Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At the victory gala, my boyfriend of six years, Grant, stood before the entire company and announced his engagement to the new intern.

He had his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his voice dripping with casual disdain.

"Skylar is pregnant. Once the baby is born, I'll make sure you're compensated."

My colleagues all watched me, expecting me to break down and beg him to stay.

After all, I was the one who had stayed by his side from the moment he started his business until now.

But that very night, I handed in my resignation and agreed to the arranged marriage my family had set up years ago.

Three years later, my husband was taking me to a high-profile business gala.

While I was waiting for him at the entrance, I ran into Grant again.

"So you finally crawled back? Since you're here, hurry up and come over to help Skylar take care of the kids!"

...

The champagne tower reflected the cold, sharp light of the crystal chandeliers. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, gourmet appetizers, and a silent, buzzing excitement for drama.

I stood on the edge of the crowd, the glass of champagne in my hand forming a thin layer of condensation that chilled my fingertips.

On the stage, Grant looked like the king of the world.

He held the microphone in one hand and gripped the slender waist of the young girl beside him with the other.

She wore a pure white lace cocktail dress, her tiny baby bump subtly hidden by clever pleats, showing just a hint of a curve.

Her face was flushed with a mix of shyness and smugness as she leaned into Grant like a vine clinging to a sturdy tree.

This was Skylar, the company's new intern, who only three months ago had stood timidly in front of me, calling me "Elena, my mentor."

"I want to thank everyone for your hard work and support for 'Starry Tech'!" Grant's voice boomed through the speakers, carrying the arrogance of a successful man. "Tonight, besides celebrating our successful Series B funding, I have something even more important to share!"

His eyes scanned the room, landing precisely on me.

There was no guilt in his gaze, no hesitation―only a cruel certainty, as if he had already calculated exactly how I would react.

"Skylar and I," he said, pulling her even closer into his chest, "are expecting a child. She's pregnant!"

"Whoa!" After a brief silence, the room erupted into forced gasps and immediate whispering.

"Congratulations, Mr. Sterling! Double blessings!" someone shouted from the front, and the applause started small before growing into a roar.

Countless eyes turned toward me like searchlights, filled with blatant curiosity, pity, and schadenfreude.

I was the woman who had been Grant's girlfriend for six years, the one who moved into a cramped studio apartment with him and helped him build Starry Tech into a multi-million dollar company.

I was the unofficial "first lady" of the company, the woman who worked tirelessly in the background to handle everything for him.

Now, with the rightful partner still in the room, the king was announcing his new queen's pregnancy.

I felt those stares like whip lashes across my skin, stinging and raw.

I could even hear the muffled, biting comments from a few female coworkers standing nearby.

"God, Grant is savage... he didn't even give Elena a shred of dignity."

"Six years, down the drain just like that? How can she even show her face?"

"Shh... keep it down. Let's see if she makes a scene. I'd probably tear that Skylar girl apart if I were her..."

Skylar leaned into Grant's chest, tilting her head slightly to glance my way.

Her look was one of fake innocence mixed with a clear, sharp jab of victory.

Grant was clearly enjoying the reaction. His smile widened with a condescending ease as he locked eyes with me again, his voice echoing through the hall.

"Elena," he said, still using that familiar, intimate tone, "you've always been the sensible one. Skylar is young and her health isn't the best; she needs someone to look after her. Once the baby is born, I'll compensate you properly, don't worry."

The word "compensate" sounded so natural coming from him, as if my six years of youth, blood, sweat, and love were just a debt he could settle with a check.

The air in the room completely froze.