“I’d heard rumors that Mr. Quinn had a mysterious girlfriend, but I didn’t think they were true!”

“They absolutely are! Back when Mr. Quinn was negotiating a contract with StarTech, he was about to close the deal. Then his mysterious girlfriend called, and he immediately gave up two percentage points to the other party and signed the contract on the spot.

“If it had been for something urgent, it would’ve made sense, but she just wanted him to come home and watch a horror movie with her.”

“Wow, Mr. Quinn spoils her that much? No wonder the bonuses for that huge deal were so small.”

As their voices faded, I loosened my grip on the phone.

Suddenly, I remembered that day when Zac and I first got together. We had planned to see a movie.

But even after the credits rolled, he never showed up. Calls went unanswered.

I waited in the theater until nightfall before he finally sent me a single text. “There was a meeting at work I couldn’t get out of.”

Five minutes later, another message followed. “I don’t like movies. Don’t plan time-wasting activities like this again.”

So, it wasn’t that watching movies was a waste of time—it was watching them with me that was.

“Ding, ding.”

My phone suddenly rang. It was Zac.

My tense expression softened slightly as I answered.

“Take care of today’s incident with PR,” he said. “I don’t want this affecting Jenna.”

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Sensing my silence, Zac asked, “Did you handle the guests?”

“Yes,” I replied quietly.

Hearing this, Zac briefly reminded me to head home early before hanging up.

Staring at my now-dark phone screen, a thought crept into my mind.

“You don’t have to marry someone your parents approve of, but you should never marry someone they don’t.”

There were plenty of people eager to watch the drama surrounding the Quinn family, and even more hoping to take advantage of the situation.

By the time everything was dealt with, two days had passed.

As I stepped out of the office, I received a message from Zac asking me to meet him at the hospital.

The VIP suite was on the sixth floor. When I reached it, I was stopped by security.

“The sixth floor is a private area reserved for the Quinn family. No entry allowed.”

“I’m Zac Quinn’s fiancée. I’m here to see him,” I replied.

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before saying, “Please wait,” and disappeared inside.

A moment later, the bodyguard returned and stepped aside. “Mr. Quinn said you may go in, but please keep quiet—Miss Quinn is resting.”

Inside the room, Zac, as composed and handsome as ever, leaned against the bed, casually flipping through a book. His arm was gently cradled by Jenna as she lay curled up on the bed. Sunlight streamed in at an angle, bathing the two of them in a soft, golden glow.

The scene was so serene and picture-perfect, it felt almost wrong to intrude.

“Nina.”

Zac glanced over at me, his brows furrowing slightly as our eyes met. He gave his arm a small tug, but when it didn’t budge, he lowered his voice and said, “Why did you come looking like this? It’s your first formal meeting with Jenna. You could’ve at least taken the time to tidy yourself up.”

Before I could respond, the girl at his side stirred with a soft whimper and slowly woke up.

Zac immediately lowered his head to check on her, his expression filled with concern. “Jenna, did we wake you?”

Jenna rubbed her eyes, her tone filled with mock annoyance. “Uncle Zac, you know how lightly I sleep, yet you let someone come in and disturb me.”

Zac coaxed her gently, his demeanor so tender that it caught me off guard.

The Zac Quinn I knew was always calm and composed, treating everything with an air of detachment. Even when it came to matters of romance, he rarely revealed much emotion.

After Zac spent some time coaxing her, Jenna finally shifted her gaze to me. “So, she’s going to be my future aunt? Uncle Zac, don’t tell me you’re still stuck on those outdated ideas about marrying a woman for her virtues. It’s the 21st century. How can you be so old-fashioned?”

Hearing yet another jab about my appearance, I instinctively glanced to the side.

In the reflection of the glass door, I saw myself—bloodshot eyes and an exhausted, haggard face.

No wonder Zac had made that comment earlier.

I forced a faint smile and stepped into the room. “I just came from the office. Everything’s nearly wrapped up. All that’s left is for Miss Quinn to release a clarification video.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Jenna buried her face in Zac’s chest and started sobbing softly.

The speed of her shifting her demeanor was nothing short of astonishing.

Zac held Jenna protectively and turned to me with a cold expression. “Jenna only has me, while you have so many people who love you. Why must you target her?

“I asked you to suppress the trending topic because I didn’t want this to affect Jenna. And this is how you handle it?

“Nina, it’s hard for me not to question your professional competence.”

Zac’s voice grew colder, his gaze turning icier with each word.

Right on cue, Jenna shifted subtly, tilting her pale, slender neck as she spoke in a soft, nasal tone. “It’s all my fault, Uncle Zac. Don’t be upset. I’m willing to do anything for you.”

Her delicate neck was fully exposed, and if I hadn’t noticed the Angel’s Tear necklace she was wearing, I might as well have been blind.

While Zac reassured her that she would never have to make a public statement, he glanced at me with clear displeasure.

Perhaps noticing my gaze lingering on Jenna’s neck, Zac followed my line of sight. His expression grew a bit uneasy.

He pulled the blanket higher over Jenna and cleared his throat. “It’s just a necklace. I’ll get you a new one at the next auction.”

I pressed my lips together but said nothing.

He knew full well that I had adored that necklace for ages, yet he gave it to someone else.

And now, he had the audacity to criticize me.

Sensing the tension, Jenna reached up to remove the necklace, her face apologetic. “I didn’t know this was something Uncle Zac bought for Aunt Nina. I’m sorry. I’ll give it back to her right away.”

Zac grabbed her wrist and frowned deeply. “It’s yours now. She’s your aunt. She’s not the type to fight over a necklace with you.”

At this point, if I insisted, I would only make myself look petty.

“If you like it, then keep it,” I said flatly.

Without another word, I turned and left, not bothering to say goodbye as I walked out.

When I returned to the apartment, I fell into a deep sleep.

Finally, I felt like myself again.

That evening, Zac knocked on the door of my apartment.

Standing outside, he pressed his lips together slightly. When he saw me in my pajamas, looking like I had just woken up, he said, “You’ve worked hard these past two days.”

Hearing that, I thought he had come to apologize, and some of the frustration I had been holding onto eased a little.

Before I could respond, another figure appeared from behind him, clinging tightly to his arm. She looked at me with a hint of provocation in her eyes. “Hello, Aunt Nina.”

I didn’t reply, but Zac spoke up, explaining, “There are too many paparazzi around these days. Jenna’s health is still fragile. You’re her future aunt, so I feel comfortable leaving her here with you.”

He said it so matter-of-factly, as if the unpleasantness before hadn’t even registered with him.

I let my face harden. “She’s not welcome here.”

“Aunt Nina, it was all my fault before,” Jenna interjected, her voice soft and syrupy. “I was just so worried someone might trick Uncle Zac, and I overreacted because of my condition…”

Before she could finish her insincere apology, Zac stepped in protectively.

“Nina, I bought this apartment, so I have every right to let Jenna stay here. And it’s not just this place—if, after we’re married, she wants the master bedroom in the Quinn estate, you’ll have to give it up for her.”

I froze, my breath catching. I never thought I would live to hear someone say something like this to me.

When I first set my eyes on this apartment and planned to buy it, Zac used his connections to purchase it ahead of me, claiming it was a gift.

To repay the favor, I even went out of my way to have my best friend secure a major deal with Quinn Corporation.

I stayed silent, no longer trying to stop Zac from letting Jenna move into my home.

Jenna wandered through the apartment, looking around before sweetly suggesting she take my bedroom.

She claimed that room had the best sunlight and said she wanted to wake up each morning bathed in the first rays of light.

Zac patted her head affectionately. “Whatever makes you comfortable. Nina, go tidy up the room for her.”

Jenna sat cautiously on the sofa, her expression timid. “Aunt Nina, it’s all my fault for causing you trouble. Maybe I should just go back abroad.”

Zac couldn’t hold it in any longer, his voice rising. “Nina! Can you stop being so selfish? Jenna just recovered from her illness, and you’re giving her attitude!

“The house you live in, the job you go to—everything you have is because of me. What right do you have to throw a tantrum here?”

I froze in place.

Up until now, I had only felt anger over everything that had happened, but his words brought a sudden and chilling clarity.

So, in Zac’s mind, I was nothing more than a woman dependent on him, someone who couldn’t accomplish anything without him.

But was it really just Zac’s influence that earned me the position of Director of Public Relations at Quinn Corporation?

Over the past three years, Quinn Corporation’s reputation had steadily improved, thanks to my efforts. I had single-handedly resolved several major PR crises. At one point, Zac’s competitors even offered me triple my salary to lure me away. It wasn’t until he publicly announced our engagement that the poaching attempts finally stopped.

And now, according to him, all my accomplishments amounted to nothing. I had been reduced to nothing more than a clinging, parasitic woman who relied entirely on him.

Heartbroken and exhausted, I turned to pack my belongings. “Since this is your place, I’ll leave.”

Zac’s expression changed, and he instinctively moved to follow me, perhaps to explain himself. Jenna quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Uncle Zac, I’ll talk to Aunt Nina. We’re both women, and it’ll be easier for us to have a heart-to-heart. What you just said wasn’t really how you feel.”

Hearing this, Zac hesitated, then relaxed and sank back onto the sofa. “Thank you, Jenna.”

Jenna immediately followed me into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Seeing me take a few expensive coats from the wardrobe and fold them into my suitcase, she walked over and yanked them out, throwing them onto the floor.

Lowering her voice, she hissed, “Everything you own was bought with my uncle’s money. Do you think you could afford coats like these on your own? Don’t even think about keeping what isn’t yours. Women like you, gold diggers dreaming of marrying into wealth, I’ve seen plenty of them!”

With that, she stomped her foot on a pristine white coat.

I glanced at the coat on the floor. It was indeed a gift from Zac.

We had attended an auction together, and when he noticed my dress was too thin for the cold, he picked out the coat to match my gown.

Now, the once-pristine white fabric bore an ugly black footprint—a perfect reflection of what my relationship with Zac had become.

I shoved Jenna aside, packed the rest of my belongings into my suitcase, and turned to leave.

“Ah—!” Jenna let out a sharp cry.

Zac rushed in immediately, panic etched across his face. “Jenna, are you okay?”

I stood by the door, watching Jenna’s clumsy performance as she threw herself to the floor.

“Uncle Zac, I tried to reason with Aunt Nina, but…” Jenna whimpered, tears glistening in her eyes.

Zac helped her up, his face red with fury. “Nina, you’re absolutely vicious!”

I let out a cold laugh. “Jenna, using such cheap tricks on your uncle? Anyone who didn’t know better might think you’re in love with him.”

With that, I turned and walked away, missing the way their faces changed in unison.

It was meant as a jab at Jenna, but as it turned out, my words hit closer to the truth than I had realized.

Sitting in the back of a cab, I glanced at my phone, only to see an image of Zac and Jenna passionately kissing.

I had always chalked up Zac’s affection for Jenna to familial love. Never had it occurred to me that their relationship could be something more.

When I had bought the apartment, I installed surveillance cameras—not for spying, but for safety. I never expected to uncover such a shocking scene.

No wonder Jenna had reacted so strongly to Zac’s engagement. She had gone so far as to drag the Quinn family into a scandal.

Whether her goal was to push me out of the picture, stake her claim, or simply disgust me, she had miscalculated.

The footage showed them retreating into the bedroom. Not long after, a text from Zac popped up on my phone. “Be back in thirty minutes, or don’t bother showing your face again.”

So now he was threatening me with my job and our engagement?

I sneered and replied. “That was quick. Do your dead parents know you’re harboring feelings for your niece? You two are perfect for each other! Just don’t drag anyone else down with you.”

Hitting send, I turned off my phone without hesitation and headed straight to finalize my family’s marriage alliance.

When I returned to my parents’ house, the first thing I saw was my father’s stern expression.

Clearing my throat, I dragged my suitcase toward the stairs.

“Well, look who’s here! You finally decided to come home?”

I stepped forward and firmly took my father’s hand. “Dad, I’ve thought it over, and you’re absolutely right. A marriage alliance between the Walker and Mason families is the smartest move. Only by marrying the Mason family heir can we elevate our family to the next level.”

Yes, my family had an arranged marriage agreement with the Mason family, a pact made during my grandfather’s generation.