My parents died in a car accident and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. I cried and begged friends and relatives for help, only to be coldly rejected.

In my despair, my fiancée ignored the gossip and handled my parents' funeral, insisted we still go through with the wedding.

But in the fifth year of our marriage, after my 99th failed startup attempt, I used the last of my money to buy her a bouquet of roses.

Only to accidentally overhear a conversation between her and her best friend, "Shania, how many times has Gabriel failed at starting a business? I've lost count. He really is a fool. Every time he fails, it's because you handed the core data over to Luke and he doesn't suspect a thing?"

Then came Shania's icy reply, "This is the 99th time. What, do you pity him?"

Sofia said, "No, it's just ... after all, you've been married for five years. Luke is coming back to the country tomorrow. Aren't you worried what will happen if he finds out?"

Shania said, "Luke isn't that poor kid from back then anymore. He's now a rising star in tech. Our companies working together is perfectly normal. I only chose Gabriel back then because I couldn't be with Luke. Now that he's successful, everything I've done is worth it."

I clutched the bouquet tighter, tears slipped down my face.

So, what I thought was salvation … was nothing more than Shania used me as a stepping stone to help her old flame.

She had actually married someone she didn't love, for him. If that's the case, this marriage wasn't worth keeping.

——

Inside the room, Shania held a wine glass, her voice full of longing and regret while saying, "If I can't be with Luke, then at least I can help him, make sure he never struggles with money again. That's the only thing I can still do for him. As for Gabriel ... I'll keep an eye on him. I won't let him find out the truth."

Her friend across from her looked disappointed, conflicted and said, "You gave him so many resources and he rejected them all. But then he specifically asked for what Gabriel had. He's clearly doing it on purpose, trying to ruin things between you two!"

She warned, "If the truth comes out, not only will you face public backlash, the Timberson Group's reputation will be destroyed too. Gabriel might even hate you. It's just not worth it."

But Shania sipped her wine indifferently and said, "Not worth it? Maybe. But love has never been something that can be measured. Once we get this last batch of data, everything will be over. And I don't want to hear another word about it."

Sofia still worried, "And what about Gabriel? He's spent five years buried in the lab, watching someone else steal his work and bask in the spotlight. Don't you ever think about how he feels? He loves you so much and you ..."

She was cut off by Shania’s word, "Enough. I already said, Luke is not a thief. If someone needs to be held responsible, it's me. I gave him the information. I'll take full responsibility!"

Sofia sighed, "Ugh ... I really don't understand you. Why bother? You didn't have to drag Gabriel into this, but you still ... Forget it. Do whatever you want."

Their voices faded. I slid down the wall and sat on the cold floor.

The scene of my parents' deaths five years ago was still fresh in my mind. Their deaths had caused the company to collapse.

It was Shania who pulled me back from the rooftop. She handled the company's debts and took me into the Timberson Family.

I thought I had found redemption and I willingly drowned in the happiness she created. But I never imagined, it was all a lie.

Her repeated encouragement to keep trying was only so she could pass everything I built to Luke. And like a fool, I believed her every comforted word and started over, again and again.

How ridiculous. As the door opened, I quickly gathered my emotions.

Shania immediately helped me up, holding my hand, her eyes full of concern when she said, "Why are you sitting on the floor?"

I replied casually, "I stayed up too late. Just wanted to sit down and rest a bit. Didn't expect you to come out right then."

"You don't need to push yourself so hard. As long as I love you, I won't care what others think. I'll take you home to rest." She gently caressed my face, tried to escort me home.

But I turned my head to avoid her touch. How could she speak of loving someone else one moment, then say she loves me the next?

She was momentarily stunned by my avoidance, confusion flashed in her eyes. I quickly handed her the flowers in my hand and said, "No need. I just came to give you these flowers. I'll go home and rest now. You girls enjoy your night."

At my words, her expression finally settled and surprisingly, she even walked me out of the clubhouse.

Back at the Timberson residence, I quietly opened the room that was of utmost importance to her.

As the door swung open, the first thing I saw was a hand-drawn portrait. The lines were already fading, clearly from being touched too often.

The walls were covered with photos of Luke Hudson, arranged in chronological order. The first one was from the day of our wedding.

So all these years, every time she said she handled 'important business' in here, she was actually reminiscing about Luke.

There was also a safe in the room. I keyed in Luke's birthday and it opened. There was nothing of value inside, just the love letters Luke had written her.

Started from my first business failure, every time he received my data, he wrote her a letter. Each one filled with deep, lingered emotions.

Even knew now that I was just a pawn in Shania's grand lie, my heart still felt like it had been torn in two.

Every time I failed, Shania would help me analyze the data, offered her guidance. I truly believed in her love for me, I fell hopelessly for her. I never imagined it was all just a way to easily pass my work on to Luke.

Among the contents, there was also a letter she never sent.

My hands trembled as I opened it. After I read it, tears poured uncontrollably down my face. Shania planned to propose to Luke after she got my final dataset.

Even if she couldn't give him a legal marriage, she still wanted to throw him a wedding.

And me? Because my parents had just passed, she said we shouldn't celebrate our wedding. Aside from a marriage certificate, I got nothing.

I wiped my tears with bitter self-mockery and used my phone to photograph every letter.

These were not only proof of Shania's betrayal, they were also evidence that Luke had stolen my work. After documented everything, I carefully restored the room to its original state.

After closing the door, I made a phone call. Someone said on the line, "Mr. Lambert, you've agreed?"

I said, "Yes. I agree to sell all the data to you, but the release timing is up to me!"

Just as I hung up, I heard Shania's familiar voice behind me, "Gabriel, who were you just on the phone with? What are you planning to release?"

I quickly put my phone away and replied calmly, "Nothing. Just some lab-related stuff that needs reorganization and publication. Your gathering with Sofia is over? I'll go make you some tea to sober up."

She didn't press further, just wrapped her arms around my back, rest her head on my shoulder, breathed softly against my neck.

She said, "Honey, let's have a baby."

I froze for a moment.

She turned around and hugged my head, looked into my eyes with affection and said, "I saw the parenting books you bought! What's the point of studying those on your own? We've been married five years, it's time to have a child."

"Next year when the baby is born, we can go together to tell your parents. They'll be relieved to know you're no longer alone. But before that, you need to work hard, okay?" she said again.

I forced a smile and hugged her back without saying a word.

She ran upstairs, looked excited and even glanced back at me flirtatiously.

To keep me from losing hope, she had dangled the idea of having a child in front of me for five years. Because I could endure any humiliation, but a child shouldn't have to.

Truthfully, without her constant manipulation, I wouldn't have achieved so much. But this five-year-long scam had to end.

As soon as she went upstairs, I left the house using the lab as an excuse. After drafted a divorce agreement, I bought a plane ticket to go abroad in three days.

The Timberson Family holds immense power in the capital, so if I expose Luke now, I stand no chance. My only shot was at his product launch three days from now. That day, everything will come to light.

The next day, when I brought the divorce agreement to her office, I overheard the secretaries talks.

"Is that Shania's husband? He looks so shabby." One girl said.

Another secretary chimed in, "Of course he's shabby. His family went bankrupt five years ago. Now he lives off Shania, he's just a kept man. I don't know what she ever saw in him."

"But the one who just went in is different. I heard he's a rising star in the business world, self-made. The way Shania looked at him, like she wanted to stick to him. I think she's planning to trade up!" The other girl said again.

I clenched my fists tightly and ignored the chatter. I walked straight to Shania's office door and was about to knock. But I stopped when I heard voices inside.

Shania said, "Have you been doing well these years?"

The man's voice replied, "Didn't all the letters I sent you tell you that? I've been living abroad alone, I have more money than I can spend. I even bought a private jet to come back this time. Just a shame … traveling alone is always a bit lonely."

Shania's voice was filled with sadness, almost choked up, "That's good. That way, I can rest easy."

"Shania, thank you for everything you've done for the company. Otherwise, I might still be struggling to survive somewhere." said Luke.

He said again, "I won't stay at your house before the launch. I don't want to upset Gabriel. After all, he used to support me. Now that our roles are reversed, I'm afraid he won't take it well if we argue ..."

Luke was always like this. Benefited from everything, yet pretended to be the humble one. He always tried to make me look bad in front of others.

When I failed the first time, I had investigated him in secret. I found that his company's products were strikingly similar to mine.

I reported him for use my real name, requested data proof, but was arrested by the police for defamation. Everyone said I couldn't handle failure and was smearing others out of spite.

Only Shania stepped in to smooth things over for me. She became the only one I trusted.

But now, she handed over everything I had to someone else.

Through the crack in the door, I saw her bitter expression. She pulled a document from her desk and handed it to Luke while said, "This is Gabriel's latest research. With this, you'll have a firm footing in the domestic market during your launch in three days. Consider it a gift to celebrate your return."