Semua Bab He Helped Me Fail 99 Times: Bab 1 - Bab 9

Alex stole my work 99 times to make his girlfriend famous.What he didn't know? The girl he worshipped killed my parents. And the one who saved his life when he was circling the drain? Yeah—that was me. The same girl he wrecked for five straight years.***Mark wouldn't drop it. "Emma's actually a good person. Don't you feel even a little guilty?""Guilty?" Alex started the car. "I gave her a cushy life. She should be grateful.""Lily blew you off when you tried to help her before, and now she's making bank off stolen tech. You really think she loves you? She's going after Emma on purpose.""Shut up!" Alex slammed the brakes. "She only said no to save face. Now we're equals. When the timing's right, I'll ditch Emma and go public with Lily."Mark shot back, "And Emma? You nuked five years of her life. She'll fall apart.""She won't know," he said, all calm now. "I've got it mapped out. After the divorce, I'll throw her enough cash to coast."In the end, it was just a trade. She

The next morning, I rolled up to Alex's company.Right as I hit the steps, I heard her."These years... have you been okay, Alex? I loved your emails. Flew in on a private jet—got kinda lonely."His voice went soft. "You've been through a lot.""Don't." She laughed. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be scrubbing glassware. Seriously—thank you."I won't swing by your place before the launch—just in case Emma flips. She used to pity me, remember? Now that the tables turned, she might not take it well."Classic Lily. Steals everything, then cries victim.After my first FDA rejection, I asked if her product copied mine. She sued me for defamation. Almost dragged me to court. Alex hired a top lawyer and made it disappear.I thought he was protecting me.Now it just felt pathetic.Through the cracked door, I watched him pull a flash drive from his safe and hand it over."This is Emma's latest artificial heart design. With this, your launch will blow the medical world away."Lily

A few minutes later, Alex stepped out of the hall.Lily rushed over. "Totally my fault—I forgot to send Emma the invitation. Let's head in together."He led me inside, turning to everyone nearby. "My wife's here to learn from Dr. Hartway's experience."The second he said it, the whole room iced over. I was already the "failure"—now people straight-up avoided me.Alex stuck close to Lily, walking her around like she was the main event. He kept introducing her to investors, cozying up like they were some power couple.She clung to him more than once, and yeah, it stung. Bad.The air felt thick, like I couldn't breathe. I stepped out of the restroom—and there she was. Lily, blocking my way.She clocked how pale I looked and smirked like she'd just scored. "Well, Mrs. Ross? Wild seeing you hit rock bottom."I clenched my fists, staring her down. "What's that look? Don't forget—you begged me for help with tuition fee. This is how you treat someone who had your back?"Lily dropped t

Alex dropped Lily off at the hotel."Don't stress. Sleep it off. It'll all blow over by morning." He sounded more hopeful than convinced."You're not gonna ditch me, right?" She clung to his hand."Never." He gave her a quick forehead kiss. "I've gotta clean up the PR mess."Later, his driver called it the worst ride of his life. "Mr. Ross yanked the wheel and drove like a maniac. Thought we were gonna die."The mansion door slammed open. Alex charged through the house like a storm."Emma!" His voice cracked. "Come on, stop hiding. We need to talk!"Nothing but echoes.In the bedroom, her drawer hung open. The wedding photo was gone—just a dusty outline left behind. Her vanity was wiped clean, though the faint scent of jasmine still clung to the air.He bolted into the closet. Half empty. No jewelry box. The anniversary necklace—gone.The study? Stripped bare. Five years of files, lab notes, scribbled research—even the textbooks—vanished like she'd never been there.Alex sto

I thought turning down that $200 million "meeting fee" would finally make Alex quit.Wrong.For two weeks, he stalked me—cafés, grocery runs, even my morning lake jog.Every time, same whisper: "I'm sorry." Then poof—gone before security got close.Until time number 99.That day, he was outside my office. Clean suit, slick hair—like a ghost of the guy I used to know.In his hands? A massive bouquet of white lilies."Five minutes," he said. "Just five."Security moved. I waved them off."These are for you," he said, holding out the bouquet. "Your favorite. Remember?"I stared. Tried not to laugh.Newsflash: I'm allergic to lilies. Always have been. Took allergy meds every time he brought them home. What I actually loved? Wild daisies off the side of the road.But I played the part. Perfect wife. Perfect lie."I don't want them." I stepped back.His face fell. He chucked the bouquet into the fountain."Emma, I lied to you 99 times. This is my 99th apology." He exhaled. "Ca