Vivian's POV

On the way home, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

I had spent nine long years loving Zachary: five years of dating and four years chasing him.

But what I got in return was nothing but betrayal.

Until now I still couldn’t shake the image of those chat logs from my mind. It seemed to be happening now.

No wonder he rushed out this afternoon—he must have gone to the airport to pick her up.

Just then, Zachary’s phone buzzed beside me, jolting me out of my deep thought. I reached for it and I unlocked it, only to see a message from Yvette. But it wasn’t the message that shattered me—it was her profile picture. They had matching couple avatars.

Staring at the picture, my mind flashed back to last year when I asked a well-known illustrator to create a special avatar for me and Zachary. I was so excited when I asked him to change it.

But he scolded me for being childish and told me to focus on work.

Yet now, he had no problem embracing this childish display with Yvette.

My hands trembling and heart racing, I then reached into his suit pocket, feeling something small and solid. I pulled it out cautiously. But as soon as I saw the logo, I hitched my breath in surprise. My hands trembled violently as I struggled to breathe, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Still, I mustered the courage to open the box. Inside was a Pandora diamond ring sitting on the expensive cushion with the initials "YH" engraved on the back. Obviously, it was Yvette’s.

I had begged Zachary countless times to buy a Pandora ring for our wedding. After all, a man can only purchase one in his lifetime. But he always brushed me off, claiming it was just a marketing gimmick. Now I knew the truth—he had been saving it for her all along, intending to engrave her name on the most important ring of his life.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, my resolve hardening. With Zachary fast asleep beside me, I used his fingerprint to unlock his phone.

[Yvette: Sweetheart, don’t forget to help me pick out a wedding dress tomorrow.]

My mind went numb. Wedding dress? I had begged him to go with me to choose a dress for our wedding so many times, but he always made excuses—too busy with the company, too stressed about the IPO. But now, he was going with Yvette.

Only then did the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. He never intended to marry me. I was just a placeholder in his heart.

At that moment, I wanted to cry my heart out. But with the driver sitting in front, I could only dig my nails deep into my thigh, desperately holding back my tears. The pain from my nails sinking into my flesh was the only thing distracting me from the pain in my heart. I had clung to this love for nine years, but tonight, it was slipping away—like sand through my fingers.

The next morning, despite everything, I still made Zachary ginger honey tea, just like Yvette had mentioned.

But after one sip, Zachary spat it out, disgust etched across his face. “What is this crap? Ginger? Don’t you know I hate ginger?"

I froze, staring at him. Yvette had said he loved ginger tea. That’s when it hit me—it wasn’t the tea he liked. It was the taste of Yvette. Her preferences, her scent, her presence—that’s what he craved.

After a sleepless night, I had come to terms with many things about our relationship.

So when I saw him act like this, I wasn’t even angry anymore.

Instead, I calmly poured the tea down the sink and washed the cup.

As Zachary put on his shoes, he coldly said, "The company’s about to go public, I’ve got a lot on my plate. Don’t cause me any more trouble."

With that, he turned and slammed the door behind him.

Little did he know, I knew he was off to help Yvette pick out her wedding dress.

Vivian's POV

As such, I quickly had someone find out which bridal shop Yvette was visiting.

In fact, there was no need to investigate—it was obvious that Zachary had chosen the most expensive and high-end bridal shop in the city.

The same shop I had visited four or five times before.

Just three days ago, I had ordered the most expensive dress in the country from that very shop. Today was supposed to be the day it arrived.

However, when I reached the entrance of the shop, I saw Yvette twirling around in front of Zachary, wearing the very dress I had ordered.

Meanwhile, Zachary was speaking with the store manager about something.

"Zachary, I really love this dress. I just have to have it," Yvette said coyly, clinging to his arm and acting sweet.

Zachary nodded, already negotiating with the manager. “Call the woman who ordered this dress. Tell her I’ll pay an extra 100,000, plus another 100,000 as compensation if she gives it up.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly to myself. So, for his "beloved Yvette," he could be this generous.

The store manager was clearly tempted by Zachary’s offer and went to the back to make the call.

I slowly walked up behind Zachary and Yvette spotted me first. Her face turned slightly pale, and she nudged Zachary’s arm, looking pitifully at him.

Zachary turned slowly. The moment his eyes met mine, his expression darkened, as if my presence was an inconvenience. “Why aren’t you at the company, Vivian? There’s so much to handle. What are you doing here?” No shame, no remorse—just immediate accusations, as if I were in the wrong.

I stood there silently, staring at him, not wanting to argue. The tears that might have come last night had already dried up. There was nothing left inside me for him. He wasn’t worth it. Not anymore.

Seeing that I remained silent, Zachary Zachary sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if I were the source of all his problems. "You see, I love Yvette. Stop making things difficult for us. I’ll give you money, enough for you to leave quietly and with dignity.”

Dignity? The word felt like a slap, but I remained calm, my gaze steady on him. I wasn’t here to fight or plead. There was only one question left in my heart, and I needed to hear the answer from him.

“Zachary,” I began quietly, my voice firm, “I just want to know—after all these years, did you ever truly love me?”

His lips twisted into a cruel smile, one that chilled me to the bone. “Vivian, you’ve loved me, I know. So much that it’s almost obsessive. But let’s be honest, in front of Yvette—I never loved you. I only agreed to be with you because I felt sorry for you, chasing me for so many years."

Even though I had expected the worst, his words cut deeper than I imagined. But that’s fine. If he could be this ruthless, so could I.

Before I could respond, the store manager returned from the back. “Sir, I’m sorry but—” She stopped short, noticing me. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, Ma’am Vivian, you’re here! This gentleman was just—”

I cut her off with a raised hand, my voice calm but resolute. “It’s fine. Give the dress to this woman. I hope they enjoy their happiness together.”

Without waiting for their reaction, I turned and walked out of the store, dialing my father’s number.

"Dad, go ahead and announce the withdrawal of our investment on the day of Zachary’s wedding."