"Mom, Dad, I've made up my mind. I'll go back and take over the family business."

When Jaycie Stanton's parents heard that she had finally agreed, they were overjoyed on the other end of the phone.

However, thoughts of her hidden identity and the boyfriend she had kept in the dark led them to ask, "Is your boyfriend coming back with you? Have you told him the truth about who you are?"

"I haven't. I'm going to break up with him."

"Mom, Dad, I've made up my mind. I will go back and take over the family business."

When Jaycie Stanton's parents heard that she had finally agreed, they were overjoyed on the other end of the phone.

However, thoughts of her hidden identity and the boyfriend she had kept in the dark led them to ask, "Is your boyfriend coming back with you? Have you told him the truth about who you are?"

"I haven't. I'm going to break up with him," Jaycie replied, her voice softening at the mention of Cole Benson. "I'll take care of everything here in a week."

After a brief exchange, Jaycie ended the call and put her phone away before returning to the private room.

The room was filled with people, and the chatter was loud. The moment she stepped inside, the conversation paused for a second, but Jaycie acted as if she didn't notice and walked straight to Cole, sitting beside him.

He briefly turned his attention away from the conversation and looked at the quiet figure next to him. His voice was lazy and casual. "Babe, why was that phone call so long?"

Before she could respond, another voice interrupted.

There were no Frutunians in the room, but someone still asked in Frutunian, "Cole, when are you and Eileen getting married?"

When Jaycie heard that, her grip on her glass tightened, her fingers turning pale from the pressure. Cole, however, remained indifferent, casting a glance at her before answering the question in Frutunian, "It's a date set by my family. Two weeks from now."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room turned their attention to Jaycie.

One of the men raised an eyebrow, curiously asking, "If you're marrying Eileen, what about Jaycie? Are you breaking up with her?"

"No." Cole shook his head, gently swirling his glass of wine. After a small sip, he continued, "The marriage is just to appease the family. The only one I love is Jaycie."

As soon as he spoke, the room erupted into laughter, the teasing and joking filling the air.

"Cole, are you serious? You're all about true love now? You two have such a huge difference in status. Are you really into her?"

He turned to Jaycie, his eyes soft with affection, so intense that it almost felt like his gaze could melt everything around them. He didn't speak, but the look in his eyes was a clear answer to their teasing.

Someone else, watching the exchange, couldn't help but comment, "Looks like he really does love her, huh? But wait—does she really not understand Frutunian?"

The person had only asked casually, but the room burst into laughter. "Jaycie's family is struggling; there's no way she could afford to learn a minority language. Don't worry. She definitely doesn't understand."

The mocking laughter echoed around Jaycie, but no one noticed the rapid rise and fall of her breath or the way her fingers had turned white around her glass.

What they didn't know was that Jaycie actually understood Frutunian.

The truth was, she wasn't from a struggling family. She was the only daughter of the richest family in Housleton.

Jaycie and Cole had been together for five years, with Cole spoiling her like no one else, but there was one thing he had never done—introduce her to his parents. In the beginning, she thought it was because of the difference in their statuses. The Bensons were a prestigious family in Rochernia, after all.

So, she had planned to reveal her true identity to him. She was the heiress to a fortune, but she didn't want to live under her parents' protection forever. That was why she had decided to hide who she was and go out into the world to experience life.

But fate had other plans. Three days ago, she had found a wedding invitation in Cole's study.

The bride was Eileen Wise.

And the groom was Cole.

It turned out that while he had been whispering sweet things in her ear, he had already agreed to a marriage arranged by his family.

While he was calling her "Babe", he was also preparing to marry someone who was his equal in social status and approved by his family.

At that moment, Jaycie realized there was no need to say anything more.

He would marry, and she would go back to inherit her family's business. Both of them would have bright futures ahead.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was having a good time, and the night was drawing to a close. They all started to leave, and Jaycie followed them out of the room. She had barely taken a few steps when she heard a stranger's voice behind her.

"Ms. Stanton! Can I pitch my business idea to you again?"

Jaycie froze mid-step before turning her head to see who had called out to her. It was one of her father's former business partners, who had once begged for a collaboration with him. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She didn't want to reveal her identity and was trying to figure out how to slip away unnoticed when one of the guys trailing behind Cole glanced her up and down and let out a mocking laugh.

"Did he say Ms. Stanton? He wants to pitch a business idea to Jaycie? Look at her—she's obviously a nobody. How could she be involved in any kind of business? What a joke."

His words sparked a wave of laughter. They weren't speaking in Frutunian, so Jaycie could clearly understand their ridicule. Still, she kept her expression neutral, showing no reaction.

Cole, however, wasn't as composed. He shot the guy a cold, warning glare. The man, sensing he'd crossed a line, quickly toned down his mockery, and the others, catching Cole's sharp look, gradually fell silent.

The noise died down, and the man didn't follow them. Jaycie trailed behind Cole as they walked home in silence. Once inside, Cole hung his coat on the rack and finally broke the quiet.

"Babe, I won't take you to those kinds of gatherings anymore."

Her voice and expression remained calm, even though it felt like a subtle expulsion from his social circle. She simply asked, "Am I an embarrassment to you?"

He chuckled softly while reaching out to ruffle her hair, but she dodged his hand. Sighing, he explained, "What are you talking about? I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"But there's a gap between us, Cole. Sooner or later, we'll face situations like this. Hasn't your family been pushing you to marry for alliances?" Jaycie watched him closely, searching for any hint of guilt in his expression.

At the mention of an arranged marriage, Cole's face stiffened for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. "Jaycie, all you need to know is that I love you. Nothing else matters. As for the other issues, I will find ways to handle them."

If she hadn't been paying close attention, she might have missed the flicker of unease in his eyes. After speaking, Cole headed to the bathroom to wash up. As she watched him walk away, she couldn't help but wonder if what he meant by "handling other issues" was marrying one woman according to his family's wishes while keeping another on the side.

Not far away, Cole's phone on the nightstand buzzed with a notification. Since she knew his passcode, she unlocked it easily and glanced at the message. It was from Eileen.

[Cole, we're meeting each other's parents tomorrow. If you don't stay with me tonight, they might figure out our coming marriage is a sham. I know you love your girlfriend, but for the next few days, can you at least give me some dignity?]

Though the message sounded pleading, Jaycie saw through Eileen's intentions. She was using their parents as an excuse to keep Cole close. And what would come next? More excuses, more demands, until the lines blurred completely.

But none of that mattered to Jaycie anymore. She had already decided to leave. With a calm resolve, she marked the message as unread and placed the phone back where it belonged.

Moments later, Cole emerged from the bathroom and picked up his phone. After a quick glance, he turned to her with an apologetic look.

"Jaycie, something urgent came up at work. I need to head out tonight. Get some rest, okay?"

He left in a hurry, too preoccupied to notice her lack of reaction. In the past, she would have walked him to the door, pouting and complaining, hoping he'd stay a little longer. But this time, she simply watched him leave without a word.

The moment Cole was gone, her own phone buzzed with a message.

[With just one word from me, Cole comes running. Tomorrow, we're meeting each other's parents. Once we're married, what will you be? A secret mistress?]

Eileen's words were cruel, but what hurt Jaycie more was the realization that the knife being used to wound her had been handed over by the man she once thought she could trust with her life.

Cole might not have known, but even if she hadn't found the wedding invitation, his plans wouldn't have stayed hidden for long.

The day after she discovered the invitation, Eileen had found her on social media and had been bombarding her with taunting photos ever since—pictures of Cole helping her try on wedding dresses, of them picking out rings and touring wedding venues. Each image chipped away at her love for Cole until there was nothing left.

That night, Cole didn't return, and Jaycie didn't care. The next morning, she washed up, went to the office, and handed in her resignation.

During lunch, she ate with her colleagues, and when one of them jokingly asked if she was leaving to "inherit the family business", Jaycie simply nodded.

"Yeah, that is exactly what I’m gonna do."

Her colleagues laughed, thinking it was a joke. They didn't take her seriously, and Jaycie, reacting with a smile, didn't elaborate either. After lunch, she packed her belongings into a box and carried it home.

When she walked in, Cole was there. Seeing her with the box, he frowned. "You quit?"

She nodded before heading toward the bedroom. He stopped her, his brow furrowed. "But you loved that job. Why quit so suddenly?"

Jaycie paused, turning to him with a smile. "Because there's something else I want to do now."

When she said this, Cole didn't press further. Instead, he replied, "If work gets too exhausting, just stay home. It hurts me to see you working yourself to the bone. You know I can take care of you."

Jaycie shook her head, her words deliberate. "I'm not anyone's accessory."

Cole was taken aback. "What do you mean, accessory?"

Not wanting to answer, Jaycie changed the subject. "Why are you back so early today? Didn't you have work?"

"I've been so busy lately, and I haven't had time to spend with you. So today, I thought I'd make some time." His expression softened, and he was back to being the doting boyfriend she once knew. "What do you want to do? Dinner? A movie? Whatever you want, I'm all yours today."

The old Jaycie might have been touched. After all, she knew he was the heir to Benson Corp, and his workload was no joke. The fact that he was willing to set aside time for her would have been proof that she meant something to him.

But now, as she looked at him, she couldn't help but wonder—was he really busy with work, or was he busy preparing for a wedding? How could he sit here, telling her she was the only one he loved, while planning a future with someone else?

Still, she didn't call him out on his lies. After all, it was only a matter of days now. Soon, she would vanish from his life without a trace.

She shook her head, rejecting his suggestions. After a moment of thought, she asked, "How about we do a deep clean of the house? There's a lot of old stuff lying around that we don't need anymore."

Cole agreed, and together they began sorting through the clutter. But as they worked, it became clear that most of what Jaycie was tossing out were the matching couple items they'd bought together—mugs, accessories, clothes, even slippers. One by one, she threw them into the trash without hesitation.

As the pile of discarded memories grew, Cole's smile began to falter. By the time the last item hit the trash, his unease was impossible to hide. "Jaycie… do you know something?"

"Know what? Are you hiding something from me?" She raised an eyebrow, deflecting his question with one of her own.

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. After a long silence, he still didn't answer directly. Instead, he grabbed her hand and said, "Jaycie, no matter what happens, just remember you're the one I love."

She gave a faint smile but said nothing more.

After the cleaning, Cole insisted on taking Jaycie out for a date. Not wanting to raise his suspicions, she didn't refuse. They had dinner, watched a movie, and then he drove them to an auction house.

As they were about to enter, a young woman approached them. She was in a chic Chanel-style suit and wore flawless makeup. Cole's expression flickered with discomfort, and Jaycie noticed immediately.

"What's wrong? Do you know her?"

Before he could answer, the woman stopped in front of them, smiling warmly. Cole quickly introduced her. "This is Eileen, the daughter of a family friend."

After a pause, he gestured to Jaycie. "And this is my girlfriend, Jaycie."

The stark difference in how he introduced them made Eileen's smile falter for a moment, but she quickly recovered and extended her hand to Jaycie. "I've heard so much about you. It's true what they say—you're stunning."

As they exchanged pleasantries, the same group of guys who had mocked Jaycie in Frutunian appeared. Out of her line of sight, they winked at Cole, making it clear that this "chance encounter" was anything but accidental.

Cole's anger simmered, but he couldn't make a scene without raising more questions. Frustrated, he swallowed his irritation and tried to keep the peace.

At the auction, Eileen was seated right next to Cole. Unlike her provocative messages, she was poised and knowledgeable in person. Discovering Cole's interest in ceramics, she engaged him in a lively discussion. Gradually, Cole's initial reluctance faded, and he found himself leaning closer to her.

It wasn't until Jaycie coughed softly that Cole remembered he'd been neglecting her. He quickly draped his jacket over her shoulders, his voice tender. "Are you cold? Is this better? I know this isn't your thing, but if you see something you like, just bid on it."

Before she could respond, the whispers from his friends behind them reached her ears. Though they tried to keep their voices low, the seats were close enough for Jaycie to hear every word.

"Cole's really good at saving face for Jaycie. Even if she were interested, she wouldn't know what to do. She probably doesn't even know how to raise a paddle, hahaha!"

"Yeah, this is probably her first time at an upscale auction. She's way out of her depth."