At an investor banquet, my fiancé Tanner Clarkson’s secretary, Willow Thorne, recklessly throws a glass of wine at an investor and hurls insults without thinking.

In retaliation, the investor demands that Willow make it up to him with her body, or he'll pull his funding.

To ensure the company's successful IPO, Tanner hands me a glass of spiked wine. Then, he pushes me to the investor, expecting me to extinguish his flames of rage.

His eyes are filled with feigned hesitation as he says, "Willow isn't like you. She just graduated—she's pure and innocent. Stop fighting it, Kathy. I'll make it up to you once the company goes public."

When I regain consciousness, I stare at the man across from me, my voice hoarse. "About that deal you mentioned... I'll sign it."

Davin Slade closed the file in his hands, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and glanced at me as though bestowing a favor.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he said, "Well then, here's to a successful partnership, Ms. Leigh."

I stared at his polite demeanor, my face pale as I recalled the events of the previous night.

When John Vaughn, an old investor of my company, was dragging me into a room, the elevator doors chimed and opened to reveal Davin inside, straight-backed and still. Just as the doors were about to close, I cried out to him and pleaded for help.

The image of John sprawled on the ground, beaten bloody, was still vivid in my mind.

I swallowed hard, unsure if I had made the right choice. Pushing down the unease in my chest, I replied with difficulty, "Pleasure working with you."

After I had packed up and was ready to leave the hotel, I happened to run into Tanner Clarkson and Willow Thorne in the lobby.

Tanner had an arm wrapped around Willow affectionately.

When they saw me, Tanner awkwardly retrieved his arm, while Willow rushed forward with concern. Although her face was filled with gratitude, there was provocation in her eyes.

"Katherine, are you okay? Did that old bastard hurt you? I'm so sorry. I should've endured his harassment so that you wouldn't have had to go through that."

The surrounding crowd went quiet for a moment upon hearing her words, and their eyes turned to me. Their gazes were a mixture of disdain and pity.

On the other hand, Tanner's face twisted slightly in disgust as he pulled Willow back to his side and reprimanded her, "What do you mean endure? A woman needs to protect herself first."

His disregard for me stirred a bitter feeling in my chest. I went up to him and looked at him with teary eyes. "Tanner, nothing happened last night. Don't you believe me?"

Tanner paused, and something flickered in his eyes.

Willow tugged at his sleeve and pouted. "But Mr. Vaughn said that if we didn't make it up to him, he'd withdraw the investment. He even called Tanner this morning to confirm that the deal would continue.

"I understand no woman wants to admit it when something like this happened to them, but Katherine, you can't lie just for the sake of your pride!"

I clenched my fists tightly and glared at her with indignation. "Shut up!"

Last night, when I had been soaked in ice water, dazed and shivering, Davin had pulled me from the bathtub and pressed my ear against the wall, forcing me to listen.

In the room next door, they had opened a bottle of champagne, laughing and celebrating in advance for securing the deal that would make the company go public on the stock market.

Tanner shot me a look of dissatisfaction and scolded me for snapping at his secretary. "Why are you yelling at her? What did she say wrong?"

I stared at him in shock while tears blurred my vision.

My strange behavior seemed to have startled Tanner. He uncharacteristically wrapped his arm around my shoulder and comforted me in a low voice, "Kathy, you need to trust that your sacrifice will be worth it. After the company goes public, I'll make it up to you."

When I remained silent, he grew impatient, and his tone became stiff and forced. "You just want to marry me, right? Fine. I promise we'll have the wedding once the company goes public."

"Enough!"

I looked at his impatient expression and felt a sense of self-mockery.

It was hard to believe this was the man I had been chasing for so long. The one I thought I would burn everything for, just to stand by his side.

The idea of spending a life with him had completely disappeared by now.

Holding back my tears, I looked up at Tanner and said with determination, "No, I don't want to marry you anymore."

Willow let out a small, triumphant smile and immediately exclaimed gleefully, "That's great! You never deserved Tanner anyway!"

However, Tanner's face darkened instantly. His gaze fixed on me, heavy and silent, as if trying to force me into submission through his silence alone.

In the past, whenever he gave me that look, I would immediately apologize and do everything I could to please him. But this time, I didn't avoid his gaze.

I uttered each word with finality, "Tanner, I mean it. I don't want to marry you anymore. Our relationship ends here."

"Katherine!" he shouted at me.

I stood my ground, unmoving.

After a tense staredown, he sneered and said, "I'll wait for the day you regret this."

With that, he dragged Willow away and left me behind.

Later that night, while I was packing my things in the apartment, my phone buzzed with a notification. Someone I had specially followed had just uploaded a new post.

I opened the app and found a new video of Tanner and Willow. They were on the beach, kissing under a grand display of fireworks.

This scene caused memories to rush over me like a tidal wave.

Back when we were in love, Tanner had promised to give me the most romantic fireworks show and propose to me beneath the flickering display.

I put my phone away and stared at the bags I had packed. My heart felt empty now.

I always thought I would spend my life with Tanner, so I had bought many things to decorate the home of my dreams. But in reality, leaving this place wasn't as hard as I had imagined it to be.

After having most of my luggage shipped, I spent the night in a hotel with a suitcase containing several pieces of clothes.

Next morning, I headed straight to the company.

When I entered my office, I found that my belongings had been carelessly thrown into a corner, and the entire room was decorated in pink.

I glanced outside, and my colleagues quickly avoided my gaze. They pretended to be busy with work until a commanding voice broke the silence.

"Hurry up! Throw that desk away, too! It's awful! What outdated tastes!"

Willow appeared, looking smug as she regarded me.

"Sorry, Tanner said this office is mine starting today. I saw that you hadn't come in, so I tidied up your things a little. Old lady, you don't mind, do you?"

I cast her a cold glance and ignored her. Instead, I crouched in the corner, searching for an important trophy. Nonetheless, I couldn't find it anywhere.

I looked up at Willow. "Where did you hide my trophy?"

She pulled out a cylindrical glass trophy from the desk.

"Are you talking about this cheap thing?"

I reached out for it. "Give it back to me."

Willow gazed at me, her eyes full of malice. As her red lips curled in a mocking smile, I felt a bad premonition and was about to grab the trophy.

The next moment, the trophy was smashed against the floor.

I stared at the glass shards, stunned. Then, my suppressed anger exploded, and I shoved her away.

"Why the hell did you break it?"

This trophy was the first national innovation award I had received during college, and it was the very project that helped Tanner's company get off the ground in the early stages. But eventually, due to a lack of clients, I gave up my passion for research and turned to sales instead.

Since then, the trophy had always been placed in the most visible spot in my office, reminding me not to give up on my original aspirations.

I had planned to propose to Tanner, asking him to let me step back from his business and return to research after we got married.

I crouched down to pick up the metal base. It had my name and the honor inscribed on it. Even though it was broken, I wanted to gather the pieces.

Behind me, I suddenly heard Willow sobbing and Tanner's furious voice.

"Katherine! What did you do?"

Startled, I looked back to see Willow crying as she threw herself into Tanner's arms. There was a smear of blood on her elbow where the glass had cut her.

"It hurts so much, Tanner…"

Tanner gently blew on her wounded elbow in distress, then glared at me. He bellowed, "Katherine, how could you be so vicious? Was the good-girl act just for show?

"Letting Willow take your place was my decision. You couldn't do anything to me, so you take it out on a young, innocent girl like her!"

I stood up at this moment. Looking at them, I recalled that I had only pushed Willow, but I hadn't shoved her to the floor. At the very least, I was still aware of my surroundings.

"It wasn't me," I said.

"Who else could it be, then? Don't you dare say you didn't push her! You think I'm blind? You're clearly guilty yet still trying to deny it!"

Hearing the argument, my colleagues quietly peeked in.

"Apologize to Willow right now! You have no sense of decency for someone working in sales for so many years. Did you close all your deals by drinking with clients and sleeping with them?"

I tightened my grip on the trophy's metal base. I felt utterly humiliated, and my frustration spilled over. Since I was leaving anyway, I decided to speak my mind now.

With red-rimmed eyes, I yelled, "Tanner, how could you insult me? Where's your conscience? I have sacrificed so much for this company, even if it meant drinking until my stomach bled and waking up in the middle of the night to revise proposals!

"You're blind, alright. Not only are you brushing aside all my hard work and achievements, but you're slandering me too! Who told you all that? Was it Willow? Why do you trust her so much when you've only known her for half a year?"

With that, I glared at him.

Tanner was left speechless as he hadn't expected me to stand up to him. His face turned dark, and he seemed upset at being made to look like a fool in front of his staff.

I didn't want to deal with them anymore. I turned to leave when suddenly, Tanner grabbed my arm forcefully.

A hard slap landed on my face, and a ringing sound echoed in my ears.

Everyone froze in shock.

"Are you trying to run after hurting Willow? Dream on! Willow and I have only known each other for half a year, but she's more pure and innocent than you are!

"A young graduate like Willow can't beat someone like you who mingles around with men for years. I believe she wouldn't lie to me. Besides, she's wounded, while you're unscathed!"

I held my cheek and stared at Tanner in disbelief. My heart felt a sharp pang of bitterness. When we fought in the past, he'd never raised his hand against me. But now, he had crossed that line for Willow.

There was no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Everything I wanted to say was stuck in my throat. At this point, I no longer wanted to argue.

"Tanner, please don't argue with Katherine because of me."

Willow, still pretending to be fragile in Tanner's arms, let out a sniffle. "My elbow really hurts…"

Tanner frantically picked her up. Before leaving, he cast me a final glance and ordered, "I'm transferring you to Westridge. You can return once you've reflected on your actions. Pack your things and get lost."

I had just checked out of the hotel when I met Rowan Elisse, Tanner's mother. She was one of the few people who genuinely cared about me.

"Kathy, did you and Tanner fight? I went to the company yesterday but didn't see you. They told me you were transferred to Westridge. Tell me—what did Tanner do wrong? I'll make him change."

I gently removed Rowan's hand from mine and responded solemnly, "Mrs. Clarkson, Tanner and I have broken up. I'm leaving the city, and I may never come back."

"What? You two broke up?" Rowan instantly sat up straight and looked at me with concern. "Did Tanner do something wrong?"

She continued after a pause, "Is it that new secretary of his?"

A dull expression appeared on my face.

"I've already cleared things up with him. Thank you for all your care before. I've booked a flight for this afternoon, and it's getting late. I won't take up any more of your time," I said.

I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and moved to leave.

Rowan stopped me by holding onto my luggage tightly.

"Kathy, listen to me. No man is without faults. Tanner only made the mistake that all men make. If you marry Tanner, I'll back you up so that no other woman can shake your position! I only recognize you as my daughter-in-law!"

Just then, a sound came from the entrance. I turned to see Tanner.

Rowan eagerly went to greet him and continued, "Kathy, look. Tanner's here. He still cares about you. You two should clear up the misunderstanding and get married next month."

At the mention of marriage, Tanner's expression immediately fell. He stormed over to me with a menacing look and barked, "Katherine! You have the guts to bother my mom and make her trick me into marrying you?

"You're relying on my mom's affection for you and trying to pressure me, aren't you? Didn't you say you didn't want to get married when I brought it up before?"

Then, a smug look appeared on his face, and his brows raised in excitement as he stared at me.

"Are you regretting it now? I knew you couldn't let go of me and would refuse to go to Westridge. If you beg me and apologize to Willow, I'll let you stay in the company. What do you say? As for marriage, you missed your chance. I'll see how you perform next time."

Rowan frowned in disapproval. She patted Tanner's arm and said, "What are you talking about? Kathy didn't bother me. I was the one who looked for her. You'd better promise her that you'll fire that sly woman and never contact her again!"

Tanner snorted coldly.

"Who would've thought? You're quite popular among older people regardless of gender. You've got my mom so confused that she listens to everything you say."

Looking at the two of them, I felt all the last remnants of goodwill I had vanish. I played along and said, "Fine. As long as you fire Willow and apologize to me on your knees, I'll marry you right away."

Tanner was visibly taken aback. "You've got quite the imagination."

At that moment, his phone suddenly rang, and the familiar ringtone echoed in the lobby.

I remembered the countless times Tanner avoided me to take the call whenever this ringtone went off.

"Willow, what's wrong?"

The pain in my already broken heart flared up again.

So, they had long gotten together.

"Okay. Wait for me. I'll be there soon," said Tanner.

Rowan grabbed his sleeve. "No! You're not going anywhere today! Apologize to Kathy properly! I want her to be my daughter-in-law, and I want grandchildren!"

Tanner shot me an impatient glare. "Mom, stop it."

He pushed Rowan aside and left without looking back.

Rowan clutched her bruised waist as she stared in shock at the empty doorway. She pounded her thighs, crying out, "This family is cursed! My son is leaving a good woman to marry a cunning one!"

She then turned to me, looking pitiful. "Kathy, take me to the hospital. I'll make Tanner come to his senses."

I furrowed my brow and glanced at my watch. It was getting late now. I refused, saying, "I'll call you an ambulance. Goodbye now."

As I left, I could hear her loud cries behind me.

By the time I boarded the plane, the news of the engagement between Slade Group's heir and Leigh Group's heiress was all over the news.

The accompanying photo was of me and Davin from the side at a banquet.

Meanwhile, my contract fiancé was already waiting for me at the airport.