The day before Simon Miles and I were set to get engaged, he told me his true love was his childhood sweetheart.

He secretly booked plane tickets for himself and her to travel abroad.

For eight years, I would spend one day each year at the Capital Hotel. That was where my engagement to Simon was supposed to happen.

Everyone thought I could not move on from him.

Eight years later, he returned to the country with his childhood sweetheart for his career.

He had learned that a tycoon’s mother, Laurel Windsor, loved dining at the Capital Hotel, so he immediately bought her a gift to curry favor.

The moment he handed Laurel the gift, he saw me standing beside her.

He frowned and snapped. “It’s been eight years, Clara. Why are you still clinging to me? You knew I was coming back, so you rushed over, didn’t you?

“Listen here. I’m back for business. If you ruin this deal for me, I’ll make you pay!”

I was baffled.

Oh, so he still did not know why I was here.

Laurel was my mother-in-law, and it was her birthday today.

Every year, I would dine with her at the Capital Hotel for her birthday.

Simon sounded so arrogant that even my gentle mother-in-law, Laurel, could not help but frown.

“Mr. Miles, barging in on my dinner is rude enough, but to act so insolently toward the person beside me… Are you trying to say the Windsor family is insignificant to you?”

As the mother of the wealthiest tycoon, Laurel’s voice held natural authority. She gave Simon a cold, warning look as she spoke.

Simon panicked when he heard this. Just as he stepped forward to explain, someone spoke from behind him in a deliberately pitiful voice.

“Some people really know how to work their charms. In just eight years, you’ve managed to fool even Mdm. Windsor herself into defending you.”

It was Simon’s beloved childhood friend, Iris.

She was clad in designer brands from head to toe. As she walked over, she kept raising her right hand to show off her diamond ring. Then, she put on an innocent look and leaned toward Laurel.

“Mdm. Windsor, I’ve heard so much about your kind and merciful nature. Please don’t let some scheming woman take advantage of you. She spent eight years not getting over being dumped. The moment she heard we were back, she ran straight to you just to badmouth my fiance and ruin our business deal. It’s absolutely pathetic.”

When I heard her words, I understood what these two clowns were really after today. They had come to sling mud at me.

I scoffed and said, “Eight years, and you’ve only gotten more shameless.”

“Clara, shut your mouth!” Glaring at me, Simon immediately stepped in and shielded Iris behind him.

“I won’t let you talk about Iris that way. I was the one who broke off the engagement with you. I was the one who fell in love with Iris. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don’t pick on her just because she’s timid.”

When Iris saw Simon defending her, she appeared even more smug. But then, she quickly squeezed out a few tears and sobbed.

“Simon, please don’t. As long as Clara agrees not to badmouth you to Mdm. Windsor, I’ll... I’ll step aside if that’s what it takes.”

She then turned to Laurel and spoke to her in a tearful voice. “Mdm. Windsor, I know Clara resents Simon because she waited eight years and couldn’t have him. She must’ve said all kinds of terrible things about him to you. But if you just give him a chance to work with you, I’m willing to even give Simon up to Clara.”

Simon grew anxious upon hearing this. He immediately stepped forward and embraced Iris.

His voice was filled with tenderness as he said to her, “What are you saying, Iris? You’re the only one I’ve ever loved. Clara means nothing to me. Why would I ever leave you for her?”

He then turned to me again and said patronizingly, “Clara, I know you’re obsessed with me. You’ve visited the Capital Hotel every year for the last eight years just to win me back. It’s not going to work. I’ve already chosen Iris. No matter what you do, I’m never going to marry you. So, get a grip and give up already.”

Hearing this disgusted me so much that I could barely breathe. Eight years had passed. How could this man still be so shameless?

I took a deep breath before looking at him coldly and replying, “You need to get your head checked. Seriously, get out of my sight. Marry you? I wouldn’t even look at you if you were the last person on Earth.”

Simon’s expression darkened. He had not expected me to say such a thing. Just as he stepped forward to retort, a young, childish voice rang out behind him.

“Grandma... it hurts so much...”

Gentle and adorable Elio Windsor ran over while clutching his arm. The maid behind him looked visibly anxious.

“Mdm. Windsor, Elio suddenly seems to be having trouble breathing. He says his arm hurts terribly too.”

Hearing this, Laurel’s expression changed dramatically. She hurriedly went to check on Elio.

“What’s wrong, my sweet boy? Come here. Let me see.”

She raised Elio’s arm and noticed that he looked unwell. His neck appeared strained, and he was struggling to breathe.

Seeing this, I also grew anxious and rushed forward. I wanted to pull Elio over to see what was wrong.

“Elio—”

However, Simon beat me to it. He pulled Elio into his arms and spoke in a fawning tone. “So, this must be the son of the tycoon, Mr. Windsor. He’s the spitting image of Justin Windsor. His mother must be stunning.”

I had no patience for his flattery and sharply said, “Simon, give me the child. Can’t you see Elio’s in distress?”

Simon gave me a mocking look, as though I were a joke.

“What? The second I mention he’s the son of the tycoon, you suddenly care. Are you trying to curry favor with the child so that you can get close to the tycoon? You really have some nerve. Why would someone like him ever take interest in a woman with no status or background like you?”

“Shut up!” Laurel’s expression turned grim. She pointed at Simon and rebuked him angrily.

“Simon, you dare lay a hand on the Windsor family’s heir? Do you have a death wish?”

Before Laurel could finish speaking, Iris abruptly let out a cry. She pointed at Elio’s little face and urgently said, “Oh, my!

“The kid’s lips are turning purple. This is a sign of pollen allergy. Who put all these lilies in the room? Are they trying to kill a child?”

A nearby maid instinctively looked at me and said, “It was the mis—”

“So, it was you!” Iris did not let the maid finish. She cut in first as if she had caught my misdeed.

“Clara, lily pollen isn’t poisonous on its own. But the reed diffuser on the table has a strong smell. You must have tampered with that too. The two scents don’t mix. That’s why the little boy is having an allergic reaction.”

Laurel frowned and asked her, “You know perfumery?”

Iris feigned modesty in response. “Forgive me for showing off in front of you, Mdm. Windsor. I’ve loved artisanal arts and crafts since I was a child. I know a little about perfumery and painting.”

Hearing this, Simon stepped forward with a smile and chimed in, “Iris, stop selling yourself short. Your knowledge of perfumery is internationally renowned. How can you say you only know a little?”

I was beside myself with anxiety, and I tried to reach Elio.

“Simon, let go of me. I don’t care what you two do with your perfumery. If anything happens to Elio, I swear you’ll pay for it.”

Simon raised his hand to block me and give me a hard shove.

I stumbled back and nearly fell. Laurel hurried over to help me, but Iris stopped her.

“Mdm. Windsor, don’t worry. Elio’s allergic reaction is nothing serious. I’m confident I can fix him in two minutes.”

Without waiting for Laurel to respond, Iris grabbed Elio’s arm. She pretended to massage a few spots on his arm and firmly pinched Elio’s philtrum. He cried out instinctively.

My heart clenched, and I no longer cared about anything else. I shoved Iris aside and pulled Elio toward me.

“Elio, are you okay? You…”

While I was frantic with worry, Elio let out a long exhale. The color in his face somewhat improved.

I relaxed a little, but my anger had reached its peak. The moment I turned to confront them, Iris clutched her stomach in pain. She pointed at me and spoke in a tearful voice. “Clara, how could you be so heartless? Are you seriously trying to hurt my baby? Do you have to be this cruel just because Simon doesn’t love you?”

Simon anxiously held her and looked at me with deep disgust.

“Clara, I knew it. You really still can’t let go of me. You even found out that Iris is pregnant. Are you trying to get rid of our child while everyone’s distracted?

“I’m warning you. Even without this kid, I’m still never going to marry you—”

I could no longer hold back and interrupted the two of them.

“When did you ever hear me say I wanted to marry you? Eight years have passed, and you’re still just as disgusting and full of yourselves.

“This is your last warning. Get out!”

Simon had not anticipated such outright disgust from me. He struggled to maintain his composure before forcing a calm smile.

“There you go again. It’s the same stubborn act from eight years ago. You’re obviously miserable without me. Every day probably feels like forever. But the second I show up, you pretend you couldn’t care less. Honestly, it’s exhausting.”

“Exactly. Everyone knows you’ve been hung up on Simon for eight years. You visit the Capital Hotel every single year, all because this is where you confessed to him back then. Haha!”

Iris covered her mouth as she chuckled. She then mocked me by saying, “A woman who isn’t loved is just pathetic. All she can do is live in her memories. Honestly, a woman whose whole world revolves around some guy is the saddest thing. Now, someone like me, who stands side by side with a man and grows with him? That’s the way to be. Don’t you agree, Mdm. Windsor?”

Laurel was too worried about Elio. She did not pay attention to what Iris was saying.

I could no longer hold back. I stepped forward and stared coldly at the two of them.

“Simon, I suggest you take your beloved mistress and get out of my sight. Otherwise, you’re not going to like what happens next.”

“Pfft.”

Iris glanced at me dismissively.

“What are you going to do? Cry your eyes out and show up at the airport in some cheap knockoff dress to chase after a man again? Just like you did eight years ago?”

Hearing this, I shot a look at Iris, who wore a smug expression. Meanwhile, a flicker of guilt flashed across Simon’s eyes before quickly vanishing.

I never expected Simon to tell Iris about that.

Simon and I had dated for three years. When he was at his poorest in university, he could not even afford his tuition. As for me, I came from a well-off family, and my parents doted on me. So, I had plenty of spending money.

However, I kept a low profile on campus and never flaunted my family background.

On my eighteenth birthday, my mother wanted to give me a Chanel haute couture dress. She made the reservation and transferred the money into my account. I was excited to buy it after receiving the money.

However, Simon’s father was diagnosed with cancer. Simon broke down and cried in agony. He stood in the rain and demanded to know why the universe was so unfair to him.

I knew he had been saving up for several years to study abroad. If that money went toward his father’s medical treatment, his future would be ruined.

So, out of sympathy and my love for him, I transferred the money meant for the dress to him. To keep my mother from worrying, I bought a cheap counterfeit dress online for two hundred dollars instead.

That counterfeit dress was of very poor quality. A classmate exposed it at the university gala. The entire university mocked me as a false heiress and a vain poser. They said that I was clearly broke but still posing as a rich girl.

I was cyberbullied and ostracized. As a result, I broke down emotionally and developed depression.

During my darkest moments, Simon stayed by my side. He held me and wept.

“It’s all my fault. I’m the one who did this to you, Clara. I swear that one day, I’m going to give you the life you deserve. You’ll wear designer dresses forever. No one will ever talk down to you again.”

I was deeply moved at the time, and I did not regret my decision.

After graduation, Simon proposed to me.

The day before we were set to be engaged, Simon unexpectedly received an opportunity to study abroad on a scholarship. He broke up with me almost without hesitation and looked down at me with contempt.

“Clara, it was a cheap dress. Was it really worth throwing a whole dramatic fit over? You made the entire campus think I was some kind of lowlife who had to mooch off you for a stupid dress.

“I was only with you because your family had money. The person I’ve always truly loved is Iris.”

I was shocked, and I could not accept it. When he was about to go abroad that year, I deliberately wore the counterfeit dress to the airport. I wanted to give him one last chance. But he turned around and left without sparing me another glance.

I immediately changed out of that dress and threw it into a trash can at the airport.

Right then, I let go of everything for good.