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.

James's POV

In the hospital, Emma lay pale on the bed, her expression still tinged with fear.

"It's okay, Emma." I frowned, squeezing her hand tenderly. "I'm here. I'll stay with you."

Emma opened her eyes and, seeing the worry etched on my face, gave me a weak smile. "James, I'm fine. Please don't frown."

"It hurts me to see you worried. Sarah probably just wasn't thinking clearly. Don't be too angry with her."

Her words softened my expression, but my resentment toward Sarah grew stronger.

I couldn't understand why Sarah kept clinging on me, even going so far as to hurt Emma.

Hadn't we agreed to be just friends with benefits, no feelings involved?

But regardless, since Emma was involved, I wouldn't let Sarah off easily.

"Don't worry Emma, I'll make Sarah apologize to you personally!"

While Emma rested, I stepped outside to call Sarah.

"The number you've dialed is currently switched off..."

I punched the wall in frustration. "Well, Sarah, guilty conscience making you dodge my calls?"

I immediately drove to Sarah's apartment, only to find it completely empty - no trace of her.

"Where's Sarah?" I called my assistant. "Find her location immediately!"

Playing hide and seek with me? How dare she!

"Found her, Mr. Carter." My assistant quickly sent a video to my phone. "This is Miss Garnets last known location from last night."

It showed the alley from last night. In the video, Sarah was surrounded by several men. Despite her desperate struggles, they dragged her roughly into the dark depths of the alley. She never emerged.

"Help! Save me! James..."

The video cut off abruptly. Sarah's terrified, desperate screams shook me to my core.

What was going on? Weren't those men hired by Sarah?

Why would they treat her like this? Was she acting again to get my attention?

But the desperation and fear on her face looked too real. A sense of unease began to grow.

My thoughts were in chaos until my phone suddenly rang.

"Hello?"

"Is this Mr. James Carter? This is the city police department. Do you know Miss Sarah Garnett?”

My brow furrowed instinctively. "Yes, have you found her? Where is she?"

"There was a gang assault last night. We found Miss Garnett’s belongings at the crime scene. Could you come identify them?"

"What?" My pupils dilated in shock. "She was attacked? Where is she?"

"The perpetrators have been arrested, but Miss Garnett is missing. There was significant amount of blood at the scene. She may no longer be alive... Please prepare yourself for the worst."

It felt like lightning struck me.

My phone slipped from my powerless hand, its screen shattering on the floor.

I staggered, nearly falling to my knees.

Even then, I couldn't believe what I'd heard.

Sarah was... dead?