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."

Josie looked at Winston and the cups of vodka in front of her, but the more immature face emerged in her mind. Four years ago, Josie was humiliated by others at social events like today. It was her first time drinking so much hard liquor and she drank until she vomited blood to secure the deal.

Winston, who had no one else to depend on, cried as he took her to the hospital. He called her foolish and asked why she let people push her around like that. Because she had no money to be hospitalized, she ignored the doctor's advice, took medicine and returned home.

That night, they lay together on a cramped bed, relying on each other to get through life. It was also the first time Winston kissed her. He had said, "Josie, when I grow up and make something of myself, I'll never let you suffer like this again. I won't let anyone bully you."

Winston fashioned a ring from the corner of an exam paper, placed it on her finger and promised to marry her in style one day, declaring to the world that they would be together forever. Winston indeed had grown up and become successful, as he said.

Yet, he had also become one of those who bullied her. Like a shadowy rat in a sewer, their relationship couldn't bear the light of day.

Josie concentrated on picking up a glass of wine and drank it without hesitation. She drank mechanically, one after another as if she had been polished into an unfeeling machine over the years. At this point, even blood could be swallowed along with the alcohol.

She finished the last glass, placed the empty cup in front of George and forced a smile despite the overwhelming nausea threatening to overtake her. "Mr. George, it's getting late. Let's get down to business."

George crossed his arms and looked at her with newfound admiration. "What a ruthless woman. No need to look at the contract. I'll sign it directly."

Josie smiled readily. "Mr. George is indeed decisive. Clarion will not disappoint." The smile softened her stern features, making her somewhat radiant.

As George signed the contract, he glanced at Winston with a grin. "Winston, you sure have good taste, but you're a bit heartless. If you're not careful, your future wife might just run away one day and you'll have nowhere to cry."

Winston frowned. Even though Josie's actions had earned him some face, he didn't feel as pleased as expected. Just as he was about to say something to assert his absolute claim over her, Josie swayed, coughed up blood and collapsed.

Winston was shocked and was about to take it but was preempted by George, who was closer. "What are you doing? Send her to the hospital! What if she dies?"

The room was in chaos. Winston is furious when he looks at Josie, who George was holding. He was about to rush over to grab Josie, but Zelda screamed in fear. "I got cut by a shard of glass! It hurts!"

Winston hurriedly took Zelda's arm, noticing a small cut on her fair skin. Blood was seeping out. He looked at her anxiously. "Is it serious? I'll take you to the hospital."

Zelda's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at him pitifully. "I'm fine. You should check on Josie first."

Winston clenched his fists as the scene from earlier replayed in his mind. His voice turned cold. "She's already past her prime, yet she still knows how to seduce people. I told you before, that her private life is a mess. And now, seeing it for myself, I know I was right. A woman like that isn't worth my concern."

He thought of how he had forced Josie to drink, how George had joked about her running away and suddenly, a deep sense of unease crept into his heart. Would Josie really leave him?