Everyone turned to look at Grayson, and so did I. I stared at the man who had been by my side for four years.

When I started working in his company, I was diligent and even worked late nights just to complete projects. I was never absent when I was needed to entertain clients or attend networking events.

One could say that I played a major role in the success of Grayson's company. He was the person who knew best how hard I worked.

However, he chose to look away and avoid my eyes. It took him a long time before he finally said, "She doesn't fool around, and she does have a boyfriend of four years. That guy isn't some penniless loser…"

Monica shook his arm anxiously when she heard his answer. "Why do you know so much about her, Honey?"

"It's because her boyfriend is…" I held my breath as I waited hopefully for his answer, but Grayson continued to avoid my eyes and looked into Monica's eyes instead. "It's because her boyfriend is my friend, Edwin."

I wanted to say something, but nothing came out of my mouth. It had been four years, and Grayson still chose to avoid this topic because he thought I was not good enough for him. It suddenly made me feel like this was all a joke, including myself.

"He's right. It's Edwin." Since Grayson had put it that way, I decided to go along with him and become Edwin's real girlfriend. "We've been together for four years, and we're about to get married soon."

Several commercial partners who knew my family well were surprised. "Your boyfriend is Edwin? I knew it. Edwin and Ella grew up together. There's no way Ella would ever fall for someone else when Edwin is such an outstanding young man."

"I remember Edwin used to have a crush on Ella, but no one has seen him since he left the country four years ago. I didn't realize you're already together."

No one seemed surprised by it. Grayson was the only one who was taken aback when he heard their words. "What are you saying? They grew up together?"

The man who made the statement jumped in shock when Grayson grabbed him to question in disbelief.

"That's right. What's wrong? It's not a secret. Why are you reacting like this?"

Grayson quickly released the man and looked away in embarrassment. "N-Nothing."

He was quite upset with those words and wanted to ask me about it but did not have the chance.

Edwin Monaco's family was highly regarded in the business circle, and Edwin himself was known as a genius entrepreneur for achieving such great success at a young age. Grayson had blurted the name of a random entrepreneur who was well-known in the business circle without realizing that I might know him, and even grew up with him.

When Monica heard Edwin's name, a hateful look flashed in her eyes, but there was nothing she could do about it. "Why didn't you tell me that you're with Edwin now, Ella? No matter what, we grew up together."

I continued with the lie, "That's because he left the country right after we got together. We've been busy all this time, and never got the chance to tell anyone else about it."

Everyone got curious and came asking more about my relationship with Edwin. I smiled and answered every one of their questions.

As for Grayson, all he did was continue to stare at me. His teeth almost broke from clenching them too hard when he heard me tell all the funny stories that happened with Edwin.

"What nonsense is this, Ella? No couple would live in different countries right after they start dating. You need to make up a better lie than that."

I was about to retort when an exclamation was heard from the doors of the event hall. The crowd moved aside to reveal Edwin's tall figure coming toward us. "Sorry, everyone. I'm late because my flight was delayed."

The man whom everyone had been talking about walked up slowly to me. "It's been a long time, everyone, and that includes you, Ella. Did you miss me?"

I never thought I would see Edwin again under such circumstances. "Why did you suddenly come back?"

Edwin had dark rings under his eyes and looked like he had just rushed over right after his plane landed, but he still smiled when he replied, "I didn't tell anyone because I wanted to give everyone a surprise. The party hasn't ended, has it?"

I smiled. "No. You came at the right time." I circled my arms around his arm without another word and mimicked Grayson in making my announcement, "I'm taking this opportunity to inform everyone that Edwin and I have been together for four years, and we'll be getting married very soon!"

This time, everyone's applause was for me. I leaned in close to Edwin's ears to whisper an explanation as he tried his best to maintain calm despite being surprised by my actions.

Edwin was amused. "I didn't expect you to prepare such a wonderful surprise for me."

I blushed from the embarrassment, but to Grayson, it looked like I was whispering affectionately to Edwin about something intimate, which made me shy.

Grayson turned red with rage. "Aren't you going to explain this, Ella?"

Before I could say anything, Grayson leaned over to clutch his stomach as his expression contorted with pain. Monica quickly helped him to the table and started searching for painkillers in a fluster.

She was almost crying. "Why were you so silly, taking that drink on my behalf when you have a weak stomach?"

I added sarcastically, "Yeah. Why would you drink when you have a weak stomach? Serves you right for being in pain right now."

Grayson was infuriated. "Aren't you concerned to see me sick, Ella?"

I found this funny. Every time he suffered from such stomach cramps, I was always by his side to take care of him. I would get him food and medicine, and take care of his everyday needs. This time, he got sick for another woman. What did that have to do with me?

"Why should I be concerned about you? You're not my boyfriend. The only person I'm concerned about is Edwin."

"You…" Grayson was so furious that he did not even care about his stomach cramps as he quickly swallowed a few painkillers and grabbed my hand to leave the hall. He stopped only when he came to a garden without anyone else around.

"Are you done, Ella? All I did was help Monica out today. She's a proud person, and I just wanted to give her a livelier birthday party. Did you think about our future when you acted that way just now? You're just an ordinary employee. Do you really think you can marry someone like Edwin? Even if he likes you, there's no way you can be together when you come from different worlds!

"Be a good girl. Once this party is over, I promise to marry you if you give me some time, but you're not allowed to behave so intimately with Edwin from now on!"

All I did was bite down hard on my lip when I listened to him. I waited until he was done before slowly saying, "Is that all you want to say to me?"

Grayson was taken aback when he saw how red my eyes were. "You're allowed to cheat on me in public and act intimately with another woman in public, but I'm not allowed to? I even have to tolerate your behavior just because there's a status gap between us?"

He tried to explain in a fluster, "I didn't cheat on you. All I did was pretend to be her boyfriend. You shouldn't create a fuss over this—"

I slapped Grayson. "It's over between us, Grayson. Let's break up."

Grayson tried to grab me to say something when I saw Edwin walking out to the event hall. I went straight up to him and got into his car in front of Grayson.

Grayson was forced to stop following me, but he roared at the car, "If you insist on being unreasonable, don't blame me for taking extreme measures, Ella!"

Edwin looked deeply at me through the rearview mirror when I got into the car. "Where do you want to go?"

I had no idea where I wanted to go. All I knew was that I wanted to stay away from Grayson, but I was also aware of how unscrupulous Grayson could be. If I wanted to cut all ties with him, I had to use extreme measures too.

"Let's head to the city hall right now." I blurted without thinking but quickly realized it was not appropriate. "I'm so sorry for making you play along with me, Edwin, but I… Can you help me to the very end with this? Don't worry. We'll get an annulment after some time…"

Edwin said nothing. All he did was drive directly toward the city hall.

That night, I was forced to return to the party because I had agreed to attend the yacht afterparty.

When I saw Grayson and Monica again, I noticed something had changed between them. Before, Monica would only hug Grayson's arm coquettishly, but now, she could not wait to press her body up against him. Both their necks were covered with bright, red hickeys.

Monica even shared intimate photos and videos of them. "I know the truth, Ella. Grayson is your boyfriend of four years. Too bad he's mine now. Grayson is incredible in bed. He kept wanting more and took me several times in bed this afternoon. He even said you're as boring as a grandmother when you make love."

When she shared the photos and videos with me, Monica kept scrutinizing my expression as if waiting for me to break down from what she said, but I had already given up on Grayson and could no longer feel anything about this.

Monica came closer to me when she saw that her little trick did not work. She leaned against the deck's railing.

"Aren't you happy with the present I got you, Ella? You dated Grayson for four years, and all I had to do was beckon at him, and he came with me. Do you think you can have everything just because you were born to such a good pair of parents? I'll take everything that belongs to you sooner or later!"

With that, she suddenly leaned backward and screamed as she fell off the boat. Everyone who witnessed what happened quickly called out for help and got the lifeguard to haul her up from the sea.

Grayson rushed over to put a coat over Monica, who was drenched, and hugged her tight.

"I know you like Grayson, Ella, but how could you push me into the water? You've always been taking everything that belonged to me since we were young. Can't you give in to me just this once?" Her words caused a huge commotion among the crowd.

My aunt stopped forward to slap me. "How dare you try to harm my daughter?! I'll kill you, you bitch!"

My uncle was also trembling with anger, and he kicked me in the calf. "If anything happens to my daughter, even your parents can't save you!"

It hurt so much that I fell to my knees on the ground. I glanced at Grayson out of habit but saw him hugging Monica tight without saying a word.

"Doesn't Ella have a boyfriend? Why would she want to snatch Monica's? That's so shameless of her!"

"She must've been lying earlier today. No couple would live in separate countries right after they get into a relationship. Edwin must've just been putting on an act with her. She's gone crazy from being jealous of Monica!"

"I'd never have thought her parents would have a daughter like her. They must be filled with so much regret…"

The crowd started pointing fingers at me, and some people close to Monica started throwing things at me. I held back the pain and took a deep breath after they finally stopped to slowly stand up.

That was when Grayson finally spoke up, "Ella, be a good girl and apologize to Monica right now. I might consider forgiving you."

All I did was sneer, then I proceeded to slap my aunt and then my uncle. Everyone exclaimed in shock. I took out a document from my pocket to show them my and Edwin's marriage certificate.

"Open your eyes wide and look at this. Edwin and I are married. Why would I care about a man like Grayson? As for me pushing Monica over the deck, well, there are surveillance cameras all over this yacht. I'll get permission to check the footage right now!"

Everyone started talking about this while Grayson rushed to me in a mad dash when he saw the document in my hand. "Marriage certificate? What are you talking about? Why would you and Edwin have such a document?"

I laughed coldly. "It's none of your business."

"Ella, there's a limit to losing your temper. Are you trying to trick everyone by printing a fake document? Do you think I'll believe you?"

I watched as he got worked up over this while staring at the stamp on the document. He roared, "Impossible! Why would Edwin be willing to marry you? You're nothing but a… But a…"

I smiled as I looked back at him. "What has it got to do with you that I'm marrying him? He's my boyfriend of four years, so who are you to question me? Why would you be so mad over this?"

My aunt was puzzled as well. "She's right. Why are you getting so worked up about Ella getting married? Ella and Edwin grew up together, and their families are of equal status. They're a compatible match and should have been married long ago."

Grayson was taken aback. "What are you talking about? Their families are of equal status?"

"That's right. Ella is the only child of our company's CEO, while Edwin will inherit his family business in the future too."

Grayson was dumbstruck at the news. He looked at me in disbelief and was almost jumping with rage. "It's because I'm the one who has been in a relationship with her for four years! I'm the one who should be marrying her!"