“Don’t worry about her!” Declan punched the wall hard. “I’ve spoiled her too much!”

Even though the hot water washed away the exhaustion from my body, Declan's words echoed in my mind.

Am I really spoiled?

When I first got together with Declan, we had to live in a basement with no sunlight and the stench of mold filled the air. That was all we had.

As my career began to take off and I graduated, I accompanied Declan to every social gathering and business dinner as his financial manager. Through this, I gradually became his backbone and confidant.

I remembered every single step we took and never once complained about the hardship we endured.

However, in Declan's eyes now, none of my contributions and companionship mattered, like a canary in a cage.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, he had placed a bowl of oatmeal on the table and said, "All the food today is spicy, which isn’t suitable for pregnant women. I asked Lorrie to make it for you."

The way he said a bowl of oatmeal as if he was fishing for applause.

Seeing that he hovered awkwardly by the bedroom door, I let out a sigh and said, "If you have something to say, just say it.”

"Alice, our university classmates heard that Sadie has returned to the country and insisted on organizing a class reunion …. Will you come with us?"

“No!” I replied without hesitation. Ever since I knew Declan and Sadie were lovers back in college and everyone knew about it, I made a rule never to go to his class reunion.

Declan always knew about it, but this time, he insisted. "Alice, they’ve been asking to meet you. We’re getting married soon. You can’t possibly meet my friends for the first time on our wedding day, right?”

Suddenly, without me noticing it, Sadie was already at the door. "Alice, join us."

I did not say anything for a long time. However, seeing impatience growing on Declan's face, I nodded.

His classmates’ intentions were obvious. They just wanted to compare me to Sadie.

Sure enough, as soon as we arrived, everyone's eyes kept darting between me and Sadie. Seeing us, they laughed. "I think Sadie is more beautiful."

Declan was a bit angry. "This is my fiancée, Alice. Alice Sanders."

He pulled me into his arms. “If you can’t respect her, you’re not respecting me.”

Everyone laughed and tried to smooth things over, “We wouldn’t dare.”

The repeated “Hello, sister-in-law” made Sadie's expression grow sour.

After three rounds of drinks, I felt Declan's arm around my waist, his breath, tinged with alcohol, brushing against my ear, "I'm happy you agreed to come to the class reunion with me.”

I smiled faintly. “Well, it’s the last time.”

He chuckled. “Right. I won’t make you come again.”

He did not catch the real meaning behind my words and I did not have any intention to tell him.

Suddenly, the loud clink of a glass hitting the table made everyone jump.

“Sorry, I think I'm a bit drunk.” Sadie looked at me and asked, “Can you accompany me to the restroom?”

She pressed me against the wall. “How long will you be gone? Don't tell me hearing you were called ‘sister-in-law’ a few times and you refuse to leave.”

“Don't worry.” I met her gaze. "I keep my words."

When I went out, Declan was smoking with his back to me.

His classmate joked, “So you’re really going through with this marriage? I thought you’d wait for Sadie forever."

Declan exhaled deeply. His tone was filled with bitterness. “I won't lie to you, Sadie has always been in my heart. However, getting married and being in love aren’t the same thing.”

He continued, "Alice is smart. She supports my career and takes care of the family. It’d be hard to find someone better.”

His eyes slowly filled with disgust.

To him, I was nothing more than a suitable marriage partner from start to finish.

It's okay, Declan … the bride has changed.

After the gathering ended, Sadie leaned against Declan's shoulder, intoxicated. Their posture was intimate. When he heard Sadie's uncomfortable moans, Declan gently caressed her face and whispered, "We're almost home."

As I sat in the passenger seat, I sorted through my mind about which things I needed to throw away and which things I took from Declan's house.

The designated driver interrupted my thoughts. Through the rearview mirror, he stared straight at the two people who were cuddling in the backseat and said, "You two must be newlyweds, huh? You're so much in love."

Declan gave an awkward smile. “No, the one in the passenger seat is my fiancée.”

When we arrived at the destination and paid, the designated driver apologized to me, "Sorry. I misunderstood."

I just smiled and said, "It's okay."

When I looked back, Declan and Sadie were already almost out of sight, as they disappeared at the end of the road.

As the streetlight went out and I walked in the darkness, I felt as if I was suddenly transported back to summer six years ago.

Back then, the old alley often lost power and every time, Declan would arrive early at the alley entrance to pick me up. No matter how many times I told him it wasn’t necessary, he showed up anyway.

His love made me forget that I was never afraid of the dark, to begin with.

When I arrived home, Declan poked his head out of the bathroom. His face and neck were covered in Sadie's lipstick marks.

“Alice, you go to sleep first. I'll come later," he said.

I stared at the hickey on his neck, a hint of sarcasm flashed in my eyes and I said lightly, “It's okay. Even if you don't come to bed at all … sharing a room with Sadie is fine."

“What? Are you jealous now?” Declan's tone grew harsher. "Sadie and I are just friends."

In the dark, damp basement, we watched a tacky soap opera. Back then, Declan had rested his chin on top of my head and said in disgust, "The male lead knows his behavior is inappropriate, yet still makes excuses."

Then he promised, "Don't worry. I’ll never be like that.”

He kept his promise, always maintaining proper boundaries before doing anything or staying alone with a woman … until Sadie came back.

"Declan." Sadie's voice floated from the bathroom. "My head’s spinning. Can you come in immediately?”

Her tone was practically suggestive. Declan immediately said, "You can think whatever you want." Then he turned around and entered the bathroom.

Since I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, I got up and began packing my belongings. Everything Declan had ever given me, I tossed into the trash.

Perhaps the sound of me opening and closing the suitcase was too loud because Declan pushed open the door and said in a deep voice, "Don't you know we're sleeping? What are you doing so early in the morning? A big cleanup?”

I replied casually, “Something like that.” However, my eyes fell on the pajamas he was wearing. Those were the couple’s pajamas we bought in Paris on our anniversary.

Declan cleared his throat twice. “Sadie didn’t have anything to wear, so I just grabbed a pair of pajamas for her. If you mind, we can buy another pair next time we go to Paris.”

“No need.” I hid the suitcase and said, “It’s just a pair of pajamas. It's no use to be upset over it."

Declan embraced me. "Alice, you’ve matured. You’re so understanding now. There’s a meeting this afternoon, so come early."

That man still did not get it. I stayed calm because my love for him had gone. That was the reason.

As soon as I arrived at the company, I received a message on my phone about a meeting in the conference room.

As I pushed open the door, Declan and all the board members turned to look at me. Unlike before, today their eyes were filled with anger and resentment.

Sadie sat at the head of the table. The moment she saw me walk in, she arched a brow arrogantly and sneered, "Well … well, the Harrison Group's traitor has arrived."

Hearing the sarcasm in her words, a surge of anger washed over me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I turned my gaze to Declan, standing beside her and said, "Last time I remembered, only shareholders are allowed to sit in the meeting room. So, please step outside, Miss Rockwood."

Just as I took my seat, the photo on the table caught my eye. In the photo, I was having a lively conversation with the CEO of Miller Corporation. The date stamped at the bottom right corner was precisely during the month when Declan's company had collapsed seven years ago.

"Alice, you've deceived us so badly. Everyone in Lakeview City knows that it was Miller Corporation that drove Harrison Group into ruin."

“Look around you,” Sadie said while tapping the tabletop and making a crisp sound. “Several of these shareholders have been driven to the brink of collapse by you and their families have been torn apart by you."

“If I were you, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face around here!” she added.

"Embarrassed?" I sneered, leaning back in my chair. “Every day and night for the past seven years, I’ve dedicated my energy to this company. No one loves this position more than I do and that’s something everyone can see.”

Everyone whom I thought would support me remained silent, their faces filled with contempt.

“You can’t seriously be doubting seven years of work because of one photo, can you?" I asked.

I was still in astonishment when Declan, who had been standing there with his lips tightly pursed, made a move. He threw the contract in front of me.

“Sign this,” he said flatly. “If you do, I won’t pursue the matter with Miller Corporation.”

The share transfer agreement in front of me made me speechless.

“You want me to hand over my entire stake in this company?” I asked,

Declan spoke up, "Given your relationship with the Miller Corporation, no one here feels comfortable leaving those shares in your hands."

“That’s right,” Sadie said in a sweet voice, “Who knows how a young girl like you could have such a good relationship with the Miller? Maybe … something shady going on here …”

Smack!

A crisp slap echoed through the room. Sadie's head snapped to the side.

“A traitor dares to hit someone?”

“I think she has a guilty conscience!”

The surrounding shareholders stood up in agitation and condemned me. The next second, I was held down and forced to sign my name on the contract, stroke by stroke. Every inch was etched into my heart, erasing the hardships we had once endured together.

I had fought tooth and nail for seven years for this position, only to be taken away easily by Sadie.

On the day Declan decided to restart his business, he had paced restlessly. Then he held my hands with a hint of vulnerability.

“The business world is a battlefield,” he had said. “However, as long as we stick together, no one can put me in jail again.”

As he saw my crooked handwriting on the equity transfer document, Declan gave a satisfied smile.

As I looked at him, he was like a stranger to me. At that moment I was sure that the part of him that belonged to me had been completely destroyed when Sadie returned.

Everything in my office had been cleared out and replaced by Sadie’s computer.

As I walked out of the company, everyone stared at me weirdly. Rumors of my “secret alliance” with the Miller Corporation were already spreading like wildfire.

“Alice, this wasn’t my intention today.”

When Declan returned home, he hugged me and kept apologizing, “I was forced to act this way due to pressure from the shareholders’ meeting. I know you wouldn’t betray me, but the shareholders don’t believe it.”

"This is all for the greater good," he added. "Otherwise, the company would be in chaos and fall apart, which isn’t the outcome we want to see.”