When Love Is Shrouded in Fog

Alyssa Lambert, the only daughter of the world's wealthiest family, falls in love with Justin Fuller, a poor man whose company went bankrupt and is burdened with billions in debt.

In the third year of concealing her identity to stay by his side, Justin finally pays off all his debts, starts a new company, and makes his debut on the Nova Exchange.

As Alyssa watches his confident figure on stage, she thinks it's time to reveal her true identity.

When she arrives outside the private room booked for the celebratory banquet, she happens to overhear the lively chatter inside.

"Justin, Alyssa has faithfully stayed by your side for three years and was even willing to live in a basement with you. Now that you've paid off your debts and the company is publicly listed, isn't it time to propose to her?"

"Yeah! When the company was just starting up, and you had no money to hire people, Alyssa practically split herself into three and only slept four hours a day. She even took the initiative with every difficult deal. Where else would you be able to find such a great girlfriend? You'd better marry her soon!"

Alyssa's hand freezes on the doorknob, and she feels a wave of unease creep over her.

She had hinted about marriage before, but each time, Justin dodged the question by saying he still couldn't provide her with a good life.

Now that the company went public, would he… finally bring up the topic of marriage?

"I haven't forgotten the kindness Aly has shown me these past three years. I also believed she was the one for me, but…" Justin leans back on the couch with a glowing cigarette between his fingers.

Everyone's gaze is fixed on him, while outside the door, Alyssa feels her heart skip a beat.

"Claudia is back."

Justin Fuller's low voice was especially clear in the quiet of the private room.

"Claudia Reed?" one of his friends instinctively exclaimed.

The friend sounded somewhat frustrated as he said, "Three years ago, she broke up with you without hesitation and went abroad the moment your family went bankrupt. You kneeled in the rain, begging her to stay, but she didn't look back.

"Don't tell me you haven't let go of such a gold-digging woman!"

Justin exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression indistinct in the hazy fog.

After a long while, he finally said softly, "Yeah."

That one word was like a poisoned dagger plunged deep into Alyssa Lambert's heart, causing her so much pain that it felt almost impossible to breathe.

She had never imagined that after three years of living together and staying faithfully by his side, he would still be unable to let go of the woman who had abandoned him.

Alyssa had stood by him from the lowest point of his life to his triumphant comeback.

Three years ago, the Fuller family went bankrupt overnight and became burdened with countless debts.

Justin's then-girlfriend, Claudia, broke up with him without hesitation and went abroad.

Despite being faced with these two blows, Justin didn't sink into despair. Instead, he stepped up and shouldered the responsibility alone, publicly vowing that the Fullers wouldn't collapse as long as he remained—and that they would rise again one day.

Alyssa happened to see that interview, and with just one look, was instantly captivated by his presence.

To prevent Justin from misunderstanding her motives, she concealed her identity as the sole heiress to a wealthy family. She portrayed herself as an orphan who was once aided by the Fullers and stayed by his side under the pretext of repaying their kindness.

She stayed with him from night until dawn to handle business, helped him deal with deliberate hurdles at social gatherings, and eased his stress after days of never-ending work.

For three years—amounting to over a thousand days and nights—she was the one by his side. Alyssa bore witness to his gradual return from rock bottom to the top.

Everyone said that true feelings were revealed in hard times, and that once the company went public, the first thing Justin would do was to marry her.

Alyssa also secretly looked forward to that day.

Unexpectedly, when the company did go public, Justin claimed that he still couldn't let go of Claudia, the woman who had once abandoned him.

Tears continuously streamed down Alyssa's face while she stood at the doorway.

The conversation inside continued.

"What about Alyssa, then? She stayed with you for three years. Is she really not as important as Claudia? If she learns you don't love her, she'll leave you."

"She won't," Justin replied with certainty. "Alyssa is an orphan. I'm the closest relationship she has in this world. She wouldn't leave me. She's helped me so much these three years, after all.

"Even though I can't marry her like she wants, I'll ensure she lives comfortably for the rest of her days."

Orphan… Couldn't marry her… Ensuring she lived comfortably for the rest of her days…

Each word hit Alyssa like a sledgehammer, striking her again and again until she was left dizzy and reeling.

Alyssa couldn't bear to listen any longer and stumbled backward.

It was only when she confirmed that no one was in the hallway that she broke down. She slid down the wall to the floor and allowed her tears to flow freely.

It turned out that Justin saw their three years together as something money could buy off.

But Alyssa wasn't an orphan. She was the only daughter of the world's wealthiest family, and she would never cling to a man whose heart belonged to another woman.

As for his promise of ensuring she would live comfortably, she had no need for that either.

Alyssa wiped the tear stains from her face, took out her phone, and dialed her mother's number.

"Mom, I've decided to come back and inherit the family business."