"Josie, are you crazy? Are you really breaking up with Winston? You took care of him for seven years after his parents passed away. You even dropped out of school to work and support him. If you break up now, everything you've done will be for nothing."

Of course, Josie knew that. Nevertheless, she managed a sour smile as she recalled what she had heard the previous evening.

Last night, Winston had just returned from studying abroad. After three years apart, they had eagerly embraced in a hotel room. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tightly into his chest. She hadn't been intimated for so long that even the slightest touch left her weak. "Winston, hurry up, I ... I can't take it anymore."

Sadly, Winston kissed her without moving forward. It wasn't until she clung to his neck in frustration that he sighed and pulled out something cold and metallic. "Josie, let's try something different. I am not in the mood today."

Consumed by desire, Josie didn't think much about it and nodded absentmindedly. Yet something about it felt off. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach that peak. Strangely, Winston also seemed distracted.

Then, suddenly, the sharp ring of a phone cut through the silence. Winston stiffened, immediately letting go of her and answering the call. The phone was close, so Josie could hear the sweet, delicate voice on the other end. "Winston, I just arrived at your parent's house. Don't worry, they like me a lot. Your mother even made a carrot cake, the ones you used to love as a kid."

Josie's heart dropped. The woman spoke in a foreign language but instantly recognized the voice. It was Zelda, the only daughter of the Lorraine Family, who had once caused Winston's parents' death and absconded with all their money. Because of her, Winston's family was ruined.

If Josie hadn't taken him in, he would have starved to death on the streets. She had given up everything for him—her education, her future. Josie worked tirelessly to pay for his schooling, working three jobs daily to fund his studies abroad. She drank until her stomach bled at business banquets and she never once complained.

Josie's mind went blank momentarily now and her body grew cold. Winston's parents weren't dead after all and they were living with Zelda, the daughter of their enemy.

"That's good. I just met that old woman. She won't agree to a breakup, so I'll have to marry her. Don't worry. The moment we get the marriage certificate, I'll head straight back to France. I won't touch her. You're the only one in my heart."

Zelda feigned panic. "Winston, am I interrupting? Will your fiancée be mad if she hears us talking?"

Winston remained calm. "She barely finished high school before dropping out. How could she understand French? A woman like her should be grateful I'm even willing to marry her. It's the least I can do to repay her for raising me."

They continued chatting, oblivious to the devastation in Josie's heart. Every word was another knife cutting deeper and deeper. In Winston's eyes, she was stingy, cheap, petty, not presentable and was only a few years older than him but acted like an old lady.

Each insult pierced Josie's heart like a needle, tearing at the wounds already numbed by her years of hard work. She had sacrificed everything to support Winston, forcing herself to live frugally and neglecting her appearance because she was too busy working. She had even dropped out of a high school for him, even though her grades were nearly as good as his. She had given up everything for Winston, which was how he repaid her.

Finally, Winston ended the call with one last sentence. "She's probably just desperate because she's getting older. She kept begging me to sleep with her. Honestly, who knows how many men she's been with while I was away? I'm scared I'll catch something if I touch her. So, Zelda, don't feel guilty. You're not a homewrecker."

When the call ended, Winston lingered momentarily before finally noticing how stiff Josie's body had become. He suppressed the smile creeping onto his face since the phone call and cleared his throat. "I forgot to submit an important document. My professor asked a classmate to get it from me, so we chatted for a bit. Do you want to continue?"

Josie silently shook her head, picked up her clothes and numbly walked towards the bathroom. The water washed over the places Winston had touched and the earlier intimacy seemed like a joke. Josie couldn't hold back her tears, letting them flow freely.

By the time Josie had composed herself, Winston had already left without even giving her a chance to break up with him. So, Josie called her boss. "Janice, I'm not marrying Winston. Give me three months to raise the money and I'll accept the closed-door training in Scotland."

Janice was Josie's mentor and one of her few friends. Initially, Janice strongly recommended that Josie pursue further studies. Upon completion, she would join the new company in Scotland, with the potential to lead it if she excelled. However, Josie initially declined to focus on marrying Winston and building their life together.

Janice didn't push further after learning that Winston was her fiancé. It was also through Janice that she discovered Winston had been building his own company abroad and was now a rising star in the business world. "Listen to me. No matter what he does outside, just get married first. Love is fleeting, but money in hand is real security."

Josie blinked, holding back her tears. "I can earn money on my own. These past years, let's just call it repaying the debt I owed his uncle for supporting me back then. From now on, I should start living for myself."

After hanging up the call, she noticed a new friend request on social media. The profile picture was a photo of Zelda and Winston together. Josie took a deep breath and blocked the account. Shortly after, a barrage of messages came from Winston's account. There were photos of their wedding shoot overseas and snapshots of the ceremony itself.

"Blocking me won't work, you know. Winston's account is basically mine too. We grew up together. You won't be able to take advantage of a moment of weakness. Even if I made mistakes before, Winston will always forgive me."

Josie repeatedly looked through the photos of Winston's gentle eyes and his heartfelt smile when facing Zelda. She had supported him for seven years and dated him for four, but she had never seen him look so at ease.

She inhaled deeply before typing a single sentence. "Please tell Winston, I agree to break up." Then, she blocked this account, too.

Winston said Zelda wasn't a homewrecker, but they were already married. There was no point in talking to Winston anymore. It was time to end it. She didn't bother to ask why Winston's parents had abandoned him as a child, only to return to his life after so many years. After all, even Winston didn't care and had reconciled with them.

Her rented apartment was sparse, most of the belongings left over from Winston's school days. She had kept them all these years, taking them out to look at whenever she missed him. Now, there was no need to keep them. When she went downstairs to throw them out, Winston suddenly appeared. He frowned and asked flatly, "Have you found out?"

Josie met his gaze calmly and nodded. "Let's break up. I won't make a scene."

Winston sighed. "You know what Zelda is like. She's always been this way. I told you I'd give you a proper title. I won't go back on my word. Zelda has already been through so much. Can't you just let her vent her frustration?"

Josie repeated, "Let's break up."

Winston knocked everything from her hands to the floor with a loud bang. "Josie, don't push your luck. Do you really think acting like this will make me feel bad for you? Make me take your side? Look in the mirror. You're not a teenager anymore. When Zelda throws a tantrum, it's cute. When you do it, it's just pathetic."

Then, his gaze drifted to the scattered items on the ground. His old water cup and favorite magazines. His study materials include a diary.

Winston paused, then smiled at Josie. "Josie, you've been holding onto my things from seven years ago. Break up? You don't even believe it, do you?"

Josie didn't argue. After all, he could be so confident because she had spoiled him for so many years. If someone had told her before that she would be the one to initiate the breakup, even she wouldn't have believed it.

Winston gently placed a hand on her shoulder, speaking coaxingly. "Don't be stubborn. The photos Zelda sent were just from a drama club performance. We didn't actually get married. Just wait a little longer and I'll make it official with you."

Just as Winston reached for Josie's hand to go upstairs, his phone rang. Winston paused, his lips pressed into a thin curvy line. "Zelda took a long flight to see me. She doesn't know anyone here. I have to pick her up." After that, Winston answered the phone and left without hesitation.

Josie stared in Winston's left direction, momentarily lost in thought. Then, just like every time before, she started cleaning up the mess he left behind when he was in a bad mood. Only this time, she bid farewell to her seven years of devotion.

There was still a lot to do before she entered closed-off training. She didn't have time to wallow in emotions. The medical expenses for Winston's uncle alone would be huge in the coming months.

Seven years ago, an accident had turned Thomas Carter, the man who had once sponsored her education and brought her out of the mountains, into a vegetative state.

Josie had taken on the weight of his medical expenditures for all these years, as well as the living and school expenses of Winston, the only surviving member of the Carters. Now, she no longer had to care for Winston, but she couldn't abandon Thomas.

She had promised Janice three months. So, she had to gather the money before then. Josie calmly threw out four boxes of things belonging to Winston from the past seven years. After packing her belongings, she got ready for a business meeting.

Her business partner, this time, was a notorious playboy and the meeting place was a bar. Before she even stepped inside, she heard a familiar voice. "George, hurry up and take a picture of me and Winston!"

A man's indulgent voice followed. "What? Aren't my pictures good enough?"

Zelda playfully pouted and lightly punched him. "That was a selfie. I need one taken by you to post on my social media."

Josie paused for only a second before politely knocking on the door. The room fell silent. Every gaze turned toward her.

"Well, well, isn't this Winston's long-time girlfriend? Four years together and still not broken up. How enviable." George raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. Laughter erupted around the room.

Winston's face darkened, shifting from pale to red. He grabbed Josie and dragged her outside. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to bother me when I'm meeting with friends?"

Josie freed her hand, maintaining a professional smile as she handed George a drink. "Mr. George, nice to meet you. I'm Josie Yaeger from Clarion Biotech. I'd like to discuss a business collaboration with you."

George gave Josie a meaningful look before turning his attention to Zelda, leaning against the sofa in a strapless dress. "Oh, so you're here for business? I thought you were just jealous of Zelda and came to cause trouble for Winston."

Right on cue, Zelda let a few tears slip down her cheeks. "Please don't be mad, my sister-in-law. I was just joking yesterday. Who knew you'd take it seriously. Our group always jokes around like this. You wouldn't know since you never join our gatherings."

Josie froze momentarily before instinctively asking, "You … have these gatherings often?"

"Of course! Winston and I come back here once a month. If we don't, won't our bond fade?" Zelda leaned over and clung to Winston's arm, looking smugly at Josie.

A cold smile tugged at Josie's lips and the cracks in her already broken heart widened. So, that's how it was. Their bond had already faded long ago.

Winston had told her he was too busy with his studies abroad and they barely saw each other or even spoke on the phone for three years. He came to this place less than two kilometers away from her every month but was too lazy to send her a message.

Winston didn't notice the abnormality of her expression but felt extremely embarrassed. "Don't call her sister-in-law!" It would be a disgrace to take out such an older woman. It felt like a public slap in the face to call her sister-in-law.

Winston's face was burning. He interrupted the conversation of several people coldly. He handed over a glass of 60-degree liquor as if he had never met Josie. "So, you're here for a business deal, huh? Showing up this late, how insincere."

He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and gritted with resentment. "I already promised to marry you. Yet, you still had to come here and stake your claim. This is the price you pay for being so shameless."

After that, he poured several more glasses and lined them up. "Either drink them all, or get the hell out."