I once thought that my and Sebastian Ford's love would last a lifetime.

Yet, the man who claims to love me does everything possible to hurt me. He takes wedding photos with another woman and goes on vacation with her. They even sleep in the same room.

When making love to me, he speaks to a friend in a foreign language. He tells the friend he will marry another woman but keep me bound to him with a fake marriage certificate.

Sebastian Ford pinned me against the glass of the floor-length windows in the office, leaving me unable to move an inch. As he kissed my earlobe and my chest, I indulged myself in his warm breath.

His kisses were scorching and passionate. My heart pounded in my chest as my dress was torn to shreds by his hands. I wrapped my legs around his waist and responded to his kiss.

The bustling streets stretched below the building, outside the transparent glass. Could there be someone watching from the office building across from us? At this thought, I felt a little embarrassed.

This was the first time I ever made love with him in the office.

Sebastian seemed to see through my thoughts. He lifted my head and made me look at the reflection of our entwined bodies in the glass. His muscular physique was strong and defined, while my figure was curvaceous and seductive.

He tightened his grip on my waist and said with a chuckle, "What are you afraid of? No one will disturb us. Besides, we've done far more intimate things than this. What's there to be nervous about?"

His well-defined muscles pounded powerfully against my delicate body.

Instinctively, I clung to his neck. My actions were filled with affection and attachment for him.

However, a sudden ringtone stopped Sebastian in his movements.

We were interrupted at the worst time. With a frown, he answered the call immediately and said in a cold voice, "Who is this?"

I recognized the voice that came from the other end. It was his friend, Zachary Lance. "It's me, Zachary."

Sebastian's expression softened slightly before switching to Francian. "What do you want?"

A brief silence came from the other end before Zachary demanded, "Sebastian, have you lost your mind? Cassandra just returned from abroad, and you already got a marriage certificate with her? Are you insane?

"Where was she when you suffered an accident and laid in bed for five years in a coma? She ran off abroad the very next day! Now that she has returned, you married her the moment she steps back into your life? Are you an idiot?"

At that moment, the warmth in my body completely drained away from head to toe.

Every complex word in Francian translated itself into Elgerian in my mind automatically.

However, Sebastian was unaware of the fact that I understood his every word. He simply replied indifferently, "So what? If I don't marry Cassandra, her stepmother will send her overseas to warm the bed of some 60-year-old man. She has no one else to rely on but me."

"What about Joanna? You've been with her for so long. Are you going to just abandon her? Back then, you were nothing but a breathing corpse in that hospital bed.

"She was the one who took care of you day and night! No one in the world loves you more than she does! She loves you so much, but how could you…"

The more Zachary spoke, the more agitated he became. His voice grew louder in anger, but Sebastian remained unfazed as he replied, "I know. That's why I'll keep this a secret. She won't find out."

"Keep it a secret? Everyone knows you're registering your marriage and having a wedding next week! How the hell are you going to marry Joanna now that you've already registered a marriage certificate with Cassandra? It's against the law for you to have two marriage certificates!"

"That's enough!" Sebastian's expression darkened as he said impatiently, "My marriage with Cassandra will only last for two years. After that, we'll get a divorce.

"I'll arrange a fake marriage certificate for Joan next week, and the wedding will go on as planned. There won't be a problem as long as you all keep quiet about this fake marriage certificate!"

After hearing this, Zachary was so furious that he hung up immediately.

Sebastian turned back to me and started kissing my chest again. However, I felt nothing but coldness in my heart. He knew I wouldn't be happy about this, yet he still did it behind my back. Did he even truly love me? My heart ached terribly at the thought.

I no longer had the energy to respond to his touch. Moments later, he reached his climax.

Sebastian let go of me and turned around to fix his clothes.

Suddenly, his phone rang once more. I vaguely heard a woman's voice on the other end.

"Alright. I understand." Sebastian hung up and turned to look at me with a calm expression. "Joan, I need to meet a client. You can head back on your own or have my assistant send you home."

With that, he grabbed his coat and left in a hurry. He didn't even spare me a glance, leaving me standing alone in the empty office. I let out a bitter laugh as a tear slid down my cheek.

Sebastian had no idea that I had pushed myself to learn several foreign languages back then to be worthy of him. Among them was Francian.

I clearly heard every single word that Zachary spoke to him. His words pierced straight into my heart like a blade. In actual fact, I should have expected this day to come.

After all, I was just the daughter of a lowly driver. In contrast, Sebastian was the heir to a billion-dollar corporation.

Long ago, I met Sebastian by chance when I accompanied my father to the Ford residence. He sat in front of a floor-length window and was painting quietly with a brush in hand.

That single glance had etched him into my soul, but I never told anyone.

Because I knew that I was never meant to stand beside him.

It wasn't only the vast difference in our statuses that made me feel inferior, but more importantly, I knew that Sebastian had a girlfriend that he loved to the core—Cassandra Sutton.

They were childhood friends and grew up together. Sebastian was always cold to others, but he only showed his gentle smiles to Cassandra and protected her fiercely in every way.

Even the accident that turned him into a vegetable and left him bedridden for five years was because of Cassandra.

At the critical moment, Sebastian had pushed her back to safety and sacrificed himself to protect his beloved woman as he fell from the high-rise building.

Although he was fortunate enough to survive, he ended up in a coma. After learning about the incident, Cassandra left the country and cut off all contact the very next day.

Everyone believed that Sebastian had become a useless invalid. Moreover, his own parents planned to abandon him and groom a new successor. I was the one who willingly stepped forward and requested to be a personal caretaker for the bedridden Sebastian.

Even the renowned surgeon who eventually healed Sebastian was someone whom I had begged a long time to operate on him. Sebastian recovered quickly after undergoing the surgery. It didn't take long for him to regain his footing within the Ford family and become the CEO of Ford Corporation.

I stood by him through the darkest period of his life and eventually became his girlfriend. The vast difference in our social status pushed me to work harder constantly in order to catch up with him.

I gave it my all, but I was never able to gain the recognition of his parents. Yet, Sebastian always stood by my side and told his parents that he would marry no one but me.

He insisted on marrying me even without their approval. He promised to register our marriage and give me an unforgettable wedding.

I thought I was the woman he had truly chosen. Despite all the challenges ahead, I would be the one always by his side, and the one whom he would grow old with.

However, I never expected that this was all a lie.

In his heart, Sebastian had never let go of Cassandra.

Since that was the case, then our relationship should end here. I took out my phone and called Emily Potts, Sebastian's mother. "Mrs. Ford, I agree to your offer. I'll break up with Sebastian if you give me 50 million. Then, we will never see each other again."

Emily was overjoyed when she received my call. She had never liked me as she thought that I came from a poor family. If it wasn't for Sebastian, she would have gotten rid of me long ago.

I said to her, "Mrs. Ford, can I leave after the wedding?"

Even if I couldn't grow old with Sebastian, I still wanted to see myself standing beside him in a wedding dress. Even if it was a wedding built on lies, I had spent a whole year preparing for this wedding. I didn't want to leave any regrets.

"Fine! But I don't want to see you ever again after the wedding!" Emily agreed after some hesitation.

It saved her the trouble of planning things since I was the one who suggested the breakup.

She promised to handle my travel arrangements abroad in a few days and handed me a card with 50 million dollars on it.

She said, "This amount is more than enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Do whatever you want abroad, but don't come back to look for my son. You have one week to prepare. A week from now, I want to see you board a plane out of the country."

I took the card and nodded silently. In actual fact, I didn't need the money. I had the ability to support myself. However, I knew that Emily wouldn't be at ease if I didn't take the money.

Accepting the money meant that I saw this relationship as a transaction. Emily could always claim that I left for money if Sebastian found out about this one day.

I planned to go abroad to finish my postgraduate studies and further my education. I decided to let go of this hopeless relationship once and for all.

When I got home, I picked up my phone out of habit and saw a new Facebook post from Cassandra.

"It's pure bliss to take wedding photos with the person you love!" She had posted a picture of herself and Sebastian choosing her wedding dress at a bridal store.

The photo was taken from the perspective of the groom. Cassandra was elegantly dressed in a white wedding gown that looked magnificent. She gazed straight into the camera with grace and confidence.

It was clear that the lighting and angle were carefully chosen, evidence of the photographer's deep affection for the subject.

A sharp pain shot through my heart as I closed my phone silently.

Sebastian came home that evening. He went straight to the kitchen as soon as he walked in. He made my favorite steak, truffle soup, and even opened a bottle of red wine.

Ever since his recovery, Sebastian had taken over all the household chores to prove his affection to me. I felt an overwhelming mix of emotions when I saw the table full of delicious dishes.

Sebastian asked with concern, "Joan, what's wrong? Why aren't you eating?"

I forced back my tears and mustered a faint smile. "Nothing, I'm just a little tired."

Sebastian didn't notice anything unusual with me and put down his utensils. "Then you should rest more. Joan, I'll be busy these next two days, and I might not be home. Stay safe when you're alone at home, and call me if you need anything."

My heart trembled violently in my chest as I nodded. "Alright, take care too."

Sebastian left the house early the next morning. The bed beside me was already empty by the time I woke up. I stood at the window and stared at the empty room as an overwhelming sadness washed over me.

I knew that our relationship was truly over.

While Sebastian was away, I went out to get my passport done and start the travel preparations. As soon as I stepped out the door, I received a message from Cassandra. It was a photo of her and Sebastian on a beach vacation.

In the photo, Sebastian was handing her a glass of juice. Their interactions looked very intimate.

"It feels amazing to be on a honeymoon," her message read.

There were more affectionate photos of the two of them together, as if they were the real couple and I was the outsider who had interfered in their relationship.

I took a deep breath and ignored her messages.

I started packing quietly once I got home.

I opened the wardrobe and saw several beautifully crafted dresses inside. They were dresses that Sebastian had given me. Each one held memories of our time together, but those memories now had turned into my deepest wounds.

I walked into the living room and laid out all the gifts Sebastian had given me one by one on the table.

There were delicate ornaments he brought back from abroad, the necklace he personally picked out for me, and the handbag from our first birthday celebration together.

I took a deep breath and put all these presents into a bag. I decided to sell them as there was no point in keeping them.

Just then, Cassandra updated another photo on her Facebook.

It was a photo of her and Sebastian in a hotel. She was leaning in his embrace and dressed in a seductive nightgown. His arm was wrapped possessively around her waist, and the chemistry between them filled the air.

Sebastian's face wasn't visible in the photo, but I recognized his familiar figure and presence instantly.

A moment later, Cassandra sent me a private message. It was a photo of Sebastian asleep beside her. Their bare skin was visible and the sight stung my eyes like sharp needles.

Then, she sent me their marriage certificate along with a message, "Ms. Robinson, I heard your marriage certificate was fake. I can't even find the registration number on the government's official website!"

A sharp pain shot through my heart. I took a deep breath and closed the chat. She was provoking me as she clearly wanted me to lose my temper. So, the more she did that, the more I shouldn't get angry.

I had known all along that the marriage certificate was a fake. I didn't need her to remind me. For the next two days, I kept myself busy by handling my departure arrangements.

I went to the office and tendered my resignation. My colleagues were surprised and sorry to see me leave. I met up with a few friends for a farewell gathering, thanking them for their years of companionship and support.

I returned home after the meal. When I opened the door, I was shocked to see Sebastian back home earlier than expected. He was sitting on the couch, looking exhausted.

"Joan, you're back."

Sebastian heard the door open and looked up at me. As he stood up, his expression changed subtly when he noticed the suitcases in the corner. "Are you going somewhere? Where are you going?"

My heart trembled, but I forced myself to reply calmly, "I… I just wanted to travel for a bit and clear my mind. You just got back, right? You must be tired. I'll cook dinner tonight."

Sebastian didn't seem suspicious. He held my hand and said, "Alright, let's talk about the trip after our wedding. We can go together."

The next moment, his gaze swept across the room. He noticed how empty the house looked. Many things were missing.

Confused, Sebastian asked, "Joan, why does the house feel so different?"

Taking a deep breath, I answered, "Oh, I did some spring cleaning recently and tidied up the house a bit."

Sebastian didn't think too much of my explanation and nodded. "That's good. We're getting married, so it's time to buy some new furniture and decorations."

I felt a little guilty, but I didn't let it show. I quickly changed the topic. "Why are you back so soon this time?"

Sebastian didn't suspect anything and explained, "I finished dealing with things, so I came back earlier than expected."

He gave me a meaningful gaze, with a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Joan, I've been too busy with work and neglected you. I'll make it up to you this time."

Stunned, I didn't know how to respond to him. Sebastian grabbed my hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

I felt doubtful and confused, but I still followed him into the car. Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a massive estate.

I was surprised when I recognized that this was the exclusive private club in the city. Only the elite could access a place like this.

"Why are we here?" I asked in confusion. Sebastian gave me a slight smile. "There's a gathering tonight, and I wanted to bring you with me."

My heart was touched. I knew how busy he was. It was rare for him to take time off and accompany me to a banquet.

Throughout the event, Sebastian stayed by my side the entire time, introducing me to important figures of elite society.

Many women took the initiative to approach Sebastian, but he rejected them all. His eyes were only on me. Meanwhile, Cassandra also arrived at the banquet venue. She was dressed in designer clothes, looking beautiful and radiant.

"Mr. Ford, long time no see," she greeted him while throwing me a provocative glance. "Can I invite you to a dance? I'm sure Ms. Robinson wouldn't mind, would you?"

Before I could open my mouth to speak, Sebastian had already shook his head coldly. "I'm sorry, I only want to spend time with my girlfriend tonight."

An unpleasant feeling surfaced in my heart when I saw the firm expression on his face.

If I hadn't seen those photos or heard those conversations, I would've believed that he truly loved me. Unfortunately, I knew that everything he was doing now was an act. He was pretending to be a boyfriend who loved me dearly.

At the banquet, Sebastian officially announced our wedding to everyone. We initially didn't plan on inviting any business associates to the wedding ceremony since Emily disapproved of our relationship.

The guests were surprised with the sudden announcement, but they still congratulated us and said that they would attend the wedding.

I was also surprised. I had thought only a few friends would be at the wedding, but now he had invited so many people. It seemed like he was trying to do this to show his love and please me. In addition, he probably wanted to make up for the guilt he felt after spending time with Cassandra these past few days.

Unfortunately, I no longer needed it.

The love I wanted had to be exclusive. Since I was only worthy of a fake marriage certificate in his heart, then I didn't need his love at all.

We left the venue together.

As soon as we stepped out the entrance, we heard a loud commotion nearby. I looked up and saw Cassandra being surrounded by a group of thugs on the side of the road nearby.

"Hey, babe. You look so beautiful. Why don't you have a drink with us?" one said.

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of you."

As they spoke, the thugs stretched out their hands toward Cassandra and tried to grab her. They clearly had ill intentions.

Seeing this, Sebastian immediately rushed forward. "Stop right now!"

He shoved one of the thugs aside and shielded Cassandra behind him.

The thugs were angered and turned to attack Sebastian instead.

However, Sebastian was more skilled than them. He knocked them to the ground with just a few punches. His expression was dark with fury as he glared at the defeated thugs on the ground.

Sebastian said through gritted teeth, "How dare you mess with her? If you touch her again, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your lives!"

Terrified, the thugs scattered and ran for their lives.

Sebastian turned around and wrapped his arms around Cassandra before hurrying off.

In the chaos, a thug had shoved me aside. My arm was scraped on a sharp stone on the ground. Blood instantly gushed from the wound. I gasped in pain, but Sebastian didn't seem to hear me. All his attention was on bringing Cassandra to safety.

I wanted to call out after Sebastian's retreating figure, but I swallowed my words in the end. A wave of bitterness surged in my heart. At this moment, I knew he would never choose me if he had to choose between both of us.

I went to a nearby clinic alone to get my wound treated.

I winced in pain as the doctor bandaged my wound, but what hurt more was seeing how Sebastian had cared for Cassandra so tenderly. I returned home after getting my wound treated.

Sebastian still wasn't home.

At that moment, Cassandra posted a picture on Facebook. It was a photo of Sebastian taking care of her in the emergency room.

Then, she sent me a private message. "Ms. Robinson, Sebastian will be spending the night with me. You should sleep alone tonight."

I threw my phone aside and sat on the couch alone, replaying everything that happened today. Sebastian had personally promised me before that he would protect me for a lifetime.

He had been so afraid of my getting hurt that he wouldn't let me do something as simple as cooking. But now, he was able to abandon everything for another woman.

I took a deep breath and held back the tears in my eyes. That night, I lay alone in the empty bed. I couldn't sleep until dawn.