Chapter 1

Right before the wedding, my fiancé asked to postpone it by seven days.

All because he wanted to spend time with his childhood sweetheart, who was terminally ill.

"This week I am completely free. I want to be with Lily and help her fulfill her last wish."

I asked, somewhat taken aback:

"Tomorrow is our wedding. Are you trying to humiliate me?"

Alexander's eyes darted away, but his tone was firm.

"Lily has only a month left to live. I owe her a love story worth remembering."

I didn't agree, but Alexander left anyway.

The wedding was postponed at the last minute.

[Joanna, we won't cross the line. I will give you a grand wedding.]

Every day after that, Alexander sent me updates on his itinerary.

On the first day, they took my wedding photographer and went to shoot their own wedding photos.

On the second day, he gave the custom wedding jewelry to Lily.

But by the third day, Lily sent over a video.

Alexander was drunk, and they were pressed close together. Lily stared into the camera, her eyes full of defiance.

"So what if he finds out I was faking my illness? He still chose me over you — just to fulfill my wish."

I laughed. The only reason he succeeded was because of my unique business acumen and instincts.

And now, sixty percent of the company's shares are registered under my name.

Once he loses me, everything he has will turn to dust.

Chapter 1

We had been in love for eight years, building the company together from nothing.

But now, he wanted to spend a week in a romantic relationship with his terminally ill childhood sweetheart — right before our wedding.

Even though I hadn't agreed, he chose to leave me behind.

Leaving me to keep the company running, to make their love story possible.

Early on the fourth morning, I received a payment invoice for fifty million.

The night before, Alexander had spent ten million at an auction on an antique tiara.

And he wanted to set off a grand fireworks display for her — one that would last the entire night...

He was also going to host a wedding on a Hawaiian island.

I stared at the invoices one by one, my mind drifting.

I had originally chosen Hawaii as the venue for our wedding.

But Alexander had refused, saying Hawaii wasn't convenient for handling company affairs.

"A church in New York is more practical. We can go straight to the office after the ceremony."

And now he was going to rent out an entire island just for Lily.

Looking at those invoices, I replied calmly: [Payment denied.]

I didn't expect Alexander to return to the company the very next day.

I had just set down the documents I'd finished organizing when he walked in, carrying a cup of coffee.

"I went out of my way to get you your favorite — iced, no sugar."

I took it with a hint of confusion. It was true — I loved this flavor.

But he only ever bought it for me when he was trying to coax me, to get me to give in.

I nodded, then looked up and caught sight of the necklace around Lily's neck — the antique necklace I had specifically purchased for my own collection.

I didn't take the coffee. I replied flatly:

"Company funds aren't meant for you to spoil your lover with."

"I'm so sorry — it's all my fault. I've caused you two to fight."

Lily stammered nervously from the side, trying to mediate.

"Alexander, I'm just a dying woman. A little hardship doesn't matter to me. Hurry up and apologize to Joanna."

She spoke in a deliberately soft, affected voice, faking sweetness to sound pitiful.

Lily caught my gaze and immediately shrank behind Alexander in fear.

Alexander stepped in front of her, like a knight guarding his princess.

Then he turned back and gazed at Lily adoringly:

"You deserve all of this. Of course I'm going to give it to you."

Lily nestled obediently against his shoulder, looking up at him with anticipation.

"Alexander, I'm already more than satisfied. It feels like a beautiful dream. I don't need any of this."

Then Alexander picked up the financial statements from my desk and crossed out budgets from several projects.

I tried to stop him, grabbing his arm:

"You're only doing a seven-day romance, yet you want to rent out an entire Hawaiian island for a wedding — and even divert company investments. What about me?"

Alexander shook off my hand and signed the transfer approval.

"You two are different. You'll be my real wife someday, but all I can give Lily is a ceremony. I don't want to half-ass it."

When he saw that I still wouldn't agree, Lily spoke up, her voice trembling with tears.

"It's okay. Just being able to put on a wedding dress for you is enough. These seven days feel like stolen happiness."

As she spoke, she took off the necklace from her neck.

"These should all go back to Joanna. She's your real wife. I..."

Alexander held her hand down, stepped behind her, and fastened the necklace back on.

Then he signed his name on several invoices.

I pointed at the projects whose budgets he had slashed and gave him one last warning:

"Think carefully. If funding is cut off on these projects, we'll have to pay massive breach-of-contract penalties."

He moved my hand aside, his tone calm.

"I'm leaving the company in your hands. It won't have any problems."

"Be good. We'll get married when we get back."

He flashed a smile and left with Lily.

As Lily turned around, she stuck her tongue out at me provocatively, her eyes full of smugness.

I casually swept the coffee on the desk into the trash.

I immediately called finance to halt the payment, but they replied helplessly:

"The CEO said this invoice needs to be paid immediately, and he won't take your instructions."

I pushed down the emotions rising inside me and sent an email to the shareholders.

[Shareholders' meeting in three days.]

Chapter 2

The next day, I organized all the projects Alexander had slashed budgets from, along with the invoices. Then Alexander came back.

He showed me the email, his tone dripping with dissatisfaction.

"Because the payment wasn't made on time yesterday, someone else booked the venue first. The wedding has to be postponed to a month from now."

I looked at his booking confirmation and frowned.

"Next month — you're holding the wedding? Then what about us?"

Alexander nodded and informed me as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"We're still getting married as planned in three days. The wedding with Lily is just a ceremony — she'll fulfill her last wish and won't bother me anymore."

Without waiting for my consent, he brought Lily into the office.

"My prolonged absence from the company is affecting operations, and Lily really wants to work alongside me in her final days. Let's arrange a secretary position for her this month."

Lily looked at me, pretending to be sensible.

"I'll definitely work hard to help Alexander share the workload. If..."

She started crying again as she looked at me, as if I had done something terrible to her.

"If you don't like me, I'll leave right away. Please believe me — I have no intention of taking your place."

I took a deep breath and turned to Alexander.

"She's seriously ill and has no relevant work experience. What can she possibly contribute to the company?"

"The CEO's secretary is a highly important and demanding position."

Alexander immediately approved her onboarding application and took the documents from my desk.

"I would never joke about work. Lily is very meticulous, and even if she doesn't know something, I can teach her."

"From now on, she'll use the office closest to mine. I'll have someone clear out another office for you in a moment."

This office had been mine since the company was founded. I never imagined he could say something like that.

I smiled faintly and picked up the documents I had been working on.

"I'll head to the conference room first. No need to bother clearing out an office — I'll be moving back soon enough."

Alexander frowned, his tone annoyed.

"What I'm saying is, from now on, Lily..."

I ignored him and walked out of the office. To my surprise, Lily followed.

She was carrying another stack of documents, smiling smugly.

"I've already told you the truth — I'm perfectly healthy."

"All of this was Alexander's indulgence. How can you still be here, refusing to leave?"

My heart gave a sharp jolt, flooding with bitterness.

This company was built by the two of us together — and now he was trying to use a trick like this to force me out.

We had fought from nothing, chasing investors together, finding clients together.

We worked through entire nights without sleep, sitting in that office eating discounted fast food.

Now the company had gone public, and we were about to get married.

Yet he felt he owed Lily.

Alexander no longer needed a partner. Now that he had achieved success and fame, what he needed was a woman who looked up to him.

A canary he could cradle in his hands and protect.

Half an hour later, Lily's account was successfully added to the company's internal system.

But her profile picture wasn't a professional headshot — it was the wedding photo they had just taken.

[Joanna, please don't read too much into this. There was no time to take a new photo, and Alexander already approved it.]

I ignored Lily's message and forwarded the photo to multiple shareholders.

Citing the mixing of personal life with work, I requested that the photo be taken down.

The shareholders, who already had grievances about Alexander slashing project budgets, immediately agreed.

Lily's photo was quickly replaced with a proper professional headshot. Then Alexander called me into his office.

"Joanna, how could you be so cruel?"

"Lily just started working here, and you've already humiliated her like this. How is she supposed to work at this company now?"

I replied calmly.

"Work and private life must be kept separate — you cannot allow personal feelings to interfere with work."

Alexander's face darkened, and he tossed a suspension notice at me.

"Your emotions are affecting your work. Take some time off and rest."

"And in the meantime, Lily will take over your position."

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a share transfer agreement on Alexander's computer screen.

He was transferring five percent of the company's shares to Lily.

My fingers trembled, and the suspension notice slipped from my hand.

I let out a cold laugh. Alexander still believed he was in control of the company.

But over the past few days, the shareholders had long grown fed up with his embezzlement.

And I had already been in touch with them.

I was going to take back everything I had ever given him.

Chapter 3

Yesterday, after I came back, I spent the entire night sorting things out.

I cleared away everything that belonged to me and moved it all to the villa my parents had left me.

Everything Alexander had given me — I threw it all in the trash.

Once everything was packed up, I took off the engagement ring on my finger and placed it in the jewelry box.

That was when Alexander opened the door. The moment he saw my suitcase, he froze.

"Are you mad at me?"

He took the suitcase from me and pulled my hand toward him.

"We're getting married tomorrow. I just didn't want you to get too emotional."

"And you shouldn't be targeting Lily either. She's new to the workplace — she doesn't know any better."

I said nothing. He held up the gift box in his hand right in front of my face.

"I know I upset you, so I got you a little something."

I took it, somewhat puzzled, and opened it. Inside was a brooch.

The gemstone was cloudy, its color dull and faded.

Just like the jewelry he bought for Lily at the auction — it was the free gift that came with that piece.

I tossed the gift box aside without a second thought.

He pulled out the wedding itinerary and looked at me expectantly.

"This is our wedding venue — the Hawaiian island you originally wanted."

I was taken aback. I took the itinerary. The wedding evening even included a nonstop fireworks display.

Seeing my expression soften, he smiled too.

"I promised you — once the seven days are up, we'd have a grand wedding."

"Today is the last day. There's one more thing I need to ask of you."

His gaze drifted down to my fingers, and his expression froze.

"Where's your engagement ring?"

I pointed to the jewelry box.

He had proposed to me with that very ring.

That night, the fireworks had been spectacular, and his vows still lingered in my ears.

"Marry me, Joanna. I'll love you forever."

Yet the very next moment, the man standing before me said:

"Lily wants me to propose to her one last time, on her final day."

"I don't have time to have a new ring custom-made. Can I borrow yours for a day? We're getting married tomorrow anyway — you won't need the engagement ring after that."

I threw the wedding itinerary aside, stood up, and replied coldly:

"I'm not lending it."

Alexander rushed over to grab me, knocking the vase off the table in his haste.

The roses tumbled out, and a thorn scraped across my arm.

A bead of blood instantly welled up from the scratch.

But he didn't let go. He kept gripping my arm.

"It's just for borrowing — to film a video. It's all just for show."

"We're the real couple."

I pressed my lips together, refusing to speak.

Suddenly, a voice came from the phone he'd set aside.

"I just knew Joanna wouldn't lend it to me out of the goodness of her heart."

"Alexander, forget it. I'm leaving tomorrow. This is where it ends between us."

Alexander picked up the phone and cooed softly:

"Don't be sad. We agreed on seven days, and seven days it is — not a minute less."

"I'll take care of this. Just wait."

He hung up, then walked straight over, reaching for the jewelry box.

"It's just for one day. Why are you being so petty?"

"You won't need this tomorrow anyway. If I don't show up for the wedding—"

"What good is this engagement ring to you?"

Eight years of love. Years of fighting side by side.

I had waited for his promises, year after year — only to face one postponed wedding after another.

From now on, I would wait for him no more.

I pulled the ring out decisively and pushed it toward him.

"Take the ring. I don't want it anymore."

He took the ring, momentarily stunned, but quickly drove off.

That night, I received replies from the shareholders.

[Agreed to replace the company CEO.]

Chapter 4

The next day at two in the afternoon, Alexander and I were supposed to be walking into the wedding chapel at this very moment.

But instead, I was sitting in the conference room with the company's shareholders.

Alexander burst in with Lily.

"Today is our wedding day. Why didn't you show up?"

"I never said I would attend the wedding."

I looked him straight in the eyes, calm and composed.

Lily hid behind Alexander, peeking out and smiling at me — her eyes full of malice.

"Joanna, I'm sorry. I just wanted to experience what it felt like to be proposed to."

"It's all my fault. We stayed up too late last night, and I haven't returned this to you yet..."

As she spoke, Lily took off the ring from her finger.

A long, slender hand stopped her.

"You don't need to do that. She's just throwing a tantrum at me."

Alexander looked up, his eyes full of dissatisfaction.

"Since the shareholders' meeting is already in session, there's something I'd like to announce as well."

He pulled out a contract and handed it to the assistant beside him.

"I'm transferring 5% of my shares to Lily."

Everyone was stunned — except Lily, who flashed a triumphant smile.

A shareholder sitting nearby frowned. "Alexander, a 5% stake will affect the company's decision-making."

Alexander chuckled lightly. "Lily just wants to experience what it's like to be part of the company. I'll still be the one making all the decisions."

"Then I'd like to ask you both, as shareholders, to take responsibility for this loss."

I cut him off and placed the report on the desk in front of him.

Because of the funding shortfall, multiple projects had ground to a halt, and the partner companies had filed for breach-of-contract damages.

The total amount: 300 million.

His pupils dilated. He stared at the report in disbelief.

"How is this possible? How could this much damage come from just this amount of money?"

Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he frowned and looked at me.

"You're still mad at me, aren't you? You're deliberately using this to threaten me."

"Today is our wedding day. What kind of nonsense are you pulling?"

Lily grabbed the sleeve of Alexander's suit from the side.

Tears streamed down her face pitifully. "If this is because of me, I'll leave right away. Take back all these shares too."

Alexander squeezed her hand tightly and shook his head.

"It's not your fault. It's Joanna who brought her personal emotions into work."

I didn't want to waste another word on him. I brought up the evidence one by one on the projector.

As he looked at it, his face grew paler and paler.

"How is this possible! It was only fifty million..."

The shareholders beside him had already lost patience and spoke up directly.

"According to company bylaws, you, as CEO, are responsible for this loss."

Alexander clenched his fists and looked at me in disbelief.

"The company has indeed suffered significant losses on various projects over the years — losses that I covered entirely out of my own pocket."

"I should reflect on myself — specifically, on the fact that I shouldn't have filled so many of your holes."

"So I've forwarded all the outstanding accounts to the legal department."

Alexander stared at me in disbelief. The shareholder beside me rose to his feet and spoke gravely:

"After Joanna withdrew her personal funds, you continued embezzling company money — causing the company to owe this much in breach-of-contract penalties!"

I leaned back in my chair and twirled my pen.

"Furthermore, per the shareholders' resolution, all of your shares are to be reclaimed and used to cover the breach-of-contract penalties. A new CEO has already been elected."

His face went instantly white, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"Now, as the new CEO, I officially inform you — you're fired."