Three days before our wedding, I tell Gabriel Miller that I want to terminate our marriage once and for all.

He just smiles helplessly at me. "Is it because I hooked Katherine's bra for her?"

I nod in response. "Yup."

The helplessness in his smile grows.

"Kat is so clumsy. The last clasp came loose and she couldn't fix it herself. There were so many guests at the banquet last night, so I had to lend her a helping hand."

Upon noting my lack of response, Gabriel pushes a Victoria's Secret giftbox in my direction. But I refuse to accept it.

We've been together since our years in our hometown all the way till our time in Marise. Over the years, we've grown older and more mature.

It's been 18 long years. Now is time for me to let go of this relationship once and for all.

When Gabriel Miller saw that I refused to accept it, he opened the gift box instead, revealing this year's limited-edition lingerie.

"I know you're angry, but Kat is your sister. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more patient with her," he said.

I looked at him, then quietly unfolded the lingerie. A milk stain was clearly visible on the fabric.

"Victoria's Secret sells secondhand lingerie now, huh?" I asked, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Gabriel's expression darkened as he looked at me disapprovingly. "I had Kat try it on. She's been leaking ever since the miscarriage.

"She's extremely sensitive. So, if it was comfortable for her, it'd be fine for you too. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

Listening to his excuses, I felt nothing but exhaustion. I sighed and turned to push the door open.

But Katherine Sawyer had been eavesdropping outside the door. My sudden movement startled her, and she fell to the floor.

"Feli…" she called out softly. "Please don't be angry. I only tried it on for you…"

I shook my head with a wry smile. I couldn't even remember when it started, but everything that came to me had already been tried by Katherine first.

"So, now you're even trying out my man?" I retorted.

Katherine looked at me, her voice barely above a whisper as she replied, "I'm sorry, Feli… I started leaking again today. That's why I came to the office to find Gaby.

"I read online that it could turn cancerous. I didn't mean to interrupt you and Gaby. I was just so scared."

In the next instant, she broke down sobbing. It was as if my gaze alone had become an unbearable weight.

I watched her in silence. Then, I asked, "Do Mom and Dad know?"

Katherine had an unplanned pregnancy in her senior year and suffered a miscarriage. It was only during the blood transfusion that they discovered she wasn't the Sawyers' biological daughter.

That was when I was finally brought back. But to protect her, the Sawyer family told everyone that I was adopted.

Suddenly, I remembered the lactation pills I had seen at home a few days earlier. My gaze fell on Katherine's chest.

Her face immediately drained of color, as if she had been insulted. She swayed on her feet, stammering, "F-Feli… what are you implying? I'm already in this state, and now you want to accuse me in front of Mom and Dad?"

"I'm just curious. If you're worried it could be cancer, why didn't you go to the hospital first? Why are you here, entangling yourself with Gabriel instead?" I questioned.

Right then, Gabriel bellowed, "Felicity Sawyer! That's enough! Why are you being so aggressive?"

He helped Katherine to her feet and continued, "She's just a young lady. Something like this isn't easy to talk about. She's finally swallowing her pride and opening up to us. Don't push her!"

Gabriel looked at her as though she were something flawlessly pure.

I shook my head. No matter how many times I had told him about the ways Katherine had cornered and pressured me, in his eyes, she remained innocent.

One wanted to deceive, while the other let himself be fooled. In a strange way, they were in tune.

Without saying another word, I turned to leave.

…

After I finalized the share transfer agreement and sent it to Elliot Harrington, he asked, "Ms. Sawyer, would you consider joining Harrington Group?"

His words left me momentarily disoriented.

18 years had left my relationship with Gabriel in shambles, but at the same time, it had also made me a partner known throughout the industry.

"Let's talk about it later, Mr. Harrington. I still have a few things to take care of," I answered, my smile faint.

…

Soon, I returned to my place. Everywhere I looked were traces of the life Gabriel and I had built together, and I found myself lost in thought.

A sudden knock at the door snapped me out of my reverie. It was a courier.

I opened the package, only to find a box of contraceptives.

Katherine's call came immediately after. "I'm sorry, Feli. I accidentally had the things Gaby and I were going to use delivered to your place."

On the other end of the line, I heard Gabriel say, "Kat, come over here. Let me see how badly you're leaking."

Then, the line went dead.

My nails dug into my palms, and blood dripped down.

Gabriel and I had come all the way from a small town to Marise. I had once believed that we'd make it to the end. But now, he was laying himself bare with another woman.

I numbly packed up my things, one by one.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

I answered, and Thomas Whitman's furious voice cut through the line. "Felicity, how could you leak my design drawings without authorization? Now, copies are everywhere! Just wait. This isn't over!"

My head was spinning as I unlocked my phone to skim the top headlines. The first one caught my eye. It read, "Renowned Designer Leaks Client Blueprints."

With trembling hands, I tapped on it and scanned the article.

Then, I forced myself to steady my breathing. This company was my life's work. I couldn't let it crumble so easily.

Soon, the office sent over the surveillance footage. It confirmed that Katherine had secretly photographed and leaked the blueprints.

The legal team asked how I wanted to handle it. I took a deep breath before saying, "Call the police. Sue her."

…

At the police station, Katherine stared at me, her eyes bloodshot and swollen. "Feli, please… Just let me go. Stop bullying me at work!"

I stepped aside and handed the documents I had organized to the officer. "Here's what happened. We demand a full investigation into this case of corporate espionage."

At those words, Katherine broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

I furrowed my brow. Just as I was about to point out that Gabriel wasn't here and that her tears would change nothing, he strode into the station.

A second later, he snatched the papers from my hand and told the police officer, "We're dropping the case."

I stared him down. "Gabriel, do you even realize how much damage this could cause the company?"

He looked down at me, murmuring, "Kat's still young. Don't ruin her."

Then, he showed the police officer the business license.

"I'm the owner of the company. She's just the general manager I brought in. We've decided to drop the case."

Almost immediately, Katherine collapsed into Gabriel's arms, sobbing, while a chill ran through me.

I had forgotten that I was never truly the company's owner—just as Gabriel had never truly been mine.

…

As soon as I left the police station, I bought a train ticket to Brightwood.

When we were young, Gabriel and I made a pact. If one of us ever betrayed the other, the one left behind would go to Brightwood, and the other was forbidden from ever setting foot there.

Yet, I hadn't expected to see Gabriel and Katherine again, not just before I was to leave.

Mr. Harrington's new company had just gone public, and he had personally invited me to the event.

There, I saw Katherine nestled against Gabriel's chest. I fixed my gaze on the dress she was wearing, my fingers trembling.

It was the very outfit Gabriel had designed for me at my first family gathering at the Sawyer residence.

"Felicity, even though I design jewelry, I'll personally design clothes for you. And they're meant for you alone," he had said.

Right then, Katherine finally seemed to notice me. She twirled with delight and exclaimed, "Look, Feli! Isn't it beautiful? Gaby gave this to me. It's the first dress he ever designed, and it means so much. He wanted me to shine!"

She pointed to her chest area before adding, "It was too small here. Fortunately, he made some adjustments just for me."

Gabriel, on the other hand, avoided my gaze. Guilt was written all over his face as he said, "It's just a dress. I'll make you another one."

Before I could respond, Katherine suddenly gasped. A stain spread rapidly across her chest, and the dress was ruined in an instant.

But Gabriel seized my wrist, tipped the drink onto Katherine's chest, then slapped me hard. "Felicity! No matter how angry you are, you can't just throw your drink at Kat!"

Stunned, I stared at him.

"Play along," he whispered. "Kat will get married one day. What would happen to her if anyone saw her like this? You'll have to take the hit for now."

Tears streamed down my face as I forced a bitter smile. "Would you be okay if she married someone else? Maybe she should just marry you."

Having said that, I turned to leave, ignoring Gabriel's shouts from behind me.

He ran after me and grabbed my arm. "I'll explain after the wedding tomorrow."

I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. There wouldn't be a wedding.

However, Gabriel assumed I was just sulking. "Do as I say, okay?"

Just like that, he turned back to console Katherine.

…

Early the next morning, I headed to the airport.

On my way there, Gabriel's wedding car glided past my cab. I saw him and Katherine sitting side by side in the back seat. They looked every bit like a newlywed couple.

I told myself it didn't matter anymore. After all, I was leaving. From now on, whatever happened to them was none of my concern.

But I didn't notice the moment Gabriel turned and his eyes locked onto mine.

Then, as if he had gone mad, he lunged at the driver and seized the steering wheel. "Turn around! Turn around right now!"