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?"

"It's fine. She's generous and not that petty. Think of it as a welcome gift from me. Rachel is really good at what she does. If you work with her, you'll learn a lot," William said, his voice full of concern for Samantha.

From a distance, Rachel overheard his words, and her heart sank.

Generous?

In William's eyes, she could give up everything—the project, her design work, even her mother's last wish. And now, she was even giving up her husband. She could feel the weight of her own humiliation, even without looking in the mirror.

"Rachel Lloyd, how did you end up like this?" she asked herself quietly.

Just then, a teasing voice interrupted her thoughts: "I wondered why you suddenly wanted to work with me. Turns out, your husband has found someone new."

Rachel jumped back in shock. Her heel slipped, making her lose her balance and start to fall backwards. Her mind raced, fearing the worst. But in the next moment, steady hands gripped her waist.

For a moment, she was relieved that Tyler at least seemed a bit compassionate. But then, she saw the mocking smile at the corner of his lips, and his hands suddenly left her waist.

Rachel couldn't believe it—he was playing with her.

In that split second, a burst of strength flowed through her. Just as she was about to hit the ground, she grabbed onto the edge of Tyler's suit jacket. His deep eyes showed a flicker of surprise before he reluctantly caught her again, pulling her back.

She stumbled into his hard, firm chest. Looking up with a frown, she was met with his intense, unreadable gaze.

"Are you trying to use me as a cushion?" he teased.

Rachel couldn't stand this man, especially after the way he had played with her. She pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance between them.

She couldn't admit it was intentional, so she muttered, "It was just a reflex. I'm sorry, Mr. Hunt."

If it weren't for him messing with her, this near-disaster wouldn't have happened.

Rachel clenched her fists, trying to stay calm. She still needed him for the Oasis Project. For now, he was like her only lifeline!

She took a deep breath, letting the tension leave her body, and forced a smile back onto her face. "Mr. Hunt, you must believe me now, right? I'm not a spy sent by Lewis Enterprise. I really want to work with you."

Tyler tucked his hands casually into his pockets as he lazily replied, "Who knows? Maybe you and your husband are just playing me."

Rachel pursed her lips tightly. This man had a trust issue the size of a mountain. She imagined any woman who married him might never even get a chance to talk to another man.

She smiled wider, trying to stay patient. "Why would I bother? Besides, we both know you could uncover the truth with one phone call. You've got that kind of reach."

Everyone at Nevalis University knew about Samantha and William's past relationship.

After a moment, Tyler spoke again, his tone reluctantly serious.

"If you're determined to work with us, let me make one thing clear. Once this project is under LS Enterprise, William will eventually find out about you. Once that gets out, it will cause a scandal for us at LS Enterprise. Who knows..."

He paused, leaning slightly closer to her. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.

"People might say you and I are in this together. Do you think you can handle that kind of accusation, Mrs. Lewis?"

Rachel stiffened, the weight of his words hitting her hard. She understood exactly what he was saying. If she pushed too hard now, she could burn everything down. But as long as she could finish the project before leaving, the gossip wouldn't matter.

Slowly, the tension in Rachel's face began to fade. She knew what she had to do.

"That's hardly your concern, Mr. Hunt. You're a businessman. As long as this project turns pure profit, nothing else should matter," she said.

She could tell Tyler wasn't the type to fear William's wrath. The man had an air of confidence that made him seem unafraid of anything or anyone.

With a faint smirk, he dropped his scrutinizing gaze and slumped back into his signature lazy posture.

"Hey," he called out to her.

Rachel looked up at him. "Yeah?"

His eyes moved past her, landing on the other side of the room. His voice took on a playful tone as he added, "Your husband seems to be staring right at us."

Rachel froze. She quickly turned her head, and sure enough, William was looking straight at her. The moment their eyes met, they both froze. William's face showed a flicker of surprise when he saw Rachel, but when his gaze landed on Tyler next to her, his expression darkened.

Samantha completely missed the odd look on William's face as she cheerfully came over to greet Rachel.

"Rachel, what a coincidence! If I had known you were coming, I wouldn't have joined William. Oh, but don't misunderstand. I just came along as a favor because he didn't have a plus-one."

Samantha seemed a little flustered as she gestured toward Rachel, her face turning pink as she nervously stole a glance at her. Her eyes showed signs of discomfort, and Rachel couldn't help but feel like some kind of a wicked stepmother, as if she had been deliberately bullying Samantha.

Just then, William seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

He walked over and took Rachel's hand. "I thought I told you to rest at home. Why did you come out on your own?"

For a moment, Rachel couldn't tell if he was concerned or blaming her. She kept her face neutral and said, "Remember I told you about the bracelet I designed for my graduation project? I heard it's being auctioned off today. Since you're busy with work, I decided to just take a cab and come."

When Samantha heard that, she instinctively tried to hide her wrist. However, Rachel's eyes landed on her wrist.

"Ms. Judd, how did you end up with that bracelet?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Samantha tried to hide it, but Rachel grabbed her wrist, revealing the soft blue bracelet to everyone.

Tyler had taken a seat when William and Samantha came over. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Rachel then looked directly at William, raising her voice as she said, "I get it now. You secretly bought it and wanted to surprise me, right?"

William was momentarily stunned, but then nodded along with her. "Yeah, I thought I'd swing by after my meeting and pick it up for you. That bracelet's been sitting around for so long, so I thought I'd have Samantha try it on for you."

Rachel smiled widely, her eyes sparkling. "I knew it! You really went through all that trouble, huh? But since I'm right here, I can try it on myself."

Samantha's face turned pale with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Though she was clearly fuming inside, she couldn't say anything. Rachel extended her hand, and Samantha reluctantly removed the bracelet and gave it to her.

Rachel put it on her wrist, making sure to flaunt it in front of William and Samantha. She shook her wrist slightly. "How does it look?"

"It looks great," William replied patiently, as he always did.

Then, Samantha suddenly spoke up, her voice soft and sweet as she asked, "Wait, isn't this man Mr. Hunt? How did you end up with him, Rachel? I thought our company wasn't working with LS Enterprise."