Chapter 3

The whispers refused to die down. They spread through the ballroom like wildfire, growing louder with every passing second until they became impossible to ignore.

"So Mrs. Carter really was just a substitute."

"I heard Mr. Carter and Miss Hayes dated before."

"They look so perfect together."

I can't believe she stayed married to him for five years without realizing he loved someone else.

Every word pierced Sophia's heart. She stood perfectly still in the center of the stage, feeling as though she had suddenly become the biggest joke in the room.

Only moments ago, everyone had admired her as the mysterious Mrs. Carter. Now they looked at her with pity. Or worse… With amusement.

Olivia gently squeezed Damien's arm before turning toward the audience with a graceful smile.

"I'm sorry everyone had to find out this way," she said softly. "Damien and I never wanted tonight's celebration to become so... emotional."

She paused just long enough for the cameras to capture her perfect expression. "But love isn't something you can hide forever."

The reporters immediately erupted into another frenzy. Camera flashes exploded across the ballroom.

Sophia couldn't even open her eyes properly. She felt like an animal trapped beneath countless spotlights.

Damien finally raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. "There is one more announcement."

The room instantly fell silent.

Sophia slowly looked at him. Her heart still held onto one tiny fragment of hope.

Maybe this nightmare would finally end.

Instead… Damien looked toward Olivia with unmistakable affection. "Beginning tomorrow..." He paused. "Olivia Hayes will officially assume the position of Vice President of Carter Group."

Thunderous applause erupted. Several executives immediately stood to congratulate Olivia.

"Congratulations, Miss Hayes!"

"What wonderful news!"

"The Carter Group will certainly become even stronger under your leadership."

Olivia smiled modestly. "Thank you. I'll do my best."

Sophia stared at them in disbelief.

Vice President.

That position…

That very position she had spent months preparing the expansion strategy for it.

Every proposal, every international partnership, every restructuring plan… she had personally drafted every single document.

She had even stayed awake for three consecutive nights just to perfect the company's five-year development blueprint.

Yet now, the position she had unknowingly built was being handed to another woman. Not because Olivia had earned it, but because she was Damien's first love.

Sophia suddenly laughed quietly, but broken, and almost hollow.

The sound startled everyone.

Even Damien frowned slightly. "Sophia." His voice remained cold. "Don't make this difficult."

She slowly lifted her head. "Difficult?" She repeated the word as though tasting something bitter. "You think I'm making this difficult?"

Her eyes swept across the ballroom. "I worked beside you for five years. I celebrated every success. I stood beside you through every failure. I believed every promise you ever made."

Her voice trembled despite her efforts to remain composed. When everyone else abandoned you… I stayed. When investors laughed at you… I encouraged you. When this company was drowning… I..."

She stopped herself.

No… She couldn't say it.

She had promised Damien years ago that she would never reveal the extent of her involvement in the Carter Group.

Back then, he had held her hands and smiled warmly. "You'll always be my secret weapon. I don't want people targeting you. I'll protect you."

How foolish she had been. She had mistaken secrecy for love, and had also mistaken silence for trust. Now that same silence was burying her alive.

Damien looked almost impatient. "This isn't the place."

Sophia smiled bitterly.

For several seconds neither of them spoke. The distance between husband and wife had never felt greater.

Finally, Sophia took one slow step toward Damien. The ballroom watched in complete silence. She looked directly into his eyes, with tears and unbearable anger written all over her face.

"I only want the truth." Her voice was barely audible. "Nothing else."

Damien remained expressionless.

She swallowed painfully. "During these five years..." She paused. "...did you ever love me?"

The question echoed through the ballroom.

No one moved.

No one even breathed.

Even Olivia's confident smile faded slightly. Damien looked into Sophia's eyes.

For the first time that evening, he hesitated to say something.

Tiny hope flickered inside Sophia's eyes. Perhaps somewhere in those five years, there had been one genuine moment, one real smile, one sincere embrace, or one memory she could treasure.

Then Damien spoke. "No."

Sophia felt as though the ground beneath her feet had disappeared. Every memory, every anniversary, every birthday, every late-night conversation, every promise, every kiss, every sacrifice… All of it reduced to a single word.

Her vision blurred. The tears she had fought so desperately finally escaped. Not because he wanted another woman.

But because she suddenly realized, she had loved alone. For five entire years, she had been the only one married.

Olivia stepped forward again.

Although her voice remained gentle, her eyes gleamed with unmistakable triumph. "Sophia..." She continued. "I truly am grateful. You took care of Damien while I couldn't." She glanced lovingly toward him. "But now that I'm back… I'll take over from here."

The words struck harder than any slap.

As though Sophia had merely been a temporary caretaker. Someone hired to keep Damien company until his real love returned.

Sophia slowly lowered her gaze. Her eyes fell upon the wedding ring resting on her finger.

She remembered the rainy afternoon Damien had slipped it onto her hand. "I may not have much right now," he had whispered back then. "But one day I'll give you the whole world."

She had believed every word. Now, the ring suddenly felt unbearably heavy. With trembling fingers, she slowly pulled it off. The tiny diamond caught the light one last time.

She looked at it quietly.

Then without another word, she reached for Damien's hand. She unfolded his fingers, and placed the ring gently into his palm.

"This belongs to you."

Damien looked down at the ring. Something unreadable flickered across his face, but it disappeared almost instantly.

Sophia withdrew her hand.

The place where the ring had rested for five years suddenly felt cold and empty, just like her heart.

The ballroom remained silent. Several board members lowered their heads. Even some of the reporters stopped taking photographs.

For the first time that evening...

Many of them realized they weren't witnessing gossip. They were watching someone's entire world collapse.