As I parked the car, I saw Calvin.

He was leaning casually against a tree nearby, seemingly waiting for me.

I got out of the car, and a breeze carrying a faint unfamiliar perfume wafted into my nostrils.

I paused, clinging to the last shred of hope that Calvin would offer an explanation.

But he remained silent for a long time, finally uttering only one sentence.

"Since you already know, there's nothing more to say."

My breath caught in my throat as I reassessed the face I had loved for five years.

Calvin was very handsome—sharp brows, piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and a lean waist. He had the tall, sturdy frame typical of a Northern man.

Therefore, during our school years, many girls confessed their feelings to him.

But he remained indifferent to them all.

I believed he was different from other guys, which was why I insisted on being with him despite my mother's objections.

But now, looking at him, I found his appearance strangely unfamiliar.

Having not slept well the previous night, I felt dazed.

Seeing Calvin now, my body began to tremble uncontrollably.

With a choked voice, I asked him.

"Why? What did I do wrong?"

I thought Calvin would say he was tired of me or that he had found true love, but he simply sighed.

"Cindy, you're great. It's me... I don't want to stay in the trenches any longer."

I was too stunned to speak.

"What do you mean?"

Calvin stared at me steadily. In his once-clear eyes, I saw emotions I could no longer understand.

"Cindy, youthful love is precious, but we're adults now."

"I like you a lot, and you like me, but what does it matter? In this society, sincerity is worthless. It can't buy us a house or a car."

I was taken aback.

"Then why is Divina?"

Calvin smiled.

"Because her father is the HR manager at our company."

"Cindy, with my abilities, no matter how hard I try, I can only be a low-level employee at this company. But if I'm with Divina, I can use her father's connections to climb the corporate ladder."

"Cindy, I hope you understand my dilemma."

As I listened to Calvin eagerly describe his future, I suddenly found it amusing.

I had planned to announce our relationship on this anniversary. My mother's trial period for Calvin had ended.

My mother had said that even if Calvin lacked ability, as long as he truly loved me, she wouldn't mind giving him a high-paying, easy job at one of our companies.

After all, the company would eventually be mine.

And now, Calvin was breaking up with me to be with the daughter of an HR manager.

It was absurdly laughable.

Moreover, what made Calvin think that a mere HR manager's daughter would give him free rein in the company?

It seemed my mother was right—only by staying at the grassroots level could you discover the root causes of problems within the company.

Relying on connections for promotions—this was too outrageous. Did he think the company was his playground?

Seeing my silence, Calvin started to PUA me again.

"Cindy, I don't want to be a nobody anymore. With the paltry salary I earn now, I'll never live the life I want."

"I know what I'm doing is scummy and I'm sorry for hurting you, but I have no choice. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not having a father in a high position at the company."

As Calvin continued to justify himself, I no longer felt the initial sadness.

I thought, "I may not have a father in a high position at the company, but the company belongs to my family."

And it was just one of many companies we own.

Even though the situation was almost laughable, if Calvin was determined to throw away this opportunity to avoid ten years of struggle, then I'd let him.

I sighed and pretended to be resigned.

"Everyone has their own path, Calvin. This is your choice, and I respect it."

"I just hope you won't regret it."

Hearing my words, Calvin smiled.

"Cindy, why would I regret it? I've always known exactly what I want."

"I know you're sad, but people need to aim high. I can't just give up everything for so-called love, can I?"

Even now, Calvin was still trying to justify his behavior.

I nodded indifferently,

"You're right. People should aim high. This society is just that realistic."

"Thank you for teaching me this lesson."

And so, Calvin and I broke up, in the most melodramatic way possible.

My mother comforted me, saying men aren't essential in life, and that I should focus on my career. There would be plenty of men in the future.

After all, she had laid the groundwork for me, waiting for me to return and take over.

I thought about it and agreed, so I poured all my energy into the company's new project.

To prepare the bidding proposal, I worked overtime for two consecutive weeks, revising it over and over until it was finally done.

My team leader said that the general manager was very focused on this collaboration, so there was fierce competition among the design departments.

If my proposal was accepted, I might get promoted, and there might even be a chance to transfer to the headquarters.

I had been following this project since I was still living with Calvin.

To write a good proposal, I had researched extensively and even conducted surveys during my breaks.

Even after Calvin went to bed, I stayed up late revising the proposal.

Now that it was finally completed, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

My mother had put me in the branch office to toughen me up, after all.

So a bit of hardship was nothing. I wanted to prove myself.

But the next day at the bidding meeting, when I was about to present my proposal with confidence, I saw that the proposal Divina presented before me was exactly the same as mine.

My mind went completely blank.

This plan is my brainchild. There are some areas in it that, as a newcomer to the workplace, I didn't quite understand, and I even dragged my mom to visit several business tycoons to finally complete it.

No matter how coincidental it may be, there's no way it could be exactly the same as my ideas and details, right?

It must be Divina who plagiarized my design plan.

But Divina and I are not in the same office, so she wouldn't have had the chance to get my design plan.

Moreover, both my computer and notebook are password-protected.

Wait, passwords?

At this thought, I glanced at Calvin, who was sitting beside me.

But Calvin, knowing full well that I was looking at him, deliberately avoided my gaze.

At that moment, I suddenly understood everything.

Apart from myself, only Calvin knows the password to my computer.

He must have stolen my design plan and given it to Divina, which is why he can't look me in the eye now.

Realizing this, I was so angry that I began to tremble all over.

After being together for so many years, I don't think I've ever wronged Calvin.

Later, when he cheated on me to climb up the corporate ladder, I still gave him the last shred of dignity by ending things peacefully.

Even after the breakup, I never harassed him like a vengeful woman.

But why did he have to treat me like this?

The fatigue from many sleepless nights and my fury made my vision go black, and I nearly fainted on the spot.

Just then, Divina finished her presentation.

I had shown this design plan to my mom before, and even she praised it highly, not to mention the branch manager.

As expected, as soon as Divina finished speaking, the manager applauded and said.

"Divina, this is a good plan. It's clear you've put a lot of effort into it."

Upon hearing this, Divina became even more smug, putting on a show of modesty.

"It's all thanks to the leadership's guidance."

Then Divina looked at me with a slight smile and said.

"Cindy, didn't you also participate in the bidding for the project design? Why don't you come up and explain your design plan?"

I coldly watched Divina's provocative expression and closed the plan I had prepared for the presentation.

I stood up, expressionless, and said loudly.

"The design plan Divina just presented is mine. She stole my design plan."