Chapter 2

Steven's eyes reddened instantly. He bit his lip and chimed in, "Walter, I know you used to have feelings for Diana, but she's never been interested in you. In fact, she'd already cleared things up with us about those rumors. She said that what you two have is just a normal working relationship."

At this, the looks everyone was giving me shifted instantly, like I was some unrequited fool who got shot down and was now throwing a fit.

I turned to look at Diana. She averted her gaze, fixing her eyes somewhere out the window, offering not a single word in my defense.

We'd been together in secret for eight years. I'd taken countless drinks for her at client meetings, closed deal after deal to keep the company afloat, and every time rumors spread that I was throwing myself at her, she simply turned a blind eye.

And now, she couldn't even spare me this shred of dignity.

Others piled on, jeering, "Walter, Diana and Steven are already legally married. If you keep hanging on, that makes you the homewrecker. Once this gets out, how are we supposed to do business?"

"Exactly. Have you no shame? How could you go after your own mentee's woman?"

I looked at the coworkers I'd personally mentored and trained, suddenly finding the whole thing absurd.

I was going to send them the wedding invitations, but now it seemed like it wasn't necessary.

My hand, hanging at my side, tightened around the phone as I swept my gaze over everyone.

"In that case, I think I should introduce my fiancee."

I was just about to open the photo of Arlene and me in my phone's gallery when my wrist was suddenly seized. Diana snatched my phone away, looking absolutely livid.

"Everyone, get back to work!" she barked at the crowd, then yanked me by the arm toward her office.

Behind me, I could hear people consoling Steven and feel the contemptuous glances cast in my direction.

The moment we were inside, Diana slammed the door shut and raked her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"I already told you that Steven and I only registered our marriage because of a dare! Do you have to make it ugly for everyone before you're satisfied?"

I looked straight at her, my voice as cold as ice. "If it was just a dare, then why didn't you clear things up just now? Why did you stand there and let them call me a homewrecker?"

She choked up for a second, then answered matter-of-factly, "Steven's sensitive. I couldn't very well just humiliate him in public, could I?"

Oh, so it was fine for everyone to humiliate me?

I snatched my phone back from her, then turned and walked toward the door.

Just as my hand touched the door handle, I paused and said without looking back, "You and Steven are both welcome to come to my wedding next Saturday."

I had just reached the underground parking lot when my phone rang.

It was David Wheeler, the headhunter, who had reached out to me before.

"Mr. Knox, regarding that marketing director position at the listed company I mentioned before, they're willing to bump the salary by another 20%. Would you like to reconsider taking up the offer?"

That salary was at the very top end of what the industry could offer.

"I accept the offer," I replied evenly. "I'll also be bringing a deal in the eight-figure range with me. Please negotiate the corresponding commission on my behalf."

David nearly whooped with excitement.

"Rest assured that I'll make sure everything is perfectly taken care of for you!"

After hanging up the phone, I got into my car and scrolled through my WhatsApp contacts to look for Arlene's name.

I sent her a message. "Hold off on signing the contract for now. Wait for my word."

Diana had said that the company was struggling and told me not to add to her problems. But over the past eight years, I was the one who fought tooth and nail to pull the company through every crisis.

In fact, this deal with Townsend Group was something I only managed to secure after shamelessly and humbly begging Arlene three times. It was the deal that could save Diana's company.

I pulled out of the underground parking lot.

The scenery along the road flew backward in a blur, much like the eight years between Diana and me—gone in the blink of an eye.

The first time I saw Diana was beneath the dormitory building at college.

She was Richard Conway's older sister, there to pick him up for summer break. She stood beneath a tree in a black dress, and when she smiled, a small mole sat at the corner of her eye.

It was love at first sight for me.

Later, at the graduation party, we both had too much to drink and somehow ended up in bed together.