her that drunk.
So, the game was afoot three years ago.
But back then, I was oblivious to her manipulations. I started paying more attention to her at work.
2014
2014
Chapter 2
Isabella’s performance as an intern was far from stellar; in fact, she was clumsy and often made mistakes. This only reinforced my
impression of her as a simple, naive young woman.
Life got busy, and I gradually forgot about her.
Until one night, I was working late again, and she was waiting for me at the entrance of the office building.
The moment she saw me, her eyes welled up with tears. She pulled a pair of hand–knitted gloves from her coat. The weather had
just turned cold, and the autumn wind on my face felt sharp and clarifying.
She pressed herself against me, telling me I was the only friend she had in the entire company, the only one who had ever been
kind to her. She said she was about to be fired, and she hoped I would accept the gloves, a small memento of our brief connection.
That was the night my heart stirred.
The next day, I used my authority to have her transferred to my office as my personal secretary.
Thinking back, she showed absolutely no surprise when she found out I was a major shareholder in Apex Holdings. I was so blinded by what I thought was love that I missed such a crucial detail.
Once she was my secretary, I began teaching her the ropes, guiding her through the core aspects of the business.
Frankly, her business acumen was never exceptional. But she was incredibly attentive. She could always tell when I was stressed
and would have a warm soup ready for me. She filled my life with small, thoughtful surprises.
I’m a believer in love that grows over time.
Before I knew it, I had grown accustomed to having her by my side.
A year ago, on my birthday, I invited only her. Over a candlelight dinner, I officially asked her to be my girlfriend.
She said yes.
I was ecstatic.
That year was the happiest time of my life since my mother passed away. With Isabella there, the whole world seemed brighter. I
felt like I could conquer anything, even Mount Everest.
The memories flashed before my eyes: exploring escape rooms, riding ferris wheels, a vacation to the Maldives… Life was simple
and blissful.
A month ago, it felt natural to bring her home to meet my grandparents and officially get engaged.
My grandparents were thrilled. They didn’t care about her background; they saw how well she took care of me and believed she
was the right woman for me. They generously gifted her a set of gold and jade jewelry worth a fortune.
I remember Isabella burying her face in my chest, crying, swearing that she would only have eyes for me for the rest of her life. She
even signed a prenuptial agreement in front of my grandparents, guaranteeing that she would never take a penny of my assets in
a divorce.
After the engagement, our life felt even sweeter. She started nagging me about my drinking, and I loved it. I savored her care.
So when she asked to take on a more active role in managing some of the company’s stock portfolios, I didn’t hesitate. I let her do it, seeing it as a way for her to grow.
Even when the stock prices she managed started to fall, I wasn’t worried. I could always cover the losses.
What did it matter? I loved her.
I truly believed that if I continued to treat her this well, we would live happily ever after.
2014
2014
Chapter 2
Until Lary’s wedding shattered that naive fantasy into a million pieces.
I never imagined it would take three years to see a person for who they truly are.
8
“What… what did you say?”
Hearing my voice, Isabella’s body went rigid. Her eyes twitched, and she instinctively hunched over, a picture of pure, unadulterated
fear.
