Chapter 4 · My Ring Became Her Smile

Chapter 4

It was a week before the wedding. As soon as I walked into the office, I saw my coworkers crowded together, whispering while glued to their phones.

"Hey, check it out, there's a new update."

"Wow, the wedding photos are stunning."

"Mr. Lane looks so handsome. Emily's got it made..."

As I walked over, everyone quietly stepped aside, clearing a path for me. I went back to my desk and checked my phone.

In the company group chat, the pinned message was from Richard Lane. There was a set of wedding photos, flawlessly retouched and looking gorgeous. Emily was wearing a white gown, smiling in Richard's embrace, her ring sparkling on her finger.

The caption read: [Thank you all for being part of our love story. Next Saturday, we'll see you at the Grand Regency.]

Below that, a flood of well-wishes poured in.

[Congratulations, Mr. Lane.]

[Such a perfect couple. Talented and beautiful, truly meant for each other.]

[Hope you start a family soon.]

I scrolled down and spotted Richard's reply. [Big thanks to Claire for everything she's done all these years. Hope you find your own happiness as well.]

Right away, people chimed in to echo his sentiment.

[That's right, Claire. He's not good enough for you; you'll find someone even better.]

[Stay strong, Claire! You got this.]

I stared at those messages for a long time. I waited for him for three years. From renting a place together to seeing him finally make it, from being just a regular staff member to becoming the go-to person in marketing.

I have managed every client, delivered every order, and drafted every late-night proposal single-handedly. After everything, all I got was a simple "thanks for your help." Now I'm officially tagged as his ex for everyone to see.

I put my phone away. Some coworkers were stealing glances at me. I got up and headed to the break room for some water. Emily walked by with a spring in her step, looking all cheerful.

"Morning, Claire." she called out with a big smile. "Did you check out the wedding photos? They turned out pretty well, and don't you think

I glanced at the ring on her finger. "Looks good," I said.

"Thanks." Emily grinned. "By the way, don't forget to come to the wedding. Richard really wanted me to remind you."

"Yeah, I'll be there," I replied.

"Great." She gave a little wave. "I'll leave you to it." Then she walked away.

I stood there in the break room, holding my cup of water. Susan came over to me. "Claire, are you okay?" she whispered. "About those messages in the group chat just now..."

"Susan, can you do me a favor?" I said.

"What's up?" Susan asked.

"Could you get me the project records from the past few years?" I said.

She blinked, surprised. "Why do you need those?"

"I need to look into something," I said quietly.

Susan gave me a look, but didn't ask any more questions. "Alright. I'll get it to you before the end of the day," she said.

*****

At five o'clock, Susan quietly slipped a USB drive into my hand when no one was looking. "All the project data from the past three years is on here," she said, watching me closely. "Claire, what exactly are you up to?"

I slipped the USB drive into my bag. "Susan, do you trust me?"

"Of course," Susan replied without hesitation.

"Then just wait, you'll see," I said, a hint of confidence in my voice.

*****

That night, I was at my computer, opening up the files from the USB drive.

Marketing department's total revenue for three years: 22 million.

My projects alone made up 14 million.

That's 62.7 percent of the total.

I stared at that number for a long time. Richard always said that the company's achievements belonged to the team.

Team.

I clicked open another folder; it was the complete record for the Summit Initiative. Everything from the very first contact email to the last set of meeting notes.

A full eight months: 156 emails, 47 phone conferences, and 12 face-to-face meetings. Every entry in the records had one name, clear as day: Claire Newman.

I grabbed my phone and pulled up Mr. King's contact. "Mr. King, could you help me with something?"

"I'm listening," Mr. King said.

"Could you come to the wedding?" I asked.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Claire, what are you up to?" Mr. King asked.

"Just going to wish them well," I said, my eyes fixed on the computer screen. "And while I'm at it, I'll share some news with them."

David King let out a laugh. "Alright. I'll be waiting to hear from you," he said.

After hanging up, I stared out the window at the night. 'Richard, you said I'd be nothing without the company. I'll show you what true happiness really means.'

Chapter 4

It was a week before the wedding. As soon as I walked into the office, I saw my coworkers crowded together, whispering while glued to their phones.

"Hey, check it out, there's a new update."

"Wow, the wedding photos are stunning."

"Mr. Lane looks so handsome. Emily's got it made..."

As I walked over, everyone quietly stepped aside, clearing a path for me. I went back to my desk and checked my phone.

The caption read: [Thank you all for being part of our love story. Next Saturday, we'll see you at the Grand Regency.]

Below that, a flood of well-wishes poured in.

[Congratulations, Mr. Lane.]

[Such a perfect couple. Talented and beautiful, truly meant for each other.]

[Hope you start a family soon.]

I scrolled down and spotted Richard's reply. [Big thanks to Claire for everything she's done all these years. Hope you find your own happiness as well.]

Right away, people chimed in to echo his sentiment.

[That's right, Claire. He's not good enough for you; you'll find someone even better.]

[Stay strong, Claire! You got this.]

I put my phone away. Some coworkers were stealing glances at me. I got up and headed to the break room for some water. Emily walked by with a spring in her step, looking all cheerful.

"Morning, Claire." she called out with a big smile. "Did you check out the wedding photos? They turned out pretty well, and don't you think

I glanced at the ring on her finger. "Looks good," I said.

"Thanks." Emily grinned. "By the way, don't forget to come to the wedding. Richard really wanted me to remind you."

"Yeah, I'll be there," I replied.

"Great." She gave a little wave. "I'll leave you to it." Then she walked away.

I stood there in the break room, holding my cup of water. Susan came over to me. "Claire, are you okay?" she whispered. "About those messages in the group chat just now..."

"Susan, can you do me a favor?" I said.

"What's up?" Susan asked.

"Could you get me the project records from the past few years?" I said.

She blinked, surprised. "Why do you need those?"

"I need to look into something," I said quietly.

Susan gave me a look, but didn't ask any more questions. "Alright. I'll get it to you before the end of the day," she said.

*****

I slipped the USB drive into my bag. "Susan, do you trust me?"

"Of course," Susan replied without hesitation.

"Then just wait, you'll see," I said, a hint of confidence in my voice.

*****

That night, I was at my computer, opening up the files from the USB drive.

Marketing department's total revenue for three years: 22 million.

My projects alone made up 14 million.

That's 62.7 percent of the total.

I stared at that number for a long time. Richard always said that the company's achievements belonged to the team.

Team.

I clicked open another folder; it was the complete record for the Summit Initiative. Everything from the very first contact email to the last set of meeting notes.

A full eight months: 156 emails, 47 phone conferences, and 12 face-to-face meetings. Every entry in the records had one name, clear as day: Claire Newman.

I grabbed my phone and pulled up Mr. King's contact. "Mr. King, could you help me with something?"

"I'm listening," Mr. King said.

"Could you come to the wedding?" I asked.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Claire, what are you up to?" Mr. King asked.

"Just going to wish them well," I said, my eyes fixed on the computer screen. "And while I'm at it, I'll share some news with them."

David King let out a laugh. "Alright. I'll be waiting to hear from you," he said.

After hanging up, I stared out the window at the night. 'Richard, you said I'd be nothing without the company. I'll show you what true happiness really means.'