Chapter 2

The company treated its employees well, with each floor even equipped with dedicated break rooms complete with restrooms and showers.

I hadn't had dinner and was feeling terribly hungry. After a quick face wash, I went downstairs to find something to eat.

I didn't expect to run into Faith there.

"Miss Vaughan?" she exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here? Didn't you say you had something to do at the company?"

Before I could answer, she continued on her own, "Or is it that you feel uncomfortable riding in Mr. Tucker's car with me? Well, it's understandable. You've been engaged for so long, and he rarely comes home. You two must not be very close!"

Indeed, we never were close.

"Didn't Joe take you home? Why are you here?"

Faith was momentarily stunned and looked a bit embarrassed.

"He was supposed to take me home, but then he had to ruck back to the office for some urgent work. He didn't want me to go back and work overtime, so..."

I didn't want to listen to her bragging anymore.

Just as I was about to leave, she grabbed my arm.

Faith smiled brightly and took out her phone, fiddling with it for a moment.

"I found an interesting video. I'll send it to you!"

She then left in high spirits.

I looked at the video.

In the dimly lit private room, everyone's faces were blurred beyond recognition. But I immediately spotted Joe on the sofa.

"Mr. Tucker, why isn't your wife here?"

"Yeah, hiding her so well. Are you keeping her as a treasure or afraid we'll have designs on her?"

"That's not fair. I wanted to see what kind of extraordinary beauty managed to conquer Mr. Tucker!"

Joe looked annoyed as he held Faith's slender waist. She clung to him like a snake.

"Don't mention her. She's boring and troublesome, a real headache!"

Seeing his displeasure, his friends quickly chimed in,

"In our circle, everyone gets married according to family arrangements, ending up with someone we don't really like."

"You just have to bear with it. After all, she's just a woman. She'll have to listen to you eventually. You can leave her at home while we continue having fun!"

"Faith is really something. No woman has stayed with Joe for more than three months, but she's been his secretary for half a year now. Quite impressive!"

"Oh, stop making fun of me!" Faith leaned against Joe's chest, her eyes innocent. "Miss Vaughan watches you so closely. Won't she be mad at me?"

He sneered dismissively. "Jane? Who does she think she is to get mad?"

"She just follows me around, trying to please me without any self-respect. So boring."

One of his friends said, "If she's such a bother, why not bring her out for some fun? I want to see what a sycophant she is!"

"Yeah! You don't even like her anyway. Maybe she'll serve us well just because of you!" one laughed.

Joe's expression darkened.

In the dim light, no one noticed as everyone burst into laughter.

My chest tightened painfully.

Who would remember that I was once a beloved young lady too?

But ever since that fire when I was sixteen took my parents away, my life had changed drastically.

People whispered that my parents died saving Joe's grandfather from the fire.

I was brought into the Tucker family. Grandpa Tucker sat in his wheelchair, his hair gray but his eyes sharp and commanding.

He softened when he saw me and beckoned me closer.

Grandpa Tucker looked me over and sighed deeply,

"Girl, the Tucker family owes you."

"If you're willing, the Tucker family can support you for life."

"But we need a good reason."

He glanced at Joe coming down the stairs with a complex expression.

"If you don't mind my grandson being dull, when you grow up, you two will get engaged."

That was the first time I saw Joe.

I had never seen such a handsome boy before.

His skin was radiant, and his face looked youthful yet already showed extraordinary sharpness. His expression was cold but his eyes were strikingly bright. Soft bangs slightly covered his eyes, dulling the aggression in his gaze.

The boy frowned at Grandpa Tucker's words while I blushed.

Later, I learned that Joe wasn't dull at all.

It was all an act to deceive the Tucker family members.

He drank, partied, raced cars, and fought, living recklessly.

His girlfriends came and went without any regard for me as his fiancée.

Even until Grandpa Tucker passed away, he never got to see us married as he wished.

I took care of Joe without complaint while he naturally enjoyed my kindness.

I knew he had long seen through my feelings for him.

That was why he indulged himself without restraint, trampling on my dignity and heart.

Watching the people laughing wildly in the video made my heart ache even more when I suddenly recognized a familiar face as the light flickered briefly across it.

I doubted my eyes and replayed the video several times before confirming it wasn't a mistake.

Kevin? Had he returned?