Chapter 3

Once I settled into my short‑term rental, I went back to polishing my application for the new position.

The day before the anniversary celebration, James called me into his office.

"Tomorrow's the anniversary event. Zara will be giving the presentation instead. Those old garage photos are still online, and having you two appear together could affect the company."

I leaned back in my chair. "The proposal I created, and she gets to present it?"

"You're not losing any credit." He said it like it was no big deal.

I stared at him.

"Five years ago, you told me to put up with it for a while. You said things would be fine once the attention died down.

"Five years have passed, and you're still asking me to hide.

"James, are you really protecting me, or are you protecting the two of you?"

His face darkened little by little. "This is the company's decision."

"No." I pushed the documents back across the desk. "This is just what you've gotten used to. You're used to making me step aside."

The door opened.

Zara stood in the doorway wearing a formal evening gown, one hand gathering the skirt.

I recognized that dress. It was the one James had gone shopping with me to try on before our fifth‑anniversary dinner.

He had told me I would look beautiful in it.

Now Zara was wearing it.

Around her neck was the necklace with the number 100.

When Zara saw me, she looked almost uncomfortable.

"Yvonne, I didn't mean to. James said the final challenge needed a little ceremony, so he let me borrow it."

James jumped in immediately. "She'll give it back when it's over."

I did not look at him. I pulled out my phone and uploaded the complete proposal, along with all my original drafts and creation records, to the company system.

"It's all clearly documented in the system. Whoever presents it is fine."

On the day of the celebration, Zara stood onstage presenting the project. The audience erupted in applause. The host praised her enthusiastically.

"Zara, you've really surprised us! Your videos are great, and now your planning is this impressive too."

A coworker beside me sighed in admiration.

"No wonder she and Mr. Porter managed to build the account into what it is.

"She really got lucky. Love and career, she has it all."

I opened my phone. A confirmation notification from the new project team was waiting for me.

I replied: [I accept.]

Then the host handed the microphone back to Zara. "Are you announcing the hundredth challenge today?"

Zara slipped her arm around James. "We want to have a livestream wedding."

The entire room exploded with cheers.

The cameras immediately swung toward James.

He froze.

The host laughed and pressed him for an answer. "Mr. Porter, are you willing?"

Zara was already holding onto his arm, waiting for him to speak.

I did not stay to hear his answer. I got up and walked out.

I had barely reached the corner backstage when a sudden, heavy pain dropped through my lower abdomen.

I grabbed the wall. My face went white. A few seconds later, blood began pouring down my legs again.

I slowly sank to the floor, cold sweat breaking out across my forehead.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

"Yvonne!" James came running over and crouched in front of me. "What happened?"

He reached out to help me up. Then a sudden commotion erupted from the stage.

Someone shouted,

"Zara fell! Someone get over here!"

James glanced back toward the stage. Then he looked at me.

"Wait here. I need to check on her."

He stood up and ran.

I stayed crouched on the floor, watching his back disappear. Somehow, the pain did not feel quite as sharp anymore.

I pulled out my phone myself and called an ambulance.

At 10 that night, I was lying in a hospital bed again.

The doctor told me my recovery after the procedure had not gone well. I had not been resting enough lately either.

"You need complete rest," he said.

While I was getting an IV, James sent me a voice message.

"Yvonne, don't make a scene today.

"Zara's foot isn't seriously hurt, but we can't cancel the meet‑and‑greet.

"The livestream wedding hasn't been planned yet. You're the best at knowing how to handle these things. Write up a plan and give it to me tomorrow."

I listened to the whole thing. Then I deleted the voice message.

I opened my email and sent out my transfer confirmation.

Before closing the app, I sent him one final message.

[The livestream wedding script should be written by the man who actually wants to marry her.]

After sending it, I removed James from my pinned chats.