Chapter 1

I spent five years helping Nathan Reed build his company from nothing. I ran the business and cared for his paralyzed mother, believing that if I tried hard enough, one day I would find a place in his heart.

Then his first love, Vivian Blake, came home.

He asked me to arrange a dinner for her, plan his proposal, and take care of her as though she were already the future Mrs. Reed.

I swallowed it all.

Until my mother became critically ill. I needed to rush to the hospital, but a single remark from Vivian nearly made him keep me at work.

That was when I finally decided to give up on the man I had secretly loved for five years.

My resignation letter was ready.

This time, I was taking my life back.

Emily’s POV

It was eleven at night. The CEO’s office on the top floor of Reed Group was still brightly lit.

I filed the final assessment report for our international acquisition. After checking it one last time, I picked up the freshly brewed black coffee and pushed open Nathan’s office door.

The coffee was exactly 149 degrees. Nathan only drank his Mandheling at that temperature.

Nathan leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. A faint crease between his brows betrayed his exhaustion. He had sharp features and a straight nose. Even resting like this, he radiated a cold, intimidating authority.

I softened my footsteps and set the cup beside his hand. I was about to leave when a large hand closed around my wrist.

“Finished?” Nathan opened his eyes.

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my professional smile in place. “Yes, Mr. Reed. The report is on your desk, and everything is ready for tomorrow’s eight o’clock executive meeting.”

Nathan released my wrist and took a sip of coffee. The tension in his brow eased. He looked at me with a rare hint of warmth. “You worked hard today. I heard Mom had another outburst at the care facility. You went over to calm her down?”

My expression softened at the mention of Margaret. A car accident three years ago had left her paralyzed. Since then, her temper had driven away countless caregivers.

For the past three years, I had spent almost every hour outside work at the facility, caring for Nathan’s mother. I bathed her, massaged her limbs, and read the paper to her.

“Your mother’s just frustrated after spending so long in bed,” I said softly. “I brought her tiramisu from that place on the south side and listened to some music with her. She was feeling much better when I left.”

Nathan studied me for a long moment. Then he took a velvet jewelry box from his drawer and slid it toward me.

“Five years, Emily. You’ve played a huge part in getting this company where it is today. And thank you for everything you’ve done for my family.” He paused, his voice low. “Open it.”

My breath caught. Inside lay a diamond necklace with flawless stones and exquisite cuts.

A gift from him.

Over the past five years, he had occasionally shown me a warmth that went beyond the relationship between a boss and his employee. It might happen late at night or after a successful project. He bought me expensive gifts. He remembered an offhand complaint about my stomach hurting. At business dinners, he sometimes stepped in and drank the toast meant for me.

Those little kindnesses had kept my secret love alive for five years. I thought that if I worked hard enough, if I made myself irreplaceable, the ice around his heart would eventually melt in my arms.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful.” I closed the box, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.

Just then, Nathan’s personal phone rang on his desk.

He glanced at the screen, and I saw his expression change.

First disbelief. Then shock. Then a joy he couldn’t possibly hide.

Forgetting I was even there, he snatched up the phone. His voice trembled when he answered. “Hello?”

Whatever the person said made him leap to his feet. He knocked a stack of documents off the desk without noticing. Gripping the phone, he said urgently, “Okay. I’ll pick you up. Stay right there. Wait for me.”

He hung up, grabbed the suit jacket draped over his chair, and headed for the door.

“Mr. Reed,” I called instinctively. “Tomorrow morning’s meeting—”

“Cancel it. Move it to next week.” He kept walking without looking back. At the door, he stopped and turned toward me. His usually unreadable eyes burned with a light that made my stomach sink.

“Emily, tell admin not to schedule anything for me tomorrow.” He could barely contain his excitement. “Vivian’s coming home.”

The office door closed, and his footsteps quickly faded.

Vivian Blake.

My heart lurched. I stood frozen.

Of course I knew who Vivian was.

She was Nathan’s first love. The woman he loved most. Five years ago, she had broken up with him to study overseas. Nathan had just taken over Reed Group during its bankruptcy restructuring, and the company was in serious trouble. Vivian leaving had been the final, devastating blow.

Those had been the hardest days. I was the one who stayed beside him through sleepless nights and one failure after another. Together, we had dragged Reed Group back from the edge.

I had spent five years at his side, running his company and caring for his mother.

Yet all Vivian needed was one phone call to wipe out everything I had worked for.

I looked down at the necklace. Suddenly, it seemed like a cruel joke. I had thought it meant he recognized my feelings. Instead, it was just a bonus for the help.

Outside, the night was pitch-black. I walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window and watched a black Maybach shoot out of the garage toward the airport.

Five years of loving him had been one long dream. Now the woman who truly belonged in it had returned.

I didn’t go home that night. I sat in the office until dawn, finishing every task Nathan had left behind.

When the first rays of sunlight stung my eyes, I took out my phone, opened my notes, and calmly deleted every entry about his habits and preferences.

No more impossible hopes, I told myself.