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.

The anger on Rebecca's face faltered, and a flicker of guilt crossed her features. She looked like she was about to speak when Tobias gently tugged at her sleeve.

Then, she took a deep breath before saying, "Tobias and I grew up next door to each other. I won't let anyone push him around.

"Seb, stop making a scene. Just apologize to him, and this ends here."

Though Rebecca's tone softened, it still carried a commanding edge.

Boy next door, huh?

I snickered. "Is that so? Well, if you care so much about him, I'll step aside for him. Rebecca, we're done."

Having said my piece, I turned and walked away without a backward glance.

"Sebastian Grant!" Rebecca shouted after me. "Fine! Break up with me then! But don't you dare regret it! Just look at yourself. You're almost 30! Do you really think you're still some kid in his 20s?"

Her words cut deep, but I didn't slow down. I simply walked away.

Regret? The only thing I'd ever regretted in my life was meeting her.

Meanwhile, Rebecca steadied Tobias as he leaned against her, feigning weakness. She gently reassured him, but unease gnawed at her. It was as if something important was slipping away.

The look I gave her as I ended things was so calm and absolute that it left her unsettled.

…

That night, Rebecca drowned her sorrows at a bar. Her best friend, Nicole Baker, couldn't stand it anymore and snatched the glass from her hand.

"What's wrong with you, Becca? Is this really worth it over a man? Don't tell me you actually fell for Sebastian," Nicole said cautiously.

Rebecca shot to her feet like a startled cat. "What are you talking about? How could I possibly fall for that old man?"

Nicole pursed her lips, then replied, "It wouldn't be surprising if you had. He's handsome, capable, and he treats you well. Honestly, if you hadn't beaten me to him, I might have gone after him myself."

"You wouldn't dare!"

Rage surged through Rebecca at once. She grabbed a bottle from the table and sent it crashing to the floor. The sharp crack of glass echoed through the air, mingling with her ragged breaths.

The people around them jumped, staring in surprise. Even Nicole was taken aback by her reaction.

"And you say you don't have feelings for him. You're lashing out at me over a man. Is it really worth it?" asked Nicole.

She continued, "You'd better figure out who you really like, Becca. You're going to reveal the truth about that bet at your birthday party next month. Don't make a fool of yourself."

Her words left Rebecca even more unsettled. How could she possibly have fallen for me?

That wasn't possible. She had always loved Tobias, after all. Being with me had been nothing but a game. It was all for that bet.

Rebecca was convinced that I loved her too much for the breakup to be real. Besides, her birthday was approaching.

When the time came, she would stick to the plan and reject my proposal in front of everyone. Then, she'd proudly accept Tobias' confession, humiliating me thoroughly.

That had to be it.

…

Rebecca fled the bar in a flustered state, and Tobias followed her. As he watched her trembling figure, a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

However, he quickly composed himself before stepping forward with a smile.

"Don't be upset, Becca," Tobias said as he draped an arm around her shoulders. "My birthday's in a couple of days, and I'm thinking of throwing a party. Why don't we invite Sebastian? He'll definitely get jealous when he sees us together."

There was a comforting edge to his voice.

When Rebecca heard that she could see me, her eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately. She refused to believe that I had truly fallen out of love with her.

…

Later, Tobias did send me an invitation to his birthday party. However, the text was dripping with smugness and veiled mockery. Every sentence hinted that Rebecca had ultimately chosen him.

As I read the message, a cold smile tugged at my lips.

I wasn't someone who could be pushed around so easily. Rebecca and Tobias had played me for a fool for five years, so I'd make sure to return the favor.

…

Tobias' birthday party was held at an upscale private club. He wore a bespoke suit and stood beside Rebecca, looking every bit the confident golden boy.

However, Rebecca's gaze kept drifting toward the entrance, as if she were waiting for someone.

Of course, I didn't show up.

Halfway through the party, the massive screen at the center of the room suddenly flickered to life. A video began to play, and photo after photo flashed across the screen, each one more compromising than the last.

The man in every photo was none other than the birthday boy, Tobias. In some pictures, he was dressed to show off as he fawned over different wealthy women.

Others showed him arriving at and leaving high-end clubs. He slipped in and out of luxury cars that had come to pick him up.

Some of the photos even captured him getting intimate with older, wealthy women, with private yachts visible in the background.

In the next instant, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Guests whispered among themselves, and the looks they cast at Tobias were filled with disdain and contempt.

Rebecca stared at the screen as the color drained from her face.

"Oh, Tobias, did you like your birthday present?" I thought.