In the Arms of Another

After Ross left that day, we didn't see each other again. He didn't return home, nor did he go to work.

I didn't care where he was; it no longer mattered to me.

A week later, my assistant called, saying the company needed me to present a project report to the shareholders. Since I was the project leader, my presence was required.

I had already made up my mind to leave Ross for good, and I didn't want to be involved with company matters anymore. But hearing the assistant's slightly pleading tone, I remembered how hard my team and I had worked on this project for months. I couldn't just abandon it at the last minute.

"Okay, I'll be there on time," I finally said, reluctantly agreeing.

Five years ago, after graduation, I had received job offers from other companies. But Ross's startup was facing a huge crisis, so I gave up those opportunities and decided to help him. I threw myself into the company and worked tirelessly alongside him.

In the years since, I had put everything into the company. What started as a tiny, struggling startup had turned into a growing business. Thanks to this success, Ross's wealthy family had accepted me and even invited me and my mother to Fellaton to discuss our marriage.

The venue was grand and lavish.

I arrived, but before I could even greet the project team, Ross pulled me aside. He didn't ask how I had been or explain why he hadn't come home in days. Instead, he ordered me coldly, "Jennifer, you don't need to present at the project briefing. We've arranged for a new spokesperson."

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought someone had swapped Ross for someone else. I was the lead on this project from the very beginning, and no one knew it better than me. Now, at the final moment, he was telling me I wasn't needed.

I couldn't understand how Ross could be so clueless, like he had lost his mind.

Then, I heard a familiar voice from the stage.

"Good afternoon, shareholders. On behalf of the company, I'd like to welcome everyone..."

It was Laurel, standing there in an elegant outfit, radiating confidence and pride.

As soon as I saw her, everything clicked into place. To Ross, this project was nothing but a platform to show off for someone he favored.

"Is this who you arranged?" I glared at him, cold fury in my eyes.

Ross awkwardly rubbed his nose, avoiding my gaze. "Jennifer, since you're the project leader, you'll still need to explain things in detail to the shareholders later. Look, I know you don't really care about fame and fortune, and you're already successful in your own right. But Laurel—she's still new to the company. Giving her this chance to perform will help her career a lot."

He kept explaining, but not once did he apologize for putting Laurel in my place.

Looking at Ross, I felt like I was seeing a stranger.

There was a time when I was his everything. He would share his joys and his failures with me, and he would always praise my abilities. But after Laurel joined the company as Ross's assistant, everything started to change. He no longer shared any details about work or his life with me, and he began traveling often, disappearing without a trace.

It was my mother who first noticed something was off.

"Jennifer, I haven't seen Ross at home lately. Are you two fighting? Has a new female assistant come into the picture? You need to keep an eye on that..."

At the time, I shrugged it off and even made excuses for them.

"Mom, that assistant is Ross's junior from college. He's always treated her like a sister. If it were meant to be, they would have already gotten together back then. There's no way they'd wait this long."

Looking back now, I realize how blind I was. I was too trusting and naive. I felt like cursing myself now—how could I have believed all those lies Ross told me?

Ross, seeing I hadn't responded, thought I was still the same obedient Jennifer. He assumed I would just go along with whatever he said.

Smiling, he continued. "Jennifer, I've been so busy lately that I forgot to ask how the wedding plans are coming along. In just over a week, we're getting married. Are you excited?"

I didn't respond.

Wedding? Screw his wedding!

Even if I did get married, Ross would never be the groom.

Ross didn't notice my lack of reaction and kept rambling on.

"I'm sure Diana will be so happy for us. I wanted to tell her personally about the wedding, but I can't seem to get through to her on the phone. Did she change her number and forget to tell me?" Ross asked, looking at me expectantly.

But I hardly heard him because the presentation on stage was finishing. The room erupted in applause.

Laurel, smiling smugly, graciously thanked the audience before stepping off the stage.

Seeing her, my frustration deepened.

In her speech, she acted like the project leader, as if she had been the one handling everything. But she hadn't contributed a thing to this project from the beginning.

Everyone who truly understood the project was whispering behind her back, their eyes filled with contempt. But Laurel couldn't see any of it—her focus was entirely on Ross.

"Ross, I hope my presentation didn't embarrass you. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."