The company was facing a public listing, but my boyfriend kept fooling around with his childhood friend Amelia Hall, regardless of the occasion. I merely reminded them to be more appropriate.

The next day, I received a screenshot from a secret livestream sent by a friend.

I couldn't believe it. I put down my work and went to find Arsen, only to overhear him chatting with his friends outside his office.

"You guys went wild yesterday, huh? I didn't want to miss a single second. My man, you're the best, always taking our advice and trying all kinds of tricks."

"Yeah, especially when Celine moans 'husband' in that hazy state, it really got my blood boiling."

"By the way, Arsen, you're always so blatant. Aren't you afraid Celine will find out?"

Arsen tapped on his phone and chuckled, "So what if she does? I've already used her up. Besides marrying me, what other choice does she have? She wouldn't dare make a scene."

He continued, "Oh and if you want to pick clothing styles, go to Amelia's shop. That girl hasn't had good sales lately. She hasn't smiled in days." The group burst into lewd laughter.

Someone suddenly asked, "Arsen, Celine's been good to you. Why are you doing this to her?"

The smile in Arsen's eyes faded. He straightened up, full of contempt. "I can't stand that holier-than-thou attitude of hers. Just helped me a few times and expects me to be eternally grateful. Doesn't she know a woman's virtue is in being unskilled?"

He mocked, "She doesn't get it? Then I'll teach her!"

Hearing that, a chill rose in my chest. I lowered my eyes to my phone, only to see the message he had sent a second ago: [Celine, babe, there's so much work. I'm so tired. I just wish you could stay by my side forever.]

——

"Arsen, don't you think this is a bit too cruel?" His friend teased with a smirk that grew filthier. "She's a top graduate from a reputable university. You set the full stream to only cost eight dollars? Isn't that way too cheap? You can't even buy a cup of coffee with eight dollars now."

Arsen put down his phone with disdain. "This is to show you guys, this high-educated girl throwing herself at me is worth just eight dollars in my eyes!"

"So what if she's smart and from a good family? Even the proudest rose has its thorns stripped off and falls from the clouds someday. And I … I'm the one who will drag her down!" Pride and scheming filled Arsen's eyes as he curled his lips into a smile.

Standing outside the door, I had bitten through my lip trying to endure it all. The taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Earlier, when I saw my friend's message and accusation, I still held a sliver of hope.

I thought maybe we were being framed, that he didn't know what was happening.

On my way here, I even considered several ways to solve the problem. But after hearing his conversation with his friends, I could no longer deceive myself.

The one who orchestrated those unbearable livestream screenshots wasn't anyone else, it was my boyfriend of three years, Arsen Becker.

Back when we first met, Arsen had been a poor waiter bullied by others.

I had pursued him for a long time before he finally agreed to be with me. At first, even his kisses were gentle and cautious, afraid of hurting me.

Later, he opened up more, blushing as he begged me to wear clothes with suggestive meaning.

I thought it was just a couple's way of spicing things up, so I shyly agreed.

Only now did I realize he did it just to start paid livestreams, to make me the biggest laughingstock in the world.

Their rising laughter was like a sharp blade stabbing into my heart over and over again.

Tears slid down like broken pearls, falling one by one onto the back of my cold hand, bringing a burning pain.

Just then, the people in the office changed the subject and suddenly mentioned Amelia, "Arsen, if you really marry Celine, what about Amelia? She's been chasing after you for years. You mean to say you never felt anything for her?"

Hearing Amelia's name, the smile on Arsen's face faded quite a bit. He sighed faintly and said softly, "Amelia has had a tough time these years. I'll give her everything she wants. Once Celine begs me to marry her and we get the certificate, I'll give Amelia a grand wedding. Even if she's upset, she won't be able to do anything about it."

He said again, "And though Amelia doesn't ask for a title, I can't keep letting her suffer."

Suddenly, I recalled his whisper in my ear last night, "Celine, will you marry me? I can't wait to make you my wife."

Last night, he had clearly held back his desire and seriously brought up marriage with me. He promised to marry me with dignity and fanfare.

But in just one day, the bride by his side had changed. Arsen, were all your promises to me nothing but lies?

My heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible force, making it hard to breathe.

I didn't dare push the door open and confront them, afraid of facing their shameless, scrutinizing gazes.

I fled the company like I was running for my life. I stumbled home in a daze, but before I could catch my breath, Arsen, not receiving a reply, messaged me again: [Celine, I heard you ran out of the company. Are you feeling unwell?]

[Celine, reply to me! Are you trying to scare me to death?]

His words, once gentle and affectionate, now felt absurdly mocking.

Before I heard them talking, I might have thought he was truly worried about me, which made him so anxious.

But now, I could clearly imagine him sending these messages while laughing at me with others. The thought made my heart twist uncontrollably again.

Scalding tears dropped onto my phone screen, blurring my vision. I trembled as I exited the chat and sent a message to my mom: [I lost. I'll go through with the arranged marriage.]

Arsen had no idea that I came to this unknown fourth-tier city to resist my family's arranged marriage. I always believed that even if I left home, I could still get everything I wanted.

After being with him, I gave him everything I had so he could have the means to fight back against my family.

Later, not only did I humble myself to help him get investors, but I also drank until I had stomach bleeding for a deal and was rushed to the ER.

For three years, I never dared to rest, pouring all my effort into the company.

I only hoped that when the company went public and I brought him home to meet my parents, he could stand tall and proud, no longer feeling inferior. But I never imagined that in his eyes, all I'd done was worthless, even shameful.

My mom paused in shock when she heard my words, then responded with relief, "I'm so glad you've come around. Sweetheart, don't worry. Mom and Dad would never hurt you."

"Alright, I'll come home as soon as I finish what I'm working on. I'll leave the wedding plans to you." After settling the serious matters and ending the call, I collapsed onto the sofa, dazed.

At that moment, the sound of the door opening came from nearby.

I stiffly looked over and saw Arsen walking in with a simple clothing bag in hand.

He didn't notice the terrible look on my face and excitedly waved the bag, saying, "Celine, I passed by a lingerie shop on my way back and thought this set would suit you. Try it on now, okay?"

The bag he held had the words "Atelier" printed on it. I froze when I saw it clearly.

All those outfits of mine had been brought back by Arsen and he always used the same lines, saying the clothes suited me, so he bought them for me to try.

And every time, I believed his words without question, never doubting him once.

But I had forgotten, if it was really by chance, why did the shopping bags always have the exact same brand logo? I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Arsen, not getting a response, had the smile on his face fade and his gaze toward me deepened. I knew, he was angry again.

I opened my mouth, just about to say I didn't want to wear it, when he snapped impatiently, "What's with you today? You don't reply to messages and now you're acting mute? Can you react a little, don't make me feel like I'm acting a one-man show, alright?"

He continued, "Celine, sometimes I really wish you'd learn from Amelia, learn what a proper woman should be like."

His so-called 'proper woman' ran a risqué lingerie store, spoke in vulgar tones with a shy face, pretending to be demure?

I looked at the familiar yet strange Arsen in front of me, my heart aching as if a heavy object smashed into my chest, I could barely breathe.

Before I could speak, Arsen set the shopping bag on the sofa with a cold face and said sharply, "I'm going to shower. I hope you've changed into the clothes when I come out. Celine, don't disappoint me."

With that, he no longer spared me a single glance, removed his suit jacket and headed into the bathroom.

But before he was even gone for long, the phone he left on the coffee table lit up. On the screen was Amelia's name.

I had never cared to check his phone before, always giving him the utmost respect. Even when he offered his phone for me to look through, I always chose to trust him.

But now, almost involuntarily, I picked up his phone.

As soon as the screen unlocked, the messages between him and Amelia were right there in front of me.

[Arsen, you must get Celine to wear the new set from my store. Without her modeling pics, I can't launch the new items.]

My hand holding the phone clenched tightly.

What did she mean by that? What modeling? What product launch?

My brain felt like it exploded, blood rushing, my heart pounding wildly as if it would leap from my chest.

With trembling hands, I searched Amelia's store on multiple platforms.

Soon, I found her shop on a certain platform and there I was, posing in her outfits. Everywhere I looked, it was my familiar face, my familiar figure, my familiar clothing …

I stared, frozen in disbelief, as I scrolled through every photo. And under each product listing were filthy, vile comments.

"Is she a store employee? Can you ask how much she charges?"

"Damn, I've never seen such pale bunny girls before. If the outfit came with her, I'd buy out the whole store!"

"Dear shop owner, I beg you for her contact. I'll pay whatever it takes."

"Is she free? Let me take a look."

And beneath every comment, Amelia replied with a blushing emoji, saying, "DM me."