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 What outdated tastes!"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.