Chapter 1

The line went silent for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I looked at Erin's beautiful, arrogant face. My voice went cold.

"And have the first list of management changes ready.

"First name on it: Erin Carter."

I paused, then slowly smiled.

She was right about one thing. At work, you should avoid even the appearance of favoritism.

This time, I'd make sure she avoided it completely.

For three years, I'd been the top performer in Sterling Tech's marketing department.

I'd closed more contracts than anyone else, earned the highest client satisfaction scores, and landed some of the company's toughest clients myself.

But every time promotions came around, my name was crossed off the list.

Some of the people who'd started with me were already directors or leading their own teams. I was still a team lead.

Everyone at the company knew why.

My fiancée, Erin, was the marketing director.

She was happy to take credit for the numbers I brought in, but she refused to let me actually move up.

"Ethan, don't overthink it. This time is just a special case."

Last month, she'd hugged me and promised, "Once this round of promotions is over, I'll officially recommend you for manager."

I believed her.

And then?

The promotion list came out, and the manager position went to Noah.

An intern who'd been there only three months and still botched basic data reports.

The office quickly filled with whispers.

"Erin's so fair. Once again, she's giving a newcomer the opportunity."

"Fair? You actually believe that?"

"Noah's in her office every single day. I heard they knew each other before."

"Ethan puts up with a lot, huh? If it were me, I'd have called off the engagement a long time ago."

"Call it off? Like he would. A team lead with no connections, landing a woman like Erin? He's lucky enough as it is."

Their words cut into me.

I ignored them and went straight to Erin's office.

Her secretary was sorting files and didn't even look up as I approached.

"She's not here."

"Where did she go?"

"She's at the hotel ballroom, rehearsing for the company's anniversary party."

Then I remembered.

A month earlier, Erin had suggested we sing a love song together at the anniversary party.

Back then, she'd smiled and said she wanted all our coworkers to see how happy we were.

I turned and headed for the ballroom.

The moment I pushed open the door, I saw the two of them on stage.

Erin wore the evening gown I'd bought her. Noah stood beside her with one hand on her waist.

They were standing very close.

Noah leaned down and said something to her, and she burst out laughing, then reached up to straighten his tie.

I stood in the doorway, feeling like I didn't belong there.

The coworker running the sound system saw me and looked awkward.

"Ethan? What are you doing here?"

"Weren't we supposed to rehearse together today?"

He scratched his head.

"Erin said she'd run through it with Noah first. You can just go on stage tonight."

I looked at the two of them on stage.

"Is that right?"

Noah turned his head as if he'd only now noticed me.

"Ethan, perfect timing."

He let go of Erin, an innocent smile on his face.

"Am I taking up your time? Should I step down?"

Erin immediately grabbed his arm.

"What are you talking about? You haven't done anything wrong."

Her voice was gentle with him, but it turned icy when she faced me. "Ethan, can you act like an adult for once? We're rehearsing. Whatever it is, it can wait until tonight."

"I just came to check whether you still need me on stage tonight."

"Of course I do," she said impatiently. "Don't throw a fit here. Everyone's watching."

Noah lowered his head and smiled.

"Erin, don't be mad. Maybe Ethan just cares about you too much."

The more considerate he pretended to be, the more irritated Erin got with me.

"You hear that? Noah's way more mature than you."

I didn't say anything more.

I didn't need to ask anything else.

At seven that evening, the anniversary party officially began.

The emcee took the mic and announced, "Next up, please welcome our marketing director, Erin Carter, and our manager, Noah Bennett, for a romantic duet!"

The audience broke into applause and whistles.

Erin walked onto the stage arm in arm with Noah.

As the music played, they gazed into each other's eyes, perfectly in sync.

I sat in the audience and listened to the people around me whispering.

"They look so good together."

"But isn't Ethan the one who's engaged to Erin?"

"So what? Why would Erin bet her future on a loser who hasn't been promoted in three years?"

I looked down at the glass on the table.

I'd planned to propose to Erin that night.

I'd even bought a ten-carat diamond ring.

I wanted to tell her I'd never been the ordinary team lead she thought I was.

I wanted to surprise her.

Now the ring felt like a joke.

When the song ended, Erin and Noah hugged while everyone clapped.

I stood up and went straight backstage.