Chapter 1

A text message suddenly popped up on my phone:

[This is my 99th time proposing to you. If you don't say yes, I'm jumping off the company roof!]

My colleague, Scarlett Hayes, saw it and shook me violently.

“Amelia Vance, snap out of it! You absolutely cannot marry this obsessive broke loser!”

She was convinced I was being emotionally manipulated, and she spread rumors everywhere that my boyfriend was a violent psycho.

Director Thompson, swayed by her gossip, mocked me relentlessly. “People blinded by love can't be trusted.”

Suddenly, a million dollars went missing from the company accounts. Scarlett and Director Thompson teamed up to frame me.

“Amelia, what has that boyfriend of yours done to you? To actually embezzle company funds!”

Seeing their smug faces, I dialed the Chairman’s number directly.

“Do you know everyone in your company calls you a stalker?”

Liam Sterling’s voice on the phone sounded tired but still gentle. “I’m in Europe for a conference. What’s wrong, Honey?”

I cut straight to the chase: “A million dollars is missing from the company account. They say I embezzled it. Should I pay it back?”

There was a second of silence on the other end.

Then, his low chuckle. “You won’t even use my credit card. Why would you touch company money? Honey, that’s not a funny joke.”

I hung up.

Director Thompson and Scarlett exchanged a knowing glance, and the office erupted in deafening laughter.

Director Thompson doubled over with laughter, pointing at me.

“Amelia, where did you find a voice actor?”

“His voice actually sounds a lot like the Chairman’s. That must have cost a fortune, right? Can your boyfriend, the one who only threatens to jump off buildings, afford it?”

“You think the Chairman’s personal assistant is your housemaid, available at your beck and call?”

Scarlett lunged at me, clutching my wrist tightly, her nails digging into my skin.

“Amelia, snap out of it! How can you be so manipulated by a man?”

She lowered her voice, whispering in my ear:

“I know you care about your image, but don’t go to those loan sharks! He’s a broke loser, it’s not worth it!”

“Is he forcing you? Did he make you embezzle company funds? Quick, tell Director Thompson the truth! Everyone here is trying to help you!”

I told them the truth, but you didn’t believe me.

Yesterday afternoon, I was reporting on project progress when Liam Sterling’s text suddenly popped up.

[99th proposal. If you don’t say yes, I’m jumping off the company roof.]

I reacted quickly and immediately turned off the projector.

Scarlett’s face changed dramatically.

After the meeting, she pulled me aside, lecturing me earnestly.

“Amelia, listen to me, you absolutely cannot keep a man like that!”

“99 proposals? Who does that? That’s clearly the behavior of an obsessive freak!”

I tried to explain, tried to tell her Liam Sterling wasn't obsessive, that it was just our little romantic game.

My family wasn't exactly struggling financially either.

But she cut me off.

“Amelia, wake up! How can ordinary people like us marry an heir to one of the richest families? You’re delusional!”

Her words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over me.

I looked at her familiar face, remembering all the little details from our four years in college.

She always said she was ostracized by her roommates, and only I was willing to be her friend.

I knew she struggled financially, so I specifically had my family’s company set up a special scholarship fund for the school and urged her to apply.

When she was sick and hospitalized, I took her to our family’s private hospital, lying to her that the director was a distant relative who could give us a discount.

I was careful not to hurt her fragile ego, never revealing my family background. I even managed to keep Liam Sterling’s true identity completely under wraps.

Now, she was looking at me like I was mentally unstable.

“Amelia!”

Director Thompson’s roar snapped me back to reality.

“What are you spacing out for? I’m talking to you!”

Scarlett immediately rushed to Director Thompson, her face contorted in mock anguish.

“Director, don’t be angry with her. She… she’s really sick.”

“Yesterday, she told me herself that her boyfriend is the heir to Sterling Industries, and that she’s some kind of wealthy heiress herself!”

“Sterling Industries’ heir… isn’t that our Chairman? Has the Chairman ever even looked at her properly?!”

“What kind of pipe dreams is Amelia having?”

“She’s so brainwashed by PUA, she doesn’t even know who she is anymore!”

Scarlett choked out, pretending to be heartbroken.

“We were roommates for four years in college, I know her situation best! She’s just like me, she only got through college with financial aid!”

“Her family was so broke they could barely cover tuition, and I had to scrimp and save every penny for living expenses! Now she’s claiming to be a rich girl?”

“What has this obsessive boyfriend of hers brainwashed her into!”

Director Thompson listened, his face completely darkening.

He sneered contemptuously. “So utterly manipulated by a man that she’s lost her mind, and still dares to embezzle company funds?”

He pulled out a termination notice and slapped it on my face.

“You have one minute. Sign it, then get out of my sight immediately!”