"I'm sorry, James, but we cannot get married!" Evelyn Johnsons declared coldly, her voice as sharp as the tension in the air. The words echoed through the spacious office of the Johnsons Company. Dressed impeccably in a sleek black lace gown, she sat regally behind her polished mahogany desk, every gesture refined, every glance distant and calculated.
Seated across from her was a man in modest attire, his demeanor simple but sincere. "Evelyn, what are you saying?" James Anderson asked, disbelief flickering across his face as though the ground beneath him had shifted. "What do you mean by that? What happened to the promise we made to each other?"
For three long years, their relationship had endured—full of shared laughter, whispered dreams, and a promise that their wedding would coincide with the day Johnsons Company became a public enterprise. That day had finally come, yet instead of celebration, there was only heartbreak.
Evelyn brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her expression unreadable. "Since we've been together for a while now, I believe it's only fair to be honest with you," she began calmly. Every motion she made exuded a graceful allure, a quiet confidence that matched her poise.
"Don't you think the distance between us has become too great, James? We no longer stand on equal ground. Continuing this relationship will only hurt us both. You'd be dragging along something that's already dead. For me, it would be… a burden."
A burden?
James froze, his heart pounding in disbelief. Never, in his wildest imagination, had he expected Evelyn to utter such words. Without his unwavering support, her family's company would have gone bankrupt years ago. He had been the one who guided her through the storm—who built her career piece by piece, sacrificing his own ambitions to help her succeed.
Evelyn's tone remained composed as she continued, "I understand this must be difficult for you. Perhaps you see it as sudden, even cruel. What if we look at it differently? Consider it a debt I owe you. I'll compensate you handsomely. Money, a house, a luxury car—take them as a settlement for the end of our relationship. That way, you'll have comfort and stability even after we part ways."
She reached into her elegant purse and retrieved a silver pen and a checkbook with practiced ease.
James sat motionless, watching as she scribbled on the check with smooth, deliberate strokes. The number she wrote down—five million dollars—stared back at him like an insult. He gazed at her, but the woman before him felt like a stranger.
"Do you think this," he said quietly, "this piece of paper, represents the years we spent together? The nights we dreamed, the love we shared? Is it all worth just… money?"
For a fleeting moment, Evelyn's flawless face softened, a hint of guilt passing through her eyes before her expression returned to its icy calm. "If you believe the amount is too small," she replied evenly, "I can add more. Name your price."
James's eyes darkened with quiet sorrow. He realized she misunderstood—not the words, but the meaning behind them.
"So, you've made up your mind, then?" His voice carried the weight of finality. "You're truly backing out of our marriage?"
Evelyn rose from her chair and walked toward the window. Her lips pressed together in a tight line. "If that's how you want to interpret it, then so be it," she murmured, her back to him.
In the city of Graydon, Evelyn was admired by many—an accomplished managing director with a personal fortune surpassing four hundred million. From every standpoint, James no longer belonged in her world. In status, wealth, and influence, he had become insignificant to her. Even intellectually, she viewed him as outdated. Evelyn no longer desired a life of simplicity. A marriage to James, once her dream, now seemed too ordinary for her elevated tastes.
"I never thought," James began with a bitter laugh, "that your fear of mediocrity would one day outweigh years of love, countless nights spent together, and all the meals I prepared for you with my own hands. It seems obvious now—you're Graydon's golden girl, the admired Managing Director of Johnsons Company, adored by the public. And I… I'm just a nameless man, unworthy of standing beside the great Evelyn Johnsons."
His laughter was hollow, sharp with pain and irony.
Evelyn frowned slightly. "I admit that you've done much for me, James," she said quietly, "but that's not something I can let bind me forever. Let it go. No matter how much I try to explain, I know you won't understand. Please, just accept the money. Take it as repayment for your years of effort and devotion." She slid the check across the desk toward him.
James didn't even glance at it. "A breakup fee of five million dollars?" he said mockingly. "You're far too generous, Ms. Johnsons. But I'm afraid I don't need it."
He stood up, straightened his jacket, and started toward the door.
Evelyn's composure faltered as she saw him walking away. "I strongly advise you to take the money, James," she said sharply. "Don't let pride blind you. Five million dollars is more than a small-town doctor like you could ever hope to earn in your entire lifetime."
James didn't respond. In truth, money was the last thing he needed—or wanted.
"Hold it right there," came a sudden voice.
A woman entered the office, wearing heavy makeup and layers of flashy jewelry that glinted under the lights.
James recognized her instantly. "Aunt Emily!"
Evelyn's mother, Emily Parker, stared at him coldly.
"We're not that close, so don't call me Aunt," she snapped. "If you're leaving, take your things and go. Riffraff like you has no place in this house—or in our family!"
She reached into her designer bag and threw a credit card and a small velvet box onto the table. The box flew open, revealing a diamond engagement ring. The same ring James had spent weeks selecting, saving every extra penny to buy—the ring he had planned to place on Evelyn's finger on their wedding day. His expression hardened instantly, the warmth in his eyes fading into frost.
Even if the relationship had ended, he thought, there was no need for such humiliation.
"You too, Mrs. Parker?" he said bitterly. "I thought I had always treated you with respect."
Emily let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "What's wrong, James? Feeling insulted?"
"Mother, that's enough!" Evelyn snapped, frowning.
But Emily wasn't done. "Why should I stop? He's just a man chasing dreams far beyond his reach. Did you really think someone of his background and intelligence could ever marry into our family? Absolutely not!"
Emily turned to James with a smug smile. "Oh, and one more thing. You might as well know now—after William Harrison returns from abroad, Evelyn will be getting engaged to him. Surely you realize you're not even in the same league as William?"
James's expression froze. He looked at Evelyn, his eyes cold and sharp. Her betrayal was deeper than he had imagined—she had already found someone else before even ending things with him.
Evelyn avoided his gaze, her voice firm yet uneasy. "The Harrison family is a powerful name in Graydon, James. They control vast sectors—finance, politics, military influence. They've been one of the city's pillars for generations. One day, William will inherit everything his family built. This alliance between the Johnsons and Harrisons is a rare opportunity—an opening that could change my entire life."
James stood silently for a moment, the weight of her words pressing down like stone. Then he smiled faintly, though it carried no warmth. "Is that so?" he said quietly. "Then allow me to wish you and your family the best of luck in your… climb to greatness."
Without another word, he turned and left the room, his steps steady, his face unreadable. There was no pleading, no rage—only calm finality.
Evelyn watched him go, her emotions tangled in ways she couldn't name. She had imagined that, upon hearing about William, James would lose his temper, argue, or beg her to reconsider. Instead, he had remained calm, dignified, and eerily composed—even at the end.
"Mother," she murmured after a long silence, "do you think I went too far?"
Emily laughed dismissively. "Too far? My dear girl, you've done what's right. That useless man actually thought he was good enough to marry you—that's what's too far!" Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Just wait until William returns. Once you two are engaged, the Johnsons family will stand at the top of Graydon society. As for James—he's nothing. A nobody. Lucky for him he walked away quietly. If he hadn't, I'd have made sure he learned his place."
Evelyn turned her eyes toward the window again, her thoughts wavering for a fleeting second. A faint whisper of doubt touched her heart, wondering if she had made a terrible mistake. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. The vision of luxury, power, and high society shimmered before her mind's eye—an image too bright, too tempting to ignore.
Slowly, a small smile curved her lips. Whatever remorse lingered inside her was soon replaced by the intoxicating promise of status and wealth.