Vanguard Tech was the result of years of hard work between Lucas and me. It was a testament to our entire journey. Now, he was dragging his affair right into the heart of it.

I walked past the reception desk as if nothing had happened.

Sophie, along with the others, greeted me. Around her neck was a ruby necklace with a pendant shaped like a swan that looked hauntingly familiar.

"Sophie, you're saying Mr. Bennett gave you that necklace? Really?"

A ripple of whispers spread behind me.

She tugged at the chain, a smug smile on her face.

"It was the top lot at last year's Belmont auction. How could it be fake? I'll be the lady of this place sooner or later. Just wait and see."

I hurried back to my office and went straight to the safe. Inside, the space where my ruby necklace should have been was empty.

I'd won that piece in an auction last year when Lucas accompanied me on a trip to Brenchfield. I loved its bold, dazzling red, which reminded me of myself and our relationship. I'd treasured it for so long, but now it was gone.

"Looking for something?"

Lucas had entered without me noticing. His arms slid around my waist from behind. The gesture that once felt tender, but now sent a cold ripple of disgust through me.

"I can't find my ruby necklace. I wanted to wear it to my birthday dinner tonight."

His eyes shifted slightly as he answered smoothly, "I sent it for cleaning. Wear the pink diamond one instead. It suits you better anyway."

Just before leaving work, I deliberately looped my arm through Lucas'. Then, we paraded past the front desk, announcing my birthday dinner plans loud enough for everyone to hear.

Through the reflection in the glass doors, I caught Sophie's resentful glance.

Shortly after we sat down at the restaurant, a message came through to my fake account.

"Lucas is at his rich girlfriend's birthday party again. He doesn't even like her. What should I do?"

The claim that he didn't like her made me watch Lucas more closely as he raised his glass to toast after toast with my friends and family. I caught a flicker of disgust in his eyes before he masked it.

A cold disbelief settled in my chest. Had everything he'd ever shown me been a transaction, utterly devoid of real feeling?

To test my theory, I sent Sophie another suggestion.

"Go on a hunger strike, saying you can't swallow a bite without him. See if he'll ditch his girlfriend to comfort you."

After downing another large glass of wine, Lucas' phone buzzed. He excused himself, citing a work emergency, and slipped out of the private room.

I followed him quietly to the restroom at the end of the hallway.

This man, who always pursued a high quality of life, was patiently trying to persuade Sophie to eat in this cramped and dirty place.

Seeing her victory-sign emoji on my phone, my mind immediately filled with Lucas' past promises.

"Every birthday from now on, you'll be the princess, and I'll be your knight. Let me take care of you."

The words echoed in my head, but the princess in his heart had long been replaced.

I couldn't take it anymore. I said goodbye to my relatives and friends and hurried out of the restaurant.

The autumn wind cut through my coat, and I shrank into myself.

The next moment, a figure skipped excitedly into a man's arms on the sidewalk. He wrapped her in his coat and helped her into the car.

"Miss, your trick worked. He ditched his girlfriend to take me to a fancy dinner."

I stared, straining to see through the gloom, until I recognized the car as Lucas'. It sped away before my eyes. He even had the nerve to leave me a message.

"Vee, an important client insists on meeting right now. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Meanwhile, the chat log from Sophie kept updating with his complaints.

"Does turning 30 really require this whole spectacle? It's just another attempt to use her family to control me."

"My career's finally taking off. Once I close this last major deal, I can finally free myself from the Cruise family's control for good."

"You're the only one who really gets me, darling. I need to see you."

A tear slid down my cheek, and the wind turned it to a cold sting.

Sophie sent me another message.

"Their five-year anniversary is coming up soon. What should I prepare in advance?"

Almost like self-punishment, I texted Sophie.

"Find out where they're going and book a nearby hotel room to invite him over."

She replied with an "OK."

In the following days, Sophie and Lucas became inseparable. At the office, they even openly exchange flirtatious glances. They would also slip into corners for intimate moments whenever they thought I wasn't watching.

He believed no one noticed, but the gossip had already spread like wildfire.

Sophie wasn't keeping things low-key as she'd promised. If anything, she wanted everyone to know she was his lover.

Whenever I walked past different departments, I constantly overheard their gossip.

"Have you heard that the boss' lady is getting replaced?"

"Sophie from reception, right? She's one of those graceful Southern belles. Pretty, charming, knows how to have fun, and a world of difference from Vivian, that old hag."

"Exactly. All Vivian knows is hammering us about performance targets. It's so annoying. Let's see how she makes a fool of herself."

I said nothing. Instead, I silently prepared for my resignation and withdrawal of investment.

Our five-year anniversary arrived right on schedule. Lucas had hinted for weeks that he would propose tonight.

Across the candlelit table, he looked the part in a deep blue suit. But his hands kept clenching and unclenching in his lap.

My mind was elsewhere as I wondered whether Sophie had already made a scene and his plan for her.

The resident singer began performing our song—Fairytale. It was his cue to play the prince and lead me to the dance floor. Instead, he gripped his phone, his face twisting into an apologetic mask.

"Sorry, Vee. That difficult client from last time is…"

Before he could finish, I waved him off.

He fled like he'd been granted a pardon.

I continued texting Sophie instructions from the restaurant.

From my seat, I guided Sophie through text messages.

First, I told her to calm him down. Then, she needed to tell him how important he was to her. I also warned her not to go too far. The goal was to make him feel essential, not like a burden. Just as I predicted, she had him completely under her control.

A moment later, a photo from Sophie appeared on my screen. It showed Lucas on a rumpled bed, his usually proud face softened with desire, his gaze uncharacteristically tender.

I knew him better than anyone. With the slightest effort, I could have him exactly where I wanted him. But I had no interest in playing that part. I would only ever be myself.

Lucas returned to the restaurant soon after. His suit was perfectly neat, but it carried the distinct scent of Sophie's perfume. Even the engagement ring he produced seemed tainted by her touch.

"The moment is ruined," I said before he could speak. "I won't accept a proposal like this. Try again. Perhaps at my family's investment conference next month."

Hearing that, he silently put the ring away.

That night, I saw Sophie's photo on her social media. Her hand was intertwined with Lucas', and a glint on her ring finger caught the light. It was the engagement ring that had been meant for me.

"Lucas said his girlfriend doesn't appreciate him and gave me the engagement ring instead. Does this mean he's going to marry me?"

I found her message laughable. He was the one who abandoned his proposal halfway to meet his lover, yet he blamed everything on me.

I scrolled through the chat log, reading Lucas' malicious lies about me.

"She uses her family's money to treat me like a dog on a leash. I've had enough!"

"Sophie, please don't leave me. I'll do everything I can to give you the best."

"Just hang on a few more days. Once the agreement's signed at the investment conference, we won't have to fear anyone."

Sophie then texted me.

"But he says the investment conference is crucial, and he's planning another proposal there. How do I stop him?"

I replied, "The conference is where Vanguard Tech and the Cruise family sign a ten-year partnership contract. If that contract is signed, they'll be tied together forever. You need to sabotage this event.

"All the business leaders and family friends will be there. It's time for you to stop hiding and make your grand entrance."

On the day of the investment conference, Lucas seemed distracted. I overheard him mentioning to his friends that Sophie had disappeared early that morning.

"You're about to propose to Vivian. Can't you let the poor lady find somewhere private to cry?"

Lucas kept checking his phone, with concern written all over his face.

"That's enough. Just focus on sealing the deal with the Cruise family. You can smooth things over with her later. Didn't you say she's the sweetest, most understanding woman?"

Lucas' expression hardened with determination.

"You're right. I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to her."

I quietly slipped out of the lounge and made my way to the center stage.

Dad took the microphone and announced to the entire room, "I'm getting old. After I retire, my wife and I are going to travel the world. From today forward, Cruise Group will be formally handed over to Vivian."

Thunderous applause filled the room.

Lucas, who had run after me, looked absolutely thrilled. He fumbled a ring from his pocket and rushed forward, dropping to one knee in front of me.

"Vee, thank you for five years of support and companionship. Through whatever storms lie ahead, let me walk beside you."

Every eye in the room was fixed on us.

Dad clicked his tongue.

"Lucas, I'm still not entirely sold on you, but my daughter likes you. What can I say? She's strong-willed, so be more accommodating. Just take care of each other. That's what a lifetime together is."

Lucas nodded eagerly.

I took the ring from him, but didn't slide it onto my finger. Instead, I turned and checked my phone.

Sophie didn't respond, and that silence gnawed at me. Our conversation had stopped at her last message.

"Will Lucas be upset that I show up like that? Your advice has always been good, but this time… I need to think about it."

I scanned the room, but there was no sign of her anywhere. Had she actually gotten cold feet?

"By the way, a key goal of this investment conference is to finalize several major contracts. For the tech R&D partnership, we'll start with a ten-year agreement with Vanguard Tech," Dad said, handing me a pen.

Lucas eagerly pulled out the contract from his bag and urged me, "Sign it. Let's cooperate and live together. Doesn't spending our whole lives bound to each other sound perfect?"

It did, and I had dreamed of a lifetime with him more times than I could count. But now, all I wanted was to expose every dirty, shameful thing about him in front of everyone.

I pulled out my phone and took pictures of the engagement ring, the agreement, and the festive atmosphere around us.

I sent each photo to Sophie, together with a text.

"If you don't come now, are you really going to hand Lucas over to someone else? Vivian's about to say yes. Once this contract is signed, nothing you do will matter.

"Lucas loves you. He'll only feel sorry for you going to such lengths to be with him, and he'll only thank you for saving him from his misery. How could he blame you?"

There was no response on the other end. The silence stretched on until the crowd around us started to chant.

"Say yes!"

"Marry him!"

Even Dad looked confused and nudged my arm.

"Didn't we agree that this contract would be part of your wedding gift? Why are you hesitating now?"

Lucas immediately turned to him, his tone becoming unctuously earnest as he pledged his loyalty.

"Mr. Cruise, I promise I'll do everything in my power to make Vee happy. If I ever step out of line, you can crush my small company like it's nothing."

Under the weight of everyone's stares, I raised the pen. The moment it touched paper, a shrill voice cut through the room.

"Don't sign it!"

Lucas' face went white.

Sophie practically flew onto the stage, grabbed the topmost glass from the champagne tower, and dumped it over my head.

"He loves me. What gives you the right to cling to him for the rest of his life?"