Chapter 3

Lillian let out a sharp laugh.

"Funded? Please. All I saw was you walking around like you owned the place. What did you actually contribute?"

"If Rachel hadn't been nice enough to give you the title of Chief Engineer, you'd be nothing!"

"Exactly, Frank. Just let it go," Rachel chimed in, her eyes full of disgust. "You haven't achieved anything real in all these years. If it weren't for me, would you even have the chance to work on a project of this scale?"

"Do you have any idea how much Mikel has sacrificed for me and this company?"

I looked at Lillian, then at Rachel. The disappointment was crushing.

"I treated you like a friend, Lillian. And this is how you stab me in the back?"

"Stab you in the back?" Lillian scoffed. "Mikel is the sole heir to the Miller Group! That's a multi-billion-dollar tech empire. He’s too polite to call you out on your lies, but you're really pushing it now."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. I gave them one last, cold look.

Then, I turned around and walked out of the venue.

As I passed the trash can near the exit, I tossed my ID badge inside without looking back.

I went straight to my office.

This place used to be my battlefield for love. Now, it was just a graveyard of cold memories.

I quickly packed my personal things. Then, I sat in front of my computer.

There was indeed a fatal bug in the program.

It was a major flaw. But because of the tight deadline, I had planned to fix it after the launch event, since the software wouldn't be deployed for another week.

I laughed at myself.

Now? Not my problem anymore.

All this time, I had hidden my true identity because I didn't want Rachel to feel pressured. I didn't want her to think I was only with her because of my family's wealth.

I was the real heir to the Miller Group.

The empire was founded by my mother, Victoria Miller. I took my father’s last name, Monroe, to keep a low profile.

I wanted to make it in the tech world on my own merit. I never expected a con man like Mikel to steal my identity and my work.

I began wiping my personal data from the company database. Looking at the files and reports I had spent years writing, my heart ached.

I had carried Rachel on my back, lifting her company up, hoping to turn it into a second Miller Group. I wanted to prove to my family that I could do it.

And now...

I shook my head, telling myself to stop looking back.

I sat at my desk under the dim light. The divorce papers in front of me felt like a sick joke.

I signed them and left them on the desk.

As expected, Rachel signed them the very next morning. She signed so fast, it was as if she was terrified I would change my mind.

Right after signing, she and Mikel started showing off their "love" right in front of me.

Mikel wrapped his arm around her waist, and she leaned into his chest like a delicate doll, looking at me with triumph and scorn.

I didn't waste another second. I grabbed my suitcase and left. I didn't even have a friend in this city to say goodbye to.

After graduating from Switzerland, I had met Rachel.

Back then, she was tough, ambitious, and driven. For her, I had fought with my family and moved to California, dedicating my life to her dream.

As my flight took off from California, my mind was incredibly peaceful.

With my mother's backing, I quickly took my rightful place at the Miller Group, taking charge of our most critical projects.

A few weeks later, the Miller Group hosted a major tech summit. It was meant to attract large investments and officially introduce me as the new head of the division.

The venue was stunning. Crystal chandeliers cast brilliant light over the polished marble floors.

The massive conference tables were beautifully arranged with nameplates, high-tech displays, and champagne.

I didn't expect to run into Rachel so soon.

She and Mikel were actually there, representing their company.

Seeing me, Mikel let out a mocking sneer. "Well, well, look who’s here. Isn't this Frank, the loser who got kicked out of the company? How did a nobody like you sneak into a place like this?"