Sarah's POV

The next day, James didn't show up at the office. News of him refusing the arranged marriage spread like wildfire through the company.

Everyone was whispering, "I heard Mr. Carter already has someone he loves - that's why he refused the arrangement."

"I heard he's not at work today because he's preparing to propose to the person he loves!"

"Oh my God, that's so romantic..."

Remembering James's words from yesterday, my heart started racing involuntarily.

Could he be planning to surprise me today?

I waited until evening when James finally called:

"Sarah, I forgot some documents. Could you bring them to my house?"

"Of course, I'll be right there."

After hanging up, I immediately took a taxi to James's villa.

Standing before the familiar door, thinking about what might happen next, I couldn't help taking deep breaths to calm myself.

If he opens the door and proposes, should I say yes immediately or play it cool...

Ding dong~

"Coming~"

A familiar feminine voice answered. Suddenly, my whole body went cold.

The door opened to reveal a beautiful woman in sleepwear.

Seeing me, her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you must be James's secretary Sarah! Wow, we really look alike!

"Even our fashion sense is similar!

"No wonder you've been his secretary for eight years."

The woman before me had a face similar to mine. I felt panic rising.

Seeing the kiss marks on her neck, my blood ran cold. I felt dizzy, barely able to stay upright.

So she was the one James loved?

I spotted a pair of heels by the entrance - identical to the ones James had given me.

In that moment, everything clicked... I was just a stand-in for hert.

She enthusiastically pulled me inside, acting every bit the lady of the house.

"I'm so sorry you had to come all this way for such a small thing.

"Sarah, if we walked down the street together, people would think we're sisters!" She laughed, pulling me to stand in front of James.

"Don't you think so, James?"

James didn't even glance at me, smiling as he pulled her into his arms. "You're more beautiful."

"Stop it~" Emma Leonard turned away playfully, then grabbed my hand warmly. "Thank you for taking such good care of James all these years. I'm grateful on his behalf."

Before her natural confidence, I felt like the other woman.

I finally understood - I'd imagined it all. I thought James's kindness meant love, but it was just his affection for another woman transferred onto me.

Yesterday, when James chose a restaurant I liked, I thought he was finally going to make me his girlfriend.

Instead, it was our last dinner together.

He called me here today to make me understand my place, to stop my unrealistic fantasies.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Oh Sarah, you're such a fool.

You gave him your heart completely, wasted eight years, only to become a complete joke.

"I need to get back to work," I mumbled, keeping my head down as I tried to leave.

Perhaps because I was so heartbroken, I didn't watch my step and twisted my ankle on the stairs.

A sharp pain shot through me, and I nearly collapsed.

"Wait, Sarah..." James saw me stumble and started to reach out, but Emma called him back.

"James, I want your homemade pizza. Make it for me~"

"Of course, anything you want." He withdrew his attention from me completely.

The door closed behind me as I stood awkwardly under the streetlight. My last shred of feelings for James died right there.

When he was with me, James couldn't even boil water. Now he makes pizza. How laughable.

James didn't come to the office for the next few days.

Knowing he was probably busy with his true love, I quietly left my resignation letter on his desk and started packing up my things.

"Oh? Sarah, are you transferring departments?"

"No, I'm resigning."

"What?" My colleague looked shocked. "So suddenly? Did Mr. Carter say something to upset you?”

"Not at all," I smiled and shook my head. "I'm going home to get married."

Everyone was surprised by this news, especially since I'd always been so dedicated to work, practically living for it, and now I was suddenly announcing marriage.

To bid me farewell, several close colleagues arranged a dinner after work in our group chat, planning to drink and chat together.

After years of being James's personal caretaker, I hadn't relaxed like this in ages. After a few drinks, I felt truly free.

We lost track of time, and it was late night when we left the restaurant.

I stood alone on the street trying to get a taxi, but none came.

A group of thugs at the corner of the alley kept looking my way. My knuckles turned white from gripping my phone.

As they drew closer, their predatory stares made my blood run cold.

Scared and desperate, I called James. When he answered, I hesitated.

"Hello? James, could you..."

Emma's voice came through, "Hello? Who is this?"

I fell silent. Either James hadn't saved my number, or Emma was just pretending not to know.

Hearing my silence, she gave a soft laugh. "Sarah, you really don't know your place, do you?

"James never saw you as his girlfriend, yet you kept throwing yourself at him.

"How pathetic can you be?"

"And what about you?" I shot back. "What does it say about you, wanting a man who slept with me for eight years? How does that make you any better than me?"

"You! Hah..." She laughed scornfully. "At least I'm not unwanted like you."

Sarah's POV

I finally managed to get a taxi with help from the restaurant's security guard.

Sitting in the car, it hit me - even this apartment I lived in was from James.

Back when I first started working, I was broke and desperately needed a place to stay.

James had casually bought this apartment near the office and given it to me.

Back then, I thought it meant I was special to him, secretly feeling proud. I'd forgotten that with his wealth, it was nothing more than pocket change.

Reaching my building, I noticed the lights were on in my apartment.

A burglar?

I rushed upstairs, only to find clothes and belongings scattered everywhere when I opened the door.

The entire place had been turned upside down, and the culprit was sitting brazenly on my couch.

"Oh, Sarah, you’re back?” Emma said with a smirk.

"What are you doing?" I glared at her. "You know I can call the police for breaking and entering."

"Breaking and entering?"

Emma smiled dismissively, casually applying lipstick. "How can you prove this is your home?"

She stood up and pressed her finger on the door's fingerprint lock. It beeped and unlocked immediately.

"See? My fingerprint still works.

“Didn’t know that, did you? This apartment was a gift from James to me a while back.

"I went abroad and wasn't using it, so you got lucky. The deed is still in my name.

"I suggest you stop clinging to other people's property and move out soon."

"Wait, that's my lipstick! Give it back!" I recognized the familiar style in her hand and reached for it.

It was the only thing James had personally given me - he'd even applied it for me himself.

He'd said, "It suits you perfectly. Just use this one from now on, the others don't look as good."

"Don't be ridiculous," Emma brushed my hand away, showing me the engraving on the lipstick. "This is mine."

I finally noticed the words "For Emma" engraved on the bottom of the lipstick.

"See? James had this custom-made for me by a designer." She smirked. "Yours was just a mass-produced fake."

I felt all my strength drain away.

"So what?" I forced a smile. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to tell you to stop dreaming. James loves me."

After Emma left.

I sat on the couch for a long time, thinking. Emma was right - I needed to wake up from this dream and live my own life.

I sold all the gifts James had given me, turning them into cash.

After all, money gives me the most security.

At nine that night, my colleagues invited me to a bar for a farewell drink.

But as soon as I walked in, I saw James with Emma by his side.

"Sarah, come join us! We've been waiting for you!"

I tried to leave, but someone pulled me inside.

"We heard you're leaving, and Mr. Carter came personally to say goodbye!"

I frowned - had I known James would be here, I wouldn't have come.

"Mr. Carter, who's this beside you? Haven't seen her before. Now that I look closely, she looks quite like Sarah."

One of my colleagues asked with a smile.

"This is my girlfriend and fiancée, Emma. She just returned from abroad."

Tears instantly filled my eyes.

The word girlfriend hit me like a knife to the chest, and tears instantly welled up in my eyes.

I had spent eight years longing for this title, hoping James would one day hold my hand and introduce me proudly to everyone.

But instead, all I got was him declaring someone else as his girlfriend.

As his words fell, the room went completely silent.

Everyone turned to look at me.

They had always assumed I was James’s girlfriend. After all, I had cared for him in every way, from his work to his personal life.

But now, it was clear—I was just a stand-in. Now that the real one had returned, my presence had become painfully awkward.

"Wow... let's applaud!" I forced a smile, fighting back tears. "Mr. Carter finally has a girlfriend! Let's toast to the future Mrs. Carter!"

Others rushed to join the toast.

I picked up a glass of water, trying to avoid drinking.

"Miss Garnett, we're all drinking alcohol. It's not fair if you just drink water, is it?"

Emma gave me a knowing smirk.

"Sarah, you're about to leave the company and won't even have a drink? Have I been such a terrible boss all these years?" James looked at me with a cold smile.

Sarah's POV

I bit my lip and switched to alcohol. James didn't know that in my eight years as his secretary, I'd developed a stomach ulcer and couldn't drink.

"I can't drink alcohol."

"Emma, don't drink. Your stomach condition will act up tonight."

"You're so caring, James. But that was eight years ago," Emma cooed.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly.

He remembered Emma's stomach issues so clearly, yet when I was hospitalized for ulcers, he hadn't noticed at all - and now he was forcing me to drink.

I grabbed the bottle and took large gulps.

The alcohol burned my stomach, but I couldn't feel it. My heart hurt more.

"Such a good drinker, yet you claimed you couldn't drink. Sarah, do you have a problem with my girlfriend?" James watched me with a mocking smile.

Suddenly, acid rushed up my throat. I rushed out, doubled over in the bathroom, violently sick.

After finishing, I returned to the room.

The party was still lively, with James holding Emma close, both laughing intimately.

I quietly grabbed my bag and left.

Goodbye, James.

I'd booked a flight home for tomorrow.

Let tonight be our final farewell.

Leaving the bar, I'd barely walked a few steps when hands grabbed me from behind and dragged me into an alley.

"Who are you? Let go! What do you want?"

"What do we want?" Several thuggish men blocked my path, leering. "What do you think, pretty girl? Come play with us!"

I screamed in panic, "Help! Someone help me!"

Just then, James and Emma's group left the bar.

Hearing my screams, James immediately rushed over, landing a heavy punch on my captor's face.

"Let her go! Do you have a death wish?"

As my captor fell, I quickly broke free and hid behind James. "I was so scared. James, thank goodness you're here..."

Still shaken, I clutched my chest, secretly happy despite my panic.

James rushing to protect me must mean he still cared.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached for his hand, when suddenly a scream rang out behind us.

"Help! James, save me!"

Two men were dragging Emma deeper into the alley. James immediately rushed over, kicking one in the stomach.

"Don't be scared, Emma!" He held her protectively, terrified she might be hurt. "It's okay, I'll always protect you!"

The thugs blocked the alley entrance. "Playing hero, are we?"

"You can only take one with you! Otherwise, we'll take both women!"

Without a moment's hesitation, James grabbed Emma. "I choose her!"

In that moment, I finally understood true heartbreak.

The man James had punched got up and said to me: "Miss Garnett, this wasn't our deal!

"Didn't you say we just had to pretend? We got beaten up - that'll cost extra!"

I stared at them, confused. "What money? What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you promise to pay us to kidnap that woman and put on an act? Don't tell me you forgot!"

Rage flared in James's eyes. "What?"

"Sarah, how could you stoop so low? You're despicable!"

I looked at him in disbelief, utterly disappointed. "James, is that really what you think of me?"

He looked disgusted. "Haven't you done enough to Emma? Why should I believe you?"

"You're so insanely jealous of Emma, nothing surprises me anymore."

Emma sobbed in his arms. "Why, James? What did I do to make Sarah hate me so much?"

When James couldn't see, she flashed me a triumphant smile.

Suddenly everything clicked - this was just another of Emma's schemes.

"It wasn't me, it was her!" I desperately tried to prove my innocence to James. "She hired these men to frame me!"

"Shut up!" James roared. "Even now you're trying to smear Emma's name? Sarah, when will you stop?"

With that, he turned and carried Emma away quickly, as if he couldn't bear to look at me anymore.

Once they left, the men grabbed my wrists tightly. "Let's drag her in and have some fun!"

"What a body she's got! Well, beautiful, we're just doing what we're paid for. Blame that Miss Leonard if you want!"

"No, don't touch me!"

I screamed in panic, but James's figure grew more distant. He never looked back once.

The men cornered me in the alley, tearing at my clothes.

In my desperation, a single tear rolled down my cheek.