But I had overestimated our relationship.
After we started working, we went from having endless things to talk about to having nothing to say at all.
Then Ryan Scott joined the company as her assistant.
For the first time in years, I saw that bright, eighteen-year-old smile on her face again—
but this time, it wasn’t for me.
I shifted my focus back to our relationship, determined not to miss a single anniversary or date.
But when I saw her sitting across from me during a date, staring off at her phone, I knew this relationship was beyond saving.
The wedding was just the final straw.
Signs of her betrayal had been there all along.
It was time for me to wake up.
With the alcohol in my system, I drifted into a heavy sleep.
In the middle of the night, my phone buzzed several times, then fell silent.
At eight in the morning, the ringtone jolted me awake.
Without checking the caller ID, I answered.
On the other end came Sophia Bennett’s furious voice:
“Adrian Scott, what the hell are you doing? The project proposal was supposed to be finalized by last night. Everyone says they couldn’t reach you. If you don’t want to do this job, plenty of others will!”
I opened my eyes, my chest tightening.
“Then let someone else do it. Every project ends up going through Ryan anyway, so why waste my breath?”
Since Ryan had entered the company, every project required his final approval.
Even if he knew nothing about it, Sophia still chose to believe in him.
He didn’t participate in a single step, yet his name appeared on the final report—along with more than half of the project bonus.
The company was full of complaints, but Sophia never cared.
Now, realizing she couldn’t manage without me, she actually lowered herself to call me.
Seeing that I was still upset, her tone softened.
“Adrian, I know you’re unhappy, but you can’t let personal issues affect work. Isn’t that what you taught me?”
“The client is still waiting for the result. Can you just give me an answer on whether to sign with them?”
I couldn’t help a cold laugh.
“Switching grooms on the wedding day wasn’t worth telling me about, but now it’s just a project and you need my input? Make the call yourself, President Bennett.”
I was about to hang up when Sophia exploded again.
“Adrian Scott, are you done? How many times do I have to explain? Believe it or not, I don’t care!”
“If you don’t finalize the proposal today, I’ll fire everyone in your team! The Bennett family doesn’t need useless people!”
She hung up roughly.
Almost immediately, my phone was flooded with messages from my team:
“Manager Scott, please come to the office—our whole team is about to be cut!”
“Please help us! I have a family to feed, I can’t lose this job!”
“President Bennett’s been in a rage all morning—she threw out all the documents we sent in!”
I took a deep breath, resigned, and got ready to leave.
Even if my relationship with her was over, these employees were innocent—they shouldn’t suffer for it.
The moment I stepped into the office, I felt the change in everyone’s gaze.
Several people I’d criticized in past meetings smirked openly as they mocked me:
“Well, if it isn’t Manager Scott—the freeloader who bites the hand that feeds him. What brings you here?”
“I heard the groom got swapped at the last minute, and then you got your car wrecked. Talk about karma hitting fast.”
“You didn’t think much of the assistant before, but now he’s married to President Bennett, and you’re so bitter you couldn’t sleep all night. If I were you, I’d hide my face in my pants when I go out. Better yet, jump off a building and save yourself the trouble.”
Someone nearby nudged him, adding with mock seriousness:
“Come on, you know the number one skill for freeloading is a thick skin!”
