Before the company Ruby Lane and I built finally landed a multimillion-dollar funding, she had agreed that we would get married once the deal closed.

But when I rushed to the celebration party that night, I saw Ruby kissing the investor, Jack Hunter, in front of everyone. Then, she proudly held up their marriage certificate.

Jack took the microphone and said, "To prove I'm serious, I didn't just invest money into the company, I gave myself too! My wife will lead this company to even greater heights!"

My colleagues all looked at me, expecting me to cause a scene. Instead, all I did was smile as I clapped. "That's great news! I wish both of you a happy life from now on and hope that the company goes public soon!"

The entire room went into an uproar.

After the party, Ruby pulled me aside to explain what happened. "Jack throws money at this project like it's nothing to him. He just wants to know what marriage feels like, that's all. Did you really have to act that childishly just now?

"Once the company goes public, I'll divorce him. Then, I'll make it up to you by doubling the amount of shares you'll get. You can see the big picture, right?"

I smiled and stepped back. "Don't bother. The share price would have crashed. We're done, Ruby."

As soon as I finished what I wanted to say, I turned to leave. Still, Ruby caught my wrist and blocked my way. "Silas, do you really have to embarrass me on the day the company has managed to get our funding? I already told you that this is just to reassure Jack that his investment is in good hands.

"It's a reward for everything he has poured into the company. Once the company goes public, I'll divorce him. We've been together for seven years. Can't you think about what really matters here for once?"

I looked at the woman in front of me with her perfect makeup. Her evening gown highlighted her curves, but her words were ice-cold.

All she remembered was how much money Jack had poured into the company. She had forgotten that I was the one who had stayed by her side when we were still living in a basement.

I had treasured our future marriage more than my own life. Yet, she had gone to the clerk's office with another man as if it were nothing.

"Ruby, how much more am I supposed to give up for your so-called big picture before you decide I'm finally rational enough for you? You said that once the company was stable, once our dream came true, you'd marry me. Do you have any idea what I gave up for that day?

"To optimize the core algorithm, I didn't get a full night's sleep for three months. I even ended up in the emergency room due to gastric bleeding last week. The doctor told me I had to stay in the hospital, but I slipped out and came back... And this was the surprise waiting for me?"

Looking back on the past seven years, Ruby had always found excuse after excuse to delay our wedding.

After my bachelor's degree, I received a full scholarship PhD offer from a top-tier research university. She had cried and said she wanted to start a company and could not handle a long-distance relationship. One look at her tears, and I had torn up the offer and stayed with her in a cramped apartment in a rundown neighborhood, writing code to support our life.

Three years later, when the company was finally taking shape, I proposed to her. She had said we would get married once we secured our series A financing.

Five years later, when the funding came through, she said we would get married once our user base passed ten million.

Then, in the seventh year, she had told me with bright eyes that if she managed to get her hands on Jack's multimillion-dollar investment, she would marry me.

I had believed her yet again.

I practically lived in the lab because of that promise, and I kept myself going with coffee and painkillers through all those days and nights to push through the limits of technology. In the end, I had collapsed in front of the server racks and was diagnosed with inflammation of the heart muscle from overwork.

I was worried she could not handle the celebration party on her own and that if she drank too much, no one would be there to look after her.

I kept telling myself to hold on a little longer as I held the ring I had bought ahead of time, and that Ruby was about to become my wife. But the moment I walked in, the first thing I heard was that she had married Jack.

Only then did I finally understand how cruel she had always been to me.

The dizziness faded, and I was able to refocus my vision.

Ruby was still frowning as she said, "Silas, you've already waited seven years. What's a few more years? I promised I'd make it up to you with the shares, and I will!"

I looked up at her, but there was no longer warmth in my eyes. "It's fine. I'm selling all my shares and patents. Remember to sign them tomorrow."

Then I walked away, not wanting to hear another word from her.

Early the next morning, I went back to the office despite the headache from the hangover.

The moment I walked in, my phone's screen lit up.

It was Ruby's latest post on Facebook with a collage of photos.

She and Jack were in every photo, posing in front of the giant company logo with their marriage certificate, grinning from ear to ear.

The caption read, "A powerful union heading toward the future together. @JackHunter"

My headache was getting worse. It must be because I had not gotten enough rest the night before.

I walked to the locked cabinet in the corner. Inside was everything I had poured myself into for the last seven years, and that included my history with Ruby. I opened the cabinet, and right on top was our company's first server.

We had built it by hand with the scholarship money we saved in university. We had searched the electronics marketplace to buy the parts we needed and assembled the server ourselves.

Our initials were still carved into the case, with a heart she had drawn around them. She had even said with a laugh, "This is the result of our love and the start of our dream."

But later, after Jack had given her a Patek Philippe, she had tossed that server into the storage room like it was garbage.

Turned out love and dreams weren't worth very much when money was involved.

I called a recycling company and had every server prototype, code draft, and design blueprint in the cabinet thrown away.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a voice message from Ruby. "I'm about to start the board meeting. Get the documents on the tech ready and bring them to me now."

She clearly still did not know I had already cleared everything out.

I held myself up against the desk. My head felt like it was splitting open, and my vision went black as I hit the floor.

Back when we were rushing to finish the project, I had worked day and night. My body was already at its limit.

Cold sweat soaked through my shirt as I lay on the freezing floor while my phone kept buzzing. "Silas! What's wrong with you? It has been an hour! Where are the files? You should have been here by now, even if you had to crawl!"

I gritted my teeth as another voice message came in. "Can you take responsibility for delaying the board meeting? Can you show some commitment to your work?!"

I did not know how much time had passed before I finally got a little strength back.

I typed one sentence to her: [Ruby, we're already done.]

After I sent it out, I blocked every way she had to contact me and turned off my phone.

The sunlight outside was so bright. I collapsed onto the couch and stared blankly at the newly made model of the company logo on her desk.

She used to complain that I smelled like solder, and she would not let me touch any of her branded bags. Because of that, I learned to wash my hands three times before touching anything that was hers.

I had kept that habit for five years.

But that day, I had clearly seen Jack casually pick up her Hermes bag despite smelling of alcohol, and all she did was smile and tell him to be careful.

The more I thought about it, the more those seven years felt like a joke.

My eyes grew heavier and heavier, and I sank into a deep sleep…

It was not until that night that Ruby's scream woke me.

"Silas! You actually sold everything just like that?! Those were the company's core assets! Do you realize you just committed a white-collar crime?! You really can't see the big picture at all!"

I could smell a strong scent from her. It was the same woody scent Jack always wore.

Her suit was slightly disheveled. One button on her silk blouse was buttoned wrong, leaving a strip of lace exposed, and she had not even noticed it.

"Ms. Lane, your button," I reminded her in a hoarse voice.

Ruby looked down, hurriedly fixed her clothes, then kicked the couch beside me. "And whose fault is that?! I've been on the go non-stop the entire day!"

I looked up at her as I endured the discomfort coursing through my body. "Those servers and drafts are all registered under my personal name. They are my private property, not company assets. It would be better for you to keep business and personal matters separate."

Ruby's face darkened at once. "Keep them separate? Silas, without the platform I gave you, without the company's resources, your things would have been nothing but a pile of scrap metal!"

I looked at her and almost laughed, realizing just how ridiculous everything was. "Fine. Then keep mixing them together. Let the investor be your husband, and let the board meeting be your excuse to flirt."

Ruby's expression turned red from rage. "What nonsense are you talking about?! Mr. Hunter and I are in a purely professional relationship! Our marriage this time is for the company too!"

"Purely professional?" I laughed. "Ruby, do you think I'm an idiot? Would two people in a purely professional relationship come back covered in each other's perfume? Would they hook up and not even have time to fix their clothes?"

There was a glint in Ruby's eyes, and even her voice started to shake. "So what if we did? Isn't it because you've always been this unambitious? That's why I have all this pressure! Maybe you should take a hard look at yourself instead, Silas Johanson!"

After all of those twists and turns, it was still ultimately my fault.

I got up to my feet and went back to my lounge. I had no interest in wasting another word with her on arguments that no longer mattered.

-

The next day, I submitted my resignation and my share purchase agreement to the board.

The moment I walked into the meeting room, Jack came straight toward me. "You're here early, Silas."

He then waved the marriage certificate in front of my face.

I said nothing and tried to walk around him, but he suddenly stuck out his leg to trip me. I had already seen it coming and kept my balance. He, on the other hand, let out an exaggerated yelp and threw himself to the floor.

"Silas, what did you do?!" Ruby rushed out of the office at once. "How did Mr. Hunter fall like that?! Apologize to him right now!"

I snorted coldly. "Look carefully, Ms. Lane. He stuck his own leg out and lost his balance."

"Lies!" Jack looked at Ruby with an innocent expression. "When he saw our marriage certificate just now, he started cursing you. He said you're someone who would do anything for money and that you don't deserve to be CEO at all..."

When had I ever said that?

But those words instantly ignited Ruby's anger. She did not even wait to let me explain as she simply pointed at my face and yelled, "Get out! Get out right now! This company does not keep people who stab me in the back!"

My heart started pounding fast. I had not expected her to trust him so completely and humiliate me like this. "It doesn't matter. My resignation has already been submitted."

I packed up my personal things and prepared to leave the city where I had fought for seven years.

Three days later, I came back to finish the final handover. However, the office was completely empty.

The only thing on my desk was a golden wedding invitation.

So…

Today was Ruby and Jack's wedding.

A wedding?

I did not expect them to truly hold an actual wedding. The package regarding giving Jack his wedding experience included this, too?

I followed the address on the invitation and drove there.

When my car passed the rundown neighborhood where we used to rent an apartment, I hit the brakes without thinking.

For a moment, I could almost see Ruby as she had been when she first started the company. She was crouching on that tiny balcony and smiling up at the stars, saying, "Silas, look. When we finally make it, can we have our wedding on a river cruise on Whitesand River? We'll cover the deck with tens of thousands of roses. All the guests will be dressed up in formal wear, and we'll hire an orchestra so we can dance under the stars."

Her eyes were glittering back then. She had wanted to change the world, and she loved me, too.

I had walked over and wrapped my arms around her from behind. "Sure! We can also open-source the company's core code, so even more people can benefit from it."

She had laughed so hard she could barely stand, saying I had turned romance into a tech conference.

And now, in the grand ballroom of the most expensive hotel right next to Whitesand River and beneath a massive crystal chandelier, stood the tackiest wedding I had ever seen. The giant screen kept looping photos of her and Jack together in different places around the world.

"Silas... Why are you here as well?" A former colleague walked over, his eyes bright with gossip and anticipation.

I pulled out an envelope from my pocket. Inside was sixty-six dollars in cash.

Just as I finished signing my name at the front table, I heard Ruby's voice behind me.

I turned around.

Ruby was wearing perfect bridal makeup and a custom mermaid gown. The moment she saw me, there was surprise on her face.

Jack stood beside her in a sharp suit, looking smug.

Ignoring the ache in my chest, I smiled. "How could I miss your wedding? I wish you a long and happy marriage and a child soon."

Jack spoke first, his expression full of smugness. "Silas, that's very thoughtful of you. We appreciate it. I just wonder when we'll get the chance to return the favor. Oh, right, I almost forgot. Silas is still single. But that's alright. When the time comes, I'll have my wife help find someone suitable for you. With your qualifications, finding a decent woman shouldn't be that hard at all!"

As he spoke, he slipped an arm around Ruby's waist.

However, Ruby immediately pushed him away and dragged me to the side as she lowered her voice. "Silas, today is my wedding day with Jack. I'm warning you right now not to cause any trouble."

I shook off her hand and pulled out the share transfer agreement. "Actually, I didn't just come to give you the sixty-six-dollar wedding gift. I'm also here to finish the final handover. Sign here."

She looked at the document but did not take it.

"If you're not signing, that's also fine." I set the papers on the champagne tower beside us and moved to leave.

"Silas..." Ruby called after me, suddenly sounding anxious, but her voice was drowned out almost immediately by the cheers around her.

-

I got a call from my father when I was in the VIP lounge at the airport, "Come home, Silas. Horizon Capital happens to need a partner in tech. Everything you've studied and learned will be useful here."

I gave a quiet hum of agreement into the phone.

As the plane climbed into the night sky, I gave the glittering city outside the window one last look.

Seven years… To think I had really ended everything…

I flew back to Norcrown City overnight. The moment I got off the plane, I received a text from Ruby: [Silas, where are you? Why is the house completely empty?]

For the first time, all I could feel was calmness as I looked at that message.

With one tap, I blocked her number for good.