I dated Arthur Sterling in secret for two years. He always refused to make our relationship public. That is, until I saw a photo hidden in his study. I realized then that he had a "first love" permanently residing in his heart. But infuriatingly, he was completely transparent about her. He told me about every single time they hung out alone. As time went on, I finally got tired of waiting. "Let's break up." He glanced at me and sighed. "You just want to go public, right? Stop playing these games. You know perfectly well I don't fall for that." I didn't answer. I just handed in my resignation. Later, after I moved back to a neighboring city, I heard a rumor. Mr. Sterling, who had aggressively maintained his "single" persona for years, was suddenly wearing a wedding ring. He claimed he had lost the girl he loved. 1 On my birthday, Arthur, who was famously punctual, was late for the very first time. I looked at the cold food on the table and sighed internally. It's fine. He's busy with work. I need to be understanding. Just as I was debating whether to clear the table, I heard the lock turn. Arthur walked in, bringing a rush of cold air with him. I went to hug him, but he stopped me. "I'm cold. Let me change my clothes first." While he was changing, I heated up the food. Once he sat down, the first thing he said was an apology. "I'm sorry I'm late today." "Chloe had to fly back to North City today, so I drove her to the airport." Hearing that familiar name, my hand holding the chopsticks paused. Arthur noticed. He leaned forward, looking tired but lazy, his tone teasing. "What? Are you jealous?" "It's not like you don't know her. I've told you about her." "We grew up together. If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened a long time ago." Suppressing a bizarre, uncomfortable feeling in my chest, I shook my head and lied to him for the first time. "I'm not jealous." Then, I quietly finished my meal. When I started to clear the table, Arthur grabbed my hand. "The cleaner will take care of it tomorrow." He pulled me over to the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. "Still trying to say you aren't upset? What do I have to do to make you happy?" I froze for a moment. Then, taking advantage of the opening, I asked the question for the third time. "When can we go public?" Arthur smiled indulgently. Then, with a helpless sigh, he stroked my hair. "Going public wouldn't be good for you." This was the second time I had heard him say that. The first time was right after we started dating. He had said, "Let's not go public. It wouldn't be good for you." Because he was the most famous, eligible billionaire bachelor in Kun City. And I was just a nameless, low-level employee at his company. Even the way we met was incredibly humiliating for me. My manager was furious because the client had rejected my proposal multiple times. In a fit of rage, he threw the file folder directly at me. Papers scattered all over the floor, and I didn't dare make a sound. Just then, Arthur happened to walk by. He looked relaxed, almost bored. He just cast a fleeting, weightless glance our way, and my manager instantly panicked. "Mr. Sterling." Arthur's voice was completely flat. "Sometimes, you shouldn't just blindly blame the employees." "It's not unheard of for a proposal to be rejected multiple times, only for the client to ultimately choose the very first draft." "You are absolutely right, sir." My manager agreed sycophantically, shooting me a pointed look. I crouched down, gathered the scattered papers, and walked out with my head bowed. That evening, just as I walked out of the office building, his car pulled up right in front of me. The window rolled down, and he invited me. "Won't you treat me to dinner?" I didn't decline. After all, thanks to his intervention today, my manager had stopped harassing me. I mentally calculated the balance in my bank account and gave him a rare, honest answer. "I'm afraid I can't afford to treat Mr. Sterling." "It's fine. I'm very easy to feed." That night, he and I went to a casual Sichuan restaurant and had a very simple meal. I thought that would be our first and only interaction. But right before we parted ways, he stared at me for a long time, then smiled. "I really enjoyed spending time with you. Thank you for dinner." "See you next time." I gave him a stiff wave goodbye. I thought to myself: Arthur's eyes really do make everyone feel like he's deeply in love with them. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Those same "deeply in love" eyes were studying my face intently. His tone was coaxing. "At Sterling Corp, you can do whatever you want." "By my side, you can buy whatever you want." "The only thing I can't give you is going public." I pretended to be angry, turning my head away and ignoring him. He gently turned my face back. "Stop being mad, okay?" "We're together. That's a fact, isn't it?" Thinking about it, the manager who had made my life hell when we first started dating had been demoted. I had gone from an errand girl everyone ordered around to someone who could quietly do her own work without interference—all thanks to him. I quickly convinced myself it was fine, then leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Arthur." 2 On the weekend, Arthur went into the office to work overtime. I was bored at home alone, so I decided to tidy up the apartment. Arthur had told me before that this place belonged to both of us. He said he had absolutely no secrets, and I was allowed to go anywhere. So, after cleaning the living room, I went into the study. While wiping down the desk, I noticed a book tucked away in the corner. It looked completely out of place among the business files. It looked like a college textbook. My curiosity piqued, I picked it up and flipped through it. A piece of paper fluttered out of the pages and landed on the floor. I instinctively picked it up and realized it was a photograph. I flipped it over. The photo showed Arthur with someone else. The two of them looked incredibly comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera. The way they smiled at each other spoke volumes of their deep, familiar connection. Beneath the photo, there was a single line of text written in elegant calligraphy. [There is a beautiful one, clear and graceful. A chance encounter, she perfectly suits my heart's desire.] It was Arthur's handwriting. In that exact moment, I suddenly understood why we couldn't go public. It turned out that someone else had permanently taken residence in his heart—someone he could never forget. And that someone... was the person I had just heard him mention a few days ago. It was Chloe. The girl he claimed he "would have gotten with a long time ago if it was going to happen." 3 That night. I was lying on the sofa, binge-watching a TV show. Arthur poured himself a glass of water and went into his study. A few minutes later, he hurried back out. Seeing my confused expression, he quickly regained his composure. "Did you clean the study today?" I didn't bring up the photo. I just gave a soft "Hmm." "Yeah, just a quick tidy-up." Seeing me act completely normal, he retreated back into the study. Under the blanket, my fingers gripped the edge of my shirt tightly. I knew exactly what he was panicking about. Early the next morning, he left the house before I was even awake. I walked back into the study and flipped open that book. Just as I suspected, the photo was gone. My phone pinged with a transfer notification. I opened it and saw a message from Arthur attached. [I haven't spent much time with you these past two days. Go out, walk around, and buy yourself something nice.] As usual, I ignored the massive transfer amount. And politely thanked him. I set the phone down, suddenly finding the whole situation incredibly funny. Making a gesture like this right now... Was it out of love, or guilt? What happened that evening gave me my answer. We had just finished dinner when Arthur's phone rang. He didn't try to hide it from me; he answered it right there. Chloe's voice came through the speaker. "I'll be there soon. Are you coming to pick me up, Arthur?" Arthur agreed in a gentle, warm tone. He hung up and looked at me. "I'm going to pick her up and take her home." For the very first time, I didn't just nod and agree. For the very first time, I bared my teeth at him. "Does she literally not know a single other person here besides you?" Arthur tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "I don't like explaining things I've already explained twice." "You understand me, right?" I stared at him for a long, long time. Just as he was starting to look impatient, I suddenly smiled. "Go ahead!" Seeing my smile, his brow relaxed. He walked over and kissed my forehead. "Wait for me to come back." But as soon as he left the apartment, I changed my clothes and followed him out. Some things, you have to see with your own eyes before you can truly give up. 4 When I arrived at the airport, Chloe was just walking out of the terminal. Arthur habitually took her suitcase from her hand. And Chloe naturally hooked her arm through his. I wasn't standing far away. I could clearly hear Chloe's voice. "Arthur, thank you for coming to pick me up." She paused, as if she had just remembered something. She started rummaging through her small purse. She pulled something out, resting it on her open palm and holding it up to Arthur. "I brought you some cufflinks. Thanks for always driving me around." Arthur chuckled softly. "You really do treat me like your personal chauffeur, don't you?" Chloe playfully stuck her tongue out, then proceeded to put the cufflinks on Arthur. "See? I told you I have great taste." Just as I was about to leave, I caught a glimpse of Chloe standing on her tiptoes out of the corner of my eye, leaning in to kiss him. Arthur, seemingly sensing her intent, took a step back, and Chloe kissed empty air. Perhaps his reaction annoyed her. She stomped her foot. "Look how scared you are." Arthur just smiled without saying a word. I turned around and walked away. It was probably in that exact moment. That I realized my relationship with Arthur was permanently fractured. When Arthur finally came home that night, I was already getting ready for bed. While he was changing his clothes, I intentionally asked: "When did you buy those cufflinks? I've never seen you wear them." His movements stalled for a fraction of a second. "Chloe gave them to me." Perhaps he genuinely believed that his transparency proved he had nothing to hide. But I had seen how intimately they interacted. And I knew about that carefully hidden photograph. Was it that he didn't like her, or was it that he didn't dare cross that line? I knew the answer, even if he didn't realize it himself. And the reason he refused to go public, aggressively maintaining his "single" persona... Who was all of that really for? 5 The next day, Arthur didn't go into the office; he worked from home. He told me he had a gathering with some old friends that evening. I nodded, indicating I understood. Then, I took the subway to the office alone. When I got home from work that night, the apartment was completely empty and pitch black. The only source of light was the dim glow of his laptop on the dining table. I walked over to shut the computer down. Suddenly, I saw a WeChat window flashing. He probably forgot to log out before he left. The open chat window seemed to be a group chat with his friends. Someone was actively instigating: [I heard Chloe is back for good this time?] [Hey Arthur, you two grew up together, and you've both been single forever. Why don't you guys just get together?!] Chloe sent an "angry" reaction sticker. Arthur replied with two words. [Stop messing around. Chloe can't handle jokes like that.] I used the mouse to close the application. Then I shut down the laptop. Around 9 PM, Arthur suddenly sent me a message. It was an address, accompanied by a single sentence: [Bring my jacket here.] I didn't ask why. I obediently hailed a cab and delivered it. Just as I was about to knock on the private room door, I heard his friends bringing up that topic again. "Arthur, she's devastated. Look how much Chloe has drank because you won't make a move." "You're not getting any younger. Dating isn't illegal, you know." "You two already know each other so well." Arthur looked up, smiled faintly, and didn't deny it. I pushed the door open and walked in. "Mr. Sterling, your jacket." The smile on Arthur's face vanished instantly. He quickly recovered, taking the jacket from me with a stiff, professional demeanor, and carefully draped it over Chloe's shoulders. Then he turned to me: "Sorry for making you run this errand. Expensing the cab fare to the company tomorrow." I shook my head. "It's fine. It wasn't much." As I turned to leave... I heard his friends asking. "That's your employee?! She's actually really pretty." "You're constantly surrounded by women. Have you seriously never been tempted?" Before Arthur could answer, I heard Chloe's voice. "Arthur would never fall for a woman." I hid in the shadows, catching a glimpse of the life Arthur deliberately excluded me from. When he stepped outside for a smoke, one of his friends followed him. "That girl who just dropped off your jacket... your relationship with her isn't exactly professional, is it?" I lowered my head, thinking to myself: Was it really that obvious? When I looked up again, Arthur's face was blurred by the swirling cigarette smoke. His voice was hoarse. "The very first time I saw her, I noticed her immediately." "She looks exactly like Chloe did right after her teacher passed away." "So obedient, so desperate to please... even the way she looks completely lost and helpless when things go wrong is exactly the same." I couldn't hear the rest of what he said. Unable to control my tears any longer, I simply turned and walked away. On the way home, I stared blankly at the passing scenery outside the window. I thought to myself: It's time to break up. 6 That night, Arthur didn't come home. He went back to the office, texting me that he reeked of alcohol and it was too late; he didn't want to disturb my sleep. I didn't reply to his message. The next day, he had a formal gown delivered to me. He said we were attending an auction gala together that evening. After thinking it over, I agreed. I planned to end things with him the moment the event was over. At the auction venue, I entered with my arm linked through his. It was my first time at an event like this, and I was too nervous to speak. He patted my hand gently to comfort me. "Don't worry. I'm right here." But right after we walked in, a clear, crisp voice rang out. "Arthur!" I recognized the voice instantly. It was Chloe. The next second, Arthur removed my hand from his arm. He escorted me to a quiet corner. "Wait for me here like a good girl. It'll be over soon." "If you want anything, just text me." I sat there, restless and anxious. Watching him and Chloe sit together. She had a bright, innocent smile on her face. I watched the auction items being sold off one by one. Until they brought out a ring. For the very first time, I initiated contact with Arthur. [I want that.] In my line of sight, I saw him check his phone. Then Chloe grabbed his arm and whispered something to him. Then he replied. [Pick something else. Someone else wants that one.] I thought about it for a moment, suddenly unsure of what exactly I was fighting for. I decided to leave early. It was close to midnight when Arthur finally came home. I had already packed my bags. "Mr. Sterling, some things just aren't meant to be, and I don't want to fight for them anymore." "Let's end this here. Let's break up!" Arthur sat down on the sofa, stretching his long legs out. He glanced at me and sighed. "You want to go public, right?" "Stop playing these games. You know perfectly well I don't fall for that." But what he didn't know... Was that this time, I genuinely meant it. 7 "I know you don't fall for it, and I've thought this through." "Arthur, no one wants to stay hidden in the dark forever." He didn't say anything else. I rolled my suitcase out and quietly shut the door behind me. The next second, I heard the violent crash of something shattering inside the apartment. My hand hovered over the door handle, then dropped. Since I had decided to leave, I shouldn't drag things out. I walked outside with my suitcase but couldn't get a cab for a long time. Just as I was about to start walking, a car pulled up in front of me. Arthur's driver stepped out and opened the door. "Ms. Harrison, Mr. Sterling asked me to drop you wherever you need to go." I didn't try to be polite. I turned and got into the car. Arthur was always like this. He took care of me in every conceivable way, and he was never stingy with anything he could buy. But the one thing I wanted most, he couldn't give me. Being a hidden secret made me feel incredibly insecure. I know I should be able to provide my own sense of security. But I couldn't stop myself from fixating on the fact that he and I would never have a real future. When I got to the hotel, the very first thing I did was write my resignation email and hit send. In that moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. I booked my train ticket home. And completely blocked Arthur on absolutely everything. Lying in bed, memories of our time together suddenly flooded my mind. The hugs, the kisses... he had even looked me dead in the eye and told me he loved me. And I had believed his love was real. But now I knew. Even if I had never found that photo. Even if none of this had happened. He still wouldn't have chosen me in the end. Alone in the room, I finally let myself break down and cry. I cried until I fell asleep. The next morning, looking at my swollen, red eyes in the mirror, I decided to dig my sunglasses out of my suitcase and wear them. When I arrived at the airport, I unexpectedly ran into the same man who had spoken to me so coldly the day before. Right now, he was pushing a luggage cart, his head lowered as he listened to the girl walking next to him. The moment we brushed past each other, he didn't recognize me. But I heard Chloe asking him: "Where's Mia? I'm surprised she's not shadowing you." "I always thought she had a huge crush on you! I was honestly a little jealous." I slowed my pace slightly and heard his reply. "She resigned. We probably won't be seeing each other again."
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