Chapter 1

My best friend, Sophie Starr, had a ruptured corpus luteum in the middle of the night, so I brought her home to take care of her.

My fiancé, Jonathan Lane, never liked me hanging out with her, but this time, he just nodded with a cold look on his face.

"Grace, if it weren't for you, I'd never let another woman stay in our home," he said.

I was afraid Sophie might overhear and feel bad, so I hurriedly pushed him into the study and went to the kitchen to cook.

Later, I woke up thirsty in the middle of the night. Jonathan was gone. I stepped out of the room and saw the bathroom light on.

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of kissing drifted out from inside.

"Are you crazy?" Sophie pushed him away, her voice trembling with panic.

Jonathan let out a mocking laugh. "Isn't that why you came over? For a thrill?"

Sophie stammered, "I still feel guilty about Grace."

"Then just stay as my side chick. Don't even think about fighting for the title of Mrs. Lane," Jonathan said coldly.

I didn't confront them or make a scene. Instead, I quietly returned to my room.

Half an hour later, Jonathan finally came in. When he saw me wide awake, he froze.

He was about to say something, but I cut him off.

"I just got word I have to go on a business trip for a week, so I woke up," I said.

Jonathan visibly relaxed, but his tone was impatient.

"I'll just stay at the office. Don't expect me to help you take care of that extra baggage," he said.

In the darkness, I nodded.

'It's none of my business anymore,' I thought.

'This time, I'm gone for good.'

*****

The next morning, I didn't get up half an hour early to make breakfast like I usually did.

Sophie, still half-asleep, asked me, "Grace, why didn't you make breakfast today? I was really craving soup dumplings."

"Grace, why didn't you make breakfast today? I was really craving bread."

Jonathan gave her a sideways glance, clearly annoyed.

"Sophie, do you know how tired Grace is from work?"

"She's already taking care of you, and you still have so many demands. If you're not happy, then get out," he snapped.

Sophie shot me a wounded look, thinking I'd defend her like I always did.

I avoided her eyes and kept quiet.

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

Jonathan and Sophie exchanged a look.

He came over and gently wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"What's wrong, Grace? Are you upset with me again because of Sophie?" he asked.

"It's nothing," I replied.

I offered the mango juice to Sophie.

She was about to take it, but Jonathan blocked her hand.

"She can't have mango," he said.

Sophie awkwardly explained, "Grace, I'm allergic to mango."

"Grace, I'm allergic to mango."

I'd been her best friend for ten years and didn't even know that, but my fiancé knew it all too well.

I let out a laugh and looked up at Jonathan.

"How do you know something I don't, Jonathan?" I asked.

He paused, his face darkening, and then took out his frustration on Sophie.

"It's all because of your precious best friend. She ate mango in the company cafeteria, caused such a scene that she had to be taken away in an ambulance."

"She knew she was allergic to mango and still ate it. Seriously, how dumb can you be?"

With that, he slammed the mango juice down on the table and stormed off to change.

Sophie kept her head down, looking like she was about to cry again.

I ignored her, grabbed my keys, and got ready to head to the office.

She stepped forward and grabbed the hem of my shirt.

"Grace, I need to go to the hospital today. Can you take me?" she asked.

She hadn't changed at all, always relying on me for everything.

But now, she just made me sick.

I shot a glance at Jonathan, who had just walked out, and said coolly, "He's heading that way. Let him take you."

"He's heading that way. Let him take you."

Jonathan's face stayed icy, but he didn't say no.

"Hurry up and get ready. Don't make me wait," he said.

I went downstairs first and pulled over at the first intersection to wait.

Finally, that familiar Maybach came into view.

Sophie was in the passenger seat and leaned in to give Jonathan a quick kiss.

Jonathan reached over and gave her cheek a playful squeeze.

Seeing that, I sat frozen in my car, my whole body going numb and cold.

My hands tightened around the steering wheel without me even realizing it.

I floored it and followed them.

When we got to his office building, Jonathan and Sophie walked in arm in arm.

The security guard and the receptionist greeted them like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Jonathan and I used to promise each other that once our careers were stable, we'd make our relationship public.

But he kept putting it off.

And now, everyone at the office just assumed he and Sophie were a couple.

I tried to follow them in, but the receptionist stopped me.

"Who are you here to see?" she asked.

I didn't hesitate. "I'm Jonathan's fiancée."

The receptionist shot me a skeptical look. "What? Mr. Lane just went upstairs, with his girlfriend," she replied, her tone dripping with disbelief.

She gave me a slow once-over, eyes full of disdain, as if I was nothing but the other woman.

I forced myself to keep it together and asked, "So, when did everyone here start knowing about them?"

"When did you all find out about them?" I repeated.

The receptionist looked at me with a hint of gloating.

"Trust me, we found out way before you did," she said.

"We've known for two years. Rumor has it they're getting married," she added.