That afternoon, I was in a meeting at Stewart Enterprises. On my way there, I noticed the staff giving me puzzled looks. Unsure of what was going on, I finished the meeting, and my assistant, Winifred, handed me my phone. It was then that I saw Joseph was trending online.

The trending video showed Joseph in a tuxedo, sharing a passionate kiss with Elise, who wore a veil, amidst the crowd at a concert. The singer, Augustus, jokingly asked if he was getting married and offered to dedicate the song "Endless Love" to them. Joseph's eyes turned red, and he shook his head.

"I'm marrying someone I don't love. This concert is my wedding gift to myself," he said. "I want to put out my love and walk into the grave of marriage; I just want to go wild with the one I love, one last time." The kiss lingered, drawing cheers from the crowd.

"To love!" he shouted before tossing the microphone and picking Elise up in a bridal carry, running off amidst applause and cheers. The comments beneath the video were filled with praise for their relationship.

"True love can't be stopped!"

"In love, those who aren't loved are the ones out in the cold."

"Joseph is so unfortunate, pushed into a business marriage with someone he doesn't love!"

"It's what everyone faces, marrying someone you're not in love with!"

It was clear that, in Joseph's heart, I was just a fallback. His love was saved for Elise, despite her having left him once before. I stared at the comments silently for a long time. Winifred watched me anxiously. "Ms. Thompson," she suggested cautiously, "do you want to hire someone to suppress this news about Mr. Stewart?"

I placed the phone down calmly. "There's no need. Joseph was open about it, which means he's quite willing to be."

As it turned out, my decision was the right one. That evening, Joseph shared the concert video with the caption "Proof of Love."

Perhaps to get one last bit of recklessness out of his system, Joseph didn't come home that night, despite my numerous messages asking to talk. Instead, I received a message from Elise.

"Joey's asleep now. If there's anything, we can talk tomorrow," read the message. The image attached was of Joseph with flushed cheeks, wrapped only in a towel. Elise's hair draped over Joseph's chest, and my sharp eye noticed an open condom wrapper on the bed.

I smiled bitterly, feeling the last flicker of hope in my heart go out completely. As the clock struck midnight, I made the call.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm ready to go abroad and take over the company."

The next morning, I handed in my resignation letter.

Roger Stewart was the first to hear about it. He suggested that I bring Joseph to the family estate for lunch.

It was well past lunchtime when Joseph finally showed up, a noticeable mark on his neck in plain view. He made no effort to cover it.

Roger looked at him in disappointment. "You've been with Elise again. I've warned you countless times she's trouble. Zhuri has done so much for you; how can you not appreciate that?"

I ate in silence as Joseph shot me a glance and smirked cynically. "Dad, you claim Elise came for the Stewart Corporation, but she hasn’t meddled in its affairs. Zhuri, on the other hand, holds all the authority. Even I, as the CEO, have to consider her every word carefully."

"Last month, I wanted to invest in Elise's exhibition, but Zhuri shot it down immediately."

So this was what Joseph thought of me. Suddenly, the injustice I'd been feeling faded away.

Roger eyed me with suspicion, and I explained, "The Stewart Corporation has established partners. Elise is competing with them, so I didn’t see any issue in turning it down."

Joseph sneered, "Zhuri, you're quite the strategist. You can’t stand Elise's success. No matter how hard you work, you won't match even a fraction of her talent!"

Roger glared at him, "Stop talking nonsense! Zhuri isn’t like that!"

Roger's favoritism towards Joseph was clear; they played good cop, bad cop, and I was the scapegoat.

Joseph persisted, "Dad, she's got you fooled. I merely went out with Elise once before the wedding, and she rushed to report it to you. I'm a CEO; do I need permission to enjoy myself?"

Roger disapproved, looking at me, "Zhuri, resigning over something so trivial doesn’t look good. The Stewart Corporation gave you this chance, and you're letting a quarrel with Joseph ruin it?"

The whole situation felt absurd to me. I had pulled the corporation back from the edge of bankruptcy, yet it was portrayed as an opportunity they’d offered me.

I dabbed my lips with a napkin, "Roger, I'm not being impulsive. I truly want to resign."

"Joseph’s right, he's the CEO of Lin Enterprises, and I have no right to meddle with his decisions. Whatever he wants to do, he’s free to do. I won’t be involved anymore."

With that, I walked away, not wanting to glance back at that domineering father-son duo.

Maybe it was the cold lunch, but my chronic stomach issues flared up again. I curled up on the bed in pain.

Joseph just stood there with his arms crossed, watching me indifferently. "Zhuri, stop the act. Don’t think feigning illness will make me forgive your meddling!"

He sat calmly on the couch, typing away on his phone, then smiled smugly and stepped over my trembling body.

My voice quivered, "Joseph, it really hurts. Could you take me to the hospital?"

Joseph leaned down and wiped the sweat from my forehead. "Good performance, but I’m not buying it."

He laughed derisively, then sneered, "I know you’re envious of Elise, but our wedding is happening. Can’t you give me seven days to properly say goodbye to her?"

"Get up; stop the theatrics. I have an appointment with Elise this afternoon to take engagement photos."

I reached out to grab him, but all I saw was his emotionless back walking away.

For seven years, I’ve witnessed it countless times. I once believed I could stand by his side.

Now I understand the place next to him is meant for one person only. Anyone else is just a placeholder.