Chapter 1

For the thirty-eighth time, Brandon Hayes slapped Tiffany Stone's name on my design and called it her promotion.

I didn't react hysterically as I usually would.

Instead, I just shrugged, "Whatever makes you happy."

He always said his grandfather found me to make the family money. That I was a placeholder who'd stolen the fiancée title meant for Tiffany.

It wasn't until Tiffany tore up a cherished painting of mine, only to be falsely accused myself, that I finally understood why he was so obsessed with her.

If he was so blind he mistook the wrong person for his 'destiny,' why should I keep suffering for nothing?

When my best friend, Chloe Miller, found out I was planning to leave Brandon, she was ecstatic, practically incoherent.

"Let's order eighteen male models tonight to celebrate your escape from that hell!"

I chuckled, glanced at the growing shadow on the table, and hung up.

Turning around, I saw Brandon casually asking, "Eighteen male models for what?"

I suppressed a smile, vaguely replying, "New models the company just hired."

He didn't press, but my gaze lingered on the bubble tea in his hand, and I felt a pang of something.

"Craving it, aren't you? It's for you."

That fall, my SnapChat feed was flooded with couples flaunting their bubble teas. I'd begged Brandon for ages, but he never bought me one. I thought he was saving it to make up for it on a colder day, for winter. My heart fluttered for a second.

I pulled open the drawer, my hand brushing against my allergy medicine, when Tiffany's sweet, innocent laugh echoed in the air.

"Brandon, thank you for the bubble tea! It's even better than the first one you bought me last fall."

His eyes were brimming with affection.

"You can ask me to buy it for you anytime you want."

"Consider this bubble tea your treat for the whole company. As for your promotion gift, we'll think of something else."

I froze, taking a long moment to process what he'd said.

This bubble tea wasn't because he'd listened to me, but because it was part of someone else's celebration.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow, "Maya, I specifically added double milk to yours. Hurry and try it!"

Brandon, who never liked sweets, held the bubble tea cup that looked completely out of place in his hands, and explained to me.

"Tiffany has brought in a lot of revenue for the company these past two months. The company decided to promote her to Design Director. From now on, she's your boss."

"You must obey her without question."

I nodded, not arguing.

But I pushed the bubble tea in front of me away. "I'm allergic to dairy. I can't drink even a drop."

The moment the words left my mouth, Brandon's face darkened.

"And here I thought you'd finally learned to behave. Tiffany just started, and you're already trying to pull rank and show her who's boss just because she's new?"

Tiffany quickly stepped between us, her voice a tearful sob that would melt anyone's heart.

"Brandon, please don't argue because of me. I understand. It's hard for people to accept someone like me, who's only been working for less than a year, becoming a director."

Brandon tenderly wiped away her tears. "With me here, no one will dare spread rumors."

When he looked at me again, his eyes were filled with blame for my "misbehavior."

"You were whining about wanting one earlier, and now you're playing games again. Why do you always have to be so dramatic, always trying to make things difficult for others?"

My eyelids twitched.

So he remembered. He just didn't want to buy it for me.

My mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out. The thought of wanting to have a normal boyfriend-girlfriend interaction with him, even knowing the allergic reaction would be awful...

I scoffed at myself. I was being dramatic.

Brandon left, cradling a sobbing Tiffany who looked close to fainting.

I sighed, suppressing the bitterness in my heart.

Just as I finished typing my resignation letter, a colleague brought me a freshly bought lemonade.

"Mr. Hayes said these drinks are a treat for everyone because of Director Stone's promotion. He specifically told me to record you drinking it as proof, Maya. Please, help me out."

Not wanting to make things difficult for my colleague, I took a sip.

But not long after, my body started to feel hot, and red splotches appeared on my skin.