To help my girlfriend pay off her debts, my mom and I worked ourselves to the bone, day and night. Because of it, Mom developed lung cancer. When I rushed to the hospital with the money for her treatment, I found she had already hanged herself, leaving only a letter: "Liam, Mom's not going to make it. Take this money and pay off those debts. Sophia is a good girl; she has you in her heart, she just lost her way for a bit." "Once the debts are paid, you two live a good life together." Clutching my mother's ashes, I handed the thirty thousand she had painstakingly saved to Sophia. Back at the company, I accidentally overheard her talking with a few "creditors." "Ms. Sterling, Mr. Evans has passed all the tests you set. What's the next step?" Sophia's childhood friend, Dylan, suddenly spoke up: "Sophia, my dear, although Liam can go through thick and thin with you, we still need to see if he can handle wealth and fortune." Sophia pursed her lips: "Next, I want to see if he's truly sincere with me." "Once he knows my identity, if he doesn't covet money, isn't swayed by riches..." "I'll marry him." I looked at my mother's ashes, tears streaming down my face. Sophia, Mom was wrong about you, and I was fooled too. I don't want to marry you anymore. After leaving Sterling Corp, I sat dazedly by the roadside, holding my mother's urn. To save five hundred dollars for Sophia's debt, Mom had actually made me put her ashes in a pickle jar. Sophia's face appeared on the large screen in the square. The news anchor reported: "Just moments ago, Sophia Sterling, the Sterling Corporation chairman who disappeared three years ago, attended a ceremony with her fiancé, Dylan Hayes." Watching the glamorous Sophia on the screen, tears blurred my vision. So, all the back-breaking work my mother and I did to pay off debts was just an elaborate scam. I sat there for a long time, until evening, when Sophia called. Her voice on the phone was still gentle: "Why aren't you home so late? Where are you? I'll come pick you up." I opened my mouth but couldn't say a word. Before, I would have complained with a hint of annoyance about her interrupting my work. But now, I couldn't bring myself to utter such intimate words. Sophia's tone became anxious: "Liam, where are you?" "Busy." Sophia paused, seemingly remembering that to help her pay off debts, I always worked late into the night. She had promised that once the debts were cleared, she would marry me and we'd live a stable life. And today was supposed to be the day she confessed her identity to me. "I... I have something to tell you. Actually, I'm the heir to the Sterling Corporation." "Wait for me, I'm coming to get you..." I hung up the phone and hailed a cab. I had long given up any hope for Sophia. When I came to my senses, the car window reflected my tear-streaked face. Sophia's messages kept popping up on my phone; I didn't even glance at them. Today was supposed to be the beginning of our new life. But her deception had turned my mother's death into a tragedy. Five years of hard work, only to exchange for an absurd truth. Sophia, I don't want to marry you anymore. That night, I didn't go home; I stayed in a hotel. Sophia sent messages all night and called countless times; I ignored them all. The next morning, I went to the company to prepare my resignation letter. This company was a subsidiary of Sterling Corp, and I was just an ordinary accountant. Five years ago, I met and fell in love with Sophia, who had just joined the company. After I introduced her to my mother and we started planning the wedding, she told me she had incurred massive debts and been fired from her job. To help her pay them off, I took on multiple part-time jobs, and Mom also worked day and night, her already weathered face growing even more fatigued. Unexpectedly, this company was her own business. I laughed self-deprecatingly. Just then, Sophia walked in. I silently took out the printed resignation agreement and, under her gaze, calmly signed my name. She looked at me, her voice gentle: "Finished writing?" "Finished." 2 Sophia bit her lip gently, seemingly unaware of the change in me. She cleared her throat: "Liam Evans, come with me for a moment." As I followed her out, my colleagues immediately started whispering. "Oh my god, did you see the news? Sophia Sterling is the chairman of Sterling Corp!" "Isn't Liam about to become the CEO's husband? But look at his face..." "Just a little spat between them, they'll make up in a couple of days..." Everyone thought I was about to hit the jackpot. Only I knew I just wanted to escape all of this. In the office, Sophia reached out to take my hand. I instinctively stepped back: "Ms. Sterling." Sophia frowned: "Why didn't you come home last night? Still mad at me?" I shook my head: "I went to see my mother." I didn't want to go home because I didn't want Mom to see her again. With treatment, Mom still had a chance to live. But she chose to end her life to avoid burdening us. Sophia seemed to sense something was off with me. After a moment of silence, she spoke: "Tonight, let's go see Auntie together." After saying that, she seemed to remember something, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She slowly handed me a card. "There's a million in here. Buy Auntie some new clothes, consider it as..." I looked at the bank card but didn't take it. What she owed us couldn't be compensated with money. Seeing me silent, a flash of panic crossed Sophia's eyes, and just as she was about to speak, a ringtone interrupted her thoughts. Sophia took out her phone, glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then left. I knew this was probably her so-called test for me. Testing my sincerity, testing if I was greedy for money. But I no longer cared. Afterward, I submitted my resignation agreement. Faced with my sudden resignation request, Vice President Davis didn't seem surprised. "Liam, you're resigning. Does Ms. Sterling have other arrangements for you?" I bit my lip, finding it all somewhat absurd. Everyone thought I was about to become the CEO's husband, to join the upper class. Everyone envied my luck. Yet they didn't know I had lost my mother forever because of it. If I had a choice, I would rather have never met Sophia. Leaving the company, I saw Sophia with her childhood friend, Dylan Hayes. Seeing my gaze, Sophia subconsciously started to explain; "This is Dylan, he's my..." Before she could finish, Dylan put his arm around her: "Fiancé." I said nothing. Then, Dylan spoke again: "Excuse me, please move." A hint of provocation flashed in Dylan's eyes. I silently stepped back, clearing the way. Sophia looked at me, hesitation in her eyes, wanting to say something, but was ultimately pulled away by Dylan. That evening, I went to a memorial chapel and placed my mother's ashes there. I stayed until the prayers for her soul were complete. Sophia didn't show up, nor did she ask. I didn't care. Whether she knew about Mom's death or not didn't matter anymore. I think if Mom knew the truth from the afterlife, she wouldn't want to see her again either. Five years of misplaced devotion ended at this moment. At dawn, I returned home. Sophia wasn't back; I didn't care. As I packed my things, the news was reporting on Sterling Corporation's chairman and her fiancé Dylan Hayes attending a gala. Looking at the well-matched pair, I felt little emotion. After packing my luggage, I was about to leave. The sound of a door opening, and Sophia appeared. The moment she saw me, Sophia rushed over and grabbed my hand: "Where were you last night? Why didn't you answer my calls?" I was taken aback and pulled my hand free from Sophia's grasp. "I was with Mom last night. I didn't want to disturb her rest, so I turned off my phone." Hearing me mention Mom, Sophia remembered what she had said that day, a look of guilt on her face. "I'll arrange for the best doctors to help Auntie recuperate." With that, she took out a box and pressed it into my hand. "This is what I promised to give Auntie." I subconsciously opened it. Inside was a bracelet. It was the genuine version of the bracelet Mom had cherished so carefully. I froze. Once, Sophia had held Mom's hand, vowing earnestly and very seriously that one day, she would give her a priceless genuine piece. 3 Mom had smiled then; she didn't care if the bracelet was real or not. As long as it was from Sophia, from the daughter-in-law she approved of, she would be happy. But I think that was in the past. I closed the box and handed it back. "When you have the chance, give it to her yourself." Sophia frowned slightly. Every time, I had made the choice she most anticipated. But my politeness now made her feel a bit estranged. A slight unease welled up in her heart. She gripped my hand, tightening it slightly. "Auntie's health..." Just then, Dylan appeared, linking his arm through Sophia's. "Sophia, darling, I want to stay in this room!" She was pointing to my room. "This room is occupied." After Sophia said this, she immediately explained to me: "He's my friend, here for a temporary stay because of work." With that, Sophia stared at me intently, as if expecting me to refuse. But I nodded, agreeing without hesitation: "Let him have the room. I need to go be with my mother." Sophia froze for a moment. Dylan, not giving me a chance to back out, immediately rushed into the room. Only then did she notice the luggage in my hand. She bit her lip, gripping my hand tightly, refusing to let go. The guilt in her eyes deepened. Finally, amidst Dylan's urging, she spoke: "Tomorrow, I'll go see Auntie." I took my luggage and returned to my mother's apartment, ready to collect all her belongings. But looking at her room, I couldn't help but cry again. Her room was large, capable of holding many things. Her room was also small, so small it only contained bits and pieces of me and Sophia. On the wall hung a photo of me and Sophia. On the table sat the inexpensive little duckling figurines Sophia and I had given her. In the corner, the milk I brought for her, she hadn't drunk a single bottle. All saved for me and Sophia. The bracelet Sophia gave her, she kept carefully in a box, polished bright. Besides these, what belonged to her were countless craft components. Endless embroidery, and a mountain of leather bags. All of this was to save money for Sophia's debt. And all for my future happiness. I tore these photos to shreds, smashed the figurines to pieces. But the one photo, of me and Sophia holding her hand, I couldn't bring myself to destroy. I tucked the photo at the bottom of a box and packed everything up. I went back to the company for the final handover. As soon as I arrived, I saw Dylan sitting in my chair. Colleagues around us looked on, no one speaking. Perhaps in their eyes, this was a showdown between the childhood sweetheart and the fated love. Get caught in the middle, and no one escapes unscathed. Seeing me approach, Dylan crossed his legs and tossed out a check. "Ten million, for this seat." Faced with his provocation, I calmly took the check. "Alright, I'll just pack my things." Everyone thought I had bent my back for a paltry sum, sighing at me with disappointment. I didn't care, just calmly packed my things, ready to leave. Just then, Sophia walked over and noticed me holding my luggage. Her expression suddenly tightened. "Where are you going?" "I..." Dylan cut in: "I bought this spot." Sophia frowned, glanced at me, and I held up the check. "I took the money. Ten million." Hearing my words, Sophia suddenly froze. She turned her head to see Dylan's expression, as if seeking praise. Her face suddenly darkened, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense. Sophia said nothing, as if tacitly agreeing. Not until my figure disappeared from view, Sophia pushed away Dylan's approaching hand. In front of everyone, she slapped him across the face, her voice icy: "Don't you dare humiliate him, understand?" After leaving the company, my phone received a text from Sophia. 【The specialists I hired have arrived. I'll have them go to Auntie's hospital room now.】 【Tonight, let's go see Auntie together.】 【I'm craving your cooking.】 I smiled, a sudden bitterness welling up. Sophia, goodbye. I took all my luggage and headed to the airport. As I was about to board the plane, Sophia's messages popped up frantically. 【Liam, the specialists went to the hospital. Why isn't Auntie there?】 【Liam, where on earth did Auntie go!?】 【Mom, she really...】 4 The phone rang incessantly. I watched the name "Sophia" flash repeatedly on the screen but never pressed the answer key. On the screen were the messages she had tirelessly sent, one after another, anxiously asking about Mom's whereabouts, asking where she had gone, and asking where I had gone, why I wasn't answering the phone. Reading the messages, my fingers trembled slightly, a mix of emotions churning within me. She finally remembered to care about Mom and me, but for me, none of it mattered anymore. I looked at the flashing name on my phone screen and finally turned it off. I had been gone from my job for a while now. These past few days, I had cut off all contact with the outside world, all sounds, hiding myself in a corner of this city. Since Mom passed away, I hadn't rested properly for a long time. I felt so tired, my eyelids too heavy to lift, just wanting to sleep. I tried to clear my thoughts, to find a path to start over, but reality was like an airtight net, binding me tightly, suffocating me. Sophia, that name was once the most beautiful thing in my life, now it had become my deepest nightmare. I never imagined that the person I had loved for so long, the person I had given so much for, had been plotting a huge deception from the very beginning of our relationship. I met Sophia when we were both starting out. She was full of ambition, just launching her business, and I was just a recent college graduate, full of dreams and aspirations for the future. I gave everything I had for her. But I never expected that she had never trusted me, that she had been testing me all these years. All for nothing, I and Mom scrimped and saved to pay her debts, only to end up like this. My tears had nearly run dry. I once thought we would walk this path together forever, but now, I realized how terribly wrong I was. Sophia was always busy. I used to think her busyness was all for our future, so even if I didn't see her for long periods, I never minded. Until that day I overheard her conversation with Dylan. This world is too ridiculous, isn't it? More than her deception, I almost wished our relationship had died in a blaze of outright betrayal. But facts don't change with my feelings. I truly couldn't accept it. Therefore, in the end, I still chose to leave, chose to withdraw from this world full of lies and betrayal. I submitted my resignation, without telling anyone, including Sophia. I just wanted to escape, to escape this heartbreaking place, and this man who caused me so much pain. * (Self-correction in original text seems to be a gender mix-up, should be "woman" or "person")* But what I didn't know was that in the days I was gone, other places were also experiencing the storms Sophia brought. Unable to find me, Sophia started asking people at the company about me. And the first person she approached was the company's Vice President, the one in charge of important personnel changes. I had been deliberately discreet about my resignation; the VP didn't know I was doing all this behind Sophia's back. So when Sophia came looking, she was terrified, speaking very cautiously, afraid of angering Sophia. "Ms. Sterling, Liam Evans has already resigned. Didn't you have other arrangements for him?" "What?" Sophia's voice instantly rose, filled with shock and disbelief: "He resigned? When did he resign? Why didn't I know?" 5 Under Sophia's intense questioning, the VP had no choice but to slowly explain: "Three days ago, Mr. Evans suddenly submitted his resignation, saying he was going back to his hometown. I thought it was your instruction." Everyone at the company thought Sophia and I were a couple. They were very polite to me, the man soon to be the CEO's husband, and wouldn't hinder anything I wanted to do. Before Sophia could say anything, someone spoke from the side. "Going back to his hometown? Hmph, he sure ran fast!" Dylan's voice suddenly interjected, tinged with a hint of triumph and disdain. "What are you doing here?" Sophia frowned, seemingly not wanting Dylan to know too much. "What? Afraid I'll interrupt your reunion with your lover?" Dylan's tone was sharp, thick with jealousy. "Don't talk nonsense. Are you here for something? If not, leave quickly. Don't disturb my work!" Hearing Sophia's words, Dylan was about to flare up,
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