Of course not!

All these years, I’ve been utterly devoted to Daniel Walker—not just emotionally, but in my work as well. To secure more contracts for the corporation, I spent countless nights negotiating with clients.

And what did I get in return? A stinging slap and baseless accusations.

If his assistant could so easily fire me, then what was I in his eyes? Less than the dog he kept at her side?

“Do I look like someone who can’t separate feelings from work?” I muttered.

Michael Harris still wanted to press me for answers, but I was so fed up that I slipped away under the excuse of going to the restroom. He wasn’t the type to abandon me anyway.

Once I’d cooled down, I remembered that I had some private files left on my office computer. With no choice, I contacted my deputy to help me get back inside.

But just as I reached the office door, I ran into Emily Johnson.

“Who let Sophia Carter in here? Don’t you know she’s already been fired from the corporation?!” Emily barked.

Startled, my deputy stammered an apology.

“You don’t even have basic confidentiality awareness. You’re fired too!” Emily shouted.

“Fired? You don’t get to decide that! Bring Daniel here!” I snapped.

“Well, isn’t this convenient?” Emily’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’m the head of Human Resources now. Of course I can decide. Get your people out of here—she’s not allowed to stay another second!”

Sure enough, within moments Daniel came out of another office, fiddling with his shirt buttons. God knows what the two of them had been doing.

“Fine, we’ll leave,” I said coldly.

“You two can still make a written apology inside the company, and I might let this slide. But if you walk out, don’t even think about coming back!” Daniel threatened.

I ignored him and walked off with my deputy.

But for some reason, Daniel followed us out.

“Sophia, is it really that hard to bow your head to Emily?” he demanded.

“You’re just being spiteful, openly violating company rules. Can’t you be more reasonable?”

“If you had even half of Emily’s sense, I’d never have had to threaten you with termination.”

His words made me laugh bitterly.

That Cristal champagne was requested by the client. Was one bottle too much to trade for a thirty-million-dollar contract and long-term cooperation? I even risked my alcohol allergy to drink with them.

Yet he believed Emily’s story without question, hit me without asking, and somehow I became the one at fault?

“Scare me? There’s no need. You wanted me gone—well, I’m leaving now! Since you’re so eager to believe Emily’s lies, then there’s no point in saying another word, is there?” I shot back.

“My point is, Emily had it rough too—her hand swelled from slapping you. If you’re leaving, at least apologize to her before you go!”

That made my blood boil. If anyone owed an apology, it was Emily. She slapped me, and I was already being generous by not calling the police.

To say nothing improper was going on between them? Even ghosts wouldn’t believe it.

Yes, Daniel and I had been introduced because our families were close for generations. But was our bond really this fragile?

Emily had graduated and immediately become his assistant. Before her internship even ended, she was promoted to mid-level management. And now, in front of the employees, Daniel openly favored her.

Was I really that cheap in his eyes?

When I looked at him now, all I felt was disappointment.

My deputy clutched her box of files, crying the entire way and telling me about her family troubles.

So I brought her straight to Michael’s company.

“There. Now you’re still my deputy here, and I’ll even pay you a higher salary than before.”

Hearing that, my deputy finally stopped crying and managed a smile.

I just shook my head at her.

…

To celebrate my joining his company—and for bringing in a thirty-million-dollar contract—Michael Harris hosted a welcome banquet for me at the most luxurious hotel in New York City.

But the moment we stepped into the lobby, we ran right into Daniel Walker and Emily Johnson!

Daniel looked worn out, but Emily’s face was flushed, the kind of glow that left little doubt about what they had been up to.

The instant they saw me and Michael together, their eyes lit up with sudden energy—as if I were the one having an affair.

“So this is what you call ‘working late,’ huh? Coming to a hotel?” I fired the first shot.

“You’re the one cheating, and now you want to turn around and accuse the CEO? Compared to you, we’re practically saints!” Emily shot back arrogantly.

“All these years, and you’re still in touch with him?!” Daniel roared, grabbing Michael by the collar.

“Hey, let go! Sophia just joined our company. I’m throwing her a welcome dinner. What’s wrong with that?” Michael shoved him off.

“You’re at a hotel! Just admit you’re sneaking around—why bother denying it?” Emily’s voice trembled with outrage. Having an affair herself, she naturally assumed others were just as filthy.

“Are you blind?” I pointed at the signboard beside us.

It read in bold letters: “Warmly Welcome Sophia Carter to Apex Corporation.”

Daniel glanced at it, but instead of calming down, his anger flared even hotter.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Where’s your professional integrity? You just got fired, and you go straight to my competitor’s company?!”

“I’m still your fiancée, aren’t I? Did you even consider my feelings before doing this?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, so you still remember you’re my fiancé? During work hours you sneak into hotels with your assistant, and you think you’ve treated me with respect?”

“You’re the one who upset Emily so badly. I just brought her out to eat something nice, to clean up your mess!” Daniel was still trying to twist the story.

“Ha! More like you wanted to keep a backup for yourself,” I sneered.

“See? Ms. Carter is always so difficult. Even her subordinates give me a hard time—I can’t do my job at all,” Emily added, looking pitiful.

“Sophia Carter, apologize to Emily right now! Did I ever spread nasty rumors about you?” Daniel raised his hand, ready to strike me again.

But Michael was ready. He blocked the blow instantly.

“What the hell? Are you protecting someone else’s woman now? Which one of us is your fiancée? Do you always act like this?” Michael was speechless. Everyone here knew each other, and he clearly hadn’t expected Daniel to really hit me.

“Shut up, Michael Harris! Sophia, you’re nothing but a liar. Even if you brought me an extra million in dowry, I still wouldn’t marry you!”

Ever since Emily came into the corporation, Daniel had turned into a different man.

The clingy fiancé who once couldn’t leave me alone now used “overtime” as an excuse every other day, constantly sending me on business trips just to keep me away.

His concern dwindled, while rumors spread about him taking Emily everywhere. Today I saw the truth with my own eyes.

Deep down, I had known for a while: Daniel’s heart had left me long ago. It was only me who kept pouring love into this hollow engagement.

Ours was a family alliance. True feelings were scarce. Otherwise, I would have ended things with him much sooner.

Still, better late than never.

Taking a deep breath, I looked him in the eye and declared firmly:

“If you won’t marry me, then I won’t marry you either!”

“What did you just say?!” Daniel froze, completely stunned.

Perhaps thinking about the inevitable backlash from both our families, Daniel Walker suddenly panicked.

“Sophia, I lost my temper just now—it was all angry talk. Let’s go ahead with our wedding as planned!”

I yanked my hand out of his grip. “I don’t object to the wedding being held on time. But shouldn’t the bride be your assistant instead?”

Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and pulled Michael Harris with me into the banquet hall.

“Sophia,” Michael said quietly, “I’ve actually seen the two of them attending industry receptions together quite often. But I never told you, for fear of embarrassing you.”

I understood his hesitation. With our families intertwined, even if I had once harbored feelings for Michael, neither of us would have risked breaking those ties. Later, once I was with Daniel, there was no room for anything else.

“It’s fine. Better to know now than never.”

Whatever bond Daniel and I had was over. From now on, we would only be rivals.

Michael didn’t hold back—he immediately appointed me as Executive Director, giving me responsibility over all major business operations.

But fate has a way of forcing collisions. The industry is small, and when I attended a major summit representing our company, I inevitably ran into Daniel and Emily Johnson again.

They were surrounded by peers, showered with flattery.

“Mr. Walker, you and Ms. Johnson are such a perfect match. Be sure to invite me to the wedding!”

“And this must be Sophia Carter, right? I’ve long heard of her abilities!”

“What a golden couple—you two are enviable.”

At that, Daniel’s face turned ashen. Most of the people there had heard names but never seen faces, so all he and Emily could do was exchange an awkward smile, dodging the truth.

I deliberately circled behind them and suddenly spoke up:

“You two should marry on the same date we planned. Michael and I will definitely be there on time! Just remember—don’t accidentally put my name, Sophia Carter, on the invitation as the bride!”

The pair nearly jumped out of their skins. Daniel even stepped back instinctively.

“Sophia, it was just an act, nothing more.”

“Oh, I know. Congratulations to you both—truly.”

“The hotel thing was a misunderstanding,” Daniel insisted, quickly pulling out a receipt. “Emily and I were only there to eat.”

That, I had no doubt—he had eaten exactly what he wanted.

“Funny,” Michael interjected smoothly, “when I asked David Lee, he told me you were seen in a non-dining area.”

“Michael Harris, stop trying to drive a wedge between us! This is between me and Sophia. It’s none of your business.”

Daniel turned to me, his voice rising. “Sophia Carter, haven’t you made enough of a scene?”

“If you think this is me making a scene,” I said coolly, “then you haven’t seen anything yet.”

What made me roll my eyes even more was Emily chiming in with smug confidence:

“Honestly, there’s no need to drag this out. You just want to come back, don’t you? If you’re willing to work under me, I’ll put in a good word with the boss and get you reinstated.”

I sneered inwardly. Without her face, Emily never would have made it into the company, let alone brought in a multimillion-dollar deal.

Me working under her? That would sink the company in no time.

“Well, since Emily is willing to plead for you, I’ll let you return. Now hurry and carry her bag,” Daniel added coldly.

“Wake up,” I shot back. “Did I ever say I wanted to come back?”

In front of everyone, I tossed the words down without hesitation.

Daniel, who cared more about saving face than anything else, nearly lost control. He lunged toward me, hand raised, but Michael intercepted him instantly.

“If you won’t return, then the wedding is off! Let’s see how you explain this to your family!”

Ever since Emily had come into his life, every time Daniel and I argued, he had dangled breaking off the engagement over my head.