On our wedding day, my boyfriend, Hayden Grant, had me thrown out of the chapel. Instead, he walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with his childhood sweetheart.

I went back in and collapsed at the side of the aisle. The bouquet slipped from my hands, and scattered petals fell everywhere. However, his eyes did not linger on me for even half a second.

"Selena's child needs a dad. Once that's taken care of, I'll marry you."

Everyone thought I, the lovesick fool, would willingly wait another month.

After all, I had already waited for him for seven years.

However, that night, I did something no one expected.

I agreed to my parents' arranged marriage and left the country.

Three years later, I returned home to visit my parents.

My husband, William Fields, was the CEO of a multinational corporation. When an unexpected, important meeting came up, he asked me to head to the company's branch back home ahead of him, where his subordinates would take care of me.

To my surprise, one of those subordinates turned out to be Hayden, the man I had not seen in three years.

His eyes went straight to the sparkling diamond on my ring finger.

"Is this a knockoff of that pink diamond Mr. Fields bought for his wife that's worth five million dollars? I didn't expect you to become so vain after all these years.

"You've stirred up enough drama. Come home. Selena's kid is in school now, so it's the perfect chance for you to take care of his lunches."

I did not say a word and just traced the ring with my fingertips.

He had no idea that this was the cheapest of all the gems William had ever given me.

The moment I stepped into the company's reception area, I saw a sign in the most prominent spot in the room that read: [A Warm Welcome to Mrs. Fields!]

Standing right behind that sign was someone I had not seen in three years—my ex-boyfriend, Hayden Grant.

Three years had passed, yet he still had not offered an explanation, let alone an apology.

There he was, standing tall and smug in the middle of the crowd. Selena Reed was clinging to his arm, and there was a cluster of fawning subordinates at his back.

One of them spotted me right away and let out a sly little laugh. "Wait, Hayden, isn't that the little fangirl who used to trail after you back in the day? What was her name again? Vivi or something? How did she even get into the company?"

Hayden was stunned for a moment. However, he quickly put on an air of indifference as though everything was unfolding exactly as he had expected.

"She must've used my name to get in. I told you, she can't stay away from me. Sooner or later, she was bound to come back."

The group burst out laughing.

"Back then, when Vivian disappeared without a word, I thought she had grown a backbone. Turns out she just couldn't resist once she heard you'd become an executive at a top firm!"

"But seriously, Vivian, if you're going to pretend this is some casual run-in, at least dress the part. What on earth are you wearing? Is that your grandma's bedsheet?"

"Did leaving Hayden leave you so broke that you can't even afford a decent outfit? That's just pathetic."

They thought I was the same girl from years ago—the one who wore heavy makeup, dressed provocatively, and always tried desperately to please Hayden.

They did not know that I quit that ridiculous act three years ago.

I had married a man who cherished me and did not treat me like a plaything—William Fields, the CEO of a top multinational corporation.

The thick, loose shawl I was wearing had been specially made by William to keep me warm during my pregnancy.

I had also grown used to going barefaced since carrying our child.

I was the Mrs. Fields they were waiting for, but they had not realized it yet.

Noticing my silence, one of the colleagues who used to know me rushed to lighten the mood for me. "Vivian, it's good to have you back. Hayden has been looking everywhere for you and asks about you all the time."

Hayden's smile stiffened.

Trying to preserve his dignity, he gave a dismissive shrug and said, "Selena's kid is about to start school, so we need someone to be in charge of his lunch. Stop making things difficult and just come back to cook for him."

Hayden had not changed. He was still as arrogant and self-assured as ever.

Nevertheless, I was no longer the lovestruck girl who once looked at him like he had hung the moon and the stars in the sky. Now, all I felt was disgust.

Tired of their nonsense, I was about to tell them the truth about who I was when Selena cut in with a saccharine voice.

"Vivian, don't blame Hayden. He's only thinking about what's best for you. You've been gone for three years. Who knows what kind of lowly jobs you've been working?

"Look at yourself now, penniless and pathetic. He just wants to give you an opportunity at stability. Of course, being his secretary would only embarrass him.

"Don't worry. If you help me take care of the child, no one will look down on you."

I arched my brow. My hands instinctively brushed against my belly, but I did not answer.

I wondered how far their arrogance could possibly go.

Hayden mistook my silence for jealousy. He put on a mocking smile. "Enough. You couldn't make it out there and came crawling back. You should be grateful I'm even offering you a job.

"Take care of the child. Stop causing trouble, and learn your place.

"I know you can't live without me. Well, there's a break room reserved for the cleaning staff. You can stay there."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the people around us burst into mocking laughter.

"See, Vivian? Hayden's being so kind. He's worried you've suffered, so he's giving you food and shelter."

"He's only asking you to bring meals for Selena's kid. Isn't that already a huge step up from the shabby life you used to have? Aren't you going to thank him?"

"Do you think she can even handle it? I hope she doesn't end up giving the kid food poisoning."

Selena deliberately played with the diamond earrings on her ears. She put on a fake sweet voice to add, "Don't worry, Vivian. My son isn't picky. He'll eat whatever you make, but he does eat a lot. You'll have to start cooking a few hours before every meal. Does that feel a bit too much to ask of you?"

Hayden let out a derisive laugh and shot a glance at me. "Too much? She vanished over nothing back then, and now she wants back in. It's only fair that she eats some humble pie."

My brows furrowed when I heard that.

Even now, he actually believed that throwing me out on our wedding day and replacing his bride was no big deal?

I finally understood that the boy who once stayed by my hospital bed all night after my accident, spent his last ten dollars to buy me a cake, and swore before his parents' graves that he would love me forever, was long gone.

All that remained was this arrogant, pathetic shell.

It was what it was.

All of that was in the past and no longer worth mentioning.

After all, I was about to give birth to my second child.

I forced down the emotions swirling inside me, unwilling to keep arguing with them. It was pointless.

I glanced at the pastries on the table in the reception room and asked calmly, "Weren't you all waiting for me? I'm a little hungry. Could you pass me one of those pastries?"

The air went still. The silence was so deafening that you could hear a pin drop.

The group exchanged startled glances before bursting into raucous laughter.

Selena laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes. "Seriously? You think we're waiting for you? Do you really think you're that important?"

She shoved the pastries even farther away and pointed at the welcome sign. "Take a good look at this. We're waiting for Mrs. Fields. Do you even know who that is?"

Of course I knew. That woman was me.

Everyone else jumped in to agree.

"Vivian, stop dreaming. You think you can sneak a pastry meant for Mrs. Fields? You're not even worthy of carrying her shoes!"

"Rumor has it that although William is ruthless in business, he's the ultimate romantic when it comes to his wife. He refused to get married until she agreed to be with him."

"Everyone says if you want to get on William's good side, you should butter up his wife. She's his favorite person in the world…"

I could not help but curl my lips into a faint smile as I listened to their chatter.

After three years of marriage, William had become more than a business legend. Every woman wished her boyfriend were like him, and men could not hope to match him when it came to the love he showed his wife.

Selena, who loved digging up gossip about powerful businessmen, flaunted what she knew. "I heard that William once spent five million on a giant pink diamond just to win his wife's heart. The diamond symbolizes a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. It drove women all over the world absolutely mad with envy!"

She paused for a moment, then suddenly caught sight of the diamond ring on my finger and let out a sharp cry. "Wait, that's the one!"

The room instantly fell silent again. Everyone held their breath and turned to look at my ring.

Hayden suddenly grabbed my hand, scrutinizing it with a mocking sneer.

"Not a bad knockoff," Hayden scoffed. "Who gave you this? Some broke loser trying too hard?"

I shook off his hand and gave a faint smile. My fingers gently brushed over the ring.

It was the proposal gift William had given me on our very first Valentine's Day together.

It was not the most expensive piece he had ever given me, but it was irreplaceable to me.

To me, it was a symbol of his love. To them, it was something they could not even dream of touching.

Realizing I was not the least bit flustered, Hayden's pupils tightened with a sudden flash of fury. Without warning, he lunged forward, seized my hand, and tore the ring off my finger with a brutal yank.

Before I could react, he had already taken it from me.

Selena took the ring from Hayden and held it up, turning it over as she examined it.

"It's definitely nicer than the knockoff I bought, but at least I have some dignity. I'd never wear a fake in public and make a fool of myself.

"Or are you claiming that you're the guest from abroad, the legendary Mrs. Fields?"

Her words set off an uproar of laughter.

To them, it was utterly ridiculous.

William Fields was a world-class business leader known for his sharp instincts and decisive judgment.

As for me, I was nothing more than the worthless ex Hayden tossed aside three years ago.

They could not even put us together in the same sentence.

Selena tossed the ring lightly in her hand, flipping it up and catching it with careless ease. "Vivian, I really like this knockoff of yours. Sell it to me. Whatever you paid for it, I'll give you double."

Afraid she might scratch the diamond, I quickly said, "Give it back. That ring was a gift from William…"

Before I could finish, Hayden's palm flew across my face, snapping my head to the side. Blood filled my mouth.

"Shut your mouth!" With his jaw tight, he hissed in a low, furious voice, "Who gave you the confidence to keep William's name in your mouth? Do you want to get me killed with your lies?!"

His lackeys glared at me as though I had committed some unforgivable crime.

"Do you have any idea what you're saying? This is our only chance to make a good impression on Mrs. Fields! The head office is sending people down to inspect soon. Are you trying to ruin Hayden's career?"

"He fought tooth and nail to become an executive. Do you think a pathetic ex like yourself can pose as Mrs. Fields?"

I wiped the blood from my lip and slowly turned back to face Hayden.

Perhaps my gaze was too cold and sharp as he actually flinched. A hint of unease flickered across his eyes.

Selena noticed and immediately shrieked, pointing at me, "Vivian, you ungrateful woman! Hayden's already agreed to take you back, yet you're still pushing your luck?!

"Even if you still hold a grudge against Hayden, you can't stoop this low just to get revenge on him!"

Her words dragged me back to three years ago.

Back then, no matter what I did, Selena always managed to twist my intentions and belittle me in front of Hayden.

In the beginning, Hayden stood up for me, even lashing out at Selena on my behalf.

Over time, he began to echo her words, turning his anger to me.

Just like now. Hayden's face hardened, and his voice was harsh with disappointment. "You pathetic, jealous woman!"

However, his gaze lingered on my clothes. Unlike before, he did not pile on the insults.

After a moment's hesitation, he pulled out a bank card and flicked it at me.

"I'll let this slide just once for the old times' sake. There's $500,000 on this card. The password's your birthday. Take it and buy yourself some decent clothes. And if you're not willing to deliver meals for the kid, I'll help you find some other respectable work in a few days.

"Relax! I'm an executive now. That kind of money is nothing to me."

I glanced at the bank card, then at his smug face.

With everyone staring in shock, I slowly pushed away the card he offered and took my ring back from Selena.

"Keep your card. I'm not short on money," I said indifferently, "If you've got that much to spare, go donate it to children in need."

I ignored Hayden's flushed, angry face and strode away.

I had not taken more than a few steps when he suddenly grabbed me. He questioned me in a cold voice, "Vivian, are you still putting on an act in front of me? You're my woman, so spending my money is only natural. Don't act like you don't care. I know better than you what you really want."

I met his gaze. "Do I need to remind you? We were over the moment you threw me out of our wedding three years ago."

If anyone truly knew me better than myself, it was William.

He never made a show of it, yet he remembered every little thing I loved.

I loved the scent of roses in the morning, so he always put a fresh bouquet by the window.

I preferred my coffee with milk, and his assistants had never once brought me the wrong cup.

I got cold easily. He quietly kept that in mind, always making sure I had a shawl and gloves before I could even ask.

If William knew another man was standing before me, boasting about how well he understood me, that man would have to start praying.

Hayden seemed to misunderstand. He glanced at Selena with a knowing smirk.

"Throwing another little tantrum, are you? Fine. The Fields Corporation is holding an annual gala in three days to welcome William back to the country. Every big name in the business world will be there. I'll take you with me and let you see how the real upper circle looks.

"But you'll need to ditch that dowdy outfit. Don't embarrass me."

I did not wait for him to finish and immediately declined. "No, thank you."

Upon being turned down once more, Hayden's irritation flared. He clenched his teeth so hard they rattled.

"Vivian, I see you've got a bit more bite these days, but you're still thinking way too small.

"If you won't go, I'll take Selena. Don't regret it!"

Selena's eyes lit up when she heard that, and she was quick to respond.

"Hayden, give me the card. I'll dress nicely, and I promise I won't embarrass you."

I did not want to waste another second on them. Turning on my heel, I left, letting a single, icy remark hang in the air.

"We'll see if you're still so confident in three days."

As I stepped out into the fresh air, the nausea that had been pressing on my stomach finally eased.

Three years ago, my parents arranged a marriage for me. Under the crushing pressure to settle down, I begged my boyfriend of seven years, Hayden, to marry me, planning to tie the knot first and explain to my family later.

Hayden had agreed.

I never imagined that on my wedding day, I would not just be waiting for Hayden, but also his childhood sweetheart, Selena.

"Selena's child needs a father. I'll marry her first. Once we've fooled her family, I'll come back and marry you.

"It's all for the child's mental health. Don't overthink it."

Watching him walk into the chapel hand in hand with Selena from behind, I felt my heart shatter into pieces.

That night, I accepted my parents' arrangement.

A month later, I married William, and a year later, I gave birth to our first child. Now, our second was on the way.

If not for returning to visit my parents, I would not have come back to this country or seen Hayden again.

…

Three days later, I put on a touch of makeup, slipped into loose, understated clothes, and went alone to the annual gala.

The moment Hayden saw me, his eyes lit up, and a smug smile tugged at his lips.

"You said you wouldn't show up, but your actions tell a different story.

"If you actually think you can win me back, the least you could do is learn some high-society manners. You should wear a gown to a fancy event like this. What kind of woman would show up here in pants?"

I ignored his sudden ego trip and made my way to my seat.

He blocked my way, his tone furious.

"Vivian, I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me? Our white seats are right by the door. Where do you think you're going?"

I pulled my hand free and replied in a cold voice, "That's your seat. Mine is over there."

Following the direction of my hand, Hayden's gaze landed on the most prestigious golden seats in the banquet hall. His face darkened instantly.

Selena shot me a venomous look, then jabbed her finger at me and shouted,

"Vivian, how did you sneak in here? And how dare you wear a replica of Mrs. Field's diamond ring? You're here just to make trouble, aren't you?!"

Her voice rang out loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.