Chapter 3

I lowered my lashes, remaining silent, but a familiar ache started in my nose.

Every time I was injured, Valentina would tend to me with red-rimmed eyes, and the tenderness in her gaze was undeniably real.

Valentina continued to explain, "Julian was my first love. The Rossi Group faced difficulties back then, and he left me to go abroad. He only just returned."

"I'm just playing around with him right now. In my heart, you're the most important. I want him to experience the sting of betrayal down to his very core."

A flicker of emotion stirred within me.

After five years together, how could Valentina not care about me at all?

We had already decided on each other.

I was about to speak, but Valentina laughed again.

"Liam, Julian says he wants a wedding. I've set the date for next week. I'll need you to be his best man."

My heart plummeted, sinking to the very bottom of my gut. My throat was so dry I couldn’t utter a word.

Ever since I agreed to Valentina's proposal, she had kept putting off our wedding date.

I wanted a legitimate status, a recognized place by her side.

But Valentina just smiled, telling me not to rush.

Yet, Julian had only been back a few days. One casual mention of wanting a wedding, and Valentina immediately took it to heart, setting the date.

I gave a self-deprecating tug at the corner of my mouth, then stood up, pulling away from Valentina. I took off the diamond ring from my ring finger and tossed it in front of her.

"What place do I have at your wedding? Here’s your ring back. I won’t bother you two as you live happily ever after."

The smile on Valentina's face froze, her expression turning incredibly ugly.

That ring was her own design, with our initials engraved on the inner band, a symbol of eternal unity.

I once treasured it, but now I tossed it away carelessly.

Valentina stared at me, her voice chilling with each word.

"Liam Hayes, don't test my patience."

A dull ache pulsed through my heart, but I refused to back down.

Valentina’s phone rang.

She glared at me, her face contorted in anger, but after answering, her expression changed dramatically. Forgetting our argument, she rushed out.

I laughed sardonically.

It must be Julian’s call again.

I opened my phone and canceled all the luxurious jewelry and accessories I had already purchased.

The planned trip to Switzerland was also canceled.

These were supposed to be my wedding gifts for Valentina.

But now, she wouldn't need them.

Once packed, I drove to the office.

But when I arrived, I saw Valentina waiting for me, her face grim, with Julian beside her.

Surrounding them was a phalanx of burly bodyguards.

"Liam Hayes, get on your knees and apologize to Julian!"

Utterly bewildered, I stood coldly rooted to the spot, making no move.

Valentina's dark pupils flashed with a cruel glint.

She signaled the bodyguards to hold me down, then grabbed a golf club and swung it viciously at my leg.

Excruciating, bone-deep pain shot through me, and cold sweat instantly broke out on my forehead. I collapsed to my knees.

Two years ago, Valentina was involved in a deliberate car crash engineered by a competitor.

In that critical moment, I shielded her with my body, taking the full brunt of the impact myself.

She had aimed precisely at the injury I sustained then, the one I bore for her.

"Liam Hayes, I already told you to stop harassing Julian, yet you still secretly went after him. Are my words meaningless to you? I have paid off Julian's debts, so you have no right to threaten him ever again!"

I instantly understood what had happened. Julian, in his pristine white shirt, wore a pained expression.

But the flicker of triumph in his eyes did not escape me.

I trembled with rage, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth: "It wasn't me!"

Valentina, however, didn't listen. She just stared at me with icy indifference.

"Effective immediately, you're fired. Julian will be taking over your position. I've coddled you too much, it seems, and you've forgotten your place."

I snapped my head up, looking at her in disbelief.

A large group of employees had gathered outside the office, their hushed whispers clearly reaching my ears.

"Liam Hayes on his knees looks just like a dog."

"Exactly! He thought being favored by Ms. Rossi meant he could mess with her true love. Serves him right!"

"Hahaha, in the end, didn't Ms. Rossi just kick him to the curb like garbage!"

These words pierced my heart like a barrage of knives.