Chapter 1

When Gabriel Miller saw that I refused to accept it, he opened the gift box instead, revealing this year's limited-edition lingerie.

"I know you're angry, but Kat is your sister. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more patient with her," he said.

I looked at him, then quietly unfolded the lingerie. A milk stain was clearly visible on the fabric.

"Victoria's Secret sells secondhand lingerie now, huh?" I asked, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Gabriel's expression darkened as he looked at me disapprovingly. "I had Kat try it on. She's been leaking ever since the miscarriage.

"She's extremely sensitive. So, if it was comfortable for her, it'd be fine for you too. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

Listening to his excuses, I felt nothing but exhaustion. I sighed and turned to push the door open.

But Katherine Sawyer had been eavesdropping outside the door. My sudden movement startled her, and she fell to the floor.

"Feli…" she called out softly. "Please don't be angry. I only tried it on for you…"

I shook my head with a wry smile. I couldn't even remember when it started, but everything that came to me had already been tried by Katherine first.

"So, now you're even trying out my man?" I retorted.

Katherine looked at me, her voice barely above a whisper as she replied, "I'm sorry, Feli… I started leaking again today. That's why I came to the office to find Gaby.

"I read online that it could turn cancerous. I didn't mean to interrupt you and Gaby. I was just so scared."

In the next instant, she broke down sobbing. It was as if my gaze alone had become an unbearable weight.

I watched her in silence. Then, I asked, "Do Mom and Dad know?"

Katherine had an unplanned pregnancy in her senior year and suffered a miscarriage. It was only during the blood transfusion that they discovered she wasn't the Sawyers' biological daughter.

That was when I was finally brought back. But to protect her, the Sawyer family told everyone that I was adopted.

Suddenly, I remembered the lactation pills I had seen at home a few days earlier. My gaze fell on Katherine's chest.

Her face immediately drained of color, as if she had been insulted. She swayed on her feet, stammering, "F-Feli… what are you implying? I'm already in this state, and now you want to accuse me in front of Mom and Dad?"

"I'm just curious. If you're worried it could be cancer, why didn't you go to the hospital first? Why are you here, entangling yourself with Gabriel instead?" I questioned.

Right then, Gabriel bellowed, "Felicity Sawyer! That's enough! Why are you being so aggressive?"

He helped Katherine to her feet and continued, "She's just a young lady. Something like this isn't easy to talk about. She's finally swallowing her pride and opening up to us. Don't push her!"

Gabriel looked at her as though she were something flawlessly pure.

I shook my head. No matter how many times I had told him about the ways Katherine had cornered and pressured me, in his eyes, she remained innocent.

One wanted to deceive, while the other let himself be fooled. In a strange way, they were in tune.

Without saying another word, I turned to leave.

…

After I finalized the share transfer agreement and sent it to Elliot Harrington, he asked, "Ms. Sawyer, would you consider joining Harrington Group?"

His words left me momentarily disoriented.

18 years had left my relationship with Gabriel in shambles, but at the same time, it had also made me a partner known throughout the industry.

"Let's talk about it later, Mr. Harrington. I still have a few things to take care of," I answered, my smile faint.

…

Soon, I returned to my place. Everywhere I looked were traces of the life Gabriel and I had built together, and I found myself lost in thought.

A sudden knock at the door snapped me out of my reverie. It was a courier.

I opened the package, only to find a box of contraceptives.

Katherine's call came immediately after. "I'm sorry, Feli. I accidentally had the things Gaby and I were going to use delivered to your place."

On the other end of the line, I heard Gabriel say, "Kat, come over here. Let me see how badly you're leaking."

Then, the line went dead.

My nails dug into my palms, and blood dripped down.

Gabriel and I had come all the way from a small town to Marise. I had once believed that we'd make it to the end. But now, he was laying himself bare with another woman.

I numbly packed up my things, one by one.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

I answered, and Thomas Whitman's furious voice cut through the line. "Felicity, how could you leak my design drawings without authorization? Now, copies are everywhere! Just wait. This isn't over!"