On the day I successfully conceived through IVF, my CEO boyfriend—the sole heir to a nine-generation business empire—finally agreed to marry me.

Yet, after a flight of more than ten hours, I landed only to be greeted by a public announcement of his marriage to his secretary, with journalists watching from every angle.

The secretary eagerly showed off the marriage certificate, fresh off the press.

"Don't worry, everyone. From now on, I'll personally supervise Mr. Lane for the rest of our lives."

When the journalists spotted me, they all focused on me, hoping I'd cause a scene.

However, I merely smiled and congratulated the couple. "You and Mr. Lane are perfect for each other, Ms. Quinn. I wish you both a long and happy marriage."

Everyone was shocked.

No one had expected such generosity from me—Harold's girlfriend of nine years.

As I turned to leave, Harold darted over to defend himself with a scowl.

"Leila worked day and night with me on this international project. She refused every bonus and only asked to experience the fairy-tale romance of marrying a CEO. We already agreed to divorce once the project is over. I'll make it up to you with an even bigger, better wedding."

Then, his voice softened. "For the sake of our baby, don't cause trouble, okay?"

With a bright smile, I slapped his hand away. "Who told you the baby's yours?"

Nine Years Wasted

Once I finished speaking, I turned around and left, ignoring Harold Lane's shocked expression.

He grabbed my arm and stepped in front of me, his expression dark and stern.

"What's the meaning of this? Was it not enough for you to embarrass me? Now, you're going to piss me off by using the child?

"Nina, how many times must I explain it? This is just a reward! You know how hard Leila worked. Why can't you just let her have it?"

I burst out laughing, furious as I retorted with a reminder.

"I was also part of that international project. In fact, many in the company worked hard for it in the past six months. It wasn't just her."

As far as I knew, Leila Quinn's only contribution had been serving drinks during meetings and ordering takeaway for everyone.

Even without her, we would still have completed the project.

I looked straight into Harold's eyes and asked, "So are you saying you'll generously agree to marry anyone who asks to experience a wedding with a company CEO, Mr. Lane?"

As soon as I said that, his hand tightened around mine as anger filled his gaze.

"Are you throwing a tantrum just because of a mere wedding? Nina, when did you become so petty?"

A mere wedding?

I dated him for nine whole years. Over and over again, I'd bring up the idea of getting married, but every time, he'd wave it off with an excuse.

At first, it was because he had just taken over the company and his position was still unstable, so he was not in the mood to get married. Later, he said we would marry once his position became more secure. After that, he said we would only marry after I trained someone to replace me.

Not once did I doubt him.

For that promise of a marriage, I refused offers from multiple great companies. I even stayed by his side and helped him, even if I was not paid well.

There were multiple nights when I stayed up late, working overtime for the company's projects. Despite being hospitalized from overworking, I never complained.

Then, last year, he told me his parents wanted me to get pregnant first. As long as I was carrying his child, we would get married.

I thought that would finally be our happy ending.

Thus, when he proposed conceiving a child via in vitro fertilization, I did not change my mind, even though I knew how much pain I would have to endure.

Even during treatment, I never dared to let work slip. The moment each session ended, I returned to the office to follow up on projects.

Due to the high stress, I suffered a bout of depression and nearly ended it all. The only reason I clung to life was his promise to marry me.

I had pushed through six exhausting months. I thought I'd be welcomed with eternal happiness when I returned to the country. To my surprise, the wedding I've always dreamed of became a reward for someone else.

"You've waited for nine years anyway. Is it that hard to wait a few more months?"

His dismissive complaint snapped me out of my thoughts.

The impatience on his face made my heart twist in pain, as if it had been pierced by a thousand needles.

For the first time, I truly understood.

Maybe he had simply grown used to me solving every problem for him. Maybe he had never loved me at all.

Otherwise, how could he dismiss the nine years I had spent waiting for him so easily?

Stolen Rings

At that realization, I let out a silent scoff.

I no longer wanted to hear the rest of Harold's so-called explanation, so I slapped his hand away and hailed a taxi.

Through the rear-view mirror, I watched as he merely glanced at the departing vehicle before turning back to Leila.

My last bit of faith in him was dashed.

Holding back my tears, I opened the company app and submitted my resignation without hesitation. When I returned to the mansion, I began packing my things to move out.

…

That evening, Harold didn't come home.

He had dinner with Leila at a restaurant that had recently gone viral among couples.

Leila even posted a series of photos to commemorate it. The post's caption read, 'Our Mr. CEO said we must celebrate the first day of our new marriage.'

When I saw the matching phone cases and cute couple poses in the photos, my heart ached in bitterness.

When I first started dating Harold, I wanted to use matching items and take goofy couple photos. He shot my requests down as childish.

Now, despite having grown older, he was willing to play along with Leila.

While I was lost in thought, a notification from the work app appeared.

My resignation had been approved.

For a moment, I froze. Then, I noticed the painfully familiar pair of rings on Harold and Leila's fingers.

I shot to my feet and searched for the ring box I had been thinking of. It was empty.

In that instant, I was certain. The rings in those photos were the custom pair I had commissioned years ago for my own wedding.

Not only did the rings cost me millions, but I also designed and worked on them myself. While I would not be using them at this rate, it would be my only asset after I leave this relationship.

Suppressing my fury, I messaged Harold, demanding to know where the rings went.

The read receipts appeared, but he did not reply.

After a while, I pulled out my last trump card. 'Since you don't know either, it must have been stolen. I'll call the police right away.'

The moment the message was sent, I could see him typing a response. After a few seconds, he replied.

'I'm holding a wedding with Leila at the church tomorrow, but the rings we ordered haven't arrived yet. I'm only borrowing yours for now. I'll return them after the ceremony.'

The realization of just how little he thought of the rings I dearly cherished caused my heart to turn to ice.

'No need. I don't wear used goods. Since you gave them to her, pay for them. Give me 20 million.'

I thought he would never agree to the deal, but I was soon greeted by a text notifying me of a 20 million transfer.

He also called me.

In a warning tone, he said, "I've paid you, Nina. Behave yourself now and stop troubling Leila."

He then hung up.

The phone screen went dark, reflecting my exhausted face and the tears that had started falling at some point.

At that moment, I realized that nine whole years of unwavering devotion had gone to waste.

Wanting to leave this revolting mansion as soon as possible, I packed faster and contacted a moving company.

…

The next morning, before the movers arrived, Harold's parents arrived home, even though they were meant to be vacationing overseas.

The moment Derek and Diana walked in, they saw how much thinner and more haggard I had become. They pulled me into their arms, holding back tears.

"It's all his fault. He refused to listen to us and insisted on test tube babies. You've suffered so much… If he dares to mistreat you in the future, we won't ever forgive him!"

Their declarations struck me hard.

All along, I thought Harold's parents truly would not want us married unless I was pregnant. Now, it seemed to be the exact opposite.

I clenched my fists in fury. The bubble wrap in my hands crackled and popped as well.

Only then did Harold's parents notice the luggage and boxes around me. They looked confused.

"Why are you moving? Where's Harold? How could he leave you to handle all this alone?"

In the past, when Harold went out with other women, I would help him maintain his image in front of his parents. However, there was no need for that anymore.

I told them the entire truth.

They were furious and immediately began calling Harold.

However, all of their calls went unanswered. Beside themselves with anger, they called the office instead, demanding to know where Harold and Leila's wedding was being held.

"Don't be scared, Nina," Diana said firmly. "We'll discipline that ungrateful brat for you."

Crashing the Wedding

As Harold's parents comforted me, they pulled me into their car, and we sped toward the wedding venue.

Inside the church, the center aisle was covered in Juliet roses, the kind of arrangement that must have cost a fortune. At the altar, the pastor was already reciting the wedding vows.

Before him stood Leila, wearing a gown worth tens of millions, and Harold. She gazed up at him with bright, loving eyes.

Just as they were about to exchange rings, with romantic music drifting through the hall, Derek charged in and shouted for the ceremony to stop.

At first, Harold was startled to see Derek in the church. Soon, he snapped back to his senses and glared at me despite the crowd separating us.

He strode straight over, grabbed me by the front of my shirt, and hissed through gritted teeth, "How sly of you, Nina. To ruin this wedding, you actually tattled to my parents. Do you have any idea how much money and effort went into this?

"I've been far too kind to you all these years. That's why you dare defy me now."

I scoffed while looking him straight in the eyes.

Before I could speak, Leila rushed over and dropped to her knees with a loud thud. She clung to my pants and pleaded pitifully.

"Nina, I never wanted to ruin your relationship with Mr. Lane. We were going to get divorced as soon as the wedding was over. Then, I'd resign and never appear before you again… But…"

She suddenly looked up, her eyes bloodshot, and said hoarsely, "Nina, I'm pregnant with Mr. Lane's child. Please…"

Even though I had already known something was wrong between them, hearing my suspicion confirmed still made my heart ache.

For a moment, I stood there numb and stunned, my limbs weak. I did not know how to react.

Everyone in the church was staring at me with gleeful and mocking looks in their eyes.

I even heard them whispering and laughing at how foolish I was.

As I had been silently staring at Leila the entire time, Harold thought I was going to attack her.

He quickly helped Leila to her feet and stepped in front of her, shielding her from my gaze as he glared at me with intense hatred.

"You're way too unreasonable, Nina! Leila has been with us for years. She's not after anything, and I was the one who wronged her.

"You keep saying you love me, but you can't even tolerate her. Now you're trying to ruin her dream wedding too. How vicious can you be?"

He then shoved me.

I was not prepared and nearly fell. Fortunately, Diana caught me in time.

Once I steadied myself against a nearby chair, Diana turned and slapped Harold hard across the face.

The loud slap echoed, and the church full of whispers instantly fell silent.

Ignoring the cameras livestreaming the entire event, she pointed at him and shouted in fury.

"Listen carefully, Harold! Everyone knows how much Nina has done for you and for the Lane family. Your father and I will only ever acknowledge her as the future Mrs. Lane, and only her child will be the next heir.

"As for this Leila, if you dare bring her home, your father and I will disown you!"

Harold clearly had not expected his parents to take my side. After rubbing his pale face for a moment, he let out a cold snort.

"You still don't know, do you? Nina admitted yesterday that the baby in her stomach isn't even mine. If you trust her that much, then disown me!"

With that, he led Leila out of the church without another glance at us.

Chaos broke out in the hall. Diana fainted.

I hurriedly called for someone to drive her to one of the hospitals operated by the Lane family.

During her stay in the hospital, Harold never visited.

Worried, I kept hovering by her side to look after her. On the day she was supposed to be discharged, Harold sent me a message.

'Nina, today is the launch day. You should be here with the rest of the team. Where are you? Are you skipping work?'

I was in the middle of typing out my response when he sent a second message.

'If you don't want the job, leave already so that Leila can have it!'

With a huff, I finished my message and sent it. 'I've already resigned, Mr. Lane. Who takes over my job is up to you.'

Barely a minute passed before he called me.

The moment I answered, his furious shouting was so loud that my phone seemed to vibrate in my hand.