Chapter 1

On the eve of our fifth engagement anniversary, I heard my fiancé admit the truth himself—

Five years ago, the person who drove me out of my family and ruined my reputation was him.

At that time, I was still holding the anniversary gift I prepared for him.

A pair of custom cufflinks.

On the card inside the gift box, I wrote with my own hands:

To the man who saved me.

Thinking about it now, it is really ironic.

I stood outside the CEO office on the top floor of Mercer Capital, my fingers tightened little by little, and the black velvet gift box lost its shape in my palm.

The office door was slightly open.

Julian's mother Margaret's bitter laugh came from inside.

"Vanessa has returned to the country."

"Julian, how much longer will you play along with Claire?"

My hand stopped in mid-air.

Vanessa.

This name was like a rusty knife, fiercely stabbing into a wound from five years ago that never truly healed.

Five years ago, the top secret of the Whitmore Group was leaked, and all evidence pointed to me.

Leaked documents were found in my computer, an unknown overseas transfer appeared in my account, and there was even an audio recording of me admitting my betrayal to the family.

Overnight, I changed from the first heir of the Whitmore family to a despised traitor.

My grandfather personally removed my name, and my mother Eleanor stood in the group lobby and told me in front of all the directors: "From today on, do not call me mother anymore."

Only Julian stayed.

On that heavy rainy night, he took off his suit jacket and covered me, holding my shaking body tightly in his arms.

He said: "Claire, do not be afraid."

"Even if the whole world abandons you, I will stay."

Over the past five years, I thanked God countless times. After I lost my family, identity, career, and dignity, he at least left Julian for me.

Then, I heard his voice from behind the door.

Calm.

Indifferent.

It sounded like discussing a trivial deal.

"Claire just needs to reconnect with Eleanor and get Mercer onto the final partner list for the Whitmore hotel project, then she is useless."

My breathing stopped.

The office was quiet for two seconds.

That hotel always belonged to the Whitmore family, and my mother Eleanor held the decision power for the final round of partnership.

Margaret chuckled: "Are you sure she will contact Eleanor?"

"She is already starting to waver."

Julian's tone even carried a little smile.

"These past few months, I have been advising her to forgive her family."

"Claire is soft-hearted. I just need to tell her I don't want her to lose her mother because of me, then she will think I am looking out for her."

I stared hard at the crack in the door.

Last night, Julian held me exactly like this.

He kissed my forehead and said gently: "Claire, I do not want you to lose your family forever because of me."

I almost cried at that time.

I thought this man loved me enough to push me back to the family that once hurt me.

Actually, he just needed me to go back and get something for him. A hotel project authorization worth hundreds of millions.

Margaret spoke again: "What happens after getting the authorization?"

Julian answered without hesitation.

"End the engagement."

My nails dug fiercely into my palms, the hard edge of the cufflink cut my skin, and a drop of blood fell onto the black velvet.

But the next sentence from Margaret truly froze me completely.

"Speaking of which, if you did not put the leaked document into Claire's computer five years ago, she would not be so obedient."

The world suddenly became quiet, and I could not even hear my own breathing.

Five years ago.

Leaked document.

My computer.

Julian.

These words clashed repeatedly in my mind.

I wanted to tell myself I heard it wrong.

I must have heard it wrong.

But the next second, Julian laughed. It was a very light sound, but it was like a knife that completely cut open my past five years of life.

"A person will only truly depend on the one remaining person after losing everything," he said, "If she was still the Whitmore heir, how could she look at me back then?"

My stomach cramped fiercely.

I covered my mouth to stop myself from making a sound.

Five years ago, I lost my family, lost my career, lost my mother, and lost all my friends.

I changed from an heir in the center of everyone's attention to a traitor gossiped about even by hotel waiters.

And Julian accompanied me every day.

He held me during my nightmares. He bought food for me when I was afraid to go out. He told me over and over again when I cried and said I had nothing: "You still have me."

So this was the whole truth.

I had nothing left because he personally took everything away.

Then, he stood in the ruins and pretended to be the only one willing to save me.

In the office, Margaret was still laughing. "Claire might go crazy if she knows the truth."

"No," Julian said lightly, "She will never know."

My tears finally fell.

Only one drop.

I raised my hand and wiped it away.

Then I looked down at the deformed gift box in my palm.

Five years ago, he held me in the heavy rain.

Five years later, I finally understand that it was not salvation.

It was a hunter standing by his own trap, watching his prey finally lose its last bit of strength to struggle.

I should have rushed in, smashed the gift box on his face, and questioned why he destroyed my life, but my hand stopped when it touched the doorknob.

Because I suddenly remembered Julian's words just now.

Claire is useless once she gets the final approval authorization for the Whitmore hotel project.

I slowly let go of the doorknob.

No.

Rushing in now would be too easy on him.

What is losing a fiancée to him?

Five years ago, he took my family, career, reputation, and life away from me. Then I will take them back from his hands one by one.

Then, I will make him watch himself lose everything with his own eyes.

I bent down and picked up the gift box that dropped on the floor just now.

Open it. The pair of platinum cufflinks lay quietly inside.

Five minutes ago, they were a gift I prepared for my lifesaver. Now, they belong to a man I wish I could send to hell with my own hands.

I closed the box, smoothed my dress, and then walked to the elevator.

The metal doors reflected my face. Pale face, red eyes.

Five years ago, when I lost everything, Julian was the only one who stayed.

So I treated him as a lifesaver.

Now I finally know.

He did not save me from the ruins, but he personally created those ruins. Since it is like this, I will not only destroy our engagement, but I will make him repay double for what he took from me.

As for that hotel project he dreams of—

I will personally put it in front of him and let him think he finally won.

Then, I will watch him hand all his chips over to me step by step to get it.

I looked down at the blood mark cut by the cufflink on my palm and smiled softly.

Julian, aren't you the best at acting?

Starting tomorrow, it will be my turn.

I turned and walked into the elevator. Watching the metal doors slowly close, reflecting the gentle smile on my lips that I practiced for five years.