Chapter 1

Just because my company had a strict no-dating policy, I willingly kept our relationship under wraps for ten years.

For ten years, I stuck with him through his lowest moments, took care of his parents, and even carried his baby.

On our tenth anniversary, it just happened to be the company's team-building day.

My boyfriend, Julian Frost, who's always been quiet, suddenly stood up and announced to everyone that he was going to propose to his beloved girlfriend.

In an instant, everyone shot me looks of surprise and envy, as if they all knew exactly what was happening.

Just as my eyes were brimming with tears of joy, Julian knelt on one knee, holding out the ring to Nola Reed, my bestie.

When Julian knelt on one knee, holding out the diamond ring to Nola, everyone's gaze turned to me.

The warmth that had filled my eyes was wiped away immediately, leaving nothing but cold emptiness deep inside.

Even now, I could still hear my coworkers muttering in disbelief.

"Wait, isn't Julian's mysterious girlfriend supposed to be Winnie?"

"I thought so too. How did it become Nola now?"

"Oh my god, we've been gossiping about the wrong couple for so many years!"

"So embarrassing."

Embarrassing?

I hid my trembling fingers in my sleeve.

It was not my colleagues who felt embarrassed, but me.

Turns out, their gossip wasn't wrong after all. Julian's girlfriend of ten years really was me.

We started dating back in college. He was the hottest boy in computer science, and I was the prettiest girl in finance.

Back then, our romance was legendary. Everyone saw us as the campus power couple.

That summer night, outside the dorm was filled with sweet osmanthus petals.

Julian cupped my face and kissed me, and it felt like all our youth was wrapped up in that moment.

That was my first kiss and my first love.

After we graduated, we both applied and were admitted to the same company together.

Now, it had been a full ten years.

In other words, today was the tenth anniversary of our love.

Because our company had a strict no-dating rule, I was more than willing to keep our love under wraps, staying in the shadows for him.

Even if we couldn't make it official, couldn't hold hands or have a kiss in public, I still had no complaints for ten years.

During the past ten years, when his career took a nosedive, I was always there for him.

When his father was gravely ill, I took care of him by his bedside, going days and nights without sleep.

Just half a month ago, I suddenly felt nauseous and tight in my chest. I went to the hospital to check and found out that I was pregnant.

I had his baby.

God must have been looking out for me. A week ago, the newly appointed CEO suddenly announced that the company's ban on office romance was officially lifted.

So when Julian took out the ring, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.

I thought our ten-year love story had finally reached its happy ending.

I thought my love was finally reciprocated. I thought my ring finger, empty for ten years, had finally found its rightful owner.

However, just as tears welled up in my eyes and the word "yes" was right on the tip of my tongue, Julian walked right past me and knelt on one knee in front of my bestie, Nola.

The guy I'd spent ten years loving, caring for, and standing by, he only had eyes for Nola at this moment.

He looked at her deeply, pouring his heart out in front of everyone.

He said, "Nola, you have been by my side for so many years, through every storm and every rough patch. You've put up with so much for me, taken so many hits, and swallowed so much pain.

"Every time I think about how you couldn't walk with me in the open, my heart hurts.

"Now, I finally work up the nerve to kneel in front of you. There's just one thing I want to ask.

"Nola, are you willing to marry me? Will you stick with me, no matter if we're poor or rolling in cash, and never part with me?"

Why did those words sound so heartbreakingly familiar?

There was a time when he also held me tightly in his arms and made those same solemn promises.

He'd say, "Winnie, I know how much you've gone through for me. I've seen everything you've done these ten years.

"Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today.

"You made me who I am. Please believe in me. When I finally make it, the first thing I'll do is let the whole world know about us. I'll do my best to keep you by my side forever.

"You're the only one I want as my wife. We'll be together forever, no matter what."

But now, the person he said had been with him for ten years was the girl who used to be nothing more than a bystander in our love story, Nola.

And Nola, who had watched from the sidelines as I poured my heart out for Julian before, stood there now, her face streaked with tears, nodding as she was overwhelmed with emotion.

She stretched out her hand and let Julian slide the ring onto her ring finger.

Then they hugged, kissed, and accepted everyone's blessings.

It was as if I had never existed at all.

Julian's proposal blew up the whole team-building event. Everyone went wild.

People rushed here, afraid they'd miss out on the juicy gossip.

I was the only one who turned around and left.