about you, Dad, and that I’m Annie. But someone posted a picture of you and me at the restaurant online, and when he saw it, he lost it. He thought I was lying to him… cheating on him.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, his voice sharp. “He thinks you are cheating on him?” His voice was tight with anger. “Is he out of his goddamn mind? Does he not know you well enough to trust you?”
Charles, who had just returned with the first aid box, set it down hard on the table and started pacing, rage building with every step.
“I already booked a hotel to celebrate your marriage today,” he seethed. “I thought he was a smart, understanding man. But now? He left you at the courthouse and refused to marry you?”
Charles turned to face her, his voice growing colder. “Now you’re never marrying him. Even if he gets down on his knees and begs, I’m not letting that scumbag get close to you. He doesn't deserve you. Not even close.”
Luca stood still, his worry for Anya mixing with a strange, almost possessive feeling.
He was relieved that Anya hadn’t married Dante, as bad as it sounded. Maybe, just maybe, he could finally have a chance to make her his—and be happy with her.
***
Dante slammed the car door and stormed into the house, his entire body vibrating with rage. He walked in without a word, his jaw tight, fists clenched.
Griffin, who had been pacing back and forth, immediately noticed his arrival.
“What happened?” Griffin asked eagerly, his eyes scanning Dante’s face. “Is it done? Did you get the marriage certificate with Anya? How did it go?”
Before Dante could answer, Janet, who had been sitting on the couch, jumped to her feet the second she heard Griffin, her anger flaring.
“Marriage? What the hell did you just say?” Her eyes were wild, locked onto Griffin and Dante. “You were planning to get married? And neither of you told me?” Her voice rose to a scream. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Griffin glanced at Janet, his voice calm but firm. “It was my idea. I told him to marry Anya. If he wants to marry her, that’s his decision. You have no right to interfere. It’s none of your business.”
Janet lost it. “Not my business? She is not going to be my family! I told you I don’t like her. And you—” she pointed a trembling finger at Dante “—you went behind my back to marry someone like her? Is this some kind of rebellion?”
“We didn’t get married,” Dante said flatly, cutting through the chaos. His voice was calm, but hard. “We went to the courthouse, but didn’t get the license.”
“What?” Griffin blinked, stunned. “Why?”
“We’re not a good match for each other,” Dante said coldly. “We don’t know each other well enough. Besides, she’s got no shortage of men around her. It doesn’t matter whether I’m in her life or not.”
Griffin paled. “Wait, what are you saying? You think she’s seeing someone else? Is she… in love with another man?”
Dante didn’t respond.
Griffin looked sick. He rubbed his forehead, his voice quiet. “No… that can’t be. She’s not that kind of girl…”
Janet, however, couldn’t hold back. “What do you mean, ‘not that kind of girl’?” she scoffed. “You picked her up off the street and brought her into this house like some charity project. Did you ever consider that she might be a bad person? You’re too naive, dad. Girls like her? They’re never good.”
She stepped closer to Dante, her voice cutting. “That girl was after you from the start. She had you wrapped around her finger. And now look at her—as soon as she found someone richer, she left you and walked right into another man’s arms. Good thing you came to your senses before it was too late.”
She patted Dante’s arm. “Don’t worry. Now that she’s out of the picture, you can focus on someone better. Annie’s still around—she’s always cared about you. You should spend time with her. You deserve someone like her, not some dirty charity project.”
Dante took a deep breath, his voice a growl. “Even if I don’t marry Anya, I’m not marrying anyone else.”
Then he turned and walked out, the door slamming behind him.
Janet, however, let out a long sigh of relief. A small, satisfied smile curved her lips. ‘Now that Anya is out of the picture, it’ll be easier for Dante to move on and marry Annie.’
***
Two days later, Anya walked into the Kingsley Corporation’s and headed toward the CEO’s office. As she passed the hallway, a new girl she had never seen before stopped her.
"Hello, do you have an appointment?" The girl emerged from behind the counter, offering a smile.
Anya frowned. "No. I work as Mr. Kingsley’s secretary."
The girl chuckled lightly. "No, I’m his secretary." She paused, then added, "Wait. Are you... Anya, Mr. Kingsley’s previous secretary?"
“Previous?” Anya stiffened, her body tensing. "What do you mean?"
“I’m sorry,” the girl’s face turned genuinely apologetic. “Since you didn’t come to the office the last two days, it was assumed you no longer wanted to work here. I was informed that you’d quit, and I was hired to take your position.”
“I didn’t quit this job,” Anya snapped, her body tense with disbelief. “What are you talking about? I never resigned.”
"Anya?" Triston's voice echoed down the hall, causing Anya to turn toward him. Standing beside him, Dante’s icy gaze pierced her.
She turned her questioning eyes to Dante. She marched up to Dante, her voice sharp. “Why did you replace me? When did I agree to quit?”
Tristan grabbed the new secretary by the arm. "Don’t make a scene," he muttered, pulling her away.
Dante walked past them, striding confidently into his office without even sparing a glance.
Anya’s heart pounded as she followed him into the office, her steps sharp with fury. Her body trembled, her anger rising as she glared at the back of his head.
"How could you do this?" she snapped as soon as they were inside, her voice breaking with emotion. "Why did you hire someone when I didn’t quit my job?"
Dante’s expression remained cold, his jaw tight. "Someone like you doesn’t need to work here," he said as he regarded her with a disdainful calm. "You're connected to the most influential people in the world. A job like this is beneath you. You shouldn’t lower yourself to being my secretary."
Anya’s teeth clenched, and her pulse raced. Dante was clearly talking about her relationship with Luca, implying that because of it, she could have any position she wanted.
The nerve of him.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Anya fixed her gaze on him. "You’re still angry about the ring Luca gave me, aren’t you?" She took a step closer to him, eyes burning, voice calm. "I’ve already returned it to him."
Dante’s eyes flashed with anger, his jaw tightening. "You think it's just a small thing? That it's as simple as giving that damn ring back to him?"
"Isn’t it?" she asked, her eyes locked onto his.
"No!" he growled. "That man gave you a ring worth millions. No one gives that kind of gift unless they want something in return. And you expect me to believe it’s just a friendly gesture?"
She closed her eyes, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking again.
She inhaled slowly, her voice quieter now. "Yes, that’s exactly what it was. He’s my friend, Dante. That’s all. Nothing more."
Dante’s eyes flashed, his lips curling into a sneer. “Friend?” He scoffed. “You’re going to stand there and tell me he doesn’t want more? You think I don’t know how he looks at you? He has feelings for you. Are you really going to deny that?”
Her heart raced at the intensity in his voice, but she kept her composure. She had seen the way Luca looked at her, the way he always cared, and she couldn’t deny the possibility that he had feelings for her. But she had never encouraged it.
She took a deep breath, swallowing the knot in her throat.
“I know what you’re thinking, but I can’t stop being his friend just because of your insecurities,” she said quietly. “But I promise—I won’t accept any more gifts from him. I won’t get this close again. He’s my friend, and that won’t change, but I won’t let it go any further. I won’t let him give me anything.”
Dante’s eyes burned, his voice cold and hard. “You don’t have to change for me, Anya. Your relationships are your choice. Who am I to tell you to give up the people you care about?”
Her heart hardened at the words. He was trying to push her away, and it cut deeper than she wanted to admit.
“You think I want to hurt you, Dante? I’m trying to make it right, but you won’t even listen,” her voice shook with frustration.
"Get out of my office," he said, his tone distant and detached. He gestured toward the door, a finality in his voice. "There’s nothing left between us to discuss."
Anya’s patience snapped. Anger surged through her as she stepped forward, her voice cutting and fierce. “Fine! If that’s what you want, then that’s exactly what you’ll get.”
She spun around and stormed toward the door. “I quit. I’m not coming back to you. Ever!”
Dante froze. His anger had been sharp, but he hadn't expected her to say those words.
She didn’t wait for his response as she stormed out of his office. The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty hallway.
Inside the office, Dante stood motionless for a moment before he swept everything off his desk in a single, violent motion. Files and a glass sculpture shattered against the floor as he roared in frustration, unable to control the surge of emotion that gripped him.
***
"Anya?"
Charles noticed as soon as Anya stepped inside the house. He immediately walked up to her, his concern evident as he took in her red eyes. She wiped them hastily with the back of her hand.
“What’s going on? Why are your eyes so red? Did Dante do something to you?” His voice trembled with growing frustration. “What did he do? Did he hurt you?”
“No,” she answered immediately, shaking her head. “He fired me.”
“He fired you?” Charles’s tone softened with disbelief. “Well, at least you don’t have to work for him anymore. I never liked you working there anyway.”
Anya sniffled and wiped her face. “But I didn’t work for him because of the money… I worked there because I liked him.”
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She took a few steps forward and buried her face against his chest, her body trembling as she sobbed.
“Daddy… he fired me.” She sobbed, her voice shaking. “He ignored me… didn’t marry me, and then he hired another girl as his secretary when I went there today.”
Charles’s jaw tightened, his temper rising. “He fired you already, and replaced you at work?” His voice grew harder, but his touch remained soft as he caressed the back of her head. “I know it’s hurting you. He probably doesn’t care about you anymore, Anya. I know men.”
Anya wiped her tears and sniffled, looking up at him. Her eyes met his.
Charles’s voice softened as he continued. “You can join our company immediately. There’s no need to get upset over a man. I’ll find you a hundred better men. If Dante doesn’t want you, then forget him.”
Anya nodded, her breathing calming as her tears subsided.
Charles leaned in and kissed her forehead lovingly. “My daughter doesn’t need any damn man. You can start working with Luca. He’ll help you take over the company and teach you everything. It’ll be good for you to start early and spend time at the office. You’ll forget all about Dante.”
Anya’s eyes softened as she looked up at her father. “Dad… do you want me to be with Luca?”
Charles frowned slightly, but his gaze softened when he shook his head. “I won’t force you into anything, Anya. It’s your life, your choice. Even if you never want to get married, I’ll support you. I agreed to your marriage to Dante because I always heard good things about him. I thought he was a good match for you. Now, if you do want to get married, Luca isn’t a bad choice either.”
Anya gave him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Dad,” she whispered, wiping away the last of her tears before pulling away and heading back to her room.
Her mind raced with a hundred thoughts as she entered her room and sat on the bed. Her gaze landed on her phone, its wallpaper a picture of her and Dante from her birthday.
The more she stared at it, the more her heart ached.
“I love you so much,” she whispered, her fingers hovering over the picture. “But Dante, I can’t keep doing this.” Her voice cracked slightly, and she muttered, “There’s no use explaining things to you when you’re not ready to listen.”