As I head to see my boyfriend, Howard Schultz, who is working late, I get into a car accident. I call him dozens of times for help, but he doesn't answer a single one. Staring at his brightly lit office building not far away, I sink into despair.

When I wake up in the hospital, I see a post from his subordinate. It's a picture showing the reflection of the two of them in the glass door, standing far closer than they should, with the caption, "What do I do when my boss is scolding me late at night?"

Unwilling to believe it, I call him again. This time, he finally answers.

My voice trembles. "Howard, I got into a car accident…"

"Celine, I'm still working. I'll send my assistant to take care of it, okay? Be good. I'll see you after I come back from my business trip."

I try to say more, but his angry shout suddenly cuts through the line. "Crystal Jennings! You're only allowed to bring one suitcase for this trip. Why do you have three? Do you think we're going on vacation?"

Crystal Jennings—the new intern Howard just hired.

I stare at the disconnected call, tears drying on my cheeks.

I then call my parents instead. "I agree to the engagement you arranged."

My boyfriend, Howard Schultz, poured all his time and energy into that troublesome new intern of his, Crystal Jennings. Even when I nearly died in a car accident, he spent the night coaching her and whisked her away on a business trip.

When I gave him a final birthday surprise, he lost it.

…

My parents were over the moon when I agreed to the arranged marriage they'd been pushing for. They instantly transferred another 200,000 dollars into my account.

"Celine, you've finally come to your senses. Howard is poor and has no future. He's been running that company for five years and it still hasn't gone public. He can't give you a good life."

"The Zimmerman family's second son is better than him in every possible way. Trust us. You won't regret this."

My parents had never approved of my relationship with Howard, and because I was blindly devoted to him, things at home were always tense.

It had been a long time since I'd seen my parents this happy. A complicated mix of emotions rose in my chest. I couldn't tell if it was grief or relief.

After hanging up, I checked my phone and saw that Crystal had updated her social media again.

"POV: Travelling with a ridiculously manly, boyfriend-material boss."

The photo showed Howard pushing three suitcases. His briefcase had a cute little plush keychain dangling from it—the matching pair to the one Crystal had posted before.

There was a time when I loved all these couple-themed things—matching toothbrushes, slippers, keychains, and even clothes. But Howard refused to use any of them with me.

"Celine, I'm a CEO. I can't walk around with this stuff. I keep all my love for you in my heart."

I remembered how he'd tossed the keychain I bought straight into the trash. He'd rather wear uncomfortable shoes than matching slippers with me—especially in public. He was adamant about maintaining his image as a CEO.

I convinced myself that everyone had their own habits, and I couldn't force him to change just because I felt sentimental.

But now, he was flaunting a matching cartoon keychain with Crystal—on a briefcase that didn't suit it at all—ruining the professional image he once cared so much about.

It turned out it wasn't the cute accessories he hated. It was me.

Upon Crystal's arrival, Howard made no secret of his frustrations. He would perpetually vent, detailing the trouble his new intern caused and lambasting her perceived uselessness and persistent errors that he claimed always to rectify.

And naive me didn't notice that every time he talked about her, there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

I thought he was ranting. I tried everything to cheer him up. But all the while, he was actually enjoying fixing Crystal's mistakes.

I finally understood now, and it wasn't too late.

I cried for an entire day and night. When people asked, I said it was because my fracture hurt.

I told myself that I would only cry once. After that, Howard would be out of my heart forever.

During my three-week stay in the hospital, I ignored every call from him until the day I was discharged, when he called from a new number.

"Celine, why haven't you been answering my calls? I've been worried sick. Once this project wraps up, I'll come back to you. I'll throw you a huge wedding on my birthday."

A cold laugh escaped me as I ended the call and dropped the phone into my bag. A heavy, solid thud immediately registered. It was the watch I had ordered for Howard.

The watch had an emerald in the center, surrounded by diamonds, each dazzling brilliantly under the light. It was handcrafted, priceless, and one of a kind.

I had planned to give it to him when his company finally went public. He always said he wanted something unforgettable on that day.

Now, there was no longer a need for this gift.

My eyes stung. I blinked hard, then handed the watch to a passerby. "Take it. I hope it brings you happiness."

As for Howard's so-called big wedding, he had never even proposed. How would he know I'd even say yes? How was he so sure I wouldn't reject him or leave him?

No. Howard Schultz, I hadn't wanted to marry you, and I would never marry you.

This year, the birthday surprise awaiting you was my grand marriage to another man.

I returned to the home I shared with Howard. I had barely set my bag down and reached for the light switch when a figure suddenly leaped from the shadows and onto my back. "Howie, you're home!"

Fresh out of the hospital and still weak, I buckled under the weight and collapsed. I winced in pain and shoved the person off me. "Who the hell are you?"

Crystal scrambled to her feet and flicked on the lights. She covered her mouth in a show of shock. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were Howie… Oh, are you his girlfriend? He said you wouldn't be coming back…"

Howard and I were nothing alike in build. Anyone with half a vision could have told us apart.

Clutching my aching lower back, I stood up and took a proper look at her.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice thick with annoyance.

Her hair was damp, and she wore nothing but an oversized white shirt that barely covered her thighs, putting her long, bare legs on full display.

I recognized that shirt. I had given it to Howard when we first got together. The custom cufflinks even bore our initials.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She fidgeted anxiously before suddenly grabbing my hand and slapping herself across the face with it.

I froze, completely stunned. Before I could react, Howard burst through the door, shoved me aside, and pulled Crystal behind him. "Celine Morrison, what gives you the right to hit someone?" he snarled. "She just mistook you for me. Slapping her is uncalled for."

He turned from me to gently cup her reddening cheek, scolding her for not dodging quickly enough.

My hand went numb, and the pain in my waist flared. A sting pierced my nose. I felt like an outsider in my own home.

"Howard, aren't you going to explain why she's here?" I asked.

I had bought this house for him so he could focus on building his career without a worry in the world. And now, he had the audacity to bring another woman into our home.

For the first time, Howard looked a little guilty, but his expression quickly hardened into irritation. "Crystal was scammed by her landlord. After our business trip, she had nowhere to go. As her boss, I let her crash here for the night. Baby, our house is huge. It's not a big deal."

I took a step forward to see his hypocritical expression more clearly, but Crystal shrank back dramatically, waving her hands as if terrified I'd strike her again. "Howie, I'll leave. Don't be angry, Celine. I'll go sleep under a bridge or something. You don't have to worry about me."

Howard moved to shield her again, his voice dripping with contempt as he yelled at me, "When you do something wrong, you pay the price. Apologize to Crystal now!"

As if that weren't enough, he added, "Celine, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth like you. You don't know what it's like to face hardship. Kids from poor families may have nothing, but we still have our dignity. You don't get to trample on it!"

With that, he wrapped a protective arm around Crystal and led her to the living room to tend to her injury.

He had a talent for twisting a simple question into a class war. All I had done was ask what she was doing in my house.

But it didn't matter anymore. Neither the house nor its owner had anything to do with me now.

My lower back throbbed. Leaning against the shoe cabinet, I tried to steady my breathing. That was when I noticed a takeout bag Howard had brought in. It was from Tabletop Kitchen, my favourite restaurant.

He had left Crystal alone here to personally pick up the food. Whenever I wanted to eat there, he either ordered delivery or sent his assistant. But for her, he was thoughtful enough to make the trip himself.

If I hadn't shown up, the two of them would have been enjoying a romantic dinner.

My phone rang. It was my mother, saying the Zimmerman family was thrilled I had agreed to the arranged marriage. They even suggested holding the wedding next month and mentioned they'd received my gift.

My parents became confused when the word "gift" came up, so they asked if I knew what the Zimmerman family meant.

I didn't really think about it. I simply looked up and said yes right away.

Wonderful—the sooner the wedding, the better.

"Want to eat together?" Howard asked, coming over to grab the food. His fingertips brushed my cheek. "Celine, don't be mad. I have to establish authority in front of my employees. You're the one who taught me that."

I turned away, disgusted by the scent of ointment and another woman's perfume on his fingers. I didn't answer.

"You're not jealous, are you? How could there ever be anything between Crystal and me? You know I can't stand people who make trouble."

When I still didn't respond, he continued, "Alright, alright. It's my fault. I've been traveling so much and haven't been taking good care of you. I promise, once this project is done, we'll have the wedding."

He probably wasn't aware that each time he mentioned Crystal, a smile hid in his eyes.

"Howie, I'm starving! My stomach is growling!" Crystal's faux-cheerful voice rang out, and Howard rushed to her side.

I declined their invitation to eat together, claiming I needed rest. I went upstairs by myself and packed my things.

Clothes and jewelry could be replaced, but I had to take some items with me.

Howard always called me a spoiled rich woman who knew nothing about hardship and only used money to solve problems. I pretended not to care, but I took every word to heart.

Half a year ago, I started learning handmade crafts just to prove him wrong. First, I made an exquisite wooden gift box. Then, a thick, handcrafted picture book.

The book was full of little mechanisms—a compartment for cigarette ash, even a tiny fox tucked inside. But what mattered most was the five years of memories it held. The final section was meant for both of us to write our hopes for the future together.

This was the surprise gift I had poured my heart into for his birthday this year. And in return, he had crushed my heart under his foot.

He didn't deserve this gift.

My fingers traced over the tiny scars the carving knife had left on my hand. A tear dropped onto the page. I picked up a pen and wrote, "Howard and I have no future."

The tears weren't for him; they commemorated the five years of love that had ended without a proper goodbye.

A knock came at the door. Crystal stood outside the study. "Celine, sorry to bother you. Can I borrow your pajamas?"

As I lowered my head to wipe my tears, she had already walked to my side.

"Are you sad?" she asked, her tone smug and nothing like the timid act from before.

I was taken aback, but it wasn't surprising. This was a woman who had slapped herself to manipulate others, after all.

I didn't reply. Instead, I pressed a black button on my desk, activating the study's hidden camera.

"Celine, you should just give up. You can't win against me," Crystal said, folding her arms and looking down at me.

She continued, "You're not as young, pretty, or fun as I am. And you definitely don't know what a man wants. Do you really think you can keep him by giving him everything and helping him succeed? Let me tell you something. Women who are too capable never get a happy ending.

"Only I can make Howard feel like a real man. Only I can give him everything he wants. Don't believe me? You'll see soon enough. I guarantee it."

With that, she let out a loud scream, grabbed my collar, and shoved me toward the window. The moment Howard ran over, she flipped our positions perfectly, making it look like I was the one threatening her.

Howard yanked me aside to get to her, and I stumbled into the bookshelf. Out of habit, he moved to help me up, but Crystal immediately grabbed his arm, whimpering, "I'm so scared. I really messed up. I've brought nothing but trouble. I shouldn't have worked in your company…"

Howard covered her mouth. "Don't say that! Don't be afraid. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you!"

He then turned to me and said, "Celine, I already explained everything. Why don't you trust me? Are you trying to kill her now?"