When Louisa Graham finished her resignation letter, she looked out the window at a massive digital billboard. The announcement of Thaddeus Cromwell and Danica Watson's wedding had been on a loop for seven days straight.

Everyone said that Danica was the love of Thaddeus' life, yet no one knew that Louisa had been the one who stayed by his side for a full seven years. She had given him her best years—from the age of 18 all the way to 25.

But now, he was about to marry someone else, and Louisa decided it was finally time for her to walk away. She planned to disappear from Thaddeus' world on the very day he got married.

Louisa took her gaze off the billboard, folded her resignation letter neatly, and slipped it into a white envelope. Just then, the door to her office was pushed open from the outside.

Thaddeus walked in dressed in a black shirt with the collar slightly open, paired with matching trousers that accentuated his long legs. His stride carried an air of urgency, and his imposing, aristocratic presence filled the room.

Louisa remembered the first time she saw him. He had also been wearing a black shirt, sitting alone in the corner of a bar with a drink in hand. He had looked utterly defeated back then.

At the time, his family had gone bankrupt, and he even had to pawn his watch to pay for his drinks.

Louisa had redeemed that watch and took him along with it. However, a capable person like Thaddeus, though reduced to a desolate state for a time, eventually rose to the top once more.

Eventually, he rebuilt everything from scratch and became the influential figure in Galaton that he was today.

"Why haven't you replied to my messages?" Thaddeus asked, his cool gaze falling on the envelope in Louisa's hand.

Louisa gestured toward the window with the envelope. "I was watching your and Ms. Watson's wedding announcement video."

Thaddeus' gaze darkened slightly. "Weren't you the one who finalized the final draft of that video? What's so interesting about it to you?"

Yes, she had been the one who finalized the video. Every photo of him and Danica, every sweet moment of theirs, and even every romantic vow in that video had been personally selected and written by her.

Back when he assigned her the task, his exact words had been, "Louisa, I need you to handle this personally. Danica doesn't trust anyone else with it."

He and Danica had reconnected three months ago, but their history went all the way back to their school days. Unfortunately, seven years ago, Danica had gone abroad, and the Cromwell family had gone bankrupt, separating the young couple.

Three months ago, Danica and her entire family returned from overseas. That was when Thaddeus got his chance to rekindle their old romance. He had even made a grand, highly publicized proposal to her.

Everyone around Thaddeus had been certain he would marry Louisa, the woman who had stood by him for seven years. Even Louisa herself had thought so. In fact, just three months ago, he had taken her to choose a ring she liked and bought one in her size.

But on that night, when fireworks lit up the entire city, he had said to her, "Louisa, give me the ring."

Then, he took the ring she had so carefully chosen, turned around, got down on one knee, and slipped it onto Danica's finger.

Amid the dazzling fireworks, Louisa heard him say to Danica, "I've waited for you for seven years, over 2,500 days and nights. There was not a single moment I wasn't thinking of you."

In that split second, Louisa felt her heart shattering like the fireworks above, splintering into countless pieces that could never be put back together.

He claimed that Danica had been the one he loved all along. Yet Louisa had been the one working beside him day in and day out. She had been the one he called whenever he got drunk, and the one he held in his arms when he slept. What did all of that amount to?

But that was a question Louisa had never dared to ask aloud. Because Thaddeus and Danica's wedding was the answer.

So what if she had been by his side for seven years? It still could not compare to the heart-stopping first love he shared with Danica in their youth.

Besides, he had never promised her anything during those seven years. From beginning to end, it had all been her own wishful thinking. She could not blame him now that things did not turn out the way she hoped.

Louisa pushed the tangled thoughts from her mind and calmly looked at the man she had loved for seven years. "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Cromwell?"

"I need you to come with me to the Watson residence tonight. I'm sure you know what gifts to prepare," he instructed stiffly.

"Of course," Louisa replied. As his assistant, she had always fulfilled his every request without exception.

Thaddeus' gaze swept over her face, and he couldn't help but feel that something was off. "Louisa, you—"

He halted midsentence, unable to put into words what exactly felt off. In the end, all he could manage was a weak, "You haven't been smiling much lately."

It was surprising that he, so wholly devoted to Danica lately, had even noticed something like that.

Louisa immediately put on a professional smile. "I'll be more mindful of that in the future, Mr. Cromwell."

"Louisa, your position as my personal assistant will never change, no matter what happens. I promise I'll promote you to vice president next year."

From secretary to the president's personal assistant, and soon to vice president, these were the titles Thaddeus had bestowed upon her over seven years.

But he never knew that what she truly wanted had never been authority or titles. All she had wanted was to be his wife. However, it seemed that that could only remain a fleeting, illusory dream now.

"Alright," Louisa said with a smile, accepting his promise.

For seven years, she had accepted everything he gave and never once begged for what he did not offer.

The inexplicable discomfort in Thaddeus' chest grew heavier. His gaze turned colder as he looked at her. "That is, provided nothing goes wrong, especially with the wedding."

"Don't worry, Mr. Cromwell. I will give my best to ensure you and Ms. Watson have a perfect wedding ceremony," Louisa assured.

Thaddeus stared at her intently for a few seconds before turning to leave. As his eyes swept past the envelope in her hand, he abruptly stopped.

"What are you holding?"

Chapter 2 She Is a Pro

"A resignation letter," Louisa answered honestly. She never lied to Thaddeus because he had once told her that he hated being lied to, even if it was a white lie.

Thaddeus' expression darkened. "In the future, any resignation letter, no matter whose it is, should be handed straight to HR.

"Don't overstep your duties. If you have too much free time on your hands, perhaps you should spend more time with your grandmother."

As the door slammed shut behind him, the smile on Louisa's face slowly faded. "Thaddeus, it's my resignation letter."

At 6:00 pm, Louisa accompanied Thaddeus to the Watson residence.

As soon as their car pulled to a stop, Danica came running out, her white dog in her arms. Her eyes were filled with joy and bashful affection as she looked at Thaddeus.

The dog in her arms, however, seemed far less fond of him and barked loudly at him.

"Be good, Snowy. He's your daddy," Danica cooed. Louisa's lips twitched imperceptibly as she glanced at Thaddeus. He had never liked dogs or cats because he was allergic to animal fur.

Yet the very next second, he reached out and tapped the dog lightly on the head. "So, you're Snowy, huh? If you keep barking at me, I'll have Mommy send you away."

Louisa stood frozen, staring at the hand that had touched Snowy. She suddenly felt a bitterness rising within her.

She had once kept a cat, housed strictly in a cage, no less. Due to his allergy, he had made her give it away.

Yet here he was, talking to Danica's dog and even touching it. It turned out that allergies could disappear when one was around the person they truly liked.

"Teddy, my parents are waiting for you inside," Danica said.

As a trained dancer, she was slender and graceful. Even her voice and the way she looked at people carried a gentle softness.

Who wouldn't adore such a delicate, sweet woman? Even Louisa, as a woman, felt inclined to look at Danica a little longer than usual.

Arm in arm, the couple walked ahead, while Louisa and the driver followed behind, carrying armfuls of gifts.

This meeting was nothing more than a discussion between the two families regarding the wedding details. Louisa sat off to the side with a notebook in hand, swiftly jotting down every point. She was the picture of professionalism.

"That's everything we can think of," said Danica's father, Patrick Watson, by which time Louisa had already filled the entire notebook.

Still, Danica's mother, Rosalie Gump, asked in a worried tone, "Ms. Graham, did you get all that? You didn't miss anything, did you?"

"Don't worry, Mom. Haven't you heard how capable Thaddeus' personal assistant is?" Danica chimed in, then turned to Louisa.

"Ms. Graham has been able to stay by Thaddeus' side all these years precisely because of how well she does her job. Isn't that right, Thaddeus?" Danica asked, shaking his arm coquettishly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Watson, you can have full confidence in Ms. Graham," Thaddeus said. As he spoke, he shot Louisa a look, a silent warning not to make any mistakes.

As Danica had pointed out, Louisa had handled everything for him over the years, from business matters to personal affairs—large and small—without a single error. Anyone else could doubt her, but Thaddeus shouldn't have. And a warning? That stung even more.

Louisa, though no longer holding out hope for him, felt her heart sink even further.

"Teddy, I want Ms. Graham to be one of my bridesmaids at our wedding," Danica announced suddenly, smiling sweetly at Louisa. "Will you do me the honor, Ms. Graham?"

Louisa recalled her schedule and said, "I'm sorry, but I'll be occupied that day."

"Teddy," Danica whined. "You're not allowed to assign Ms. Graham any other work that day. Just have her put on a bridesmaid's dress and stand by our side to witness our happiness."

Danica was an expert at crushing one's hopes and spirits. She appeared pure and harmless, yet she was already wielding the blade, quietly driving Louisa, her rival in love, to the brink.

…

On the ride back, Louisa remained silent. Thaddeus massaged his temples, appearing exhausted.

When the car arrived at Maple Grove, she bade him farewell in a formal and polite manner. "Good night, Mr. Cromwell."

"I'm having an allergic reaction. Go find my ointment," Thaddeus said as he spoke, tugging off his tie. Red spots dotted his neck.

Chapter 3 I'm Not Ditching You

"I think you should get a doctor over, Mr. Cromwell." Louisa turned down Thaddeus' order.

This was the first time she had defied him. Thaddeus' already tightly furrowed brow knotted even deeper.

Without another word, he seized her wrist and pulled her forcefully into his villa, kicking the door shut with a resounding bang.

"Louisa, don't think I can't tell you're throwing a tantrum," Thaddeus said, his gaze icy as he looked at her.

So he knew. And yet he still chose to wrong Louisa.

A bitterness rose in Louisa's chest, slowly spreading in every part of her, until it stung the tip of her nose.

"You've slept with me for seven years, Thaddeus. And now you're just ditching me without a word. Am I not even allowed to be upset?"

He didn't even give her a heads-up that he was getting together with Danica. Even if she had only ever been his lover, he could at least have told her if he was marrying someone else.

But Thaddeus hadn't. And not only so, he even openly showered affection on Danica right in front of Louisa, as if she were nothing more than an ordinary assistant.

"Who said that I've ditched you?" Thaddeus, clearly extremely uncomfortable, yanked violently at his collar.

With a series of sharp pops, buttons scattered across the floor. His shirt fell open, revealing his chest covered in angry, red allergic hives.

Over the years, Louisa had seen him through several allergic episodes and knew exactly how much he was suffering now.

Though a voice inside her screamed not to care, that whatever happened to him was no longer her concern, she still couldn't bear to see him in such distress. So, she went to fetch the ointment.

Thaddeus grabbed her hand, along with the ointment, in his feverishly hot grasp. "Louisa, I never said I'm ditching you. Besides, you promised you'd never leave me. Neither of us is allowed to forget that."

So he remembered. Louisa thought he had forgotten.

Back when she had first taken him in, drawn by his looks, they had spent days in her rented apartment doing little but eating, sleeping, and making love, until the day came when neither of them had a single cent left.

Thaddeus had gone to work as an inflatable mascot. During a sweltering heatwave, he had donned a giant panda suit, handing out flyers to children on the street, using every penny he earned to buy her food and drinks. He kept at it until one day, he collapsed from heatstroke.

When Louisa asked him why he was pushing himself so hard, he said, "I can't let you suffer with me."

And just like that, he stole her heart, binding her to him devotedly for seven years.

Louisa had to admit that throughout those seven years, he had given her all his tenderness and affection. Even when friends expressed doubts about Thaddeus' love for her, she had retorted, "Thaddeus will never marry anyone but me in this lifetime."

But reality, cruel as always, had a way of humbling the stubborn. Thaddeus was, in the end, going to marry another woman.

"Thaddeus, don't you find it ironic to say something like that when you're about to get married?" Louisa asked, the light glinting in her eyes, making the unshed tears sparkle like shattered crystal.

"Louisa, you're the one I truly want to marry," Thaddeus said, his other hand rising to cup her cheek.

"As for why I'm marrying Danica, you'll find out on the wedding day. Lou, you were the one who stayed by my side through the darkest times of my life. No one can ever replace you."

Thaddeus' eyes were as deep and fathomless as night itself.

"Lou, you must remember that what I have with her is just an act. No matter what happens, you have to believe that it's you I love," Thaddeus said, pressing a kiss to Louisa's hand. "Will you trust me?"

She wouldn't. Had Thaddeus truly wanted to marry her, he would have done so over the past seven years, now that he had achieved success.

"Thaddeus…" Louisa's words caught in her throat. Before she could finish, Thaddeus' phone rang.

Louisa glanced at the device on the couch and instantly recognized the caller ID—it was the nursing home.

A jolt of alarm shot through her. She realized that she must have left her phone in the car. This call was undoubtedly for her. Something must have happened to her grandmother, Flora Pomfrey.

Louisa snatched up the phone and answered quickly. "Hello, this is Louisa… Yes, alright, I'll come over right away."

After hanging up, she looked at Thaddeus. Flora had been clamoring to see him over the phone. Now, Louisa wasn't sure if she should even ask him to come with her.

Chapter 4 Empty Promises

"Lou, here's some money I saved up as your wedding gift. Now that you and Ted are finally getting married, you should use it to buy the things you need for the wedding."

Flora took Louisa's hand and placed it in Thaddeus'. Then, she pressed a bank card into their clasped palms.

Louisa's tears fell uncontrollably. She couldn't bring herself to meet Flora's gaze.

News of Thaddeus' wedding was everywhere. Flora must have seen it, too. Yet with her cerebellar atrophy, she had naturally assumed that Louisa would be the bride.

"Ted, promise me you'll treat Lou well," Flora pleaded, gripping Thaddeus' hand tightly.

"Don't you worry, Flora. I'll be good to Lou for the rest of my life. We have a vow—a promise to never leave each other," Thaddeus said, his words piercing Louisa's heart once again.

Four years ago, Louisa had accompanied Thaddeus on a business trip. He had taken her to Mount Skyreach, where they had made a wish at the Destiny Stone. Thaddeus had said he wanted her, not just in this life, but in her next and every life thereafter.

But now, it seemed they wouldn't even make it through this one. As expected, vows were meant to expire, and promises were meant to be broken.

"Lou, Ted, you must come and get me on your wedding day. I want to be there in person to witness it." Flora insisted.

"Of course, we'll come get you, Flora. We'll need you to walk Lou down the aisle!" Here with Flora, Thaddeus wasn't the distant and aloof CEO. He was just Louisa's boyfriend.

As they left the nursing home, Louisa felt a heavy, suffocating sensation inside. Tears welled in her eyes. "Thaddeus, why make promises you can't keep?"

If he could not marry her, why did he say he would? If he could not come for Flora on the wedding day, why did he agree to her request?

Thaddeus lowered his head to look at a message Danica had sent him on his phone. As his fingers tapped out a reply, he answered Louisa casually, "She'll forget about it in a while anyway. Agreeing to it just makes her happy for now."

So everything he had said to Flora had been nothing more than comforting lies—including his love for Louisa, his promise to treat her well forever, and his vow of never leaving her.

"Danica made me supper and brought it over personally. I should head back now. You can take a cab home," Thaddeus said, holding his phone up for Louisa to see, with no intention of hiding the message.

He was being transparent, but he forgot that Louisa was a woman who loved him. Showing her another woman's affection for him like this was akin to driving a knife into her heart.

A halfhearted hum was all Louisa could manage. She was afraid that tears would fall if she said anything more.

Though she was already utterly disappointed in him, the pain remained, sharp and gut-wrenching, tearing her apart from the inside.

Over the past three months, Louisa had tasted the most excruciating pain imaginable. She wondered, when Thaddeus saw the news of her marriage in seven days, if he would feel even a fraction of her pain.

Thaddeus left, car and all, disappearing into the boundless night. He said he loved her, yet he abandoned her in this desolate darkness.

Louisa wasn't blinded by love. She knew Thaddeus' love for her had vanished the moment Danica returned. The only reason he still bothered to humor her was probably that he still had some use for her.

Just last week, she overheard him talking to a close friend. "If Danica hadn't insisted on having her handle the wedding arrangements, I would've let her go much earlier."

He was only keeping her around to keep Danica happy.

The bank card in Louisa's palm dug into her flesh painfully. She turned back to see the light still on in Flora's room, where she could still faintly make out Flora's hunched silhouette through the window.

Louisa was an orphan. Her mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to her, and it had been Flora who raised her. Flora was her only family in this world.

Two years ago, Flora had been diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. The fact that she was still alive now was a miracle in itself. All Flora wanted was to see Louisa get married and live happily. Louisa could not let her down.

She took out her phone and sent a message to the contact pinned at the top of her chat list.

"Will you marry me?"

Chapter 5 An Insult to Louisa

"Elijah Holten, the top socialite of Galaton, is getting married!"

"Yeah! The wedding announcement dropped out of nowhere in the middle of the night. I was so excited that I barely slept! I'm dying to know who the woman is!"

Louisa overheard her colleagues chattering excitedly in the pantry during her tea break.

She knew Elijah. In fact, their paths had crossed several times, and each time, he had stepped in to help her.

Once, Louisa had gotten a flat tire on the road, and Elijah, who happened to pass by, had helped her change it.

Another time, she had been having a business dinner with a client who got drunk and tried to take advantage of her. Elijah had stepped in and taken her away, saving both the deal and her dignity.

There had been a few other occasions after that, though she could no longer recall the details clearly.

Thinking back, she realized she owed Elijah several favors. She ought to send him a congratulatory gift now that he was getting married, even if he might not remember her.

"When is he getting married?" Louisa asked casually as she stepped in to make a cup of coffee.

"Next week! It's the same day as Mr. Cromwell's!"

Louisa's hand trembled, spilling some of the hot coffee and scalding herself.

"You guys carry on," Louisa mumbled, turning to leave.

From behind her, the conversation continued.

"Why mention Mr. Cromwell when talking about Mr. Holten's wedding? Don't you know it'll upset Ms. Graham?"

"Poor thing. She's been with Mr. Cromwell all these years, only to have someone else reap the rewards."

"Oh, men can be so heartless. But Mr. Holten seems deeply devoted. He said the person he's marrying is someone he's secretly been in love with for ten years."

That afternoon, Louisa received a call from Thaddeus. "I need you to go out with me later."

"Alright." She didn't even ask where they were going. Asking wouldn't change the fact that she had to go, and besides, she had no desire to speak to him more than necessary.

She saved and closed the handover checklist she was working on, gathered her things, and followed Thaddeus out.

The car soon pulled up at the Watson residence. Danica came running over cheerfully, throwing herself into Thaddeus' arms and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Thaddeus accepted it with utter naturalness, a slight smile on his lips as he took her hand. "Let's go."

Danica settled into the car and looked at Louisa. "Ms. Graham, Teddy and I are going for our wedding gown fitting. You can pick out a bridesmaid dress while you're there."

So that was why she was being dragged along today. Danica was making her witness their happiness in advance.

Danica leaned against Thaddeus in the back seat. "Teddy, did you see the news about Elijah Holten getting married?

"He's actually getting married on the same day as us! Do you think he did it on purpose? To steal our spotlight?"

Both Elijah and Thaddeus were considered icons of success of their generation, but Elijah's family background ran deeper—they were not just wealthy, but influential. Thaddeus, on the other hand, was merely rich.

"Don't read too much into it. You'll be the most dazzling bride that day," Thaddeus said, his tone gentle.

Louisa looked at him through the rearview mirror. She almost couldn't recall when he had last treated her with such tenderness and indulgence.

"It's great to have you, Teddy. I really regret the seven years we missed," Danica said, a hint of sorrow in her voice.

But the very next instant, the melancholy was replaced by sunny cheer. "But I'm so lucky you've loved me all this time. Thank you, Teddy."

Then, she leaned in to kiss Thaddeus again. Louisa looked away just in time. Even though she had already given up on him and severed her feelings, it still hurt to see them being so intimate.

"Teddy, you must have had other women during those seven years, right?" Danica asked a highly sensitive question.

Louisa's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers tightened around her phone. She lifted her gaze to the rearview mirror again, meeting Thaddeus' eyes.

As if sensing it, he looked back. His eyes locked with hers in the mirror as he soothed Danica beside him. "No. Don't listen to the rumors out there."

"Even if you did, it wouldn't matter. I know that men have physical needs to take care of, right?" Danica said with such magnanimity that it shook Louisa to the core.

She knew Danica was deliberately humiliating her, especially since Danica's eyes were fixed on her through the mirror.

"Let's not talk about this," Thaddeus said, trying to avoid the topic.

"Why not? You can't have fallen in love with her, can you?" Danica pressed stubbornly.

"No," Thaddeus denied. "Sex and love are two separate things to men."

Louisa's heart twisted into a hard, painful knot. Thaddeus was admitting that he had only ever seen her as a tool to satisfy his physical needs.

He could choose not to marry her. He could choose not to love her. But how could he insult her like this?