At the company's annual banquet, just as I was about to pick up a piece of meat, the new employee suddenly turned the tables.

“Some people don’t do a single serious thing in this company. All they know is eating every single day.”

“And what's worse is they're leeching off his girlfriend.”

Not only was he meddling, but his tone was dripping with sarcasm.

I chuckled softly, then turned to my fiancée, Wanda Robinson, who had arrived late to ask, “So this is the new assistant you've been raving about?”

——

"Tristan, that's enough!"

"Julian is a newcomer. It's only natural he'd be nervous and forget his manners.”

“He graduated from a prestigious foreign university and studied under a renowned financial master. He's far superior to you, a half-baked amateur. He's the future of this company!”

I thought she would be on my side, but who knew she was protecting him completely. She even stepped on me to lift him up.

Mocking smiles appeared on every employee present. They all thought I was asking to be humiliated, a leech who could not even behave.

"Thank you for your trust, Wanda."

Julian Smith became even more smug and grinned broadly. After making a toast to Wanda, he turned to look at me.

“Since everyone is here today, I have something I want to ask General Manager Sanders ....”

“In this partnership with Torch Capital, the other party demanded a 50-50 split. Why did you voluntarily concede and propose a 70-30 split instead?”

The implication was clear that he suspected I'd pocketed kickbacks.

The room erupted in commotion.

Even Wanda turned to stare at me, demanding that I give a public explanation.

“Giving them enough benefits the first time opens the door for more cooperation later.”

I shot a calm glance at Julian. “Don’t tell me someone who graduated from a prestigious university can’t understand such a simple principle?”

This tactic had proven effective time and again and I had explained it to Wanda a long time ago.

“Fallacious argument!”

Julian slammed his fist on the table, retorting furiously. “Business demands fairness and justice! If you show weakness, they'll push for more advantage!”

"And besides, who would give away a piece of meat that's already in their mouth? Do you know how much loss you've caused the company?”

“Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be general manager!”

Silence fell all over the room.

No one expected Julian to dare say something like that. After all, no matter how useless I was, I was still Wanda's fiancé and the future grandson-in-law who had been handpicked personally by Mr. Robinson, Sr, before his death.

I looked at Wanda.

Surely, she'll be on my side, right?

After all, she’d always approved of such tactics before and we had been together for three years.

But her expression turned cold. "Tristan, given the gravity of the situation, you are temporarily suspended from your duties and will undergo investigation.”

"Hand over your work to Julian."

I froze in place.

I had become the laughingstock of every employee in the room.

“What future grandson-in-law was handpicked by Mr. Robinson? He’s just a dog that gets ordered around.”

“A kept man is still a kept man. President Robinson has him wrapped around her finger.”

“Just like a piece of clothing—she can replace you whenever she wants.”

Some people grew bolder and started whispering among themselves.

Julian's smile widened and his words grew more arrogant. "Tristan Sanders, you've been suspended. What right do you have to eat here? Shouldn't you be going home to await the investigation?”

Regaining my composure, I turned to Wanda and asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

She paused slightly, a complex gleam flashing in her eyes before she frowned. “I will never bend the law for personal gain—not even for my fiancé.”

Although it was a perfectly legitimate procedure, it was obvious I did nothing wrong. However, because of Julian's accusation, I was replaced.

Truly ridiculous!

Absolutely laughable!

I stopped insisting, stood up with a cold face and walked out—but Wanda chased after me.

"Tristan!"

"Let me explain!"

She grabbed my hand.

I turned to look at her and remembered how thrilled she’d been when I secured the company’s first partnership deal.

"Tristan!"

“You’re amazing! You’re my savior! Without you, the company would’ve gone bankrupt next month.”

That night, Wanda got drunk. As she leaned against my shoulder, she murmured, "Meeting you is the happiest thing that has ever happened to me!”

"From this moment on, if anyone tries to bully you, I’ll be the first to stand up for you!”

“You’re mine and no one can take you away...”

Her flushed cheeks were breathtakingly beautiful, like the evening glow on the horizon.

But not this moment. She felt like a stranger to me.

When she saw me not saying anything, she continued with a hint of reproach, “With all those employees around earlier, I had to keep things professional. Otherwise, who would respect me?”

"Please, try to understand me, okay?"

At the end of the words, she showed a pitiful expression, as if I had wronged her and made her suffer great injustice.

“Is that all? Isn't it because you care about Julian more than me?" I asked seriously.

“What are you thinking!”

She hastily denied it. "Don't overthink. I only think Julian is talented. I admire him and want to keep him ...”

Before she finished speaking, Julian's voice sounded.

She left after saying, “After the annual meeting, let's take a boat tour around the city to watch the fireworks.”

Then she turned and hurried away.

As I watched her, I shook my head in disappointment and muttered to myself, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

In fact, there were some warning signs before today's incident.

Yesterday, when I went up to the rooftop to smoke, I accidentally overheard two executives talking.

They said Julian had asked Wanda to replace me as general manager and she had agreed. She even told him to find any excuse and bring it to the annual meeting.

With so many people around, it would be easy to pull it off.

She also told him not to worry and said she and I were only engaged.

Whether we would get married was still uncertain.  Then she encouraged him to try even harder.

At the time, I dismissed it as ordinary gossip and didn't give it much thought. Little did I know reality would slap me in the face so hard.

Perhaps I should have realized long ago that their relationship was more than just business.

Take Julian's meal allowance, for instance—it's ten times higher than others. Another thing, Wanda was a very private person, so no one, including me, could enter her office freely, except for Julian.

Julian and I shared the same birthday, but she chose to attend his birthday rather than mine.

Every time I wanted to talk about it, she would use the same familiar line. "Julian is talented. I want to keep him, so of course I have to put in more effort."

“It’s not for me—it’s for the company.”

“Please try to understand me, okay?”

Paired with that signature pitiable gaze, it always melted my heart.

At the same time, I couldn't believe Wanda had changed her heart.

Because privately, she always declared her love for me, curling up like a kitten in my arms.

And whether at work or in life, I did my best.

In three years, we signed thousands of contracts and designed hundreds of hit products!

So countless prestigious family businesses extended olive branches.

When countless heiresses threw themselves at me, I didn’t spare them a single glance.

Wanda could not drink alcohol, so I always took her drinks at social events, landing in the hospital multiple times.

Wanda loved Mexican cuisine, so I learned to cook it and let her order whatever she wanted every day.

She said she wanted to wait until the company was more established before marrying and I patiently waited.

For three years, I have devoted myself selflessly. But now, it was replaced by a newcomer easily.

Was my love too shallow?

Or did Wanda's true colors show and she believed that I was useless?

I didn’t know or even care to know.

So I sent Grandpa a message to vent my frustration.

[Old geezer! What kind of trashy friends did you make? What kind of trashy marriage contract did you sign?]

[The moment she hit it big, she dumped your grandson!]

[Send someone to fetch me back to the Capital within three days!]

Since Wanda had her sights set on the villa, I’d grant her freedom.

Why bother trying so hard? Why hang myself on one tree? After all, without her, I was still the prince of Tulice Country’s elite circle.

Without me, could she still bask in the spotlight as that unattainable beauty that everyone envies?

When Grandpa received the message and understood the details, his beard nearly stood on end in anger. He cursed her as a trash who couldn't recognize a diamond in the rough! The Robinson family was digging their own grave!

Then he comforted me, "Don't be sad. The Tulice Country's heiresses are looking forward to seeing your marriage end.”

Plump or slender, whatever type I wanted, they had it all.

Right after talking with Grandfather, I received a message from Wanda.

[Tristan.]

[A client called for a last-minute meeting. I have to head over ASAP. We'll watch the fireworks another time.]

This excuse sounded familiar because it had not happened just once, but this year it happened ....

On my birthday and on our anniversary.

Wanda always claimed she was too busy with business deals, only to turn around and meet with Julian.

What excuse does she use this time?

I shook my head, asking no further questions and met with several close business partners.

I informed them I was about to leave and gave them the risk.

In my opinion, if Wanda had made Julian work as the general manager for a long time, she would lose my support. And eventually, the company would decline.

My partners were shocked and convinced Wanda must be insane to betray someone who’d served her well and replace me with a newcomer.

It was no different from seeking destruction.

After parting ways with my friends, I stood alone by the shore, letting the wind blow through me. Countless fireworks bloomed in the night sky, like exploding shooting stars.

Amidst the dazzling display, I caught sight of Wanda. She was leaning against Julian's shoulder and looked up at the night sky, with a happy smile on the corner of her mouth.

That was brighter than the fireworks themselves.

Red strings were still tied around their wrists.

"As expected, you're lying to me again."

I smiled wryly, lighting a cigarette and puffing slowly by the shore.

Boom!

Another burst of fireworks erupted overhead.

Julian boldly lifted Wanda's chin to kiss him, but he avoided it.

Her flushed cheeks, however, had already betrayed her true feelings.

I stubbed out my cigarette and turned to leave.

It was just so happened, Wanda turned her head and saw a familiar figure on the shore from afar. Her heart skipped a beat as she murmured, "Tristan?”

"What did you say?" Julian, next to her, was taken aback.

“Nothing.”

She shook her head and smiled. Then, though she felt she had made a mistake, as a precaution, she sent me a message.

[What are you doing, Tristan?]

[Eating.]

Seeing the reply, she was completely reassured and continued watching the fireworks with Julian from the boat. Pursuing that feeling of new romance.

Early the next morning, Wanda returned home looking exhausted. Upon seeing me, she pounced into my arms like a kitten.

"Tristan."

"I was so busy last night. That client was too difficult. Look at my mouth foaming with anger.”

In private, she always loved to act spoiled around me.