Chapter 1

My fiancé had been overseas for five years, and when I went to meet him at the airport and reached out to hug him, his risk analyst shoved me away.

"Dark circles under her eyes. Risk level up ten."

"No perfume, no tie. Risk level up ten."

"Her company is worth less than yours, Clifford. A mismatch in standing. Risk level up eighty."

"Overall assessment: highest possible risk. Marrying this woman would severely damage your reputation. My recommendation is to call off the engagement."

I frowned slightly and turned to Clifford Farley. "You're really going to let her carry on like this?"

He was the one who'd asked me last night to rush an assessment on a partnership and write up a risk report. The least he could do was say a word for me.

Instead he spread his hands and smiled. "Charlotte Harding's a professional. She's never once been wrong."

After the shock passed, I suddenly wanted to laugh.

If sincerity couldn't buy sincerity in return, then there would be no wedding, and I'd take back every bit of support I'd quietly given Clifford Farley while I was at it.

...

"From today on, please stay three meters away from Clifford."

Charlotte moved to shove me again.

As though I were carrying some contagious disease.

I raised my hand and caught her by the wrist, my voice cold. "Remember, you're just an employee."

"But I'm also the person Clifford trusts most."

Charlotte's mouth curled into a taunt, and she turned to Clifford Farley for confirmation.

"Charlotte was recommended to me by my father as my confidante. She would never do anything to hurt me."

Clifford nodded right along with her.

"Ha."

I laughed, furious, and rounded on Clifford Farley. "And I would?"

"No, you wouldn't go that far."

That was his answer.

Watching him, that cool, detached calm, that unnaturally steady tone, left a tight ache in my chest.

Five years ago, before Clifford Farley left the country, he'd leaned against me and said, "Eliana, with you beside me, I'm not afraid of anything, storm or ruin."

"Wait five years for me."

"When I'm back, we'll have a grand wedding."

I had believed that time could never break a love as fierce as ours.

I used to imagine our happy life after the wedding.

But now reality had spelled it out for me. Five years of aching, waiting, and all it bought me was one line. "You wouldn't go that far."

I drew a deep breath and looked at Clifford Farley again.

"Seven years between us, and you'll let some risk analyst who's been here half a year decide what it's worth?"

"When the Farley family was on the edge of bankruptcy, when everyone else steered clear, I was the only one who stood by you, who helped the Farleys pay off their debts."

"Even the chance for the Farleys to expand overseas, that was something I gave up for you—"

But this time.

Before I could finish, Charlotte raised a hand and cut me off. "Isn't that just what a girlfriend is supposed to do?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Clifford is the man of countless women's dreams."

"If you really loved him, you'd find a way to lower your risk level, not drag out all this stale old history."

"Start with a little disinfecting."

He pulled out a bottle of alcohol, mocking, and sprayed it in my face.

Crack!

My hand flew up and slapped him, my voice ice. "You dream about him too, don't you?"

"That's why you're standing here stirring up trouble."

The next second.

Before Charlotte could even react, Clifford Farley rushed forward and pressed a knife to my throat.

"Eliana Fox!"

"Who gave you the right to hit my people?"

I froze, but the calm came back fast.

Five years is enough to change a person completely, head to toe, inside out.

The Clifford Farley who once believed in love and knew how to meet someone halfway had died long ago.

The Clifford Farley in front of me now was cold, unfeeling, profit above all.

"Forget it."

"Don't let it happen again."

Just like that, Clifford Farley drew the knife back and frowned as he lectured me. "What Charlotte said was fair."

"With the position I'm in now, you really do need to work on yourself before you're worthy of me."

"The wedding is postponed for now. I'll announce it three days from now, at the signing ceremony with all the partner companies."

I took a deep breath. "Then let's just—"

The word breakup never made it out.

Clifford Farley spoke first. "No matter how much you say, it won't change my mind."

"Charlotte, let's go."

He and Charlotte got into the car and drove off.

I shook my head, took out my phone, and made a call. "Within three days, halt all cooperation with Farley Group."