Rachel Lloyd had been by William Lewis' side since she was eighteen. One day, after an accident, she finally regained her hearing, which she had previously lost while saving his life.

She couldn't wait to share the good news with him. But when she arrived, she found him holding his first love in his arms and whispering sweet nothings to her.

William always knew Rachel loved him deeply—to the point she would give her life for him. She never got angry and never asked for much.

But this time, instead of quietly staying by his side, she simply signed a non-disclosure agreement. And when the time came, she completely disappeared from his world.

When William first heard that Rachel had vanished, he laughed it off.

"She'll be back within a week."

But a week passed. Then, a month. Then, three months.

And still, Rachel didn't return.

Now, as panic set in, William searched for her like a madman.

For the first time in his proud, arrogant life, he humbled himself and begged, "Rachel, stop this. It's been long enough."

Later, he added, "Come home. I'll give you whatever you want."

And finally, he said, "If I were dying… would you at least come say goodbye?"

When they met again, he was on his knees. His eyes were red-rimmed as he held out a teacup.

"Please have some tea... Aunt Rachel."

"Ms. Lloyd, once you make this decision, you won't be able to return for at least five years, maybe even longer. We'll erase your identity from the public. Because of the sensitive nature of our company's research, no one will be able to find you during this time. I hope you understand this."

"I understand."

Rachel Lloyd hesitated for just a second before she lowered her head and signed her name at the bottom of the document.

"Alright. Everything must be finalized by October 20th. We'll contact you when the time comes."

Rachel glanced at her phone.

Today was October 1st. That gave her 20 days.

As she walked past a shopping mall, something on the big screen outside caught her eye. She stopped to watch footage from a press conference held last week.

William Lewis, the CEO of Lewis Enterprise, had spent three years designing a custom wedding dress for his wife. According to him, the breathtaking, one-of-a-kind dress, a gift for their upcoming anniversary, was meant to make up for the regret that she hadn't worn a wedding dress at their wedding ceremony.

The moment that dress was revealed, it took the world by storm. Everyone admired Rachel for marrying someone as wealthy and deeply devoted as William.

Girls walking by glanced at the screen, their wide eyes full of envy.

"Did you know? Their love story is like a fairytale. I heard Mr. Lewis remembers every little thing she likes. Even the tiniest details," one girl whispered to another.

"Yeah, and didn't she get into a car accident a while back? The doctors said she might need a cornea transplant. Mr. Lewis signed the papers without a second thought. Luckily, she didn't end up needing it."

"No matter how busy he is, he always gets her gifts on every holiday. That alone makes him better than ninety-nine percent of men," the other girl added.

Rachel's lips twisted into a bitter smile.

How she wished she still couldn't hear. Everything she heard right now only disgusted her.

A few years ago, William had gotten into trouble with some classmates. When someone threw a chair during the incident, Rachel had stepped in front of him and taken the hit. As a result, she lost her hearing that day.

Afterwards, everyone treated her like a freak. They excluded her from activities, mocked her, and called her names behind her back.

"Deaf girl."

They said it like a curse.

But William had come to her like a ray of light in the darkness, holding her tight while she trembled in silence.

"Rachel, you're not deaf. I'll be your ears. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Anyone who tries—I'll fight them myself!"

She thought their love would last forever.

But now, it felt like fireworks—bright for a moment, then gone.

Just days ago, Rachel had been planning to tell William some good news, wanting to surprise him with the fact that she had regained her hearing. Instead, she found out that the woman he had fallen head over heels for had come back.

Rachel's hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Their love was over. It might still exist on paper, but in her heart, it was already dead. She wasn't going to beg, nor was she going to stay. She was ready to completely disappear from his life.

Lowering her head, she carefully placed divorce papers into a small gift box she had prepared long ago. As she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, she stepped out onto the curb and reached for her phone to call a ride.

But before she could, a familiar black car pulled up beside her.

The man who stepped out of it looked as polished as always, dressed in a crisp shirt, tailored trousers, and shiny black derby shoes. When he crossed one leg over the other, the crease in his pants didn't even fold. His sharp features were filled with worry as he walked toward her.

"Rachel, I told you to wait for me inside. It's freezing. What if you get sick?" he said, quickly signing with his hands as he spoke, a bit anxious.

He reached for her hands and rubbed them gently between his palms, trying to warm her up. There was concern in his dark eyes as he guided her toward the car.

Rachel gave a small, bitter smile. Her heart felt like it had been grabbed and twisted tight. It hurt so badly, she could barely breathe.

Look at that. Turns out love can be faked too.

William buckled her seatbelt for her. Just as he leaned back, his eyes landed on the small box in her lap.

He pointed at it, asking, "What's this?"

Rachel looked down, hiding the emotions swirling in her eyes.

She replied softly, "A gift for our anniversary."

William's eyes lit up as he smiled gently. He reached out with the intention of opening the box.

However, Rachel quickly pressed his hand down. "Open it on the day of our anniversary."

William looked curious, but when she spoke like that, he never pushed.

He grinned, then reached out and playfully tapped the tip of her nose. "We'll do it your way. But first, let's retake our wedding photos."

William wanted her to wear the custom wedding dress he had designed—something no one else in the world had. He wanted to take photos of it now, to be looked back on when they celebrated their 50th anniversary one day.

Only Rachel knew the truth.

There would be no fiftieth anniversary—or any future for them.

What would William's expression look like when he finally opened that box?

When William and Rachel arrived at the bridal shop, an assistant greeted them warmly and led them to the dressing rooms. William went in to change first. When he stepped out, even the store staff froze for a moment.

He was tall and lean, with not an ounce of extra weight on him, thanks to regular workouts. He looked like he'd stepped straight out of a magazine, the kind of man who made anything he wore look better.

Then, Rachel walked out in the dress William had designed. She saw him sitting on a bench, looking down at his phone. His tie was neatly knotted, his black suit sharp and clean.

As she stood silently behind him, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the text message on his screen.

[William, my stomach hurts. Can you come pick me up?]

Before he could reply, a second message came through.

[Oh, you're doing wedding photos with Rachel today, right? Never mind. I'll just go home on my own.]

Then, it disappeared.

The sender had deleted it.

Rachel sneered inwardly.

Who waited a full minute to delete a sent message? That was no accident.

William hesitated, his thumbs pausing over the screen before he finally typed: [I'll see how things go. Send me your location.]

Rachel's hands tightened around the edge of her dress, her knuckles turning white. It felt like something was being ripped out of her chest, making it hard to breathe. She pressed a hand to her heart.

So, William still couldn't say no to that woman.

As Rachel slowly crouched down, William finally sensed that something was wrong. When he turned around and saw her pale face, he hurriedly stood.

"Rachel? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? I'll take you to the hospital right now."

She looked at his face, and couldn't help but inwardly sneer at how it was so full of worry, just like always. But was he really worried about her, or was he just waiting for an excuse to run back to that woman?

Rachel forced herself to stay calm.

"I'm okay. Just haven't been sleeping well the past few days. Can you take me home?" she said quietly.

William nodded quickly. "Of course. Let's go."

He turned to speak with the store staff, then gently helped her outside.

Just as they stepped out, his phone buzzed again. He checked it quickly, frowning. Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he turned to Rachel and signed with quick, slightly urgent movements as he spoke.

"Rachel, an emergency came up at work. I might not be able to stay with you tonight. Is it okay if I just drop you off?"

Rachel looked at his face—still warm, still pretending to care—and her stomach turned.

She forced a smile. "It's fine. I feel much better now. I'll take a cab home."

But William reached for her hand, holding it gently, like she was the only person in his world. "Work can wait for a bit. Your health matters more."

She smiled faintly, lips pale. "Really, it's fine. Go ahead. I'm okay now."

William studied her for a moment. Her face wasn't as pale as before, and she seemed steadier.

"Alright. Get some rest. I'll try to come home early."

Rachel nodded and watched him drive away. As soon as his car disappeared around the corner, she raised her hand and hailed a cab.

"Follow that black car," she told the driver.

By now, the sky had darkened.

After a while, Rachel saw William's car pull over. When he stepped out, a beautiful woman rushed into his arms. Rachel leaned forward in her seat, eyes locked on the scene. When she saw the woman's face, her breath caught.

It really was Samantha Judd, William's first love.

Back in school, everyone talked about them. They were the kind of couple who turned heads in the hallways, completely wrapped up in each other. But then one day, she left, going abroad for some reason. After that, they lost touch entirely.

And now, she was back? Of course she was.

Samantha's face was glowing, her big, dark eyes shining like she was on the verge of tears, but in the prettiest way possible. It was the kind of look that made men want to protect her.

"I knew you'd come, William. I've been waiting for you," she said.

William stepped back just enough to look her over from head to toe, his usually cold eyes full of concern.

"Didn't you say your stomach hurt?"

Samantha gave him a playful smile and tilted her head. "It stopped hurting the second I saw you."

William's tense expression softened instantly. His deep-set eyes and naturally sharp gaze gave him an intense look. But when he smiled, it was strangely captivating.

"You little liar. Don't do that again. You scared me," he chided.

Samantha pouted, grabbing his hand and swinging it lightly. Her voice turned soft, like she was about to cry again, but in a prettier way.

"Okay. I just missed you too much. I didn't mean to mess up your day with Rachel," she said.

William reached out and gently brushed her lips with his thumb. "It better not happen again."

Samantha giggled. She tugged at his collar, eyes sparkling with mischief and something more.

"Come here... I have a surprise for you."

Their fingers laced together as they strolled down the beach toward a small wooden cabin near the water.

Rachel stood frozen behind the trees, her body pressed against the bark. She didn't even notice the way her nails were digging into her palms as hot tears slid down her cheeks. She thought she could face this calmly, but the moment she saw them together, the pain cut so deep that it felt like her heart was being torn apart.

From the beginning of their relationship, William had loved Rachel with everything he had. He cared about how she felt, always making sure she felt safe and valued. Even when things got intimate between them, he would hold himself back with visible effort. She could feel how hard it was for him to restrain himself, and sometimes, her heart softened.

But he would just hold her gently and whisper, "I want our first time to be on our wedding night. For you, I can wait."

Even on their wedding night, he had been patient. He took his time and never rushed her.

He had buried his face in her neck and murmured, "Rachel, promise me you'll never leave. I love you."

At that moment, she had truly believed that even losing her hearing for him had been worth it. He was worth it.

But now…

He had broken the promise he made.

He had fallen in love with someone else, and everything they swore to each other had shattered.

William didn't come home that night, simply sending a single message at midnight.

[I'm working late at the office. Take care of yourself.]

Rachel stared at the message, her lips curling into a bitter smile. However, she wasn't going to waste more time thinking about him or Samantha. Before she left, she had something more important to do.

And that was to fulfill her mother's last wish.

When she arrived at the office, she noticed her colleagues giving her odd looks.

"I heard the Oasis Project was finalized already," someone whispered behind a cubicle. "But Ms. Lloyd isn't the lead anymore."

"What? That's been her baby for months. If she finds out about this, it'll probably mean trouble."

"Yeah, but word is the board voted this morning. They gave it to someone new. A transfer, I think."

As soon as they noticed Rachel at the door, everyone quickly looked away and hurried back to their desks. When she reached her office, she found that everything on her desk had been moved.

Before she could say anything, a soft voice behind her called out, "Rachel?"

She turned slowly.

There, in a snow-white dress that made her look delicate and innocent, stood Samantha. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders, and her face was flawless, her eyes wide and gentle. She had the kind of look that made men want to protect her without even knowing why.

Rachel felt her whole body go cold.

Samantha!

Samantha smiled, lips tinted pink, her cheeks flushing as she sweetly said, "It's been so long. I guess we'll be coworkers now. I'm really looking forward to working with you."

She reached out her hand.

Rachel didn't take it. Instead, she looked over at her own desk—now completely cleared out—and tapped her fingers lightly against the surface.

"What's going on here?"

Samantha looked at her with wide, watery eyes, as if she had been hurt. Her fingers moved awkwardly in the air, making small gestures.

"I'm really sorry, Rachel. William knows I'm allergic to dust, so he let me use your office. But if it bothers you, we can switch back. I don't mind. I'll go talk to him right now."

Rachel smiled bitterly.

What a joke.

Allergic to dust? As if Rachel wasn't?

She watched Samantha start to turn toward William's office.

"No need," Rachel said flatly.

She didn't want fake kindness. His heart was no longer with her, so why bother acting like he cared?

Samantha turned back, her eyes still soft, but now with a glint she couldn't quite hide.

"I knew you'd understand. But please don't get the wrong idea. William only brought me into the company because he sees how tired you've been. He just wanted me to help take the pressure off you."

Rachel's fingers curled into her palm, then slowly relaxed.

How "considerate" of William. He really did love her deeply—so deeply, in fact, he invited his old flame to help with her workload.

"If that's what Mr. Lewis decided, then I hope you won't let him down, Ms. Judd."

Having said that, Rachel stepped past Samantha without waiting for a reply and headed straight to William's office.

When she pushed the door open and walked in, William heard the sound and looked up. Their eyes met for a few seconds before Rachel's gaze shifted to the papers on his desk. She reached out and picked them up.

William stood up. There was a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Rachel—"

She didn't look at him. Her eyes were locked on the page.

It was the final vote on the Oasis Project: Rachel had received ten votes, while Samantha had twelve. And William had given the most important vote in Samantha's favor.

Hah! He actually gave the most important vote to Samantha.

Maybe it was how calm Rachel looked that made William uneasy. He stepped closer and gently wrapped his warm hand around her arm.

"Rachel, it wasn't just my decision to let Samantha join the company and compete for the project. The board made that call. Even as CEO, I can't override everything. I hope you understand the position I'm in."

Rachel tasted bitterness on her tongue, and her lips had gone pale. However, she didn't shout or cry. She was too numb for that now. She forced a small, tired smile and looked up at William.

The eyes that used to look at her like she was his whole world… felt like a stranger's now.

She drew a steady breath and asked, "What if I insist on leading the Oasis Project?"

William's brows lifted just slightly. He took her cold fingers in both hands and held them tight, his thumb gently brushing over her skin like he was trying to calm her down.

"I know this project means a lot to you. It was your mom's dream. But if it succeeds, no matter who does it, she'd be proud, right? She'll see it from heaven."

Rachel let out a low laugh. He used to give her anything she wanted without question.

But now? Now, for another woman, he had excuse after excuse.

It wasn't just his body that was no longer hers; his heart was gone too.

Rachel sniffled, her voice hoarse as she said, "If it's all the same to my mom up there, then why not let me do it? My proposal was just as strong as Samantha's. You know it was."

William's expression tightened, a trace of conflict flickering in his eyes. He didn't let go of Rachel's hand. Instead, he held it tighter, his warm thumb slowly rubbing the back of her hand in a quiet, soothing motion.

"Rachel, Samantha just got back to the country. Without something strong on her resume, she won't be able to find good work. Her parents are in poor health—no one knows how much time they have left. She needs this win. Also, we attended the same school. I know you. You've always been kind. You won't hold this against her, right?"

Rachel almost laughed at how noble and polished his excuse sounded. However, the bitterness on her tongue said otherwise.

It wasn't funny. Not at all.

Previously, Rachel had always thought that William's kindness was just for her. Now, she saw the truth—his kindness could be given to anyone.

He worried about Samantha's allergies, but had forgotten that Rachel herself could suffer from being around dust too. For her, it could even lead to breathing problems, and at its worst, could be life-threatening.

When William saw how calm Rachel was, he felt even more uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke gently.

"Rachel, how about we…"

"Forget it," Rachel interrupted. "You just got the promotion. You don't have full control yet. There are too many shareholders, and you can't make all the decisions alone."

She pretended to be understanding, gently pulling her hand out of his without making a fuss. Her voice carried a trace of weariness.

When someone stopped loving a person, they would find a hundred excuses to convince themselves it was the right thing. Even if she stayed here, begging, she knew he wouldn't give her the project.

And if that was the case—why bother forcing it?

Thinking he had calmed her down, Wiliam let out a relieved breath.

"Okay," he said. "Remember the auction? You were eyeing that necklace, the Eternal Heart, right? It's coming up in a few days. I'll buy it for you."

Rachel stiffened, but forced a small smile and met his eyes. "Sure, but I heard it's pretty expensive."

She didn't need him, but money still had value. No one was foolish enough to turn down money.

"If you want it, no matter how expensive it is, it's worth it," he assured, his eyes lighting up the moment she agreed.

A smile played at the corners of his mouth, and with a look full of affection, he reached out to gently pinch her cheek.

Just as he began to lean in…

The office door swung open.

Samantha stood in the doorway and hesitantly said in a soft voice, "Mr. Lewis, the higher-ups are waiting for you. They're asking for you to come up."

In the blink of an eye, William's hand, which had been resting on Rachel's shoulder, quickly pulled away.

"Got it."

Samantha stepped forward timidly, her teeth gently biting her lower lip. Her eyes were red-rimmed in an instant, and she awkwardly used a few basic hand gestures as she spoke.

"Mr. Lewis, Rachel, are you two arguing about the Oasis Project? If Rachel really wants it, I don't mind giving it up. I can step aside."

Rachel frowned slightly at Samantha's words. She stared at her for a moment, then calmly replied, "No need. I don't like taking things that belong to someone else. Since Mr. Lewis is considering your past connection, you should do your best with the Oasis Project, Ms. Judd."

At Rachel's words, Samantha's eyes grew even more teary. She reached out, gently tugging at William's shirt sleeve.

"Mr. Lewis, I think Rachel might have some misunderstandings about me. Could you explain it to her? If it's for Rachel, I'm willing to give up the project."

Rachel's gaze fell on Samantha's hand, still holding William's sleeve. He had never liked anyone touching him. Samantha seemed to realize it too, quickly letting go as Rachel quietly turned her gaze away.

Raising a fist to his lips, William cleared his throat. "Rachel already agreed. She's not the type to hold grudges."

He turned to Rachel and signed as he said, "After the meeting, I'll come find you. Tonight, we'll go to that restaurant you love."

With that, he stepped past Rachel and followed Samantha to the meeting room. As soon as the office door shut behind them, Rachel picked up Samantha's project proposal on William's desk and glanced at it.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Samantha hadn't even bothered to correct the typos.