Seeing that Nolan showed no sign of forgiving her, Josie turned to me with pitiful eyes. "Morgan, could you help me explain to Mr. Spencer? I really didn't mean to. Anyway, you're out now. Let bygones be bygones. I'll definitely be more careful in the future!"

She was acting super humble, like it'd be the worst crime in the world if I didn't forgive her. I saw the same old tricks way too many times five years ago. Now, it didn't even bother me.

I didn't care about Nolan anymore, so naturally, I didn't care about the people around him either. "Hmm, I don't blame you. You're right, it's all in the past. There's no point dwelling on it now."

Nolan finally broke into a smile. "Morgan, I knew you wouldn't blame me. Josie, go sit beside her. I don't want her to misunderstand."

With Josie joining the table, he had to call the waiter to add more dishes. I listened as he rattled off a string of unfamiliar dishes, even thoughtfully reminding the waiter of Josie's dietary restrictions.

A flash of provocation flickered in Josie's eyes. "Miss Jackson, please don't overthink it. I was actually the one who introduced Mr. Spencer to this restaurant. We often eat here because of overtime and business dinners and after a while, he memorized my preferences."

The implication was that in the five years I was locked away, she and Nolan had shared too many special memories.

She expected me to react like before—to make a scene and confront Nolan. But this time, I only smiled. "It's only natural for a man to look after a woman, especially when you're his subordinate. It's his duty. Besides, he's given me hundreds of thousands in year-end bonuses before. This little thing is nothing."

Josie clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain her calmness. "You're right, Morgan. Mr. Spencer is a good man. Otherwise, I wouldn't have worked for him this long."

As if recalling something, she poured wine for me with a smile. "I heard life in there isn't easy. Some cliques bully newcomers. Morgan, you weren't bullied, were you?"

Nolan sat up straight, her face filled with worry.

"You really want me to be bullied?" I responded calmly.

Josie's smile froze. "How could you think that? I was just worried about you … "

She then continued, "I've seen news reports about the poor conditions in prison, how new inmates only get leftovers, get beaten if they don't do chores for the older ones and even that some women develop preferences for other women. If the other person refuses, they might get attacked in their sleep ... "

Realizing she'd misspoke, Josie smiled apologetically. "That's not what I meant. It's just that you're so pretty, Morgan. I was afraid someone would bully you."

I smirked. "Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, no one bullies me."

"Besides, those who had tried to bully me had already been taught a lesson by that person."

I didn't voice that last part because there was no need to tell these two.

Nolan finally let out a sigh of relief. "I was so afraid of bringing up bad memories that I never dared to ask. Thank goodness you're okay."

"What if something had happened?" I questioned.

That man reacted confidently. "Then I'd never forgive myself."

I smiled, tapping my fingers on the table. "Really? I had no idea. While I was suffering inside, you were worrying about me outside."

Just as Nolan was about to speak, Josie cut in. "That's right, Morgan. Mr. Spencer was in a terrible state these past five years and his insomnia was severe. He had to drink himself senseless every night to fall asleep. And strangely, when he was drunk, he would only let me pick him up and take him home."

"There were several times his call came in at three in the morning. Since Mr. Spencer's villa is in the suburbs and I couldn't get a cab, I had no choice but to spend the night at his place."

"He doesn't like hangover remedies either. He's so picky, he'll only drink honey water if I make it myself. Honestly, even taking care of a relative's child was never this troublesome …"

Fearing that I might misunderstand, Nolan quickly cut her off. "Morgan, do you remember this lake downstairs? I proposed to you here when my business succeeded."

I gazed at the snow-covered lake below, momentarily lost in thought. It turned out that so many years had already passed.

Six years ago, when his startup was beginning to show results, he proposed to me. It was also winter and during the first snowfall like this.

Because I loved watching Korean dramas, I would always whisper in his ear, "If a couple watches the first snow together, they'll never be separated for life. You science guy wouldn't understand romance! This is what passionate love looks like!"

Though said unintentionally, those words were etched into his mind.

The day he proposed, the lakeside was crowded with people taking pictures. I thought it was just an ordinary date until he pulled out the carefully chosen diamond ring from his pocket and knelt on one knee before me.

At that moment, I had my back to him, still trying to find the best angle for a photo. "Nolan, did you take it yet? Hurry up, it's so cold here."

The next second, a burst of applause and cheers erupted from the passersby behind us. "Marry him! Marry him!"

Turning around, I was caught off guard and met his eyes filled with love.

Suddenly, fireworks lit up the sky behind us, mingled with the first snowflakes falling.

From then on, love in my heart was defined by Nolan.

We married smoothly and I quit my job to become his devoted wife, focusing on caring for the family.

For a year, his startup kept him away constantly and he would come home late at night every night. I would wait and wait until I fell asleep on the sofa. But the next day, I would miraculously wake up in bed.

I knew there was no such thing as magic in the world. Still, I had my own magician, Nolan Spencer.

To ease his burden, I volunteered to join his company without pay.

That day, Josie had just graduated and joined the company at the same time as me. We were best friends who shared everything and she was the only person in the company who knew about my relationship with Nolan.

Everything changed at that business dinner.

That night, Josie, Nolan and I attended together. Then, a business partner jokingly teased him, saying that bosses and secretaries often have shady dealings.

Nolan laughed at that moment, but he didn't deny it.

When the partner tried to make Josie drink, he blocked it all, saying that the girl was allergic to alcohol and he would drink in her place. But when the other party turned their attention and asked me to drink, Nolan merely nodded.

I looked at him in disbelief, but he just said lightly, "I know you can drink, don't make things difficult for me."

After three rounds, my consciousness blurred and the business partner finally agreed to sign the contract.

Before leaving, the middle-aged man in the lead handed Nolan a room key. His eyes lewdly suggested that he could use this chance to hook up with Josie.

What completely broke me was that Nolan tacitly accepted the offer and took Josie into the elevator.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the long-term insecurity, that finally shattered me. I rushed into the elevator regardless of the consequences, demanding to know why Nolan had changed like this.

If he had chosen Josie, then what was I?

In that moment, Josie, who clearly wasn't drunk, pretended to faint and collapsed into his arms.

Nolan quickly pushed me away, saying, "Everyone does this. If I want to climb higher, I can't be the exception."

"They're still watching outside, Morgan, don't embarrass me."

I was pushed out of the elevator as Nolan shoved Josie's briefcase into my hands.

I waited in the lobby downstairs until dawn, but no explanation from him ever came. Instead, I got the news that the documents had been leaked.

As the only person who had handled the briefcase, I became the target of public condemnation.

My colleagues scorned me and business people in the industry disparaged me.

When Nolan and Josie finally emerged from the hotel, Josie turned to me, looking super disappointed and accusing me. "You're my best friend. Why would you do this to me? You knew this plan was something I'd worked on for half a year, so why did you leak it to a competitor?"

Nolan stood by, watching me being utterly humiliated by Josie.

My eyes reddened as I begged him to speak up for me and testify, but he coldly brushed me aside. "Just because I brought Josie into my room last night, you're taking revenge on us like this? Morgan, I've worked hard to get where I am today. Everything I've done was for our future! You've disappointed me so much!"

I could bear the accusations of others, but not those of Nolan. Burning with anger, I slapped him across the face.

"Is that how you see me? Nolan, we're husband and wife! I've been with you all this way, what reason do I have to harm you!" I yelled.

Nolan immediately retorted, "It's because you're jealous of Josie! It's because you've constantly sabotaged her at the company! Do you think I know nothing about it? Josie told me everything last night! You almost forced her to resign!"

In that moment, my world utterly collapsed. Nolan didn't spare me another glance and left the hotel with Josie.

I didn't go to the office because he had already announced my dismissal in the company chat group.

I naively thought that as long as the misunderstanding was cleared up, we could go back to the way things were. However, Nolan didn't come home that night. The only person who came was the lawyer he had hired.

The lawyer handed me two agreements: one was a confession, the other a divorce agreement.

He also relayed Nolan's message. "The company was at a critical stage for its public listing and it could not afford any scandals. If our marriage were exposed, all the company's efforts would be wasted."

I frantically called Nolan, bombarding him with messages. Yet no reply came and I suffered terribly all night.

At dawn, he finally replied. [Sign it. I promise we will remarry once you are out. Morgan, the truth no longer matters; what's important is the company's reputation.]

Right after that, Josie posted an update on her social media, flaunting that she had been with Nolan the night before and had stayed at the same hotel as last time.

Staring at the picture of Nolan's wedding ring removed from his finger, I knew we were finished.

I used to wonder why drama characters didn't just explain their misunderstandings. Only when I faced it myself did I understand how powerless words can be.

Some things weren't left unspoken because you didn't want to say them, but because you couldn't. And later, there's no point saying them anymore.

Luckily, I survived.

Now, I no longer hate and need him.

"Morgan, we started here before and this time, let's start again here."

Nolan's words pulled me back to reality. I pretended not to hear and just kept my head down, eating my meal.

"I have to say, food outside really does taste better than prison food. Miss Simmons has excellent taste."

Honestly, I couldn't taste anything during that meal. As soon as dinner was over, Nolan hurriedly used company business as an excuse to send Josie away.