Silas Grant and I are renowned in our social circle for being a loving couple. However, a month before our wedding, he calls everything off. He wants to marry the poor student that my parents have been sponsoring.

I demand an explanation. He says to me, "Vivian will have to marry that cripple if I don't marry her. You're the kindest person I know, Serena. I'm sure you can understand why I'm doing this."

"Fine, then," I say.

Silas leans down to kiss my cheek. He holds me happily and says, "I knew you'd agree to this. Don't worry, okay? I'll divorce her once this matter is settled."

I push him away lightly and wipe his saliva from my cheek. Then, I pull out an invitation from my pocket.

He takes it. His smile freezes when he sees the names on the invitation.

"Serena… What is this… supposed to mean?" Silas asked.

"It's all there on the wedding invitation."

I met Silas' gaze with an unreadable expression, offering no further explanation.

He turned the wedding invitation over in his hands, scanning it again and again, before letting out a cold chuckle. "Really, Serena? Is this your idea of a joke?

"You're quite the actress, huh? Choosing the same wedding date as mine and your groom is even... Levi Harrison, that cripple.

"I know you're still upset, but I've told you. I helped Vivian out of a difficult situation. Once everything is settled, I'll divorce her. Is it really so hard for you to understand?"

Before I could respond, a soft knock sounded at the door.

Vivian Turner stepped in with her eyes rimmed with red.

"Silas, maybe we should just forget about all this. It's fine… I can marry Levi. It's just that I…" She trailed off, and her face was etched with quiet sorrow.

Silas' gaze softened after seeing her pitiful expression. He stepped toward her, placed a comforting hand on her back, and comforted her with unbearably gentleness. "Don't say that. I told you I'd help you, and I will."

I had no interest in hearing how Silas was going to coax Vivian. I'd given him the wedding invitation—there was nothing else left to say. Besides, I had other business at the office.

Without another word, I stepped around them and headed for the door.

"Serena, where are you going?" Silas called after me.

I didn't answer.

Behind me, Vivian's soft, pitiful voice floated through the room, followed by Silas' low murmurs of reassurance.

He wasn't going to come after me.

Even though I had already made up my mind to let him go, the reality of it still left a dull ache in my chest.

Silas and I had known each other since childhood. We grew up side by side, and our friendship naturally evolved into something more. Our families were close, so our parents started planning our wedding when we reached adulthood.

But Silas was ambitious. For the past few years, he had used work as an excuse to postpone the wedding, claiming the company needed his full attention.

At first, I supported him wholeheartedly. I even put my own family's business on hold to help him build his.

Everyone envied us. To outsiders, we were the golden couple—the perfect match.

Then, Vivian came along.

She was a struggling student my parents had sponsored. Years ago, they nearly hit her with their car on the way to the airport. They later found out she came from a difficult background, saw how hardworking she was, and decided to help her financially.

Never did they expect to raise a snake in their own home.

After college, she joined Grant Group.

At first, Vivian and Silas had no real interaction. But one day, while Silas was visiting my house, Vivian happened to show up to borrow money from my parents, claiming her father had fallen gravely ill.

Silas barely hesitated before handing her the cash himself. And after that, he made her his secretary.

As time passed, I noticed their interactions had become increasingly intimate. They even started spending time together without me.

Not too long ago, Grant Group held an annual gala. Back then, Vivian was practically glued to Silas' side, laughing at something he said.

I stepped forward and lowered my voice. "We're engaged. If people see you two acting this close, they'll talk. How is she supposed to find a proper boyfriend afterward?"

Before Silas could respond, Vivian turned to me with wide, wounded eyes. "Serena, I know you're Silas' fiancée, but… I'm his secretary.

"If we happen to stand a little closer sometimes, it's nothing but pure friendship. How could you assume something so… dirty about us?"

Pure friendship? Anyone with eyes could see what she was after.

But instead of distancing himself, Silas' expression darkened. "Serena, must you always think the worst? Do you have any idea how hard Vivian has worked?

"She's new to the company, just got promoted, and is already facing backlash. I was only offering a little comfort—why do you have such a problem with that?"

He shot me a displeased look. "If it weren't for our parents arranging this engagement, do you really think I would have chosen to marry you?"

I stood frozen as he turned and walked away with Vivian right beside him.

And in that moment, I knew. Everything had changed.

The whispered promises he once made to me were gone, and the tenderness in his eyes no longer belonged to me.

I heard murmurs from the other guests.

"Isn't Mr. Grant supposed to be marrying Ms. Walker? What's he doing with that secretary?"

"Can't you tell? Ms. Walker has a terrible temper—who could stand that? That secretary, on the other hand, is soft, sweet, and easy to be around."

"But their engagement is public knowledge, right? The Walker family even promised to throw in an entire subsidiary as part of the wedding gifts."

"If Mr. Grant backs out, the Walker family will lose their dignity."

Even strangers could see what was happening. And so, I wasn't convinced that Silas couldn't.

The truth was simple. He just didn't love me anymore.

And that was fine.

…

I dropped my resignation letter at HR and headed for the elevator. As I passed the emergency exit, hushed voices drifted from behind the door.

Through the small glass window, I saw Vivian leaning into Silas with her eyes filled with adoration.

And Silas… He wasn't exactly pushing her away.

She lifted her face and parted her lips. In an instant, Silas' gaze flickered.

For a moment, it seemed like he still had a sliver of restraint—he pressed his hands to her shoulders. "Vivian, we can't do this. We—"

Before he could finish, Vivian closed the distance, pressing her lips to his.

At first, he resisted. But then, slowly, he began to kiss her back.

Like a starving man, he took her in, pulling her closer as if she were the air he needed to breathe.

"Silas, I'm sorry… I just can't help myself. I love you too much. I only regret not meeting you sooner."

"Vivian, I…"

I didn't need to hear the rest.

I glanced down at the ring on my finger—the one Silas had made himself when he proposed at 18 years old.

It meant nothing now. After slipping it off, I tossed it into the trash can by the elevator.

The elevator doors slid open, and the moment I turned around, I locked eyes with Silas.

His gaze was burning with anger. "Serena, did you just hand in your resignation?"

I barely spared him a glance before pressing the button to close the doors.

Silas shoved his way in before they could shut completely. "You know the company is in a critical growth phase, and we're nearing the end of the year. Where am I supposed to find someone to replace you now?"

"You have Vivian, don't you?"

He'd sung her praises more times than I could count, saying how competent and reliable she was. Well, now was the perfect chance for me to back off.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face before he finally spoke, "Vivian's good, but the company still needs you.

"Are you still mad? Serena, I've told you—marrying her was just to keep up appearances for her parents. I promise I'll divorce her once everything's settled."

I'd heard of this exhausting excuse too many times to count.

Just then, the elevator arrived at the underground parking lot. I stepped out without hesitation and quickened my pace.

Silas was right behind me, but I reached my car first. I yanked the door open, slid inside, and peeled out of the lot before he could get any closer.

His voice echoed after me, "Serena, you think you can just walk away?

"How dare you treat me like this? Do you really believe the Walker family will keep thriving without me?"

For years, Mom and Dad had poured everything into the company, but time had worn them down. The business had been slipping, and Silas had used that to step all over me.

He must have forgotten—if I hadn't joined Grant Group back then, I would have taken over Walker Group instead.

Grant Group had been on the verge of collapse before I came in and turned things around.

…

After I took over my family business, my schedule became suffocating. I barely had time to deal with Silas until a high-society gathering.

I rarely attended such events, but I'd just taken over Walker Group and needed to expand my network. So, I went.

And of course, I ran into Silas and Vivian.

While Silas was busy charming the elite, Vivian made a beeline for me. "Serena, so what if you and Silas were childhood sweethearts? In the end, I am the one he will marry."

Then, with a glass in hand, she "accidentally" bumped into me, sending red wine cascading down her dress.

As the glass shattered, Silas appeared right on cue. His touch was gentle as he brushed shards of glass off her.

Vivian stole a glance at me, but her eyes glistened with faux innocence. "Silas, don't be mad at Serena. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Silas glared at me. "Serena, enough is enough! Are you really still playing these childish games? You think you could actually win me back with such petty schemes?"

"Listen to me—lay a hand on Vivian again, and I won't care about the history between our families."

I cast an amused glance at Silas before taking a slow step toward Vivian.

My eyes locked onto his as I said, "Lay a hand on her? Watch closely. This is what that looks like!"

Then, without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

"Got a good look? Consider that my wedding gift to you both—may you two have a long, sweet life together."

Silas stood there, frozen. He didn't even react as I walked away.

…

The next morning, I headed straight for the most exclusive bridal boutique in Brightchester.

Silas had always been too busy to shop for wedding necessities, so I had handled everything myself. To save Silas from embarrassment, I had gone as far as commissioning a custom tiara, inspired by vintage royal designs.

And since I loved historical fashion, I had also designed a bespoke wedding gown with intricate embroidery.

But now that the wedding was off, it was only right to take them back.

But when I arrived, the boutique owner looked uneasy. "Mr. Grant already picked up the tiara and the wedding gown.

"He brought the appointment slip, and we assumed you were too busy, so we let him take them…"

Silas had chosen that moment to take the wedding gown? His message couldn't be clearer.

The gown, I could let go. But the tiara?

No. It was embedded with a rare aquamarine gemstone—a priceless Walker family heirloom.

I dialed Silas, but all I got was a thinly veiled threat.

"You want the tiara back? Sure.

"But… your parents just started a project with Grant Group, didn't they? I heard there's been a little… problem."

A threat, huh? I let out a cold snort.

Silas' tone softened as he said, "Serena, it's just a tiara. You can always get another one when we get married. Let Vivian have this one—I just want her to have a little dignity."

For the first time, I actually laughed. Not out of amusement, but of disbelief.

I didn't reply, and Silas took my silence as an invitation to keep talking.

"Serena, the wedding between Vivian and me is coming up soon. If you'd like to attend—"

"That won't be necessary," I cut in coldly. "I won't have the time."

Silas was confused. "Busy with what?"

"My parents are arranging my marriage," I said calmly.

"Oh…yeah, yeah, this is for the best. Otherwise, it would be awkward when we hold our wedding in the future. Serena, you always think ahead. Alright. I'll adjust the wedding plans accordingly."

And with that, he hung up.

I didn't bother explaining. Right now, I have only one goal. I had to get back the aquamarine gemstone from the tiara. But I will let the professionals handle it instead.

…

Silas and I were set to have the wedding ceremony on the same day. That morning, hundreds of luxury cars departed in unison, making their way to my home to escort me.

Our route just so happened to pass by the hotel where Silas and Vivian's wedding was being held.

Through the tinted glass, I spotted Vivian stepping out of her bridal car, dressed in my custom gown and wearing my tiara that had my family's heirloom—the aquamarine gemstone—glinting under the morning sun.

She beamed, clinging to Silas's arm as she soaked in the envious gazes of the crowd.

But soon, their smiles froze.