The Real Heroine of His Proposal

Back when we were still in love, I heard from someone else that Charlie Grant had been getting unusually close to his secretary.

He never offered an explanation.

He let me dig for the truth on my own.

Over the past five years, I quietly collected countless photos of them together—having lunch, leaving late-night meetings, even traveling for business—but none of them offered conclusive proof of cheating.

Until the day he proposed to me.

There was a giant screen set up.

It was supposed to play a romantic video Charlie had prepared just for the proposal, but the screen suddenly cut to something else.

A video of Charlie at a hospital, standing beside his secretary as she underwent a pregnancy check-up.

In the video, the doctor clearly referred to Charlie as her husband… and the father of her child.

His secretary burst into tears on the spot and apologized to me repeatedly. She sobbed as though she were the victim.

Charlie, however, stood there with a cold expression and said flatly,

"She's an unwed mother. She was helpless. I was just accompanying her for the checkup. The doctor must've misunderstood."

Everyone braced for a dramatic scene.

However, I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry.

I only reached up and slowly removed the delicate flower hairpiece from my head.

I set the hairpiece down.

Then I looked Charlie in the eyes and spoke calmly.

"You're right. It is sad that she’s pregnant and all alone.

"This marriage proposal was meant for her. Not me."

I gave a faint smile.

"May you enjoy a blissful life. And… congratulations on the baby."

Wearing my elegant gown, I bowed deeply to the guests from the stage during what was supposed to be my marriage proposal.

It was supposed to be my day.

"Thank you to all my friends and family for being here today. Unfortunately, there's been a hiccup in the plans. The star of today's event has been changed from Isabel Langdon to Marie Corden.

"As our apology and token of gratitude, please enjoy the delicacies we've prepared."

Silence. Complete, dead silence.

Charlie Grant turned pale. He snatched the champagne glass from my hand.

"What are you talking about, Isabel? I'm proposing to you today. Whatever happened was just a misunderstanding."

I looked him straight in the eye, forcing myself to hold back the pain burning in mine. My voice came out hoarse.

"Your secretary has been working for you for five years. She's always been meticulous in her duties, Charlie. Are you really calling it a misunderstanding that your proposal video was swapped out with a clip of her unborn baby's checkup—at this moment, on this stage?"

For once, he had no answer.

He wasn't stupid. He had to know Marie was openly challenging me. Yet even here, at the site of his proposal, he chose to defend her instead of me, his fiancée.

It hurt, but I couldn’t force myself to go through with it.

"We should break up, Charlie."

He looked stunned. In complete disbelief.

"Isabel, I only went with Marie once for that checkup. Are you really breaking up with me over something so small? When did you become so petty and unreasonable?"

His voice grew louder, more agitated.

"We’ve been together for five years. We've been through so much. How can you just walk away like this?"

Marie took his hand and finally stepped in.

"Don’t be mad, Mr. Grant. This is all my fault. I upset Miss Langdon. She would never intentionally break up with you at an event like this or try to embarrass you.

"Miss Langdon, there are many important clients here today. Even if you’re upset, this isn’t the time or place. Not after everything Mr. Grant has done for you."

Charlie’s expression darkened. He stared at me, his frustration growing when I stayed silent.

"I know you’re upset right now, but there are too many clients watching. I’ll handle the explanations. Marie will help you finish this… proposal. Go home. Calm down. Stop being so stubborn."

He reached out to brush back my messy fringe.

"I’m not breaking up with you, Isabel. You’ll always be mine."

Marie clung to his arm as she turned to look at me.

There was a sarcastic smile on her lips.