What does that mean?

Now she's the one at fault?

Could she have resisted? Could she have pushed him away?

Back when that happened, Annabelle Winters didn’t have any real feelings for him. But lately…

It seems she’s fallen for Grace Gordon.

Grace Gordon doesn’t care about her. He still just sees her as a stand-in.

“Because you’re strong.”

All the illusions are gone now. She doesn’t want to like Grace Gordon anymore.

“Mr. Gordon, just because something happened between us, doesn’t mean I have to give up my job! It’s hard to find such a high-paying position. Besides, the miscarriage—it wasn’t either of our fault. It was an accident.” As Annabelle Winters thought of the child, she instinctively touched her stomach, her heart aching.

If the baby hadn’t been lost, she’d be a few months along by now.

Her baby.

Suddenly, Grace Gordon felt a dull pain in his chest—that was his child, too.

Annabelle Winters turned and left.

Grace Gordon closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Back in her room, Annabelle Winters took out her suitcase and started packing.

She should have left earlier.

It was her own greed to blame.

How could she have let herself dream of something so unrealistic?

Everyone called her the 'little stand-in', and she still hadn’t come to her senses!

Annabelle Winters was angry with herself.

She tossed her clothes carelessly into the suitcase and dragged it out.

Grace Gordon was still sitting on the sofa.

She shot him a glare, but Grace Gordon, eyes closed in repose, didn’t notice.

Her chest felt empty and a little painful.

The only sound in the quiet room was the suitcase wheels rolling across the floor.

At the door, Annabelle Winters bent down to change her shoes, when suddenly a shadow fell over her.

She slowly looked up, locking eyes with Grace Gordon’s stern face.

Without realizing, there were tears in her eyes already.

But she wouldn’t cry. What was there to cry about?

“It’s the middle of the night and you, a young woman, want to go out? If something happens, the police will find me tomorrow and my reputation will be ruined.”

Grace Gordon grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. “Get back inside!”

“No!”

“Grace Gordon, let go of me!”

Grace Gordon held onto both her and her suitcase as the two of them struggled to the middle of the living room.

“Let go!”

Annabelle Winters twisted, trying to break free. Grace Gordon suddenly slackened his grip, and she tumbled onto the sofa.

Her hair was a mess, and she was breathing in short gasps.

She couldn’t act on impulse. She could leave, but she couldn’t lose her job.

Annabelle Winters hugged a cushion, her head bowed, looking just like a little princess cast out by the roadside.

Grace Gordon’s voice was low: “We haven’t really talked yet.”

“About what?”

“Don’t you find all the coincidences between us a little strange?” It was only recently that Grace Gordon realized this.

He couldn’t go abroad, was losing his mind, when a new girl suddenly joined the secretary’s office—one who looked a bit like Olivia Young.

Annabelle Winters ended up staying on.

The night they slept together—logically, on such an important business trip, another secretary should have gone, but that person happened to fall ill, leaving Annabelle Winters to accompany him.

She was the one who went to the banquet with him, too.

Originally, he’d already fired her, then inexplicably brought her back.

And not just that, when he overheard Annabelle Winters telling someone her mother was ill, his heart softened, and he arranged for her mom to come over.

Her dad was no good, either.

He’d always been calm and rational, but when it came to Annabelle Winters, he acted out of character.

Olivia Young had left five years ago. Now, it was as if there was a chasm between them that couldn’t be crossed.

She’d gotten married and had a daughter. There was nothing left between them.

Not only that—Olivia Young was actively avoiding him. Even with huge business projects, she didn’t argue or compromise, she just swore at him to vent and moved on.

What a despicable man he was!

“Maybe,” Annabelle Winters replied softly.

While she had been thrilled by those so-called coincidences, she still hadn’t realized yet what a headache they were for Grace Gordon.

Grace Gordon gazed at her for a long moment, then picked up his jacket and left.

After he left, Annabelle Winters curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees.

Giving her father money, letting her stay here—it was all just making up for what had happened, for her miscarriage.

No feelings involved.

Everyone called her the 'little stand-in'; in Grace Gordon’s eyes, maybe she really was just a stand-in.

Crying, Annabelle Winters pulled out her phone and started searching for apartments.

The next day, she went to the office with red eyes.

Work had already started, but Grace Gordon hadn’t arrived yet. Madam Gu showed up first.

Dressed in pearls and jewelry, the elegant lady entered the secretary’s office, scanning the room before her gaze landed on Annabelle Winters.

“Executive Assistant An, come with me.”

She didn’t come in peace.

The others in the office looked on—some with pity, some with schadenfreude.

Annabelle Winters looked like the president’s first love. That was both an advantage and a curse in their eyes.

When the president was irritable, they’d send Annabelle Winters in to deliver documents. Only she could occasionally calm him down.

During the period when Annabelle Winters left the company, Grace Gordon’s temper was explosive.

Meanwhile, Annabelle Winters followed Madam Gu to the meeting room, standing quietly to one side.

Madam Gu was dressed to the nines, but her eyes were bloodshot and she looked haggard, obviously having slept poorly.

What a coincidence. So did Annabelle Winters.

She spoke first: “Madam Gu, I’ve already contacted some brokers. After work today, I’ll go look at apartments and move out right away.”

“That’s the right decision. Do you even know the password for your apartment door is Olivia Young’s birthday?”

Annabelle Winters smiled faintly, “Now I do.”

Grace Gordon was still hung up on his childhood sweetheart. He still had Olivia Young in his heart.

So what? She’d already decided not to like Grace Gordon anymore.

“I know all about what happened between you two—the child is gone, which means fate was never on your side.” Madam Gu pulled out a check from her purse. “Here’s five million. Take the money, resign, and leave him.”

“Madam Gu, this money…”

“Annabelle Winters! I hope you can recognize your place. You’re young now, but he still only cares about Olivia Young. You’re just a stand-in for his amusement. And what about when he falls for someone else—will you look like both women?” Madam Gu had thought all night, unable to fathom Grace Gordon’s intentions.

With his background, there’s no way the Gu family would let him marry just anybody. You have nothing to offer—why her? Just because she looks a little like Olivia Young?

“Madam Gu, you misunderstand. What I mean is, I’ll need to hire a lawyer, and I won’t accept a check directly. What if you cancel it before I cash it, or it turns out to be a bad check? Then I’d have nothing. So please sign a gift agreement, and wire the money to my account. As soon as it’s settled, I’ll resign.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to record everything to avoid any future disputes.”

(Wow! The tricks I learned from scrolling through Douyin (Chinese TikTok) are finally coming in handy!)

Madam Gu was stunned. “So you really don’t have a single feeling for him. You just want to climb upward using him.”

“Ma’am, who doesn’t want to get ahead? For someone like me, five million means everything—while for you, it’s pocket change.”

She wasn’t stupid. Why not take the money being handed to her?

As for Grace Gordon…

She’d get over him, bit by bit!