All Chapters of Breaking Off Our Engagement Over One Abalone: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

That same day, I went to my parents to ask for a change in my arranged marriage partner. They seemed surprised but didn't question me and agreed right away.Just as I expected, Leon Mercer quickly started giving me the silent treatment. He blocked my number, unfriended me on social media, and cut off all contact with practiced ease. He assumed I would come back to him on my own, just as I always did in the past.I stared at the flashing friend request notification on my screen. My finger hovered over it for a long moment, but this time, I didn't accept it.A week later, a message popped up in our company group chat. "Tonight is Mr. Mercer's birthday dinner. All staff are required to attend."Not wanting to cause unnecessary tension at work, I went anyway. When I pushed open the door to the private room, Leon was seated at the head of the table. The woman leaning close and whispering into his ear was Vanessa Sinclair.The two of them murmured to each other, lost in their own world

The day Vanessa came in for her interview, her performance was terrible. Leon made no effort to hide his disdain, and I didn't pay much attention to her either since both her academic background and abilities fell short.Yet somehow, she was hired as a special exception and joined the company as an intern.I didn't truly become alarmed until I saw the matching ring that should have belonged only to Leon and me on Vanessa's finger. At first, when I confronted Leon about it, he was still willing to patiently explain himself and soothe me with sweet words. However, little by little, all he had left for me was irritation.My constant refusal to let go and repeated compromises only made his favoritism toward Vanessa increasingly blatant.The menus for company dinners were all arranged according to Vanessa's tastes. She only came to work for half a day each week, spending the rest of her time wandering around with Leon. Leon even dumped all the small tasks she should have handled as an i

When Leon heard the female employee's words, his face darkened immediately. "Who was the 1000th person to like it?" he asked through gritted teeth."It wasn't me," she said frantically. "Audrey used my phone to like it when she came in to process her resignation just now.""Resignation? Who gave her permission to resign?" Leon asked."Ms. Callahan is one of the company's shareholders. According to the rules, she's free to decide whether to stay or leave. This… this is one of the rules you set yourself," she answered."What about her shares?" Leon asked."Ms. Callahan already withdrew her investment a few days ago," she replied."She withdrew her investment? That's impossible!" Leon snapped.A trace of uneasiness flashed across his face, but Vanessa didn't notice and kept fanning the flames. "Audrey is just trying to force you to give in. She's only playing hard to get. Leo, don't fall for it."Leon said nothing and only stared at his phone. He wanted to send me a message. Then,

In the days that followed, Leon sank into endless regret and searched for me frantically. He called in every favor he had to track me down. When he learned I was in Eldoria and had been meeting with the young heir of the Graves family, he grew even more desperate.He called me over and over, but all he ever got was a cold, automated response. He messaged me on WhatsApp from every number he could find, but I blocked all of them. He tried contacting my assistant in Eldoria, but the messages were stopped before they could ever reach me.Finally, after countless attempts, one of the calls unexpectedly went through. He was so worked up that his voice shook. "Audrey, it's me! Just hear me out. I know I was wrong! I really do! I've gotten rid of Vanessa, and I won't contact her again! Please come back. Let's start over—"I cut him off and said calmly, "Mr. Mercer, things between us are already over. Please stop interfering with my life."He shouted, "No! We're not over yet! Audrey, we've

When it rained, it poured. During a routine checkup, Leon was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. The doctor bluntly stated that long-term emotional stress, irregular eating habits, and overexertion were the main contributing factors.The illness, the company on the verge of collapse, and the endless regret that consumed him destroyed the once-proud Leon.He lay in the cold hospital room, staring up at the white ceiling as memories of us flashed through his mind.He remembered my focused expression as I built the castle model and the patience and gentleness I showed whenever he acted out. In the end, his thoughts lingered on that private room, where he had slapped me hard across the face because of Vanessa.Tears silently slid down his face. Unfortunately, he had come to his senses far too late.Mercer Group eventually collapsed. On a stormy night, it declared bankruptcy and entered liquidation.After losing the woman he loved, his health, career, and dignity, the once-prou