Suzanne leaned against the balcony railing of her apartment, arms crossed, eyes narrowing as she watched Ryan and Mia leave the company hand in hand. Her lips pressed into a thin line, a mix of irritation and envy brewing inside her. She had hoped that by now Ryan would have begun to rely on her more, trust her more—but seeing him with Mia, so naturally, so comfortably… it stung.
"I can't believe this," she muttered, pacing back and forth. "After everything I did… after everything I tried… he still chooses her."
Her phone buzzed, and a smirk formed on her lips when she saw Daniel's name. "Yes, Daniel?" she said smoothly, though the annoyance in her tone was obvious.
"Have you seen them today?" Daniel asked, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Mia and Ryan. The way they're practically glued together… it's disgusting."
Suzanne chuckled darkly. "Disgusting, yes, but also… predictable. I knew Ryan's stubborn loyalty would eventually surface. But now, I think it's time we act."
Daniel's voice sharpened. "Exactly what I was thinking. I've tried my own ways, but Mia isn't easy to manipulate. She's… different. But there are openings. If we're smart, we can make both of them doubt themselves."
Suzanne's eyes gleamed. "I've already started planting subtle seeds. A comment here, a 'helpful' suggestion there. Ryan's trust in me can be rebuilt—he just doesn't know it yet. And once he leans even a little… I'll be there to step in."
Daniel rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Meanwhile, I can… distract Mia. Make her question him. Make her think maybe she needs me, or at least confuse her. Once she's unsure, Ryan will be… vulnerable."
Suzanne smiled, a dangerous glint in her eye. "Perfect. Divide and conquer. We play our parts, and soon, we'll have the upper hand."
Daniel's tone softened slightly, though it carried the same calculating edge. "We need to be careful. Ryan's not like other men. He's protective, determined… and if Mia's truly in his heart, this won't be easy. But it's possible."
Suzanne nodded. "It is possible. And I'll make sure of it. He'll see me for what I am… and he'll forget her—or at least, he'll question everything."
The two of them fell silent for a moment, imagining the chaos they could unleash, their minds already spinning strategies, manipulations, and traps. Outside, the city moved on, unaware of the brewing storm around the people it carried so casually in its streets.
Meanwhile, Ryan and Mia were back at Ryan's place, laughter and easy conversation filling the space. They were blissfully unaware of the plotting duo quietly watching, waiting for the perfect moment to interfere.
And with every passing second, Suzanne and Daniel grew more determined. The battle for Ryan and Mia's hearts had begun—quietly, insidiously, and with no intention of stopping until one of them won.