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.

Rachel walked back to her office, holding her project proposal, her face pale.

Cecilia Young noticed right away and came over, using simple hand signs as she asked, "Rachel, are you okay? Did that new hire really take the project?"

Rachel grabbed Cecilia's wrist. "Come with me."

The two of them went to the breakroom.

Rachel's face was serious as she said, "I need your help with something important."

"Of course, just tell me what you need."

"I heard that LS Enterprise wanted to take the Oasis Project too. Since it hasn't started yet, if we come up with a better plan, we can take control of the project. That way, it won't be up to this company to decide how it moves forward."

Cecilia's face went pale. She quickly started to gesture in panic as she exclaimed, "Are you crazy? If you get involved and someone finds out, it's like leaking company secrets. Your career would be over!"

She paused, looking at Rachel like she was crazy, then added, "Also, I've heard rumors about the owner of LS Enterprise. His background is complicated, and there isn't much information available online about him. If you go near him, it's like walking straight into a trap. What if he uses it against you?"

Rachel knew Cecilia was scared for her. But at this point, there was no turning back.

"This is my mom's dying wish. I have to finish it," Rachel said firmly.

She didn't have much time left.

Cecilia had known Rachel since college, so she knew that once Rachel made up her mind, nothing could change it.

After thinking for a moment, she sighed. "Alright, I'm in. But be careful. If word gets out that the wife of Lewis Enterprise's CEO is helping their rival company, it's going to stir up a storm."

Rachel's grip tightened around Cecilia's hand. "I'll be careful. Thank you."

After leaving the breakroom, Rachel quietly packed up her things. As she was straightening up her desk, something fell and broke. Bending down to pick it up, she realized it was a picture of her and William—one they had taken when they first started dating. Their heads were close together, smiling shyly.

Back then, they had been so happy, like nothing could stand in their way as long as they had each other. Now, it all felt like a joke.

Rachel picked up the broken frame and tossed it in the trash. As she finished tidying up, Cecilia sent a message.

[I used all my connections and got you fifteen minutes.]

Rachel texted back: [That's enough.]

This was it. Whether she succeeded or failed, it all came down to that moment.

With her project proposal in hand, Rachel made her way to LS Enterprise.

Cecilia gave her a quick pat on the shoulder. "Use your skills to win him over. If that doesn't work, try using your charm!"

Rachel couldn't help but laugh at her friend's silly joke.

"What if he's into men?" she teased.

Cecilia paused, unsure how to respond.

After saying goodbye, Rachel entered the building. But once she got into the elevator, doubt started to creep in.

She had heard that the owner of LS Enterprise was notoriously difficult to deal with. He was always hard to reach, but his company's success far outpaced Lewis Enterprise. Rumor had it that the founder, Tyler Hunt, had built the company from scratch in just two or three years, turning it into an industry leader. Because of that, he had become a legendary figure.

When Rachel arrived at the office door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking.

A cold voice came from inside: "Come in."

Rachel took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The moment she entered, she was met with the cold, monochrome tones of black, white, and gray. The man inside had sharp features, giving him an intimidating look that made him seem distant and unapproachable.

He was still talking to an employee, but once Rachel's eyes locked onto him, she couldn't look away. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore. Unlike the kind of coldness Willam had, Tyler had a more aggressive edge. His serious expression and strikingly sharp features made him look even more intense.

Rachel hadn't expected anyone else to be in the room. She quietly sat down on the couch, watching Tyler. He was focused, his sharp gaze never flickering from the papers in front of him. He didn't notice her presence at all.

She wasn't in a hurry, so she waited, letting the silence settle until his subordinate finished reporting. The man, still signing documents, spoke without looking up.

"Find out who let her in. Fire the person involved."

The subordinate froze for a second, glancing at Rachel sitting on the couch, then nodded.

"Understood, Mr. Hunt."

Rachel's heart skipped a beat. She had heard rumors that LS Enterprise's CEO was ruthless and quick to act when someone made a mistake. She could see that it was all true.

In the time it took him to sign a contract, someone had been fired.

Hoping to avoid getting thrown out, Rachel quickly stated her purpose. To her surprise, Tyler didn't even lift his head. Rachel knew he was listening, so she continued explaining her plan.

Once she finished speaking, Tyler finally looked up from his papers. His gaze was sharp, almost too intense, his eyes giving off a pressure that made Rachel feel small under his scrutiny. For some reason, even though this was their first meeting, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.

Ready to make her pitch, she cleared her throat and continued, saying, "Mr. Hunt, if I can help your company secure the rights to the Oasis Project, over the next three years, your company will experience a major breakthrough. Plus, the land near Oasis gives you plenty of room to expand..."

He interrupted her: "Mrs. Lewis, did you get into a fight with your husband, or is this just your company's new strategy?"

As he spoke, he placed the file aside, but his sharp gaze lingered on her.

Rachel was caught off guard. She hadn't expected such a blunt response, but she held her ground.

"I know you might have doubts, but I genuinely want to help your company secure the rights. No one knows this project better than I do."

Tyler set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, lazily raising an eyebrow. "When gods fight, the mortals suffer?"

Rachel pursed her lips, trying to explain herself by saying, "I'm not asking for any money, but I have one condition. If you secure the rights, I get the final say on the design."

His piercing gaze didn't leave her. He leaned slightly forward, his voice low and deliberate as he said, "You should understand what coming to me for negotiations means."

"I do," Rachel replied, meeting his eyes with steady resolve. "It means I might end up making enemies on both sides. If this gets out, Lewis Enterprise will hold me accountable, and you'll have every reason to think I'm a spy sent from them."

Tyler seemed amused. "I'm curious, though. Since the Oasis Project is already under your company, why are you here?"

Rachel lowered her gaze, her voice quieter now as she said, "Because of personal reasons that I can't discuss. However, this project is crucial for me."

Tyler tapped his finger on the desk. "I heard you're not in charge of the project anymore. A new person was brought in."

He paused for a moment, letting the words settle before speaking again.

"But that doesn't concern me. I have no reason to wade through your personal drama," he added, his tone cold and deliberate.

Rachel walked downstairs, where Cecilia was still waiting for her. As soon as she appeared, Cecilia rushed up to her.

"So, what happened?" she asked eagerly.

"It didn't work out. Just like the rumors say, he's impossible to get through to."

Not only that, but Rachel had almost exposed herself in the process.

As she was about to leave his office, she had heard Tyler's deep voice behind her: "I heard you went deaf because of Mr. Lewis back then, Mrs. Lewis. Looks like you're all better now."

Rachel wasn't sure if Tyler would keep her secret, but deep down, she felt that even if she asked him, he wouldn't help.

Cecilia looked at her with guilt and said, "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you."

"It's fine. Actually, I think I've caused trouble for you."

Rachel shivered as she remembered Tyler's words to his subordinate earlier. As she was about to speak again, she noticed Cecilia standing still, frozen in shock. Her eyes were wide open, and she seemed lost in thought.

Rachel waved her hand in front of her. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

Cecilia slowly turned her head, her face full of disbelief. "I… I didn't sign to you just now, but... you could hear me?"

Rachel quickly covered her mouth. "Keep it down. Come here."

Once they were out of earshot, Rachel explained what had happened. Cecilia's reaction was pure excitement.

"That's amazing! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I was over here looking like a fool, clumsily signing to you."

Cecilia wasn't great at sign language, but luckily, Rachel was smart. Even if the person Rachel was talking to wasn't fluent in sign language, she could roughly tell what they were saying from the shape of their mouth.

"But you need to keep this secret for me. Not even William knows. And tell your friend who helped set this meeting that there's a good chance they might lose their job over it."

Rachel's voice grew softer as she repeated Tyler's words to Cecilia.

Cecilia hung her head, clearly upset. "This is bad. Tyler really is as ruthless as they say. It looks like your plan is going to fall apart."

-

When Rachel got home, she sold the custom wedding dress William designed for her.

She had finally come to a decision. Whether or not she got the Oasis Project, she needed money for the future. She wasn't the rich daughter of the Lloyd family anymore; she was just an ordinary person now, and to survive, she needed money.

She thought it would take days for anyone to buy the dress, but to her surprise, within three minutes, someone paid an unbelievable price for it.

Five million.

She stared at the deposit notification on her phone, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. She was already thinking about what to do with the money.

Just then, the door burst open. William walked in, sweat beading on his forehead. He knelt down in front of Rachel, looking desperate, his hands moving quickly as he signed.

"I saw you sold the wedding dress online. I designed that myself. Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?"

Rachel could see nothing but worry in William's eyes. She had always believed she understood him completely. From his gaze, she could read him like an open book. But now, as she looked into those same eyes, all she saw was insincerity.

She forced a smile, trying to sound calm as she replied, "No, I just think the dress is a material item. Remember that orphanage I told you about? It's in really bad shape; I want to donate money to them."

William looked at her with doubt in his eyes. "Really? It's not because you're mad that Samantha got the Oasis Project?"

Rachel pretended to be unaffected, patting his hand lightly. "Of course not. We're all alumni of the same school. Helping each other is the right thing to do. Don't overthink it."

After he heard that, William's tense face softened, his sharp features relaxing into a smile. "That's a relief. I knew you weren't that petty. Don't worry, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly with the project. I won't let anything go wrong."

Rachel almost laughed out loud. In William's eyes, he was being generous enough by giving away the most important thing to him. She knew now that getting him to give her the project was impossible. Her only chance was with Tyler.

Just as she was thinking that, William's phone rang. He glanced at it quickly, about to ignore it, but Rachel had already seen the name on the screen.

It was Samantha.

A bright, radiant smile crossed Rachel's face. "Who's calling? Why aren't you answering?"

William hesitated for a moment, then slipped the phone back into his pocket, forcing a smile. "It's just the company. But right now, I need to focus on you. You're much more important than work."

He spoke softly, a trace of affection in his eyes as he gently pinched Rachel's cheek.

However, she said, "Go ahead, take the call. It might be something important."

William didn't want to answer, but Samantha kept calling. He ruffled Rachel's hair, nodding toward the door to let her know he needed to take the call. She quietly watched as he walked out, the light in her eyes dimming little by little.

What she had once considered so important seemed to mean nothing to him, as it left his lips so casually. Had he forgotten what he had told her before? That as long as he was around, the project would be hers, no matter the cost?

Now, he had casually handed it over to Samantha with just the excuse of it being the higher-ups' decision.

The vibration of her phone pulled Rachel back to reality.

It was a message from Cecilia.

[I heard that Tyler will be attending the charity auction tonight. Not sure if he'll actually go, though. I heard he rarely attends events like this. You'll have to take a chance.]

Rachel wasn't sure if Tyler would actually be there, but she had to go. Maybe she would get lucky.

She quickly typed a reply: [Thanks.]

As soon as she sent the message, William came back into the room after his phone call.

He crouched down in front of her, looking anxious. "Hey, I've got to meet a business partner, so I might not be able to have dinner with you. But I'll come back as soon as I can."

Rachel quickly replied, "Don't worry about it. You go ahead. We can eat together another time."

She was actually glad he wouldn't be around tonight. She wasn't sure how to turn him down if he insisted on taking her out.

William couldn't help but kiss her forehead. "You're the best. When I get back, I'll buy that bracelet you liked at the auction."

"Alright. Go ahead," Rachel replied, playing the part of the understanding wife.

She turned her head, avoiding his kiss. Just the thought of those hands, that mouth, having touched Samantha made her feel utterly disgusted.

William didn't notice that something was off with Rachel. She could see how he was almost about to float off the ground with excitement. She knew she didn't want this forced relationship anymore, and couldn't bring herself to care about a love that didn't feel real.

Once William left, Rachel quickly grabbed some clothes from the closet and put on light makeup before rushing out the door. When she arrived at the charity auction, she took out the invitation. The brand had invited Lewis Enterprise, so it wouldn't be too hard to get in.

Inside, she searched the room but couldn't find Tyler.

Instead, she saw two familiar faces—William and Samantha. Samantha was adjusting William's tie, looking at him with eyes full of affection.

Rachel couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. This was his idea of meeting a business partner?

But that wasn't the worst of it. What happened next left her stunned.

A staff member came over and handed William a beautiful red velvet box. Slowly, he opened it, took out a bracelet, and gently placed it on Samantha's wrist.

Rachel's heart skipped a beat, and her legs felt heavy as she stood frozen.

The bracelet meant so much to her—it was the first piece of jewelry she ever designed. Back when her mother couldn't afford treatment, Rachel had sold it. William had promised he would buy it back once it was up for auction.

But now, seeing this, she realized that his promises meant nothing. For a man, what he said one moment could mean nothing the next. He could be loving and caring, always saying he loved her, but then turn around and act the same way with another woman.

Rachel bit her lip hard, trying to steady her breathing. She didn't even notice the small trickle of blood from where her teeth pierced her skin.

She watched as Samantha smiled brightly and threw herself into William's arms.

"William, you're the best!"

Then, with worry-filled eyes, she added, "But if Rachel finds out, do you think she'll be upset?"