When Love Is Shrouded in Fog

Justin Fuller's low voice was especially clear in the quiet of the private room.

"Claudia Reed?" one of his friends instinctively exclaimed.

The friend sounded somewhat frustrated as he said, "Three years ago, she broke up with you without hesitation and went abroad the moment your family went bankrupt. You kneeled in the rain, begging her to stay, but she didn't look back.

"Don't tell me you haven't let go of such a gold-digging woman!"

Justin exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression indistinct in the hazy fog.

After a long while, he finally said softly, "Yeah."

That one word was like a poisoned dagger plunged deep into Alyssa Lambert's heart, causing her so much pain that it felt almost impossible to breathe.

She had never imagined that after three years of living together and staying faithfully by his side, he would still be unable to let go of the woman who had abandoned him.

Alyssa had stood by him from the lowest point of his life to his triumphant comeback.

Three years ago, the Fuller family went bankrupt overnight and became burdened with countless debts.

Justin's then-girlfriend, Claudia, broke up with him without hesitation and went abroad.

Despite being faced with these two blows, Justin didn't sink into despair. Instead, he stepped up and shouldered the responsibility alone, publicly vowing that the Fullers wouldn't collapse as long as he remained—and that they would rise again one day.

Alyssa happened to see that interview, and with just one look, was instantly captivated by his presence.

To prevent Justin from misunderstanding her motives, she concealed her identity as the sole heiress to a wealthy family. She portrayed herself as an orphan who was once aided by the Fullers and stayed by his side under the pretext of repaying their kindness.

She stayed with him from night until dawn to handle business, helped him deal with deliberate hurdles at social gatherings, and eased his stress after days of never-ending work.

For three years—amounting to over a thousand days and nights—she was the one by his side. Alyssa bore witness to his gradual return from rock bottom to the top.

Everyone said that true feelings were revealed in hard times, and that once the company went public, the first thing Justin would do was to marry her.

Alyssa also secretly looked forward to that day.

Unexpectedly, when the company did go public, Justin claimed that he still couldn't let go of Claudia, the woman who had once abandoned him.

Tears continuously streamed down Alyssa's face while she stood at the doorway.

The conversation inside continued.

"What about Alyssa, then? She stayed with you for three years. Is she really not as important as Claudia? If she learns you don't love her, she'll leave you."

"She won't," Justin replied with certainty. "Alyssa is an orphan. I'm the closest relationship she has in this world. She wouldn't leave me. She's helped me so much these three years, after all.

"Even though I can't marry her like she wants, I'll ensure she lives comfortably for the rest of her days."

Orphan… Couldn't marry her… Ensuring she lived comfortably for the rest of her days…

Each word hit Alyssa like a sledgehammer, striking her again and again until she was left dizzy and reeling.

Alyssa couldn't bear to listen any longer and stumbled backward.

It was only when she confirmed that no one was in the hallway that she broke down. She slid down the wall to the floor and allowed her tears to flow freely.

It turned out that Justin saw their three years together as something money could buy off.

But Alyssa wasn't an orphan. She was the only daughter of the world's wealthiest family, and she would never cling to a man whose heart belonged to another woman.

As for his promise of ensuring she would live comfortably, she had no need for that either.

Alyssa wiped the tear stains from her face, took out her phone, and dialed her mother's number.

"Mom, I've decided to come back and inherit the family business."