Chapter 1

Just as I reached home, my phone lit up with a flood of credit card notifications. Every charge was from high-end luxury stores.

At first, I thought Serena Wagner was blowing money out of spite. However, when I opened Instagram, I saw her latest post, which consisted of nine photos with a caption that read, [What he won't give, I will!]

Every single photo featured men's luxury items, ranging from cufflinks to ties and suits, as well as wallets, belts, and dress shoes.

I gripped my phone tightly, realizing that all those charges were for things Serena had bought for Dylan Foster. How could she spend my money on gifts for him without a shred of guilt?

I could not even remember the last time Serena had shopped for me so thoughtfully. Whenever I wanted to go shopping with her, she would get impatient and say I had an assistant for that.

"I'm your fiancee, not your nanny. Just have your assistant handle those things, can't you?"

She always brushed me off with similar excuses.

I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, the nicotine bitter on my tongue. The cigarette burned down to ash, just like my relationship with Serena.

I had once dreamed of marrying her and spending my life with her.

I smoked through the entire night, and Serena did not come home at all.

When I arrived at the office the next day, I realized that I had become the subject of everyone's gossip.

Someone whispered, "Look! Mr. Grant is here."

"Did you see that Instagram post Ms. Wagner made yesterday? So outrageous!"

Another chimed in, "Exactly. They were already having issues, and today, Ms. Wagner even came to work with Dylan..."

I stopped in my tracks, and I glanced at them indifferently. Instantly, everyone quietly went back to their work.

However, I had already heard what they said.

My face darkened. Between the lack of sleep and what I had just overheard, I could barely contain my anger.

Serena actually came to work with Dylan, not caring what that would make me–her fiance–look.

As luck would have it, when I passed the finance office, I heard Serena complaining on Dylan's behalf.

"You're just getting six thousand a month! Who can live on that? You're still an intern anyway, so let's just adjust your salary today. I think twelve thousand dollars sounds good. It's lower than that of our mid-level employees, but it's enough to cover living expenses. What do you think?"

She was actually trying to give an intern a raise on her own authority!

Before Dylan could respond, I pushed the door open with a dark expression and questioned her.

"Who cares about what he thinks?! I think it's ridiculous. Serena, who gave you the right to adjust employee salaries without approval?!"

With that, I shot Dylan a cold look. "Especially for someone who isn't even a full employee, just an intern."

Dylan noticed my gaze and immediately pulled a sad face, apologizing meekly, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Grant. I shouldn't have gotten ahead of myself."

Hearing this, Serena became even more protective and snapped at me unhappily. "Matthew Grant, what's with that attitude? I'm making a reasonable request for an employee, and that's wrong now?"

I scoffed, feeling my anger rise just looking at her. "How is paying over ten thousand dollars a reasonable request? Serena, I've already been more than fair to Dylan. His fellow interns only make four thousand dollars!"

Serena trembled with rage. She raised her chin and argued stubbornly, "But Dylan is the hardest working one among them, isn't he?

"I don't care, Matthew. No matter what, you're giving him a raise today!"

She continued, "Do you even consider me family? Is it really that hard for you to give him a raise?!"

I was so angry that I almost laughed. I could not help but fire back. "Serena, do you even consider me family? Do you have the guts to tell me where you went last night?!"