I strode out, and behind me came hurried footsteps—

followed by Ryan Scott’s repeated cries of pain.

Sophia Bennett was forced to stop and check his injuries.

By the time she looked up, I was already inside the elevator.

“Adrian Scott, just try leaving tonight!”

“Don’t forget—everything you have today was given to you by me! Without me, you’re nothing!”

“Even if you kneel and beg me later, I won’t give you a second glance!”

The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out the last of her shrill screaming.

I felt a wave of disorientation, unable to understand how something once so beautiful had turned into this.

I had thought the end of a first love would be marriage—our world of two becoming a warm family of three.

Never had I imagined that love would end in venomous words and bitter enmity.

It wasn’t until I was lying on the large hotel bed that the memories came flooding back like a tide.

When I first met Sophia, she was lively, beautiful, and gentle—

the only ray of light in my otherwise gray world.

From the misery of being forced into endless business courses, just one glimpse of her would sweep away all my exhaustion.

Because of my father’s orders, I wasn’t allowed to make friends casually at school.

I became the most solitary figure in the class.

But Sophia broke through the boundaries I had set for myself again and again, barging into my life.

She would smile as she brought me milk tea, teasing:

“It’s my birthday today, so I bought milk tea for the whole class. You get one too!”

Later I learned from classmates that she had bought it for everyone only so she could give one to me.

They were jealous of me, yet envious that I had caught the attention of the campus belle.

When my father found out, he cut off all my living expenses.

He told me that if I couldn’t become the kind of heir the Scott family needed, then I didn’t deserve to enjoy its benefits.

From that day on, I attended classes in the daytime and worked multiple part-time jobs at night.

When payday came, my boss told me I’d done well and tripled my salary.

When I pressed him for the reason, he admitted that Sophia had bought the shop.

I won’t deny it—my heart skipped a beat in that moment.

I didn’t dare get closer to her innocence and warmth, so I pretended I didn’t know and went on with my life.

But Sophia once again broke through my boundaries.

No matter where I worked, she would somehow become my coworker.

If I was handing out flyers, she would wear a mascot costume to draw in a crowd.

If I was washing dishes, she would be in the kitchen carrying plates.

Watching a pampered heiress bend down to work alongside me—it would be a lie to say I wasn’t moved.

Even though I refused her with words, the wild pounding of my heart betrayed me.

By the tenth time she had followed me to one of my workplaces, I couldn’t take it anymore and pulled her aside.

“You don’t have to do this. This isn’t the life you should be living.”

She blinked playfully, her face full of innocent mischief.

“I’ll decide what kind of life I should live.”

“Besides… seeing you makes me happy. That’s worth it. But if I’m bothering you, I’m sorry…”

That thin paper window between us was finally pierced, and I could no longer lie to myself.

From that night on, my life had an angel in it.

I thought that by keeping our relationship a secret, I could protect her.

But on graduation day, when my father attended as a shareholder to present awards, he discovered the truth.

“Either inherit the Scott family, or get out. You choose.”

“Adrian Scott, I told you—you can’t afford weaknesses as an heir.”

I chose Sophia, and I never regretted it.

Leaving the Scott family, I used her connections to enter her family’s company.

I thought that as long as the Bennett family accepted me, I could endure any hardship.

But I had overestimated our relationship.

After we started working, we went from having endless things to talk about to having nothing to say at all.

Then Ryan Scott joined the company as her assistant.

For the first time in years, I saw that bright, eighteen-year-old smile on her face again—

but this time, it wasn’t for me.

I shifted my focus back to our relationship, determined not to miss a single anniversary or date.

But when I saw her sitting across from me during a date, staring off at her phone, I knew this relationship was beyond saving.

The wedding was just the final straw.

Signs of her betrayal had been there all along.

It was time for me to wake up.

With the alcohol in my system, I drifted into a heavy sleep.

In the middle of the night, my phone buzzed several times, then fell silent.

At eight in the morning, the ringtone jolted me awake.

Without checking the caller ID, I answered.

On the other end came Sophia Bennett’s furious voice:

“Adrian Scott, what the hell are you doing? The project proposal was supposed to be finalized by last night. Everyone says they couldn’t reach you. If you don’t want to do this job, plenty of others will!”

I opened my eyes, my chest tightening.

“Then let someone else do it. Every project ends up going through Ryan anyway, so why waste my breath?”

Since Ryan had entered the company, every project required his final approval.

Even if he knew nothing about it, Sophia still chose to believe in him.

He didn’t participate in a single step, yet his name appeared on the final report—along with more than half of the project bonus.

The company was full of complaints, but Sophia never cared.

Now, realizing she couldn’t manage without me, she actually lowered herself to call me.

Seeing that I was still upset, her tone softened.

“Adrian, I know you’re unhappy, but you can’t let personal issues affect work. Isn’t that what you taught me?”

“The client is still waiting for the result. Can you just give me an answer on whether to sign with them?”

I couldn’t help a cold laugh.

“Switching grooms on the wedding day wasn’t worth telling me about, but now it’s just a project and you need my input? Make the call yourself, President Bennett.”

I was about to hang up when Sophia exploded again.

“Adrian Scott, are you done? How many times do I have to explain? Believe it or not, I don’t care!”

“If you don’t finalize the proposal today, I’ll fire everyone in your team! The Bennett family doesn’t need useless people!”

She hung up roughly.

Almost immediately, my phone was flooded with messages from my team:

“Manager Scott, please come to the office—our whole team is about to be cut!”

“Please help us! I have a family to feed, I can’t lose this job!”

“President Bennett’s been in a rage all morning—she threw out all the documents we sent in!”

I took a deep breath, resigned, and got ready to leave.

Even if my relationship with her was over, these employees were innocent—they shouldn’t suffer for it.

The moment I stepped into the office, I felt the change in everyone’s gaze.

Several people I’d criticized in past meetings smirked openly as they mocked me:

“Well, if it isn’t Manager Scott—the freeloader who bites the hand that feeds him. What brings you here?”

“I heard the groom got swapped at the last minute, and then you got your car wrecked. Talk about karma hitting fast.”

“You didn’t think much of the assistant before, but now he’s married to President Bennett, and you’re so bitter you couldn’t sleep all night. If I were you, I’d hide my face in my pants when I go out. Better yet, jump off a building and save yourself the trouble.”

Someone nearby nudged him, adding with mock seriousness:

“Come on, you know the number one skill for freeloading is a thick skin!”

“That kind of skill is way beyond us ordinary folks. For all we know, he’s begging President Bennett in private to let him be her side piece.”

“Money talks, and a thick skin is priceless. Otherwise, why is he the manager and you’re just a bottom-rung employee?”

I was about to lose my temper when Sophia Bennett stepped out of the elevator.

The moment she saw me, the smile on her face instantly disappeared.

“What are you still standing here for? Waiting for me to personally invite you to start work?”

“Come into my office. You’re an hour late today, so I’m marking you down as absent.”

She turned to head back, but I said coldly,

“No need. I’m resigning on my own.”

“Here’s what you asked for—I’m returning it.”

“I’ll hand over the remaining work to my team. No need for you to worry, President Bennett.”

I tossed the project evaluation report onto her desk. Her expression darkened immediately.

“Adrian Scott, are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare—you’re President Bennett, after all.”

“I’ll send my resignation to HR online. Goodbye.”

I turned to leave, but Sophia rushed to block my way.

“What’s this about? You’re quitting over yesterday? Is it really worth it?”

“If you walk out, don’t even think about coming back! The Bennett Corporation doesn’t need you!”

My brow furrowed, my face cold.

“You know exactly why.”

“Since you don’t need me, kindly move.”

I firmly pressed the elevator button, but then I heard familiar voices behind me.

“If Manager Scott’s leaving, then I’m leaving too!”

“I quit as well!”

“What kind of garbage company only cares about sleeping around? Staying here won’t end well—I’m out too!”

The employees who had mocked me earlier smirked even wider.

“Good riddance. Useless people just waste resources.”

“Adrian Scott, with your skills, you should be grateful the Bennett Corporation even let you in!”

“Bunch of idiots—do they really think Adrian Scott can do anything for them?”

A few of my team members squeezed into the elevator with me. After venting, they calmed down, their voices tinged with worry.

“Manager, have you thought about where you’ll go after you quit?”

“I want to work with you…”

When the elevator doors opened, I sent their names to the Scott family.

“Get them placed in positions. Their skills are fine—hire them directly.”

Then I turned to them and said quietly,

“Thanks for speaking up for me. You can report to the Scott Group tomorrow. But the company’s stricter, so it may be tougher.”

Their eyes widened in shock.

“Manager, your ‘Scott’… is that the Scott?”

“And President Bennett’s assistant…?”

“An illegitimate son.”

“About to be kicked out any day now.”

I turned down their offer to take me out for dinner—not to be standoffish, but because my father had just messaged me. He wanted me to attend a business banquet tomorrow night, where he planned to announce my identity publicly and kick Ryan Scott out for good.

After the breakup, some old friends dragged me out for a day of partying.

It wasn’t until I was on a yacht, drinking and watching fireworks, that returning to the Scott family finally felt real.

Maybe my father was right.

Love can betray you—but power and money won’t.

When the banquet began, I changed into a custom-made suit and slid into the seat of a limited-edition Pagani.

As I got out, I unexpectedly ran into Sophia and Ryan again.

Ryan had one arm around her shoulder, looking me up and down with disdain.

“Adrian, did you rent that whole setup just to hook another rich woman?”

“Let me give you a tip—not every woman is as kind as Sophia.”