I’d had no intention of going, but to finally put an end to my foolish hopes, I’d rushed over at the last minute.

Liang Feifan was dressed in a sharp tailored suit. The spot at his side, where my arm should have been linked through his,

Was now occupied by Shen Qing, who was dressed to the nines, looking glamorous and striking.

The moment I walked in, Shen Qing shot me an unapologetically contemptuous look.

Liang Feifan’s expression darkened. "Why aren’t you at home where you belong?"

Shen Qing giggled coquettishly. "It’s such a big day for the new product launch. I would have thought you’d want Professor Xia here."

"She didn’t contribute anything to this project. Her presence doesn’t mean a thing," he said flatly.

The two of them exchanged a smile, as if sharing a private joke.

A dense wave of heartache washed over me, wrapping around my heart like a suffocating net and tightening its grip.

Then Shen Qing nodded toward the center of the hall. "It’s time for your speech."

Liang Feifan nodded, then told me to stay put and not wander off.

With that, he turned and walked hand in hand with Shen Qing toward the stage.

Once upon a time, every time he’d closed a big deal, he’d picked me up and spun me around in his arms, grinning like a fool.

On important days like new product launches, he’d always insisted I be by his side.

But now, as I watched them up there together,

The initial wave of sadness and heartache in my chest had faded away, leaving nothing but the numb emptiness that came after a deep, searing pain.

Finding the reception unbearably stuffy, I’d slipped out to the backyard garden.

I’d never expected to run into Lu Yao there.