I decide to propose to Rebecca Milton, now that we've been in a relationship for five years. But I end up overhearing her conversation with her childhood friend, Tobias Wright, outside a private room in the clubhouse.

"Seriously, Rebecca? Are you still hooked on the idea of pretending to be a poor student? All this just so you can win a bet of wooing Sebastian Grant, the business genius, and making him yours?

"The Grants are on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. Heck, Sebastian has also cut ties with his family just so he can be with you. Don't tell me you seriously plan on marrying him!"

Every cell in my body freezes upon hearing Tobias' words. Then, I hear Rebecca responding to him flippantly.

"Marry him? As if! All I have to do is wait for him to propose to me, then I can expose the truth of the bet to him on the spot! Oh, the expression he's wearing must be amazing!"

Tobias chuckles lightly in return. "You are in a five-year relationship with Sebastian at the end of the day. Are you sure you don't have feelings for him?"

Rebecca scoffs back. "I was just playing with him, you know? Whoever puts their heart on the line loses this game."

Then, she gazes at Tobias tenderly. "Don't you know very well who I'm truly in love with?"

It turns out that the girlfriend I'm head over heels for, as well as the relationship that I view as my prized treasure, is nothing but the product of a bet.

I call my parents on the spot. "I will go along with the marriage alliance."

A flippant male voice came from the private room, edged with amusement. "Come on, Rebecca. You've been playing the broke college student for five years, and you still aren't tired of it?

"And all this for a bet? Just to see if you could land Sebastian, the so-called business prodigy. I've got to hand it to you."

I stopped short, as if struck by lightning.

Right then, another man spoke up. It was Tobias Wright, Rebecca Milton's childhood friend.

"The Grants are on the brink of collapsing. I heard Sebastian even fell out with his family because of you. Poor guy," he commented with a hint of glee.

Then, Tobias changed the subject.

"You're not actually planning to marry him, are you?" he asked tentatively.

The room fell silent at once.

Moments later, my girlfriend, Rebecca, said, "Marry him? Don't be ridiculous. I'm just waiting for him to propose. Then, I'll expose the truth about the bet right there. The look on his face will be priceless."

A chill settled over me as my heart sank.

Tobias let out a soft chuckle. "You've been together for five years, and you're telling me you never felt anything for him?"

"I was just toying with him." Rebecca scoffed. "If he took it seriously, that's his loss. Tobias, you should know who I really love, shouldn't you?"

Her voice softened at the end, full of undisguised affection.

I couldn't feel my limbs as I turned and walked back to the car. Each of my steps was heavier than the last.

…

Neon lights flickered outside the window, but none of it reached me.

Right then, memories came rushing back like a rising tide.

Five years ago, I met Rebecca in a bar. She had been a broke college student working there. After accidentally spilling a drink on a customer, she'd been cornered by a group that started giving her a hard time.

She pressed her lips together stubbornly, defiance written across her face. However, the embarrassment in her eyes gave her away.

I'd just been passing by and stepped in to help her out. From that moment on, she latched onto me.

Rebecca said she had no way to repay me, so she might as well give herself to me.

I had taken it as a joke and never expected her to actually start checking on me constantly. She was attentive in every little way.

When I worked late, she'd wait up with a homemade meal. When I got sick, she'd cross half the city in the pouring rain just to bring me some seafood bisque from my favorite place.

"Seb, you deserve the very best in the world," Rebecca had said.

Even the strongest man couldn't resist that kind of persistence, especially when she was young, beautiful, and so thoughtful.

Before I knew it, I had fallen for her, and we started dating. She was four years younger than me.

I thought we felt the same way about each other. However, in the end, it had all been one-sided from the very beginning.

…

Suddenly, the car door was yanked open. The smell of alcohol, laced with her familiar perfume, flooded in.

Rebecca, who was a little tipsy, slid into the passenger seat and leaned against my shoulder like she always did. She nuzzled closer, soft and affectionate. "Seb, what took you so long? I've been waiting forever."

There was an intimate note of reproach in her voice as she added, "Why didn't you call me when you got here? You had me worried."

I swallowed the storm raging inside me and forced a smile. "I just arrived. Didn't want to interrupt you."

Rebecca didn't notice anything amiss. With a contented sigh, she kissed my cheek. Then, her head tilted, and she fell asleep against my shoulder.

"Tobias… T-Tobias, don't be mad…" she mumbled incoherently.

I smiled. However, the tears came anyway, burning as they slid down my cheeks.

I left Rebecca with Mary Smith, the housekeeper, then turned the car around and drove to the Grant residence.

The living room was brightly lit. My parents were sitting on the couch. Worry was etched across their faces. Mom froze when she saw me, and a moment later, her eyes brimmed with tears.

Dad, however, let out a heavy sigh. His expression turned grim, and his voice was tight with suppressed anger as he asked, "So, you've decided to come back?"

Without missing a beat, I sank to my knees. "Dad, Mom… I'm sorry. I was wrong."

For five years, I had burdened them with worry, all for the sake of being with Rebecca.

At the end of the day, blood was thicker than water. My parents couldn't bring themselves to be too harsh with me.

After five long years of estrangement, we finally made peace.

Guilt weighed heavily on me. For five years, I had neglected Grant Corporation, leaving my parents to carry far too much of the burden.

I looked into their eyes, and resolve settled in my gaze. "Dad, Mom… I'll go through with the marriage arrangement."

For the sake of my family and for myself, I had to change.

"I'll end things with Rebecca once and for all," I added.

…

Once I returned to the apartment I shared with Rebecca, I began rifling through every drawer. In the back of a desk in the study, I found a locked wooden box.

I remembered how much Rebecca had treasured it. She never let me touch it. Now, I grabbed some tools and pried the lock open.

Inside was a stack of photographs—all of Tobias. Some showed his radiant smile, while others caught him with his head lowered, lost in thought.

There were even shots of him running across a sunlit field in a jersey. And in every picture, Rebecca's love and attention were unmistakable.

There was also a sketchbook in the box. On one page was a beautifully drawn watch, and the words "Right Time" were delicately engraved on its dial.

Rebecca had designed it herself. She had told me I was her inspiration, that it was meant as a birthday gift for me. As it turned out, even this gift had been custom-made for Tobias.

Scattered among them were sticky notes listing his preferences, his favorite foods, his favorite colors, and the little wishes he had mentioned in passing. Each piece held a trace of her love for him.

I, on the other hand, had been a fool. I was kept in the dark for five long years, and now, I understood what it felt like for a heart to go numb.

I gathered several large suitcases and trash bags. Without hesitation, I packed up everything that had belonged to Rebecca. Then, I dumped it all at the trash collection point downstairs.

By the time I finished, dawn was beginning to break.

I showered, changed into a tailored suit, and looked at the man in the mirror. Though I looked pale, my gaze was sharper than ever.

"Welcome back, Sebastian Grant," I whispered to myself.

…

A few days later, I accompanied my parents to a charity auction. Appearing together in public sent a clear message—the Grants were united, and the rumors had been nothing but noise.

I wasn't surprised to see Rebecca and Tobias there.

A flicker of guilt shadowed Rebecca's expression the instant she saw me. She looked visibly uneasy.

Tobias stood beside her, and his arm was resting on her shoulders. When his eyes met mine, a smug, challenging smile tugged at his lips.

Even then, I didn't spare them another glance. It was as if they were nothing more than background noise.

During the event, I stepped away to the restroom. The moment I came out, I saw Rebecca waiting for me at the door.

She reeked of alcohol, but her gaze was sharp. "Seb, hear me out. I came with a business partner, and Tobias was forced on me as a date."

She rushed to explain herself. Her voice was tinged with a hint of panic.

I forced down the nausea rising in my chest and calmly interrupted her, "It's just work. I'm not that petty."

Yet, Rebecca didn't like how calm I was. She reached for my arm, but I stepped aside without a word.

Her eyes flickered with hurt. Then, as if remembering something, her voice took on a lighter tone. "Oh, right. My birthday's next month, Seb. Do you have anything planned for me?"

Between the lines, Rebecca was clearly hinting that I should propose.

She wasn't wrong. I had planned to propose on her birthday and had been preparing for it. Even though I had tried to keep it a secret, my recent behavior must have tipped her off.

After all, according to her plan, only the last step remained.

I met Rebecca's expectant gaze, and a chill ran through me.

"Of course," I replied with a faint smile that never reached my eyes. "When the time comes, I'll make sure it's a surprise you'll never forget."

As expected, she broke into a smile.

Then, Rebecca leaned in and kissed my cheek. There was a hint of pride in her voice as she said, "I knew it. You've always spoiled me the most, Seb."

With that, she turned and walked away. Her steps were light, as though she already had the upper hand.

As I stared at her retreating figure, my smile slowly vanished.

"Rebecca, I'll make sure your surprise is ready," I thought.

My wedding to Victoria Tomlinson was scheduled for a month later, falling on Rebecca's birthday.

The marriage had been a carefully considered decision by my parents. The Tomlinsons were one of Axton's oldest and most influential families.

Most importantly, the Grant and Tomlinson families had been close for generations. We were familiar with one another.

As their only heir, Victoria was intelligent, decisive, and exuded effortless elegance.

Over the month, I found myself spending more time with her. She never overstepped her bounds, and everything she said and did showed poise and respect for me.

…

That day, I accompanied Victoria to entertain an important client.

The moment the private room door opened, I saw someone I hadn't expected—Tobias. Dressed impeccably, he stood beside Harriet Cox, a curvy woman. He was attentively pouring her wine.

His smile faltered as soon as he saw Victoria and me enter the room together. At the same time, panic and embarrassment flickered across his eyes.

Throughout the dinner, Tobias fidgeted nervously. He glanced at me again and again. His expression was unreadable.

Meanwhile, I kept up a polite smile as I chatted with Victoria and Ms. Cox. It was as if he didn't exist.

Halfway through, I excused myself to the restroom.

Sure enough, Tobias followed and blocked my path at the end of the hallway. Dropping the submissive act he had shown in front of Ms. Cox, he snapped, "Sebastian Grant! Feeling pretty pleased with yourself, huh?"

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Don't think getting close to Victoria changes anything," Tobias said, sneering. "Rebecca loves me. Being with you was nothing more than a bet. It was a joke we shared!"

As he spoke, he seemed to be looking for signs of jealousy or anger, hoping to feed his fragile ego.

"Oh? Is that so?" I replied evenly. "Does Rebecca know you're here, keeping Ms. Cox company?"

In an instant, Tobias' expression fell. "What are you talking about? I'm just Ms. Cox's assistant!"

"Assistant?" I chuckled. "I've never seen an assistant get that close to their boss before."

"Sebastian Grant! How dare you!"

My words set Tobias off. Humiliated and furious, he swung his fist at me, but I was ready.

I sidestepped, caught his wrist, and twisted it back.

Tobias staggered as he shot me a venomous glare.

At that moment, an angry voice rang out from behind me. "Sebastian Grant! What are you doing?"

I turned to see Rebecca striding toward us, and without hesitation, she shoved me aside.

Caught off guard, I stumbled back and slammed into the wall. A dull ache spread across my back.

Seeing that, Tobias immediately grabbed his wrist. He frowned in feigned pain, and his body swayed as if he might collapse.

Rebecca caught him swiftly, then shielded him before turning to glare at me. Her voice was sharp with accusation as she barked, "Sebastian! How dare you treat him like that! Apologize to him right now!"

I stared at her coldly. A beat later, I glanced at Tobias, who was pretending to be helpless behind her, and my stomach churned with disgust.

"Why should I apologize to him?"

Rebecca's brow knitted tightly. "You're still denying it, huh? I saw it all! You pushed Tobias and tried to hit him!"

"Rebecca Milton, what right do you have to demand I apologize to him?" I said each word slowly and deliberately.