Grayson disliked the smell of alcohol, so over the years, I turned down one gathering after another. Little by little, I lost touch with my friends. I spent every day with him only, and in the end, I did not even have a single person left to borrow money from.

I was left with no choice, so I brought Dolly’s ashes back home first.

I stood in the doorway and looked down at my worn-out socks and shoes, their soles peeling and paint flaking. I looked painfully out of place in this lavish, gilded villa.

For years, Grayson had claimed he was saving up for our marriage by holding on to my salary and tightly controlling my spending.

Whether it was using a frayed toothbrush or my clothes coming apart at the seams, I never complained. I even turned down an overseas offer from a top tech company, choosing instead to stay by his side and carry this burden with him.

In the end, I lost everything.

Sylvia stole my career, and now, she had taken away my sister, my only family.

It was time I started planning things for myself.

With that thought in mind, I called the overseas tech company.

“I accept your offer. Give me three days. I’ll start working abroad after that.”

They agreed immediately, almost too quickly, as though they were afraid I would change my mind.

Just as I hung up, a voice came from behind me.

“What’s this about going abroad?”

Grayson had returned at some point.

I did not even look up and brushed him off.

“My friend is going abroad and asked for my opinion on something.”

He let out a cold laugh.

“Stop lying. Who else do you have, aside from me?”

Realizing he had gone too far, he patted my shoulder.

“Don’t be childish. I’m only making you and Dolly wait for now because of my plan for revenge.”

Then, he took out his phone and transferred $100 to me.

“Use this to buy Dolly some nutritious food and toys. Just don’t let Sylvia find out. She’ll make a fuss again.”

He complained about Sylvia, but the affection in his eyes was impossible to hide.

We were supposed to be the real couple, yet I felt like the one who did not belong, like a rat hiding in the shadows.

At first, Grayson truly had been set on avenging Sylvia. Every time a plan succeeded, he would turn to me with a tender, knowing look.

I played my part well too, putting on the act of being devastated, believing we were one step closer to revenge.

However, slowly, something changed. The way Grayson looked at Sylvia grew more and more admiring, even affectionate. His indifference and impatience toward me no longer felt like an act.

He did not seem to realize that his so-called revenge had long since gone off course.

I sent the money back to him. My throat burned with bitterness.

“Grayson, we…”

Should break up.

Before the words could leave my mouth, I heard the electronic door lock’s code being keyed in from outside.

Sylvia walked in and froze when she saw us.

“Grayson, didn’t you say you came back to get my birthday gift? Is this it?”

She strode forward and shoved me aside. Her voice was sharp with disgust.

“Jade, how can an ex-girlfriend like you have the nerve to keep living in your ex-boyfriend’s house like some parasite? Have you no shame?!”

The air turned suffocatingly awkward. Grayson broke the silence. He opened a drawer, took out a scarf, and handed it to her with a gentle expression.

“I didn’t lie. I did come back for your gift. I didn’t expect Jade to be here, asking for money.”

I had once believed he had the scarf custom-made for me. In the end, it was just another illusion I had mistaken for Grayson’s love.

Sylvia refused to take the scarf. She raised her hand arrogantly.

“Don’t think you can brush me off. Give me your phone!”

Grayson let out a helpless sigh and handed it over.

Sylvia caught sight of the transfer he had just made to me. Her expression twisted in anger as she knocked the scarf to the floor.

“Grayson, you’re secretly sending her money? If you still can’t let go of the past, why did you come to me at all?

“You put me in charge of your finances, so you’re supposed to trust me. If you don’t, I’ll resign right now!”

She stormed out.

Grayson, who was usually so calm and composed, immediately lost his composure and chased after her.

After a few steps, he seemed to remember something. He stopped abruptly, turned back, and grabbed my hand, gently shaking it like he always did when he was coaxing me.

“Just wait a little longer. Everything will end in three days. I’ll make it up to you properly then.”

He left in a hurry.

It was the same way he always coaxed me, soft and familiar. Once, it had been enough to make me yield every time.

However, I felt nothing but disgust now. I wiped my hand over and over with a tissue, as though I was trying to erase his touch.

I let out a cold laugh as I watched him from behind.

He still did not know that I would be leaving this country the day after tomorrow.

He also did not know that the moment my sister died, whatever we had died with her.

…

After Grayson left, I put Dolly’s ashes away properly and bought a flight ticket to Freedonia, departing the day after tomorrow.

Then, I turned on my computer and submitted my resignation to his company online.

After that, I started packing.

While sorting through my things, I accidentally came across an old photo.

In it, Grayson and I looked young and carefree, standing on either side of Dolly and holding her hands. We were all smiling like we were on top of the world.

We met in university. After my parents died unexpectedly, Dolly and I were left alone.

I once planned to drop out and work to support her.

Grayson stepped in, offering to fund our education and even sending us our monthly living expenses.

I was grateful to him. When his family went bankrupt, I stood by him and helped him rebuild everything.

Those days were hard, but we were happy.

He was not just good to me. He adored Dolly too. He would queue for her favorite toys, and when he learned she loved dancing, he enrolled her in classes himself.

However, everything changed when Sylvia came into our lives.

A year ago, Sylvia hit Dolly with her car. Dolly suffered permanent damage to her leg and could no longer dance.

Six months ago, Grayson removed me from my position as part of his so-called revenge plan against Sylvia.

This morning, Dolly saw him buying a car for Sylvia. She tried to stand up for me, but Sylvia shoved her to the ground. It triggered a brain hemorrhage, and because Sylvia refused to approve the emergency salary withdrawal, my sister died.

He promised to ruin Sylvia. In the end, I was the one who lost everything.

I let out a cold laugh and tore the photo into pieces, tossing it into the trash.

After packing, I was about to sleep when Grayson sent a message.

[Sylvia’s throwing a tantrum. I need to calm her down tonight. I won’t be back.]

Ever since Sylvia joined the company, he had stopped updating me entirely.

I only felt a brief flicker of surprise at him letting me know this before putting my phone away and turning it off.

I slept until I naturally woke up the next day. It was already late afternoon.

I was about to go to the company to resign when I opened the door and saw Grayson’s bodyguards standing outside.

“Miss Lowe, Mr. Shaw is looking for you.”

Without giving me a chance to refuse, they took me straight to City Hall.

When I got out of the car, Grayson immediately came up and took my hand.

“Jade, I know I was wrong to leave you alone yesterday to comfort Sylvia, but it was all part of my plan for revenge.

“I initially wanted to register our marriage today as compensation. Look, I even prepared everything, but we still arrived too late. City Hall is already closed. Next time, I’ll definitely marry you.”

I had lost count of how many times he had said something like this.

Next time, there would be no next time.

If he truly wanted to marry me, he would not have deliberately chosen a time when it was closed.

“Grayson, honestly...”

I pulled my hand back, about to tell him it was not necessary anymore, when he cut me off.

“Even though we didn’t get the certificate, don’t worry. Our revenge plan will end tomorrow. I’ll make her lose everything and pay the price for her sins at her celebration banquet.

“I’ll treat you to a big meal tonight to make it up to you, all right?”

He smiled as he spoke, already reaching for the car door.

The next second, his face went pale, and he froze completely.

“Sylvia, what are you doing here?!”

…

Sylvia was already standing behind us. Her eyes were red, tears trembling at the corners.

“So you’ve been lying to me all along, Grayson. Everything you did for me was fake!

“Jade told me you were going to register your marriage with me, so I even dressed up for it. In the end, it was just another part of your plan for revenge.

“I trusted you so much. How could you do this to me?! Take back everything you’ve ever given me. I don’t want any of it. It’s all disgusting!”

In a fit of anger, she ripped off the bracelet Grayson had once spent millions on at an auction and hurled it in my direction. She also tore off the scarf he had given her and stomped on it hard.

I could not dodge in time. The diamonds on the bracelet scratched across my cheek, leaving a bright red line.

However, Grayson did not even look at me. He was wholly focused on comforting Sylvia.

“Sylvia, listen to me—”

“I don’t want to hear it! Stay away from me! I don’t want to see you! If you hate me that much, then I’ll just die to atone for Jade’s sister!”

She shoved him away and ran toward the traffic.

Panic finally broke through Grayson’s composure. He rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.

Even though he reacted quickly, she was still grazed by a passing car. Grayson held her tightly. His eyes were full of distress, but they turned cold as he looked at me.

“Why did you call her here? Were you trying to provoke her? You couldn’t even wait a few more days?”

“I didn’t—”

“If anything happens to Sylvia, I won’t let you get away with it!”

He cut me off sharply, then carried Sylvia straight to the hospital without looking back.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

Of course. Between Sylvia and me, Grayson would always choose her.

At that moment, I noticed Grayson had already approved my resignation. He really did hate me that much.

I took a taxi back to the office.

After finishing the handover, I packed up my desk and carried my box of things as I prepared to leave.

I heard mocking voices from my colleagues behind me.

“So what if she was the CEO’s fiancée? She still got kicked out.”

“She already tried to leech off Mr. Shaw’s money before getting married. What a parasite. She deserved it!”

Ever since Grayson started this so-called revenge plan, Sylvia had used his favoritism to make things difficult for me.

My coworkers followed suit, throwing obstacles in my way to please her. I had long grown numb to their cold words. They no longer hurt me.