Chapter 1

I found an engagement ring box in Lawrence's coat pocket in the sixth year of us dating.

I was anticipating it on my birthday, only to see photos of him with another woman at an upscale romantic restaurant.

I rushed over in a cab, only to witness him down on a knee, proposing to someone else. Everyone around them was cheering and urging them to get together.

Despite the disappointment that had built up, I didn't throw a tantrum like I used to. Instead, I quietly called Dad. "I'll go through with the arranged marriage with the Shepherds, Dad. Let's start planning the wedding."

He was momentarily taken aback upon hearing my words, but the joy soon caught up with him. "I'm glad you've finally come to your senses, sweetheart. It's all about finding a good match when it comes to marriage. While you may go on trials and errors on the outside, you can't live on scraps forever!"

I hummed softly as I stood alone in the hall of the romantic restaurant, watching as Lawrence hugged and kissed the woman amidst the cheers of the crowd.

Everyone was happily rooting for them while I stood frozen on the spot, unable to move.

Overhearing the commotion on my side, Dad urged, "When are you coming back home to meet Mr. Shepherd? His family has been pushing to set the engagement date for a while now."

I replied, "Give me three days. I'll go back home as soon as I've taken care of everything here."

I might have stood out too much from the excited crowd after ending my call. Right as Lawrence slipped the ring onto the woman's finger with trembling hands, he stood up and noticed me.

We locked eyes from across the hall. Seemingly surprised by my appearance, he frowned before taking the woman's hand and going back to their seats.

In all six years we had been together, we'd never once come to a place like this—with roses, champagne, and soft love songs playing on the piano.

I turned around and left.

Lawrence's close friends were all there. The photo I saw earlier had been posted by one of them on their social media. I could still hear them whistling and clapping just before I left.

"What a match made in heaven! You've finally made it happen after all these years!" someone said.

Another yelled, "Let's toast to the happy couple! May true love always find its way!"

I smiled miserably to myself.

In the six years I had been together with Lawrence, none of his close friends ever knew about us. But somehow, they all knew about his relationship with that woman.

Bitterness filled my throat.

Today was my birthday. The initial happiness I felt when I found the ring in his coat pocket had now turned into a poison that tore through me.

…

I took a cab back home and noticed a delivery man standing in front of my door with a birthday cake in hand. The card on the box had Lawrence's handwriting: "Happy birthday, babe. Wishing you all the best!"

The delivery man smiled enviously. "Your boyfriend treats you really well, miss. This is the most expensive cake from our shop, and he even personally wrote you a card!"

I pushed open the door and casually set the cake on the table.

It turned out Lawrence did remember that it was my birthday today. But what was he doing out there now?

Feeling drained, I sank onto the couch and stared into the empty apartment. Tears welled up in my eyes involuntarily.

Every corner of the apartment was filled with traces of our life together. Yet my boyfriend had bought an engagement ring and proposed to another woman.

Looking at the cake now, I felt nothing but disgust. I stayed slumped on the couch for the longest time when the door to the apartment suddenly opened.

Chapter 2

Lawrence had returned in a hurry and had a bouquet of fresh flowers in his hands. He made his way toward me without an ounce of guilt or remorse. "I've brought back your favorite lisianthus, Mirabelle."

Lisianthus, the flower that symbolized loyal, one-of-a-kind love. Now cradled in his arms, it felt like nothing but a poorly-cracked joke.

I took the flowers from Lawrence. Thinking I had cooled down by then, he started explaining, "Ivy has been diagnosed with bone cancer, and her only wish is to marry me. We grew up together. I can't possibly let her dream go unfulfilled, so I'll be getting engaged to her in three days.

"You've always been so understanding. I'm sure you get where I'm coming from, right?"

It didn't sound like an explanation, more like he was merely informing me that he was getting engaged to Ivy Carhart in three days. What a coincidence that I would be gone in three days too.

I nodded quietly.

Lawrence had never been able to tolerate my spoiled temper. He used to complain about how I'd always make a fuss about every little thing, demanding his attention and asking repeatedly if he loved me.

I gradually learned to hold back and keep things in. I had stopped throwing tantrums and asking if he loved me.

Lawrence glanced at me in surprise. "I'm going to move in with Ivy starting tomorrow. You'll have to manage on your own for the next few months. She's sick, so compared to you, she needs me more right now."

I smiled and set the flowers down.

Upon seeing how I wasn't protesting, Lawrence leaned in to touch my face, but I pulled away subtly.

There was an obvious smear of lipstick on his shirt collar. The sickly sweet scent of perfume that drifted from him made me want to gag.

Annoyed at my rejection, Lawrence said nothing more and left the apartment in a hurry.

Meanwhile, I tossed the flowers and cake into the trash can. I then started packing my things.

I didn't want the flowers, and I no longer longed for Lawrence. The apartment where we had spent six years together no longer held any significance to me either.

Chapter 3

I returned to the office the next day and printed out my resignation letter.

Lawrence and I met and fell in love when we were in college.

He joined this tech company after graduation. Following his footsteps, I turned down the arrangements my parents had made for me and started as an entry-level employee with him.

Over the years, I had brought up marriage in subtle ways. But Lawrence was always busy working, citing how he was worried that my parents wouldn't entrust me to him if he didn't make a name for himself.

He'd always placate me by telling me how he was putting his career over marriage. In order not to pressure him further, I could only play it down in front of my parents. I kept my background a secret so that he wouldn't feel burdened.

Now, Lawrence had finally made it as the vice president of the company.

The moment I discovered the ring in his pocket, I was overjoyed that he had finally made up his mind to propose to me. But it turned out that it was all just wishful thinking on my part.

My colleague, Nancy Lewind, was surprised to spot the resignation letter on my computer screen when she walked over. "You're about to be promoted to department head, Mirabelle. Why are you quitting out of nowhere?"

I smiled and replied, "I'm about to get married soon. I might have to work in another company afterward."

Nancy happily congratulated me. "We've been hearing so much good news within the company lately! I just saw Mr. Stone's engagement announcement on his social media last night. What can I say? Mr. Stone and his girlfriend are truly the perfect pair. I heard they're also childhood friends and each other's first love."

The smile on my face faltered. When I opened my phone, I realized Lawrence had blocked me on his main WhatsApp account. His main account was for personal use, while his alternate account was used for work. He must have blocked me on his main account right after leaving the apartment last night.

When I checked the chat history with his alternate account, all that was left were formal work messages between a superior and his subordinate.

Just then, Lawrence walked into the office with Ivy close by his side. She was practically glowing as she smiled brightly, looking nothing like a patient diagnosed with a serious illness.

He then introduced her to everyone. "This is Ivy Carhart, our new head of engineering. Please give her a warm welcome, and I hope you'll all work together harmoniously moving forward."

Shock colored Nancy's face as she glanced between Ivy and me. Eventually, she nodded at Ivy and greeted, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Carhart."

I kept quiet as I tightened my grip on my resignation letter.

Lawrence threw me a displeased look. "Everyone else has greeted the new department head, Mirabelle. What's with that attitude of yours?"

Ivy chuckled lightly before extending her hand to me. "Now that we'll be working together in the same company, I hope we'll get along well."

Lawrence pulled her hand away just as I reached out. "You're a department head. There's no need to bother with low-level employees. Let me show you around the company."

They then left one after another, leaving me stunned, looking like a fool with my hand still extended.

Chapter 4

Nancy pulled me down into my seat and started gossiping. "You've seen her for yourself now, Mirabelle. That's Mr. Stone's fiancee! The diamond necklace around her neck was something he had gifted her the previous day. I heard that it's worth millions!

"But seriously, isn't Mr. Stone being too biased with this? You've been with the company for five years, and everyone knows just how good you are at what you do. I can't believe he's handing over the position that should obviously belong to you to someone else just like that!"

I nodded distractedly. I had already made up my mind to resign today. Ivy's sudden appointment only made it clearer where I stood in Lawrence's eyes.

I grabbed the documents and my resignation letter before walking over to his office and knocking on his door.

"Come in," Lawrence said coolly.

I placed everything down on his desk, including the handover details required after my resignation.

Lawrence's expression grew darker as he flipped through the documents. He eventually looked up, his eyes narrowing as he smiled mockingly.

"Mirabelle, after our talk yesterday, I thought you'd actually changed—that you've finally stopped throwing tantrums. But it seems like you're back to square one today, huh?" He then threw the documents at me.

I side-stepped quickly to avoid them, then lowered my head as I picked up each document he had thrown onto the floor.

Lawrence continued, "So what if you didn't get the promotion? Ivy majored in the same field as me. I trust her ability, so that's why I gave her the head of engineering position. What right do you have to throw a tantrum over it?"

I neatly stacked the documents and placed them in front of him. I calmly replied, "I'm not throwing a tantrum. I genuinely want to resign."

Lawrence trusted Ivy's abilities just because she was in the same field as he was, but what about me? I majored in jewelry design in college, but I took on a second degree just for him. All these years, I had been working hard to keep up with his pace. But it turned out that all my effort meant nothing to him.

He looked down at me condescendingly. "Do you really not know where you stand? I've transferred you to work under Ivy. From now on, you'd better watch and learn from her."

I smiled and replied, "My time is precious too. I'm not learning things I'm not interested in anymore."

"Fine, just leave, then! I'd like to see which company would take you in!" Lawrence shot up from his seat, staring daggers at me.

I turned around and left his office.

The six years I had spent with Lawrence might as well have gone straight to the trash. I'd never revolve my life around him anymore, let alone Ivy.