The employee, heart in their throat, handed it over with bowed head.

Elena looked expressionlessly at the title of the post on the screen: "Elena, a habitual 'homewrecker' who climbs the corporate ladder through her body."

The further she scrolled, the colder her eyes became.

Back in her sophomore year, Vivian had used this exact trick on the school’s web forum.

That was back then.

Elena remembered how every teacher in the school had confronted her at the time.

"Elena, you’re our department’s top student. How could you engage in such morally depraved behavior?"

"Elena, your father was a teacher here once. How can you have so little sense of shame?"

The dean and the counselor had lectured her in turns, not giving her a chance to explain before everyone had already declared her guilty.

The matter only ended after a lunchtime broadcast.

Elena had been hiding in the library when she suddenly heard Liam’s voice over the speakers: "Elena is my girlfriend. If anyone continues to spread these rumors, don’t blame me if you don’t have an easy time of it."

The courage of that young boy had become her sanctuary.

"Director Elena?"

The employee’s timid voice pulled Elena back to reality. After returning the phone, she walked into the CEO’s office.

Maintaining her usual detachment, Elena said directly: "Mr. Liam, keep your woman in check."

Liam frowned, looking up in confusion: "My woman?"

"Vivian."

With that, Elena turned and walked out.

As she prepared to return to her office, her assistant, Jason, approached with documents: "Director Elena, the representative from the Starfish Group has arrived and is waiting for you downstairs."

Elena nodded, grabbed her bag, and went down.

To her surprise, the person who had arrived was none other than Julian!

"Why is it you?" Elena asked with a puzzled look.

Julian raised an eyebrow with a smile: "I am the project lead for this deal, Director Elena."

Elena couldn't figure out what he was up to. The last time he sent flowers for no reason, she had been the subject of gossip for days.

Frowning, she held her tongue: "Then, Mr. Julian, let’s discuss this over a meal."

Julian nodded, satisfied, and took the initiative to open the passenger door of his car.

The cool Ferrari sped away.

However, neither noticed a Maybach trailing them sneakily.

After the Ferrari pulled over, Elena climbed out, helplessly clutching a massive bouquet of red roses.

Just as they were about to enter the restaurant, Liam suddenly blocked their path.

"You actually accepted his roses?" Liam repressed the raging inferno in his heart, his gaze icy as he stared at Elena.

Elena gripped the roses tightly, remaining silent.

Julian quickly stepped forward to shield Elena, looking at Liam with a smile: "I didn’t know you were getting married. Congratulations. You and Vivian make a perfect match."

Liam clenched his fists, but Julian continued without a care: "I’ll stop there. Elena and I have a date to attend to. Please excuse us, Mr. Liam..."

Just as Julian tried to lead Elena away, Liam grabbed her hand, dragging her away without a word.

Exhausted to her core, Elena shook off his hand and stood her ground, refusing to budge.

"Liam, we ended seven years ago!" she said, her voice trembling—each word felt like a giant hand crushing her heart.

"You’re about to get married; stop being as reckless as you used to be!"

She paused, her nose stinging with bitterness.

"I am going to move forward. You shouldn't linger in the past either."

Having said that, Elena felt all her strength drain away.

Liam froze, his perfectly defined facial lines turning rigid.

Elena didn't look at him again and turned to walk away.

She hadn't gone far when Liam’s voice came from behind: "I didn’t agree to it. Seven years ago, I never agreed to break up with you."

Elena stopped dead in her tracks, her heart aching as if cut by a blade.

Yet, she didn't look back; she simply walked on, step by step.

Liam sat in his car until they walked out of the restaurant, then trailed behind Julian’s car.

He stayed parked beneath Elena’s building until the light in her room went out.

The next day, Liam flew to the UK and found the jewelry designer, Jane Love.

Jane raised an eyebrow: "So, seven years later, you’ve finally come to pick up the ring to propose to your girlfriend?"

Liam held the diamond ring in his hand and nodded.

On the other side.

Elena sat in her office, putting the final touches on a document.

She unfolded the letterhead. The first line contained only a few striking words: "Resignation Letter."

Chapter 10: Shattered

Elena left the resignation letter on Liam’s desk.

After packing her things, she drove home.

Tomorrow was Liam’s engagement ceremony. That night, Elena sat alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, flipping through her notebook with a heavy heart.

She turned to an old entry.

—"Liam said he wants to marry me in Denmark. I laughed at him for being such a pig, haha."

Looking at these words, Elena’s eyes suddenly reddened. She clutched the notebook to her chest for a long time, until she finally made up her mind.

After setting the notebook aside, Elena walked to her mother’s room.

"Mom, I have to go on a business trip for a few days. Take care of yourself at home."

Her mother suddenly teared up and took Elena’s hand, her voice raspy: "Elena, I was wrong last time, but I was just afraid that you were too lonely on your own..."

Looking at the tears in her mother’s eyes and her hair, now entirely white, Elena’s nose grew sore.

She hugged her mother, choking back a sob: "Mom, I know. Don’t worry about me."

After bidding farewell to her mother, Elena drove to the airport.

CEO’s Office.

Liam pushed open the door and saw the conspicuous resignation letter on his desk.

The signature on it was Elena’s.

Just as he pulled out his phone to call her, his mother’s call came through.

Liam coldly blocked the number, took the ring, and left the office.

Airport Departure Lounge.

Elena’s phone suddenly rang. It was Clara.

She answered and spoke first: "Hey, Clara."

...

Liam was calling Elena while driving, but every call went straight to voicemail.

It made him inexplicably panicked.

On the other end, Elena held her phone, her brow furrowed: "Clara, he has a new life. I shouldn't bother him anymore."

She didn't want to hear anything about Liam anymore, but Clara kept bringing him up in every sentence.

On the other end of the line, Clara cursed: "You think this is 'facing things bravely'? You’re just a coward!"

"Elena, you can’t leave. If you go, I’ll act as if I never had a friend like you."

Elena was just about to reply when she saw the airport TV airing a breaking news report about the Liam Group.

"The engagement banquet between the Liam Group and the Shi Group at the Aolong Hotel at 9:00 AM this morning was marred by the groom, Liam, going missing without cause. Furthermore, there have been major changes in Liam Group’s equity structure."

The screen cut to footage of Liam’s mother awkwardly dodging reporters.

Watching the scene on the TV, Elena went numb.

Clara’s voice came through the phone: "Stop running. As long as you still love him, you’ll be a prisoner no matter where you go."

Elena’s heart began to pound frantically.

Yes, she thought, no matter which corner of the earth she fled to, her heart would only ever beat for Liam.

On the other side, on the highway.

Liam kept trying Elena’s number, but it wouldn't go through.

Suddenly, a car driving against traffic slammed straight into Liam’s vehicle from the front.

Liam had no time to dodge. With a violent collision, the Maybach was sent flying!

"Tick, tick..." A sound echoed. He opened his eyes, vision blurred.

His whole body ached as if it had been crushed; warm blood from his head streamed down his face.

"Elena..." he murmured the name, feeling like he had finally gathered a shred of strength.

He struggled to push the car door open, dragging himself out. Blood filled his throat, but he held on tightly to the two rings engraved with "L&P."

"Tick, tick..."

It was the sound of the engine leaking fuel.

The engine sputtered with a "hiss," and a spark fell onto the gasoline...

With a deafening "boom," the entire car exploded, and Liam’s figure was swallowed by the sky-high flames.

Elsewhere, Elena hung up the phone and saw countless missed calls popping up.

Every single one was from Liam.

An inexplicable feeling of palpitation gripped her.

Her heartbeat grew faster and faster, her very heart aching for no apparent reason.

Elena dialed Liam’s number, but it wouldn't connect...

Just then, a rushing passerby bumped into her arm.

Her phone flew out of her hand, sliding several meters across the floor and landing in front of a heavy luggage rack holding a dozen suitcases.