Chapter 1

I was with John for sixteen years, from school uniforms to wedding dresses.

During our poorest days, we squeezed into a damp, messy basement to save money.

When hunger struck, we gnawed on plain bread, and when thirst overtook us, we quenched it with tap water.

The big city sparkled with wealth and allure.

Some seized their opportunities, rising to riches overnight, while others faced failure and lost everything.

John was among the latter.

In five years, he launched two startups, both of which ended in devastating losses.

He went from an ambitious youth to a defeated man, hiding in our rented room, drowning his sorrows in alcohol, and losing interest in everything around him.

To help John regain his confidence, I turned down a promotion at work, resigned, and decided to support him in starting over.

At that time, the internet was booming.

I leveraged my connections, attending various social events, and worked tirelessly to secure business for him.

The worst incident came when I drank so much that I ended up with a bleeding stomach and had to be rushed to the hospital.

John hurried over, his face filled with concern as he saw my pale, bloodless complexion, his eyes reddening with worry.

Men often prioritize their image, but that night, he cried openly in front of everyone, overwhelmed with guilt for not being able to protect me and for failing to provide me with the life I deserved.

News of this incident spread online, creating quite a stir.

People were moved by John's heartfelt gesture and envied me for having such a wonderful boyfriend.

As public sentiment grew, we became the hottest startup couple influencers of the moment.

The partners who had previously looked down on our small company now sought us out for collaboration.

John founded a design firm, but he knew little about the emerging internet industry.

Many tasks fell to me; while he was out in the world, I stood behind him, managing affairs.

I transitioned from being his girlfriend to becoming his dedicated assistant, helping him network and travel far and wide for business deals.

Our company grew from a handful of employees to hundreds, eventually going public, all in just eight years.

John had promised me that once the company was successfully listed, we would get married. He envisioned planning a grand wedding and marrying me with a fortune in the millions.

Now, he has achieved that dream, but the woman he married is not me.