Chapter 1
At the company's victory party, my boyfriend of six years, Charles Grant, announced to the entire company that he was engaged to the new intern, Cheryl Quinn.
He had his arm around Cheryl's waist, his tone full of contempt. "Cheryl's pregnant. Once the baby's born, I'll make it up to you."
Everyone thought I'd cling to him, refusing to let go.
After all, I'd been by Charles's side since he started the company, through every up and down.
But that very night, I handed in my resignation and agreed to the arranged marriage my family had set up for me years ago.
Three years later, my husband invited me to attend a business dinner with him.
While I was waiting at the entrance for my husband, who was held up by work, I unexpectedly ran into Charles again.
Charles snapped, "Oh, you finally decided to come back? Then go home and help Cheryl take care of the kid right away."
*****
The champagne tower reflected the icy, fragmented light from the crystal chandeliers. The air carried the scent of expensive perfume, gourmet food, and an unspoken, eager anticipation. Everyone was waiting for the drama to unfold.
Wendy stood at the edge of the crowd, her champagne glass misted with condensation, her fingertips chilled.
On stage, Charles radiated triumph.
He held the microphone in one hand, while his other hand firmly gripped Cheryl's slender waist.
Cheryl wore a pure white lace dress, its carefully designed folds cleverly concealing her baby bump, though the curve was unmistakable.
Her cheeks were flushed with shyness, but she couldn't hide her pride as she leaned into Charles, like a parasitic vine clinging to a strong tree.
Cheryl, the new intern, had nervously stood before Wendy just three months ago.
"Thank you all for your support and dedication to Starlight Tech." Charles's voice boomed through the microphone, brimming with the confidence of a winner.
"Tonight, besides celebrating our successful Series B funding, I have something important to share with everyone, something that fills me with joy."
His gaze swept across the room, finally landing precisely on Wendy.
There was no guilt, no hesitation in his eyes, but only an almost cruel certainty, as if he'd already predicted exactly how she'd react.
"Cheryl and I," he said, tightening his arm around Cheryl's waist and pulling her even closer, "we have a product of our love. Cheryl is pregnant."
After a brief silence, the room burst into over-the-top reactions, with whispers and chatter exploding instantly.
"Congrats, Mr. Grant! Two big wins at once," someone called out, and the applause, which started off scattered, quickly turned enthusiastic.
Countless eyes locked onto Wendy—some curious, some sympathetic, and some gloating.
She'd been Charles's girlfriend for six years, standing by his side as he went from running a startup out of a tiny rented apartment to becoming the CEO of Starlight Tech, now worth dozens of millions.
She was the company's unofficial "First Lady", the woman who quietly handled everything behind the scenes for Charles.
And now, with the "First Lady" still present, Charles was publicly announcing that his new favorite was pregnant.
Wendy felt those stares like barbed whips, each one scorching her skin with a searing pain.
She could even make out the hushed but biting gossip from a few female colleagues nearby.
"Wow, Mr. Grant is savage. He is stripping Ms. Lane of all dignity."
"They've been together for six years, and Ms. Lane gets replaced by an intern? How is she ever going to hold her head up again?"
"Shh. Keep it down. Let's see how Ms. Lane gets out of this. Is she going to blow up right here?"
"If it were me, I'd totally go off on Cheryl..."
Cheryl nestled against Charles, and then turned her head slightly to cast a sidelong glance at Wendy.
Her gaze was shy, yet unmistakably laced with a subtle provocation and the smug pity of a winner.
Charles was obviously satisfied with everyone's reaction. His smile grew broader, carrying a condescending, almost magnanimous ease.
His gaze locked onto Wendy again, and his voice, amplified by the microphone, hit everyone in the room.
"Wendy," he said, still acting like they were close, but his tone was offhand. "You've always been sensible. Cheryl's young, and her health isn't great. She needs someone to take care of her.
Once the baby's born, I'll make it up to you, so don't worry."
He said "make it up to you" as if it were perfectly reasonable, like Wendy's six years of youth, effort, and love were a debt he could pay off whenever he felt like it.