Chapter 3

“Trying on wedding dresses, obviously! And she was with an absolutely gorgeous man. They were laughing and chatting. Looked to me like they’re definitely getting married!”

Pei Yan stood frozen, as though he’d fallen into ice.

In five years with Jiang Zhaozhao, he’d imagined their future countless times. Never once had he imagined her wearing a wedding dress for another man.

He was about to rush over and demand the details when Su Xiaoxiao’s mocking voice stopped him.

“Please. Is that even true?”

She rolled her eyes.

“During that business with Director Chen, she lied in front of everyone and claimed Mr. Pei was her boyfriend just to get herself out of trouble. Now, two weeks later, she’s getting married? More likely the company threw her out, she ran out of options, and she found some old man to take her on. She acts so pure. Who knows what she gets up to in private?”

A flattering coworker immediately joined in.

“Exactly. Jiang Zhaozhao was aiming far above her station. Unlike you and Mr. Pei—you’re made for each other. Xiaoxiao, with the way he favors you, will we be hearing good news soon too?”

Two pink patches appeared on Su Xiaoxiao’s cheeks.

She lowered her head and toyed with her hair. Rather than deny it, she said coyly, “Oh, don’t talk nonsense. Mr. Pei’s particular about propriety. He prefers to keep things quiet…”

Knowing cheers broke out.

“Enough!”

Pei Yan had barely recovered from the news that Jiang Zhaozhao was marrying when these people began smearing her—and Su Xiaoxiao made that nauseating insinuation.

He kicked a chair aside and strode toward them, eyes bloodshot.

The work area fell silent.

His cold gaze fixed on the coworker who’d led the malicious gossip.

“You’re spreading lies about a former colleague. Go to Finance and collect your final pay. You’re fired.”

She turned white.

“M-Mr. Pei… I was only agreeing with Xiaoxiao…”

Su Xiaoxiao panicked too. She hurried forward, reaching for his sleeve.

“Mr. Pei, why are you so angry? Everyone was only joking…”

“What good news am I supposed to be having with you? Who gave you permission to use my name to imply that disgusting relationship?”

He shook her hand off violently. All his former indulgence was gone. Only disgust remained.

Looking at her vanity at work, he finally grasped the absurd things he’d done.

He swept his eyes over his frightened staff and announced, each word forced through clenched teeth:

“Jiang Zhaozhao wasn’t imagining things. She wasn’t spreading lies. She was my girlfriend. We were together for five years. If I hear one more rumor about her in this company, whoever said it can get out!”

The entire office went utterly still.

Su Xiaoxiao sank weakly into her chair, eyes wide with disbelief. The coworkers who’d been flattering her scattered as though she were contagious.

Pei Yan ignored their shattered expressions and raced toward the lifts.

I knew nothing about the uproar his announcement caused.

On the third day after I sent out my wedding invitations, I went downstairs to take out the rubbish.

A familiar black Maybach blocked the entrance to the residential compound.

Pei Yan had somehow found my address. Haggard and bloodshot, he stood in my way.

His gaze fixed on the diamond ring on my ring finger. His voice shook with anger and disbelief.

“Jiang Zhaozhao, are you really getting married? You’re so angry with me that you’ll marry some random blind date? What do you think marriage is?”

He sounded like a husband catching his wife cheating.

I found it ridiculous.

“Who I marry has nothing to do with you, Pei Yan. We broke up.”

He seized my shoulders.

“I don’t understand! What did I do that was so wrong you have to be this heartless? I never cheated! Su Xiaoxiao and I haven’t even held hands. I helped her that day, that’s all. There’s nothing between us. I never betrayed our relationship. Why are you so determined to leave?”

Disgusted, I knocked his hands away.

My voice was calm, but every word cut.