I gave up billions to help my boyfriend Liam for six years.

He repaid me by sharing a hotel room with his childhood sweetheart.

When I needed him most, he told me I was a bother because "Chloe needs me."

So I left. And I got engaged to the man my family wanted for me all along.

Turns out my new fiancé is the powerful investor Liam has been begging for a meeting with.

Now Liam is the one on his knees. He wants me back.

My answer?

"Sorry, I’m busy planning a wedding... with the man who holds your entire future in his hands."

————————

1

"Mom... tell Grandpa I'll do it. I agree to the marriage."

"Really?” My mother’s voice was electric with surprise before she quickly checked herself.

"Wait, what about that long-term boyfriend of yours? We want you to find someone of our station, but if..."

"We broke up. Mom, you can make the arrangements."

My mom didn't press for details. "Just think about it for a few more days," she said. "The man your grandfather picked out for you is Julian Hawthorne, the heir to the Hawthorne family."

"Marriage is a big deal. I don't want you to be so impulsive."

"I'm not being impulsive, Mom. I'm certain."

I only found out yesterday that our family's company, Vance Inc., was on the verge of bankruptcy. My brother let it slip during a phone call.

An arranged marriage was the best solution.

Of course, the old me—the one willing to disown my family for love—would never have considered it. But things change.

That hopelessly romantic Amelia Vance is dead and gone.

It was time to wake up.

I glanced through the floor-to-ceiling window in the direction Liam had been staring, a self-mocking smile touching my lips.

Once upon a time, he used to look at me like that.

He chased me for three whole years in college. When I asked him what he liked about me, he beamed like a fool and said I was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

I didn't like fools, but his sincerity eventually won me over.

Even then, I didn't agree to date him easily.

But Liam didn't care. He brought me breakfast every morning, rain or shine.

He even tracked my cycle, always having herbal tea and painkillers ready for me in advance.

If I so much as glanced at a necklace, he'd work multiple part-time jobs to save up and buy it for me.

When I was upset, he would rack his brain for jokes to make me laugh.

If I even furrowed my brow, he’d anxiously ask if I was feeling unwell.

But in the end...

Childhood sweethearts always win.

Two months ago, his childhood friend, Chloe Reed, suddenly showed up in New York looking for him.

From our very first meeting, I noticed Liam and this Chloe woman had no sense of boundaries.

I didn't think much of it. I figured she'd leave after a few days.

But she didn't. She landed a job as his personal assistant and stayed in New York.

When I asked, Liam just said the company was short-staffed and it was better to hire someone he knew.

After that, his business trips and late nights at the office became more and more frequent.

Staying out all night became the new normal.

The day before yesterday, I checked the attendance records in HR. That’s when I discovered the two of them were already inseparable.

They went on business trips together.

And on the expense reports submitted to finance, there was only ever one executive suite.

The late nights were even more obvious.

As I walked out of Liam's office, Chloe, whose desk was right outside, stood up.

She smiled brightly. "Amelia, you don't look so good. Did you and Liam have a fight?"

I didn't have the energy to argue. I just wanted to walk past her.

"Amelia Vance!"

She called out from behind me. "You're turning thirty next year, aren't you? Stop being so childish. The company's funding hasn't come through yet, and Liam is under a lot of pressure. If you can't help him, can you at least not cause trouble at a time like this?"

I frowned slightly and looked at her calmly. "Chloe Reed, Liam and I founded this company together. If he can let you stay, I can make you leave."

"You..."

She hadn't expected me to be so firm. She froze for a second, then her face crumpled, a mask of wounded innocence. "I was just trying to help. If you don't want to hear it, fine, but why threaten to fire me..."

"Who dares fire her?"

Liam walked out, his tone icy. "Amelia, Chloe is young. She just got to a new city. Can't you be more understanding if she misspeaks?"

Young.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Chloe was only three months younger than me.

I held back my tears and took a deep breath. "Liam, I'm giving you a choice. It's her or me."

"Amelia Vance, stop being unreasonable."

I froze.

A fog settled over me. I couldn't remember the last time he'd used my full name.

"Amelia, you must have misunderstood my relationship with Liam. We're just friends who grew up together," Chloe said, her eyes red as she looked pitifully at Liam. "Liam, I heard Amelia's family is very wealthy. She must be spoiled."

"Don't fight with her because of me."

"I... I'm used to walking on eggshells around people. It'll be the same at any other company. As long as Amelia is happy, I can even leave New York..."

"Chloe!"

The anguish in Liam's eyes was raw.

I forced a smile and turned away.

For years, my family had let me have my way.

After college, my dad wanted me to return to the Hamptons to gain experience so I could take over the family business.

But I was head over heels in love. I had a huge fight with my dad over Liam and insisted on staying in New York.

All because my dad had said, "He's just a poor boy. What can he give you?"

I worked day and night with Liam, often pulling all-nighters to close deals.

I never imagined that in return for my devotion, I wouldn't get his loyalty and love. All I got was a ruined stomach that now relied on medication.

My mom sighed on the other end of the line. "So when are you coming back?"

"In two weeks."

After hanging up, I looked back at the towering skyscraper, a bitter smile on my face.

Liam.

I built this entire stage for you.

You just chose the wrong leading lady.

Now, the performance is over.

Back at the apartment, I sat on the sofa in a daze for hours.

The cracks in my relationship with Liam had started to appear last month.

At first, I couldn't understand how love could just vanish.

Whenever I questioned him about Chloe, he would always say, "You're overthinking it. She's like a sister to me. It's only right that I take care of her."

I believed him at first.

The love he’d shown me once felt so real. I never had a reason to doubt it.

It wasn't until a party where he got drunk and I went to pick him up that I learned the truth from his equally drunk friends.

"Liam and Chloe... they grew up together. He actually confessed to her before he started chasing you, but she turned him down."

"You never really get over your first love."

"He was drawn to you because your smile reminds him of Chloe."

"But don't worry, we all told him to treat you right. Chloe probably only rejected him back then because he was poor. Now that she sees he's successful, she's back."

The kettle whistled, pulling me from my memories.

I forced myself to sip the chamomile tea, the bitter taste matching my mood. I looked around the apartment I had so carefully decorated and crossed another day off the calendar.

Fourteen days left.

Then, I began to methodically pack and clean.

Moving from my city apartment back to the Hamptons meant I couldn't take much with me.

Anything I couldn't pack, I threw away.

I couldn't stand the thought of someone else—especially Liam's next girlfriend—going through my things.

After two trips to the dumpster, I was utterly exhausted.

The rest would have to wait.

Fresh out of the shower, I saw Chloe's new social media post.

"Tech CEO by day, braving the line for my favorite cake by night. He said he’s making up for all our lost time. #blessed"

The photo was of a strawberry cheesecake, but what caught my eye was the oversized college varsity jacket she was wearing—my anniversary gift to Liam.

That jacket. We bought it after pulling several all-nighters to land our company's first major client.

That deal made our name.

Even though he'd barely slept all week, he was so ecstatic he dragged me to the mall and bought the jacket I'd been eyeing for ages.

I’d balked at the price, but he insisted, draping it over my shoulders and gathering me into a hug. "Amelia," he said seriously, "everything you want, I have to give it to you with my own hands."

He never took that jacket off, except to shower and sleep.

His last assistant was fired for accidentally getting it dirty.

Everyone thought Liam was deeply in love with me.

Looking back now, it's laughable.

No one knew that his loving gazes were looking right through me, at someone else.

I let out a heavy sigh, opened all our shared cloud albums, and hit 'delete permanently.'

That night, Liam didn't come home again.

The next day, I slept in until noon before heading to the office to handle my resignation.

Since the company stabilized two years ago, I had only been handling administrative and support tasks.

On my way from my office to HR, several people stopped to congratulate me.

Confused, I was pulled into an office by Olivia Clark from HR. "Spill! Are you and Liam finally getting engaged?"

"What?"

I was stunned.

As a company OG, Olivia never minced words. "Don't play coy! Liam booked out that popular rooftop bar. Everyone knows he's going to propose!"

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

She clapped a hand over her mouth. "You really don't know? Is Liam planning a surprise...?"

"Please explain."

"Alright..." She hesitated, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Someone saw a flower delivery for Liam—a whole truckload of pink roses! Today's not your birthday or an anniversary. What else could it be but a proposal?"

Pink roses.

When Chloe first arrived in New York two months ago, Liam had greeted her at the airport with a bouquet of pink roses.

My fingers curled into a fist.

I said nothing. Olivia glanced at the file in my hand. "What's this?"

"My resignation letter."

"Of course!" she beamed. "For the engagement, right? Getting ready to be the perfect wife. Here, I'll sign it for you."

"Thanks."

I didn't correct her, just handed her the document.

As she signed, she muttered, "Liam really should have given me a heads-up. How am I supposed to find a partner as good as you on such short notice?"

"Just need Liam's signature and it's done."

She handed the file back to me. "Amelia," she said warmly, "I don't know if choosing family life is the right decision, but as a friend of many years, I'm rooting for you! I hope Liam gives you everything you deserve."

"I will be happy," I said.

Just not with you.

I hesitated before walking into Liam's office.

Not because I was unsure, but because I hadn't figured out how to get him to sign the papers without a fight.

The company had implemented stricter HR policies, and even I had to sign an updated departure agreement.

Given the sensitive nature of my position as a co-founder—and my family's connections in the industry—I needed to get my resignation finalized before I went back to the Hamptons.

It would prevent any unnecessary trouble down the line.

I pushed the door open, ready to speak, but stopped when I saw Chloe sitting at my old workstation.

No wonder her desk outside was empty. She'd clearly moved in.

Chloe saw me first. She playfully tapped Liam on the head and said in a cloying, wheedling tone, "Liam!"

Liam's tone was indulgent. "Alright, stop messing around. I have to finish this agreement."

"But I'm not messing around..." Chloe shot me a defiant look before putting on an innocent act. "Amelia's here."

Liam immediately leaned back in his chair, putting distance between them, and looked up at me, flustered. Our eyes met.

I ignored the familiar pang in my chest and spoke calmly. "Liam, I have a document for you to sign."

I handed him the folder.

He looked relieved that I wasn't causing a scene about the two of them and simply nodded. "Okay."

"Liam, I'll let you two talk business. I'll head out first," Chloe said, getting up to leave.

Liam had just opened the folder, and I was about to explain the document when Chloe suddenly shrieked, sending a wave of hot coffee splashing across the papers. "Ah—my hand! It's burning!"

"Chloe!" Liam shot up, dropping the file and rushing toward her.

I blocked his path. "Sign this first. It'll only take a second."

He frowned. "Amelia Vance, when did you become so cold-hearted? Is this document really that important?"

"Liam..." Chloe whimpered from the floor, clutching her hand, tears welling in her eyes.

Liam's attention was entirely on her. Without even looking at the document, he scribbled his name where I pointed.

It was exactly what I wanted.

I just wanted to finalize my resignation and leave this city—to return to the life I was supposed to have.

Liam helped Chloe to the sofa, gently examining her hand. "It's not blistering, but if it really hurts, I'll take you to the hospital."

"It's not that serious..." Chloe shyly pulled her hand back, stealing a glance at me.

I turned and left without a word.

I hadn't even gotten to my car when Liam caught up, stopping me at the door. "Amelia, don't misunderstand. There's nothing going on between Chloe and me. I'm just looking out for her because we grew up together."

"Okay." I nodded faintly, motioning for him to let go of the car door. "I have things to do."

He hesitated, looking uncertain. "You're not mad anymore?"

"Should I be?" I asked sarcastically. "Remember that speakeasy we used to go to?"

"Of course I do..."

"Don't worry, I'm just kidding. Are you coming home for dinner tonight?" I met his gaze and saw the panic he tried to hide.

"I..." He looked away, gently squeezing my hand. "I have a work dinner, but I'll definitely come home after."

I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't. How did it come to this? Asking him to come home for dinner felt like begging.

After eating dinner out, I received a photo from Chloe.

It was an intimate selfie of her and Liam.

The background was the speakeasy we used to frequent, in our usual corner booth.

The caption read: "Taking back what was always mine."

There he sat, in our special corner, with another woman.