Chapter 1 Chapter 1

"I'll leave the arrangements of the engagement party to you, Mr. Sommar.""Alright, no problem." I kept a professional smile on my face, staying calm while facing this woman whom I'd loved for seven years. Brooke Rivers raised an eyebrow at me and asked, "Any other questions?""Yes.""What is it?" A gleeful look appeared on Brooke's face. I answered robotically, "What's the budget like for this engagement party? Do you have a fixed date or time for it yet? And about the outfits and hair and makeup—""That's enough! Talk to Gaston about those instead.""Alright.""Anything else?""No.""Oh…" I might have hallucinated it, but she looked briefly disappointed. Maybe she thought I was behaving too calmly. However, she didn't know that I was no longer in love with her. … Gaston Storm was quite well-known for his bossy and overbearing attitude. He was the eldest son in the Storm family and was also the CEO of his family's company. Even though everyone knew that this was a business marriage alliance, people still thought that both Brooke and Gaston had fallen in love with each other at first sight. They also said that the two were soulmates and made for each other because they looked so good together. I listened to Gaston's relentless requests for the engagement party as I typed away on my iPad. All the while, I made sure I was smiling slightly. Finally, after a long time, I was done typing out all of my future boss' requests. Keeping my professionalism in check, I still asked politely, "Do you have anything else to add for the engagement party, Mr. Storm?""Yes!""Please let me know." Gaston looked at me with a raised eyebrow and spoke slowly while emphasizing each word. "After the engagement party is over, I want you to leave Riveria Group." I looked at him in confusion. However, I understood what he meant very quickly. "I'm sorry, but I cannot promise you that immediately. My employment contract is with the HR department in Riveria, and you'll still need a valid reason to terminate my employment with the group. However…" I steered the conversation in another direction as I smiled brightly at him. "If the severance package is ludicrous enough, I might seriously consider your offer.""You're a smart person, Mr. Sommar. You should know that asking you to leave is just what's best for you.""I do, but I also have to think about myself. After all, I'm very happy with the terms and perks Riveria is offering me now." Gaston scoffed. "Hmph, you're just a nobody that's too easily pleased. It's all just about the money, isn't it? Don't worry. You'll be satisfied with the compensation." I smile lightly. "If that's the case, thank you very much, Mr. Storm." After seeing Gaston off, Claude Skye, who was right next to me, started to complain about him. "He's not even married yet, and he's already starting to meddle in Riveria's affairs.""He has the right.""But Theros… Everyone's aware of all the work you've done for the company. Ms. Rivers looks up to you too. How could he…" Claude had been assigned to me ever since he first joined Riveria. He was one of the very few people in the company whom I had a close relationship with. I just patted him on the shoulder and said nothing else.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

It wasn't surprising that Gaston saw me as his rival. After all, I'd been with Brooke for a whole decade, and everyone knew just how much of a lapdog I was for her. I was an orphan who lived all alone in this world. I didn't care for emotions because I only wanted to work hard to earn as much money as I could. At the very least, I could then be financially free. While on the way back to the dorms after my part-time job, I ran into a bunch of hooligans who tried to rob me. Just as I was feeling helpless and alone, Brooke suddenly made her appearance. She grabbed my arm and we ran out of the place. She even blocked a glass beer bottle that one of the thugs picked up from the ground and tried to throw at my head. As I watched blood trickle down Brooke's face, I realized that this was the first time I felt sorry for anyone. Meanwhile, Brooke didn't seem to care. "What are you crying for? It's just a small cut." She nonchalantly picked up her jacket that had fallen to the ground and threw i

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Where there were people, there was also bound to be drama. Even at the prestigious Riveria Group, gossip was inevitable and bountiful. It seemed as if they'd somehow heard about Gaston telling me to resign from the company yesterday. Their eyes were filled with doubt, curiosity, and even contempt. Just as I thought, Gaston was an annoying CEO indeed. "Mr. Sommar, bring me some coffee." My intercom sounded just then with just a cold, curt command from Brooke. I made her usual cup of coffee with much familiarity and brought it into her office. I was also planning to report the day's schedule to her in the meantime. Brooke looked at the black coffee before her and frowned slightly. She then glanced at me, but seeing that I didn't look the least bit shaken, she got even more frustrated than ever. I knew what she meant, but I didn't want to acknowledge it. Brooke had a weak stomach and often suffered from gastritis. I used to care for her health and often made her nutritious food, o

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I didn't let the smile on my face falter. "Of course, money is important. I need to survive, after all. "Actually…" Gaston suddenly barged in with a wide grin on his face and interrupted Brooke's sentence with, "Brooke, come with me to…" "To do what?" Brooke was unexceptionally sweet and gentle with her future fiancè. She didn't speak to him condescendingly or with sarcasm like she did with me. "Do you want to come ring shopping with me? And then, we'll look at the outfits later." "Sure!" Brooke answered in her gentle voice. Then, she glanced at me and said, "Mr. Sommar, you should come along too." "I… sure." I was frustrated. I still had a lot of work to do. Still, there was nothing I could do. I was just a lowly corporate employee under her, after all. Gaston raised his eyebrow and glared at me with a challenging look on his face. Then, he put his arm around Brooke and happily walked out of the office. She'd just reached the entrance when she suddenly turned around and commanded, "Al

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

"What are you thinking about? You've been staring at Gaston for a long time," Brooke said in dissatisfaction. "I've been calling your name for ages.""It's nothing. Mr. Storm looks very handsome in a suit," I said while hurriedly suppressing my emotions. Everything that had happened was in the past, anyway. Brooke was now nothing more than my boss and employer. "I agree. He's very handsome indeed!" Brooke stood right next to me as she continued showering Gaston with praises. "Gaston comes from an affluent family, is very highly educated, and very capable. I'm so lucky to be able to marry someone like him!" I smiled bitterly. What was she trying to do? Why did she have to speak about him like this to me? What was she trying to prove? "Hey, talk to me if you're going to praise me. Why are you telling Mr. Sommar in particular?""Because Mr. Sommar has a great eye for things like these!" Brooke then looked at me and purposely asked, "Am I not right?""Of course. Mr. Storm and your

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Ms. Rivers. Didn't you personally agree to accompany Mr. Storm to pick out your wedding outfits?" Brooke just looked at me in fury. "Wonderful, Theros, just wonderful! You'd better submit the proposal for Storm Group to me before you go home today!" I had only just received the task yesterday, and she was already asking for it today. Moreover, there were less than two hours left until the end of the work day. I looked at her calmly and said, "Brooke, you're also doing this on purpose.""How much longer do you need for the proposal?""I'll work overtime today.""Theros, you've changed.""How have I changed?" I asked despite knowing the answer. "You…" I guess she wanted to say that I didn't love her anymore. However, if she put it that way, it meant that she clearly knew I had been in love with her all along. Yet, she'd used my love for her to her advantage. She had treated my sincerity like trash. But Brooke didn't even have the guts to admit i