Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I had barely set my phone aside when Ross Jenner called. "Jennifer, are you done throwing your tantrum? We invited you and Diana to Fellaton with good intentions. You're late, and I'll let that slide, but why did you leave that comment on my Twitter? My siblings came all the way from Bulgoria to welcome you, and Laurel even prepared a home-cooked meal for you even though she's sick." I listened to his angry words in silence, my heart completely dead at that moment as I looked at my mother's body. When he finished speaking, I calmly responded, "It's not appropriate for us to spend Valentine's Day together. You two go ahead and enjoy the meal.""What did you say?" Ross's voice immediately rose in anger. "The reason I invited you here was to discuss our marriage. If you're going to act like this, forget about the wedding.""Fine, as you wish." I agreed without hesitation. "Let's break up." There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Ross and I had met at work in Ameesia. We had encountered all kinds of problems a couple would in our five years of dating, but we had never mentioned breaking up. Ross seemed unable to comprehend what I had just said. After a pause, he asked, "Do you even know what you're saying?" I softly replied, "I do." Just then, Laurel Elledge's voice came through the phone. "Ross, can you help me find some painkillers? I think I might have a fever." Ross immediately became worried and hung up. Before doing so, he said one last thing to me. "Jennifer, you initiated this. I hope you don't regret this in the end." Staring at the phone as the call ended, I silently put it away. I handled all the necessary arrangements by myself, bringing my mother's body back home for her funeral. For the next couple of weeks, Ross didn't reach out once. It was as if he had completely vanished from my life. I occasionally checked Twitter, but Ross hadn't posted a single update. Meanwhile, Laurel was posting almost every day. Petra Tower, Renaissance Hall, Imperial Galleria... In every photo, Ross and Laurel were touring all of Fellaton's famous landmarks together. The comments under their photos were full of enthusiasm. [Finally, Ross and his dream girl are together.] [Wow, Laurel, you and Ross are so perfect for each other.] [I can't wait for the wedding! I'll be your best man!] I recognized many names in those comments—people who were once friends of both Ross and me. If this had been before, I would have felt hurt, angry, and probably fought with Ross. But now, nothing stirred inside me. On a quiet weekend, I stayed home alone, snacking on chips and watching TV. In the evening, Ross suddenly appeared. I glanced up at him briefly but didn't speak. Instead, I redirected my focus to the TV. He walked over, towering over me, and said casually, "What's wrong? Haven't heard from you in a while. Are you mad at me? I haven't seen you in so long. I really want to hug you." He spoke in that familiar sweet tone, bending toward me. I smelled the woman's fragrance on him and instinctively recoiled in disgust, turning my body away. Ross froze mid-motion. In the past, whenever we fought, his gentle embrace always managed to calm me no matter how angry I was. Ross straightened up, frowning deeply. "What's your problem now?" I didn't answer. Instead, I stood up and moved to the nearby couch, putting some space between us. His expression soured further, as he impatiently tried to explain. "I shouldn't have let you and Diana take a cab that day. I admit I was wrong about that. But Laurel was sick. Would you rather I left her, a sick person, just to pick you up? My family did everything to welcome you, but you didn't show up. Do you know how much that hurt my family? I did everything I could to explain to them, or else my parents would never approve of our marriage." He pulled out an envelope from his bag. "Inside, there's the wedding ring my parents prepared for us, along with the honeymoon fund. They want us to get married in a month. Please take care of the wedding arrangements. I'll call Diana shortly. She'll be thrilled." I took the envelope from him and placed it aside, not interested in looking at it. "Ross, we've broken up. And from now on, don't call my mother. She won't be answering your calls."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Ross paused as he picked up his phone, visibly irritated. "I'm going to tell Diana about your attitude right now. She's been so good to me, and you have no right to stop me from calling her." I shot him a look, my breath sharp with hurt. We had been together for five years, and my mother had always treated him like one of her own, even better than she treated me. Every time I brought him home, she would personally cook for him. Once, when he fell ill from the local climate, my mother stayed up all night, taking care of him without a second thought. Over those five years, I could see how much my mother truly cared for him. So, when Ross's family invited us to Fellaton, my mother agreed without hesitation. Before we left for the trip, she had even started preparing days in advance, doing her hair and buying expensive gifts for his family, all to make a good impression. That day, she wore the pocket watch my father had given her years ago. At that moment, my mother wasn't just representing herself; she was carrying the love and care that my parents had given me. When we landed, Ross asked us to take a taxi and hung up the phone. I was furious and wanted to keep calling him, but my mother stopped me. She tried to console me, suggesting that Ross was probably dealing with some urgent matter. Not wanting to upset her, I listened to her advice. But now, I couldn't believe that her kindness had cost her life abroad. I almost wished I could turn back time and slap some sense into myself. Ross's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I snapped back to the present as he looked at me, about to dial my mother's number. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" I glanced at him, unable to hide my sarcasm. His expression twisted with annoyance, and he seemed ready to argue, but before he could say anything, the sound of a ringtone interrupted. It wasn't the usual ringtone he always used, but a woman's overly dramatic voice singing a song. At the sound, Ross immediately dropped the idea of arguing with me and hurried outside onto the balcony to answer the call. I could just make out him saying, "What? She's in the hospital? I'll be right there." Ross quickly grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door without even looking at me. Watching his cold back as he walked away, I felt a twinge of bitterness, though it quickly faded. Perhaps from the moment Laurel appeared in his life, everything between us had changed. And now, it was time for me to leave. I remembered a conversation I'd had with my mother years ago. She'd said that her greatest dream was to travel with me. I had promised her I would take her on a trip. Now, my mother was gone, and I had yet to fulfill that promise. I decided I would take her portrait and visit the world for both of us. My first stop would be Euchoth. My mother had once told me that the reason she fell in love with my father was because of the stories he'd shared about that place. As I was researching for the trip, Laurel's Twitter had another update. I clicked on it without thinking, but I instantly regretted it when I saw the photos. In each one, Ross was the star, and he was smiling gently, a smile I had never seen directed at me. A breath caught in my chest as a sharp pang of jealousy and sorrow filled my heart. In the five years we were together, Ross had never once been this tender toward me. Even when I was rushed to the hospital with a sudden case of acute gastritis from working non-stop, he never once made me a meal himself. But now, seeing him so caring and considerate with Laurel, I finally understood the difference between love and indifference.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

After Ross left that day, we didn't see each other again. He didn't return home, nor did he go to work. I didn't care where he was; it no longer mattered to me. A week later, my assistant called, saying the company needed me to present a project report to the shareholders. Since I was the project leader, my presence was required. I had already made up my mind to leave Ross for good, and I didn't want to be involved with company matters anymore. But hearing the assistant's slightly pleading tone, I remembered how hard my team and I had worked on this project for months. I couldn't just abandon it at the last minute. "Okay, I'll be there on time," I finally said, reluctantly agreeing. Five years ago, after graduation, I had received job offers from other companies. But Ross's startup was facing a huge crisis, so I gave up those opportunities and decided to help him. I threw myself into the company and worked tirelessly alongside him. In the years since, I had put everything into the company. What started as a tiny, struggling startup had turned into a growing business. Thanks to this success, Ross's wealthy family had accepted me and even invited me and my mother to Fellaton to discuss our marriage. The venue was grand and lavish. I arrived, but before I could even greet the project team, Ross pulled me aside. He didn't ask how I had been or explain why he hadn't come home in days. Instead, he ordered me coldly, "Jennifer, you don't need to present at the project briefing. We've arranged for a new spokesperson." If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought someone had swapped Ross for someone else. I was the lead on this project from the very beginning, and no one knew it better than me. Now, at the final moment, he was telling me I wasn't needed. I couldn't understand how Ross could be so clueless, like he had lost his mind. Then, I heard a familiar voice from the stage. "Good afternoon, shareholders. On behalf of the company, I'd like to welcome everyone..." It was Laurel, standing there in an elegant outfit, radiating confidence and pride. As soon as I saw her, everything clicked into place. To Ross, this project was nothing but a platform to show off for someone he favored. "Is this who you arranged?" I glared at him, cold fury in my eyes. Ross awkwardly rubbed his nose, avoiding my gaze. "Jennifer, since you're the project leader, you'll still need to explain things in detail to the shareholders later. Look, I know you don't really care about fame and fortune, and you're already successful in your own right. But Laurel—she's still new to the company. Giving her this chance to perform will help her career a lot." He kept explaining, but not once did he apologize for putting Laurel in my place. Looking at Ross, I felt like I was seeing a stranger. There was a time when I was his everything. He would share his joys and his failures with me, and he would always praise my abilities. But after Laurel joined the company as Ross's assistant, everything started to change. He no longer shared any details about work or his life with me, and he began traveling often, disappearing without a trace. It was my mother who first noticed something was off. "Jennifer, I haven't seen Ross at home lately. Are you two fighting? Has a new female assistant come into the picture? You need to keep an eye on that..." At the time, I shrugged it off and even made excuses for them. "Mom, that assistant is Ross's junior from college. He's always treated her like a sister. If it were meant to be, they would have already gotten together back then. There's no way they'd wait this long." Looking back now, I realize how blind I was. I was too trusting and naive. I felt like cursing myself now—how could I have believed all those lies Ross told me? Ross, seeing I hadn't responded, thought I was still the same obedient Jennifer. He assumed I would just go along with whatever he said. Smiling, he continued. "Jennifer, I've been so busy lately that I forgot to ask how the wedding plans are coming along. In just over a week, we're getting married. Are you excited?" I didn't respond. Wedding? Screw his wedding! Even if I did get married, Ross would never be the groom. Ross didn't notice my lack of reaction and kept rambling on. "I'm sure Diana will be so happy for us. I wanted to tell her personally about the wedding, but I can't seem to get through to her on the phone. Did she change her number and forget to tell me?" Ross asked, looking at me expectantly. But I hardly heard him because the presentation on stage was finishing. The room erupted in applause. Laurel, smiling smugly, graciously thanked the audience before stepping off the stage. Seeing her, my frustration deepened. In her speech, she acted like the project leader, as if she had been the one handling everything. But she hadn't contributed a thing to this project from the beginning. Everyone who truly understood the project was whispering behind her back, their eyes filled with contempt. But Laurel couldn't see any of it—her focus was entirely on Ross. "Ross, I hope my presentation didn't embarrass you. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

"You did an excellent job." The moment Laurel appeared, Ross's gaze was glued to her. The two of them were so engrossed in their own little world while exchanging playful, intimate remarks, oblivious to the crowd. Laurel shot me a challenging glance, her eyes practically daring me to react. She was marking her territory, showing off her supposed victory. But I wasn't interested in competing for a man's attention. My value had never been about pleasing men. Laurel's little display of dominance felt more like a childish tantrum to me. I wouldn't let such petty behavior get to me. I never did before, and I surely wouldn't now. Ross was too busy talking to the shareholders with Laurel at his side, both of them the center of attention. Laurel stayed close, making it look like they were a pair. Watching it all with cold detachment, I finished my drink before quietly slipping out of the staged event. I took advantage of the moment and gathered all my personal belongings from the office, packing them into a box. When I got home, my phone buzzed with a video from Laurel. The video showed a drunk Ross holding onto her as they entangled. Laurel smiled at the camera, smug and provocative. I glanced at the video and chuckled lightly. It didn't stir up any emotion in me—not a single ripple. I calmly opened my laptop, sent my resignation letter to HR, and then posted a statement about leaving the company on Twitter. Within moments, the entire industry was buzzing. Colleagues and clients I had worked with reached out, asking what had happened. The most anxious were the investors—those who had been considering putting money into our projects. They urgently contacted me, trying to verify if what they'd heard was true. Anyone who knew the company knew that I had been the lead on our most important project. We had just held a major project presentation, and now that I was leaving, potential investors needed to reassess the risks. Those who had previously shown interest in investing quickly started to back off, uncertain of what would happen next. Without investment, the company would stall, and the previous efforts could all go to waste. Ross realized this immediately, and panic set in. He called me, but I ignored it, so he rushed out of the event and headed straight to my place to confront me. When he saw my suitcase already packed, he froze for a moment, but it didn't stop him. He stormed in and shot me a glare. "Jennifer, are you out of your mind? Why would you release that statement at such a critical moment? Don't you realize you've just undone everything we've worked for these past six months?" I barely glanced at him, too tired to even look him in the eye. "Once you're done, please leave my room," I said coolly. "I've already submitted my resignation. And by the way, your assistant claimed responsibility for this project during the presentation. If there's a problem now, you should be talking to her, not me." I shoved him toward the door, then turned back to finish packing. I had a flight to Euchoth already booked, and I was ready to leave. Ross stood there, banging on the door in a fit of rage, but it didn't last long. I thought maybe he had finally realized there was no point in wasting his time on me anymore. That was when the company assistant called. "Jennifer, I have some bad news. The office is in chaos—the boss's precious assistant is about to commit suicide!"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

"She said she's let you, the boss, and the company down! You should see her performance—it's Oscar-worthy." Listening to my assistant, I finally understood. The reason Ross left wasn't that he had decided to stop wasting his time on me. No, there was something else, someone else in the company who had his full attention, someone he needed to comfort. After hanging up with my assistant, I grabbed my luggage and headed out the door. At that moment, my assistant sent me another video. In it, a tearful Laurel was holding a paper cutter to her neck while Ross, flushed with panic, begged her to put the blade down. Watching their drama unfold on screen, I couldn't help but feel a wave of disgust. Their childish, melodramatic behavior was unbearable. My phone rang—Ross was calling. I answered, and the chaos on the other end hit me immediately. "Jennifer, you need to come to the company. Just forgive Laurel and delete your Twitter post, and this whole thing will blow over." I asked with annoyance, my dislike for both of them growing with each word, "What does this have to do with me?" I couldn't believe they still wanted to drag me into this. Ross was clearly caught off guard by my response. There was a brief silence on the line before I heard Laurel, still crying, shouting that she was willing to die if that was what it would take for me to forgive her. She went on to say that stealing my credit during the presentation had been a necessary evil—she was a newcomer, after all, and needed good credentials. Who hadn't been a newcomer once? Why was it that Laurel could take what wasn't hers just because she was Ross's lover? Ross spoke again, his voice firm, "Jennifer, if you don't resolve this today—if anything happens to Laurel—then it's over between us. For good." How resolute. It was almost as if I were hearing echoes of him from five years ago. Back then, his family had disapproved of him starting his own business and was strongly against our relationship. At that time, he'd been just as stubborn, threatening to sever ties with his family and forcing them to cave in. At that time, I was the one he fought for. Now, it was Laurel. How pathetic. "Ross, I'll delete the post. But not because of you or Laurel. It's for the people who've put their work into this project. As for us, like you said, it's better to cut ties now." Ross didn't seem to hear the last part of my sentence. When he heard that I was willing to delete my Twitter post, he let out a sigh of relief and immediately began thanking me. "Jennifer, I knew you'd come through. Thank you for helping with this." After hanging up, I deleted the post, just as I had said I would. Soon, my assistant sent an update on the situation at the company. After seeing that I'd removed the post, Laurel had dropped the blade, and the two of them embraced, as if they were star-crossed lovers who had just survived a near-death experience. I scoffed as I watched the video, then started my car and drove straight to the airport. On the way, I called a private investigator I knew and asked him to dig into Laurel's background. The day before our scheduled wedding, I received the information I had requested. Just as I had suspected, Laurel's past was anything but clean. She hadn't been hospitalized due to a heart condition, as everyone had been told. No, she had passed out after getting too carried away with two men. Her motives for joining Ross's company had never been pure. She had planned to collaborate with others to buy shares at a low price, then profit once the company's projects took off and the stock prices soared. But the company's most important project was mine to lead. Now that I had resigned, the project was stalled, and Laurel's plan had completely fallen apart. Laurel knew all this, which was why she had resorted to using Ross to try and force me into cleaning up the mess. I read through the files with a feeling of mockery bubbling up inside me. The wedding day arrived. Ross's wedding planners had already set up the venue, and he was dressed in a tuxedo, looking sharp. Only a handful of guests had arrived, and Ross immediately sensed something was wrong when he realized none of my family or friends had shown up. Everything about the wedding had been left to me to handle—everything except the arrangements by the wedding company and the guests Ross had invited. But I hadn't even thought about marrying him since the day my mother passed away. This wedding, from start to finish, had been his dream, not mine. Ross had no idea, though. By the time he stepped into that church, I was already on a plane to Euchoth. I had already left him and everything related to him behind. I'd blocked all his contact information. I was never one to drag things out.