She Crashed and Burned Without Me

For ten years, I've served as the lover supporting Catherine Sanders from the shadows. With my help, she's able to save her company from the brink of bankruptcy and eventually gets it listed.

On the day before we're about to ring the bell, just as I'm about to propose to Catherine, she introduces her childhood sweetheart, Benedict Shaw. Apparently, he is to take over my position in her life.

She thanks me for my contributions throughout the decade, but her company is about to embark on a new journey. That means I'm no longer suitable to stay by her side.

As I watch the woman I spent the last ten years loving and sacrificing everything for using a bank card to dismiss me, I feel as though my heart has plunged into the icy abyss.

"I spent ten years devoting everything I have to you. In the end, it's nothing but a huge mistake."

But Catherine remains blind to the truth.

Once I quit my job, her company will cease to exist, just like my love for her.

The conference room was packed with executives, yet deathly silent.

My longtime colleagues watched me with undisguised anger and pity. I froze upon entering and instinctively turned toward the head of the table, where Catherine Sanders was seated.

At that instant, my eyes widened in surprise.

"Cate, who is this?"

I frowned and pointed at the man sitting beside Catherine at the head of the table.

That seat was supposed to be mine.

Ten years ago, Catherine's father died suddenly, leaving her a company buried in debt and on the brink of collapse. Just to be closer to the woman I admired, I gave up a high-paying overseas job and joined her without hesitation.

Back then, the company was buried in debt. Employees fled one after another. I was her only remaining staff member.

I wasn't just her secretary or her driver. I handled the company's workload, her logistics, and even the basic details of her daily living.

It was no exaggeration to say that without me, there would be no Sanders Technology today, and there certainly would not be the glamorous Catherine everyone admired.

Now the company was about to go public. I had planned to propose to her on the day of the listing. Yet here she was, with another man by her side, sitting in the position that should have been mine.

What did this mean?

As soon as my words fell, more than a dozen pairs of eyes in the room turned toward Catherine. The atmosphere became unnaturally still and tense.

Catherine's expression was calm but distant. She deliberately avoided my gaze and introduced him lightly, as if it were nothing.

"William Hayes, this is Benedict Shaw, our new assistant director. After the meeting, take him to HR to complete his onboarding. As for offices, you will have to make do and give up yours to him. His office will be closer to mine, which will make communication