Chapter 1: To Our Seven Years

"Have you heard? Liam is getting married."

Elena stopped dead in her tracks at the words. A sudden emptiness opened up in her chest, and she found herself turning around instinctively.

The two classmates who had been speaking walked straight past her, champagne flutes in hand.

"Is it true?"

Elena didn't catch the other student's reply, but a strange, bitter ache throbbed in her heart.

Seven years. She had thought she was calm enough by now, but the moment anything related to Liam came up, that supposed composure crumbled instantly.

Just as she was lost in thought, a stir rippled through the doorway—Liam had arrived.

Elena froze, her breath hitching as her eyes locked onto him.

He remained the center of everyone's attention, as handsome and extraordinary as he had been all those years ago.

Liam stood surrounded by a crowd, basking in their flattery.

"Liam, I heard the entertainment project you're developing in the south suburbs is a huge success. Congratulations."

"Congratulations on the soaring stock price of the Liam Group."

Listening to the chorus of praise, Liam’s expression remained indifferent, devoid of any real emotion. He simply replied in a cool tone, "Thank you."

As the party neared its end, Liam walked toward Elena with a glass of red wine. As they stood face to face, every cell in her body tensed, though she forced a veneer of composure.

"Hello," Liam said, his voice neither cold nor warm—just like his attitude.

Elena suppressed the tidal wave rising in her heart and managed a faint smile. "Hello to you, too."

After that, the atmosphere fell into a heavy silence.

Just as she wondered if they would have nothing to say, just like the previous years, Liam spoke again.

"I heard you're an executive at Shenghao now. Congratulations."

Elena startled, gripping her wine glass tightly. "Thank you. And you..."

She had wanted to ask about his life, but the words shifted on her tongue: "Are you doing well?"

As soon as the words left her lips, she felt Liam's gaze lock onto her. Those eyes were exactly as they had been seven years ago, making her heart tremble.

But after only half a second, he looked away, leaving her wondering if it had all been a trick of the light.

Liam didn't answer her question; his eyes swept past her toward someone behind her.

"Excuse me," he said coolly, and walked past her.

Listening to the sound of Liam chatting with others behind her, Elena’s eyes dimmed, her heart filled with a sharp, stinging sourness.

She grabbed her bag and left.

When she got home, her mother was already asleep.

Elena quietly took a bottle of red wine from the cabinet, walked into her room, and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Glass after glass went down, and she was already half-drunk.

Facing the moonlight outside, Elena raised her glass and offered a blurry, faint smile. "Liam, here’s to the seventh year since we broke up."

Today was the seventh reunion since they graduated from university, and the seventh time they had met since their breakup.

She tilted her head back and drained the glass, but the wine tasted bitterly astringent, sharp enough to bring a single, clear tear to her eye.

The next day at work.

The entire company was in a state of agitation, as they had been acquired by a multinational corporation, and the new big boss was arriving today.

Amid the tension, Elena felt an inexplicable sense of unease in her office.

Before long, administration summoned everyone to the conference room.

As the new boss pushed the door open, Elena looked up and froze on the spot.

It was Liam!

During the meeting, Elena sat stiffly in her chair.

Though she looked perfectly calm on the surface, a massive, turbulent storm raged within her.

Liam’s appearance had completely shattered her peaceful life.

Half an hour later, the meeting finally ended.

Elena grabbed her files and was the first to stand up, heading for the door, but Liam’s voice rang out behind her.

"Elena, stay behind. Everyone else is dismissed."

In an instant, Elena felt a chill from head to toe. She forced herself to clench her hands, trying to calm down.

Everyone exchanged glances and filed out; the conference room door clicked shut behind them.

Elena watched as Liam walked toward her, his gaze settling on her face. "I forgot to give you something yesterday."

He handed her an invitation.

Seeing the gold-foiled character for "Happiness" on the wedding card, Elena’s pupils constricted.

Liam’s voice came from above her.

"You are welcome to attend my wedding."

Chapter 2: The Most Disdainful Version of Yourself

The air was deathly silent.

Elena stared straight at Liam.

Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you poured every ounce of your warmth into them, only to find that when they were truly leaving your world, you were left utterly paralyzed?

She summoned all her strength to squeeze out a single word: "Okay."

With that, the taut string in her heart snapped, yet she forced a smile onto her lips: "I wish you happiness."

Seeing that smile, Liam’s expression shifted slightly.

"I look forward to working with you, Director Elena," he said, emphasizing the title.

With that, Liam turned and left.

Back in her office, Elena closed the door and collapsed into her chair. She pressed her hands against her head, taking several deep breaths until she felt she could mask any trace of emotion.

She opened the invitation. When she saw the delicate paper-cut art inside, her heart gave a sharp jolt.

It had been her favorite craft in college.

Back then, she had told Liam, "When we get married, I want to use paper-cuts on our wedding invitations."

A giant hand seemed to squeeze her heart, forcing her to clutch the invitation tight.

She shifted her gaze down and saw the bride’s name—Vivian.

It was Vivian.

Elena felt an empty hole open up in her heart as she gave a bitter laugh: "Of course."

Of course, just as she had anticipated seven years ago.

Near the end of the workday, a mass message was sent to the management team: the new boss was hosting a dinner for the senior staff.

At the dinner table, Elena kept her eyes lowered because Liam was sitting directly across from her.

A lingering, heavy gaze made it impossible for her to look up.

The executives took turns toasting Liam, filling the room with hollow flattery.

When it was Elena’s turn, she stood up, glass in hand.

Before she could speak, Liam said coolly, "Director Elena, didn't you used to be a teetotaler?"

Elena tightened her grip on the glass, maintaining a smile: "You’re joking, Mr. Liam. It’s for the sake of the work."

"So, you’ll do anything if the work requires it?" Liam’s deep eyes carried a hint of sarcasm.

The look pierced her heart like a needle, leaving her stunned.

Liam then withdrew his gaze and looked at the table. "In that case, Director Elena, you can finish the rest of the wine for everyone."

The others exchanged looks, but no one dared to speak.

Elena regained her composure and said only one word: "Okay."

She lifted the glass and downed the liquid.

As the alcohol hit her stomach, it felt freezing and painful.

In her memory, she had suffered from stomachaches often in college, and there was someone who once refused to let her have even a sip of warm wine...

In reality, as soon as the first glass was gone, she didn't stop for a second and continued to drink.

Just as she reached the last two glasses, Liam let out a low roar: "That's enough!"

But Elena acted as if she hadn't heard him. Only after drinking the final drop did she tilt the glass upside down toward Liam, smiling with a grace that masked her pain: "Consider this my penance, Mr. Liam. I hope you won’t take the past to heart."

Liam’s face was as cold as ice. After a long pause, he squeezed out two words: "Sit down."

As he spoke, the mood at the table warmed up again, but Elena remained in her seat, her face turning slightly pale.

Only when the other executives surrounded Liam did she quietly slip out of the private room.

In the restroom.

Elena leaned over the sink and began to retch.

After a long while, the pain in her stomach finally subsided.

Staring at the bedraggled woman in the mirror, Elena froze for a moment before forcing a self-deprecating smile.

She reapplied her makeup and straightened her back as she walked out.

But the moment she stepped out, she was slammed against the wall!

She panicked, but looking up, she saw Liam.

In the dim light, he sneered at her: "Fawning? Flattery? Elena, how did you turn into the very thing you used to disdain the most?"

Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart in that moment.