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."

The group of men spoke in low tones, but their words carried a sharp edge, and the occasional glances they threw Jaycie's way made it clear their comments were meant for her ears.

She didn't react, though. Soon enough, they'd be standing before her, addressing her respectfully due to her real identity.

The auction continued, and the next item was brought to the stage—a crystal sculpture named "Timeless Harmony". The piece was exquisite, made from high-quality crystal, but what really caught everyone's attention was the auctioneer's announcement that it was the work of Castiel Rivero, the legendary master of crystal sculpture.

Eileen's eyes lit up when she heard Castiel's name. She immediately raised her bidding paddle and turned to Cole. "This piece has incredible value! Your grandmother's birthday is the day after tomorrow. This would be perfect as a gift for her!"

Jaycie, who had glanced up at the sculpture when Castiel's name was mentioned, quickly looked away. Her voice was calm but carried a weight that seemed to douse Eileen's excitement. "It's a fake."

Eileen stared at her, disbelief written all over her face. She was about to snap back with something like, "What would you know, you country bumpkin?" But with Cole sitting right there, she forced a polite smile instead. "And how would you know that, Ms. Stanton?"

Jaycie replied evenly, "Because the real one was given by the heiress of the Stantons to her grandmother."

There was only one authentic piece in the world, and it was in her family's possession. The one on the stage had to be a counterfeit.

Jaycie had meant it as a simple warning, but Eileen burst into laughter, and the group of men behind them joined in, their mocking voices growing louder.

"Jaycie, if you don't know what you're talking about, just keep quiet. You're embarrassing yourself."

"Yeah, and what, were you hiding under the bed when the Stanton heiress gave it to her grandma? Or do you think just because your last name is Stanton, you're somehow related to the great Stanton family?"

Their laughter and jeers grew until Cole finally shut them down with a cold glare. He turned to Jaycie, taking her hand in his. "Jaycie, I know you've been reading up on art appreciation lately, but you can't learn everything from books. Eileen's been attending auctions since she was a kid, and she's studied crystal sculptures extensively. She knows what she's talking about."

His words weren't harsh, but the implication was clear—he thought she was wrong.

Jaycie simply smiled and said nothing.

In the end, Eileen spent a staggering 15 million to win the bid for the sculpture. As she swiped her card to complete the purchase, Jaycie couldn't help but chuckle. She wondered how Cole's grandmother would react when she found out her gift was a fake.

Jaycie didn't intervene or dwell on it. She excused herself to the restroom. As she washed her hands, a familiar voice rang out behind her.

"Jaycie, I thought I made myself clear. Yet here you are, still clinging to him. Are you really that desperate to be a mistress?"

The voice was sharp and cutting, a far cry from the poised and gentle demeanor Eileen had displayed earlier.

Jaycie turned to face her, her expression calm. "Ms. Wise, let's get one thing straight. I've been with him for five years. If anyone's a mistress, it's not me."

She moved to leave, but Eileen wasn't done. "Five years, and he still hasn't married you. Ever wonder why? I'm the Wises' heiress, and he's the heir to Benson Corp. We're a perfect match. But you? What do you have? A father who gambles and a sick mother. Your family's a mess. What could you possibly offer him?"

Jaycie froze. The story about her family was one she'd made up on a whim, but she hadn't expected Cole to share it with Eileen. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. If her background were truly that bleak, then her so-called boyfriend—the one who claimed to love only her—had handed Eileen yet another weapon to hurt her with.

"You're right," Jaycie said, the ache in her heart sharp but fleeting. "I'm not good enough for him. You two are perfect for each other. I hope you'll be very happy together."

With that, she walked away.

Not long after, her phone rang. It was her mother, Andrea Stanton.

"Jaycie, you need to come home soon. The whole family's waiting for you, and we've got so many gifts for you! Your father and I bought you a castle overseas. Megan got you a diamond tiara—apparently, it once belonged to the Queen of Angloland. And your uncle filled an entire garage with luxury cars for you…"

As Andrea rambled on about the extravagant gifts awaiting her, Jaycie couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, I'm coming back to take over the family business, not to bankrupt it."

Just as she finished speaking, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"What do you mean, 'take over the family business'?"