The day Sonja comes back to town, everything in Rebecca Harper’s life starts slipping out of her hands. First, the promotion she’s been promised is suddenly “not available.” Then her best friend goes oddly quiet. And by the end of the night, Rebecca finds her fiancé with Sonja, acting like this is the most normal thing in the world. So Rebecca walks away and takes the one offer that feels like a middle finger to all of them: CEO of her ex’s biggest competitor. As Rebecca climbs higher and higher, success following her like a spotlight, the people who betrayed her have only one thing left to hold onto— Regret.

Chapter 1Bruce had a first love that he kept hidden in his heart for over ten years. She had finally come home after studying abroad. Since then, everything had changed. First, he forgot to go with his girlfriend Rebecca to pick out her wedding dress. Then, without even hesitating, he handed the company’s VP position to his old flame.Now Rebecca stood outside Bruce’s office, trying to gather the courage to ask why he was acting this way. But before she could knock, voices drifted through the door. Bruce’s best friend was inside.“Didn’t you promise that VP job to Rebecca? She’s your fiancée,” his friend said.Bruce sounded casual, almost bored. “Does it matter? I’m the CEO of NovaStack Cloud.”Rebecca swallowed hard, her throat tight. There was a long silence. Then his friend spoke again, quietly, “After all this time, you really haven’t gotten over Sonja, have you?”Bruce’s answer was low, almost a whisper. “You know what it is about the one you couldn’t have when you were young? She’ll haunt you for your whole life? For me, that’s Sonja.”A memory flickered through Rebecca’s mind. Years ago, in the middle of the night, Bruce had whispered that name in his sleep. She’d brushed it off, thinking he was just dreaming. Now she realized the truth had been there all along.She felt frozen in the hallway, a sharp ache spreading through her chest. She wanted to leave, but something inside her needed to hear the rest. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to keep quiet as tears slid down her face.After a moment, Bruce’s friend tried again. “But you and Rebecca are getting engaged. That’s happening soon.”Bruce’s voice was cold, almost detached. “I’ll marry Rebecca, but it’s not for love. It’s a responsibility. Once her mom is out of the hospital, we’ll hold the engagement ceremony as planned.”Rebecca’s last hope crumbled. He never loved her. Not even a little.Seven years ago, she had fallen for Bruce at a college party. They started dating soon after.Five years ago, she was accepted into her dream grad program, but Bruce was starting his own business. Without a second thought, she tore up her acceptance letter and threw herself into building a company with him. All these years, NovaStack Cloud had been their life. Now it was a unicorn, worth more than a billion dollars.A month ago, over dinner, Bruce had casually asked if she wanted to get engaged. There was no ring, no flowers. Still, Rebecca had been ecstatic. She’d waited so long for him to propose. She said yes right away. Bruce just nodded and said, “When you get back from your business trip, we’ll go try on wedding dresses.”Today was the day she’d come home. She went straight from the airport to the bridal shop and waited for him from two until six. He never showed. He didn’t answer her texts as well. Calls went straight to voicemail. So she came to the office to find him, and ended up hearing the truth instead.Rebecca stood in the hallway, listening to every cruel word. Five years of loving him, sacrificing everything for him, had been nothing but a joke. She had to face reality.She wiped her face, grabbed her suitcase, and left as quietly as she could.Downstairs, her phone rang. It was the bridal shop. “Ms. Harper, your dress is still here. When will you and Mr. Lamont be coming in?”Rebecca stared at the neon lights flickering outside. She let out a bitter little laugh.“We’re not coming. The engagement is off.”The lady on the phone gasped. Rebecca hung up. She was so tired, her whole body felt heavy. She didn’t want to go home and let her mom see her like this, not when she was about to have surgery. She couldn’t risk her mother worrying.After a moment, Rebecca decided to grab a cab and stay at a nearby hotel for the night. She needed time to pull herself together.Standing on the sidewalk, her phone buzzed. It was finally a message from Bruce.[Sorry, I was tied up in meetings this afternoon and couldn’t make it to your dress fitting. Just pick whatever you like. Your vacation starts tomorrow, so take some time for yourself. Handle the engagement details however you want. Work’s hectic for me, so I won’t be involved.]Rebecca had scheduled this month off long before her last business trip. Part of it was to help her mom during her hospital stay, and the other part was for engagement prep. Now, the second half seemed pointless. Still, her mom’s surgery was set, and she couldn’t push that back, so she’d take her vacation as planned.She turned off her phone and didn’t bother replying to Bruce. The car she’d called finally pulled up. Rebecca loaded her luggage in the trunk and slid into the back seat. She’d barely settled in when a black Maybach shot past. The driver was Bruce. In the passenger seat? His old flame.So much for being busy with work. He’d got no time to help his fiancée pick out a dress, but dinner with his first love fit right into his schedule.Rebecca felt tears sting her eyes again. At the hotel, she checked in and took a long shower, letting the water clear her head. Once she felt a little steadier, she pulled out pen and paper from her suitcase and started writing her resignation letter.They were together for seven years, and she wanted to end it quietly, with dignity. No drama. Just a clean break.Early the next morning, she handed her resignation envelope to a courier, making sure it would go straight to Kane at NovaStack Cloud. Kane was Bruce’s personal assistant.After packing up, Rebecca wheeled her suitcase down the hall. As soon as she stepped out of her hotel room, her phone rang. Her friend Lottie’s name flashed on the screen.“Rebecca, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your message yesterday.”Rebecca had learned about Sonja joining NovaStack Cloud through Lottie’s social media post. They both worked there. The post was a selfie of Lottie and Sonja, their heads tilted together. Lottie looked starstruck. Sonja had a calm, elegant smile.The caption read, “So lucky to work with a returning PhD! Dr. Campbell, welcome onboard!”Rebecca let it go. Lottie had no idea Sonja was Bruce’s first love. No point blaming her. She managed a small, forced smile. “It’s fine.”On the other end, Lottie paused, eyebrow raised. She was just going to let this go? Her fiancé’s ex had stolen the VP spot that should have been hers, and it was fine? Lottie shook her head. Rebecca was just totally head over heels for Bruce. Her patience was something else.Bruce had already told Lottie not to mention Sonja’s new job to Rebecca. Yesterday, Lottie had set her post so only Rebecca could see, expecting her to flip out and confront Bruce. But Rebecca hadn’t done anything. She hadn’t even asked. What a coward, Lottie thought, disappointment settling in.After they hung up, Rebecca went downstairs for breakfast, planning to grab a cab home afterward. As she finished eating, a message popped up on her phone.[Ms. Harper, have you had time to think about my offer from yesterday?]It was from Stephen Duncan.Before she could reply, he sent another message. [I’m serious about inviting you to join Sunforge Tech as general manager.]General manager? Did a company under Duncan Corporation really need to bring in an outsider for that role?Rebecca’s grip tightened on her phone. She stared at the message, lost in thought.Rebecca took her time before replying. [I’ll think about it.] She finally wrote.She’d already made up her mind to leave her job, so there was really no reason to turn down a new opportunity. Especially not one from a company under the famous Duncan Corporation.The message got an immediate response. [Great. If you’re free today, I can show you around the office. You can decide after you’ve seen it.]Maybe it was the respectful way he asked that softened her. Rebecca simply replied, “Okay,” then went to have breakfast.Later, she grabbed a cab to Sunforge Tech. It was early autumn, the sky clear and the air bright. She rolled down the window, letting the breeze play with her hair. The wind seemed to lift away the heaviness in her chest.The car pulled up to the lobby of the Duncan Corporation building. Rebecca was surprised to see Stephen himself waiting at the entrance. He looked like he’d been there a while.She walked up and nodded. “Good morning, Mr. Duncan.”Stephen was dressed in a black suit, his features sharp and striking. He reached out a hand. “Thanks for coming.”He noticed she seemed a little tense, so he smiled and led her toward the elevator, holding his arm out politely to keep the doors open.“Relax, Duncan Corporation isn’t some shady operation. Work is about mutual choice. If you’re not interested after the tour, that’s totally fine.”His words eased some of the pressure she felt.Stephen was the oldest son and heir of the Duncan family, famous in Coralbridge. Despite his age, he managed the entire family business, expanding it into the city’s biggest corporation.Sunforge Tech, the company he mentioned, was a fully owned subsidiary founded just two years ago. They focused on developing fintech products and were based right here in the Duncan headquarters. At first, the company was a favorite with investors, but for some reason, its growth slowed down and it faded from the spotlight. Meanwhile, NovaStack Cloud had made a name for itself in the industry.Both Sunforge Tech and NovaStack Cloud developed tech products for financial companies, both at home and abroad. They were rivals and competitors. That was probably why Stephen wanted to recruit her.Rebecca and Stephen had first met by chance at a government reception. Back then, they’d just exchanged polite nods. Their real interaction happened during her recent business trip up north.Stephen himself had shown up to meet a client on behalf of Sunforge Tech, which was a big deal, but in the end, the client chose to keep working with Rebecca.As she was leaving the building, Stephen approached, introduced himself with a slight bow, and handed her his business card. He looked serious but there was a smile in his eyes.“Ms. Harper, I’ve heard a lot about you. Meeting you in person is even more impressive. Would you let me take you out to dinner?”Rebecca was surprised he even knew her name. She turned him down politely. “Sorry, I need to head back.”By coincidence, they bumped into each other again at the airport. Stephen invited her out again, but Rebecca declined once more.Even though Rebecca wasn’t really the type to judge by appearances, she had to admit Stephen was good-looking, but in a completely different way from Bruce. Bruce was aloof and distant. Stephen was…In the elevator, Rebecca couldn’t help but glance at him.He seemed to notice and raised his eyebrows. “Something wrong?”“Oh, nothing.” Rebecca looked away, pretending to study the floor.After a moment, she finally found the right words to describe Stephen. Kind, confident, and full of charm.She kept that thought to herself.When they arrived at Sunforge Tech, Stephen personally showed her around, then took her to his office and gave her an honest rundown of the company’s situation.Chapter 2Bruce had a first love that he kept hidden in his heart for over ten years. She had finally come home after studying abroad. Since then, everything had changed. First, he forgot to go with his girlfriend Rebecca to pick out her wedding dress. Then, without even hesitating, he handed the company’s VP position to his old flame.Now Rebecca stood outside Bruce’s office, trying to gather the courage to ask why he was acting this way. But before she could knock, voices drifted through the door. Bruce’s best friend was inside.“Didn’t you promise that VP job to Rebecca? She’s your fiancée,” his friend said.Bruce sounded casual, almost bored. “Does it matter? I’m the CEO of NovaStack Cloud.”Rebecca swallowed hard, her throat tight. There was a long silence. Then his friend spoke again, quietly, “After all this time, you really haven’t gotten over Sonja, have you?”Bruce’s answer was low, almost a whisper. “You know what it is about the one you couldn’t have when you were young? She’ll haunt you for your whole life? For me, that’s Sonja.”A memory flickered through Rebecca’s mind. Years ago, in the middle of the night, Bruce had whispered that name in his sleep. She’d brushed it off, thinking he was just dreaming. Now she realized the truth had been there all along.She felt frozen in the hallway, a sharp ache spreading through her chest. She wanted to leave, but something inside her needed to hear the rest. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to keep quiet as tears slid down her face.After a moment, Bruce’s friend tried again. “But you and Rebecca are getting engaged. That’s happening soon.”Bruce’s voice was cold, almost detached. “I’ll marry Rebecca, but it’s not for love. It’s a responsibility. Once her mom is out of the hospital, we’ll hold the engagement ceremony as planned.”Rebecca’s last hope crumbled. He never loved her. Not even a little.Seven years ago, she had fallen for Bruce at a college party. They started dating soon after.Five years ago, she was accepted into her dream grad program, but Bruce was starting his own business. Without a second thought, she tore up her acceptance letter and threw herself into building a company with him. All these years, NovaStack Cloud had been their life. Now it was a unicorn, worth more than a billion dollars.A month ago, over dinner, Bruce had casually asked if she wanted to get engaged. There was no ring, no flowers. Still, Rebecca had been ecstatic. She’d waited so long for him to propose. She said yes right away. Bruce just nodded and said, “When you get back from your business trip, we’ll go try on wedding dresses.”Today was the day she’d come home. She went straight from the airport to the bridal shop and waited for him from two until six. He never showed. He didn’t answer her texts as well. Calls went straight to voicemail. So she came to the office to find him, and ended up hearing the truth instead.Rebecca stood in the hallway, listening to every cruel word. Five years of loving him, sacrificing everything for him, had been nothing but a joke. She had to face reality.She wiped her face, grabbed her suitcase, and left as quietly as she could.Downstairs, her phone rang. It was the bridal shop. “Ms. Harper, your dress is still here. When will you and Mr. Lamont be coming in?”Rebecca stared at the neon lights flickering outside. She let out a bitter little laugh.“We’re not coming. The engagement is off.”The lady on the phone gasped. Rebecca hung up. She was so tired, her whole body felt heavy. She didn’t want to go home and let her mom see her like this, not when she was about to have surgery. She couldn’t risk her mother worrying.After a moment, Rebecca decided to grab a cab and stay at a nearby hotel for the night. She needed time to pull herself together.Standing on the sidewalk, her phone buzzed. It was finally a message from Bruce.[Sorry, I was tied up in meetings this afternoon and couldn’t make it to your dress fitting. Just pick whatever you like. Your vacation starts tomorrow, so take some time for yourself. Handle the engagement details however you want. Work’s hectic for me, so I won’t be involved.]Rebecca had scheduled this month off long before her last business trip. Part of it was to help her mom during her hospital stay, and the other part was for engagement prep. Now, the second half seemed pointless. Still, her mom’s surgery was set, and she couldn’t push that back, so she’d take her vacation as planned.She turned off her phone and didn’t bother replying to Bruce. The car she’d called finally pulled up. Rebecca loaded her luggage in the trunk and slid into the back seat. She’d barely settled in when a black Maybach shot past. The driver was Bruce. In the passenger seat? His old flame.So much for being busy with work. He’d got no time to help his fiancée pick out a dress, but dinner with his first love fit right into his schedule.Rebecca felt tears sting her eyes again. At the hotel, she checked in and took a long shower, letting the water clear her head. Once she felt a little steadier, she pulled out pen and paper from her suitcase and started writing her resignation letter.They were together for seven years, and she wanted to end it quietly, with dignity. No drama. Just a clean break.Early the next morning, she handed her resignation envelope to a courier, making sure it would go straight to Kane at NovaStack Cloud. Kane was Bruce’s personal assistant.After packing up, Rebecca wheeled her suitcase down the hall. As soon as she stepped out of her hotel room, her phone rang. Her friend Lottie’s name flashed on the screen.“Rebecca, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your message yesterday.”Rebecca had learned about Sonja joining NovaStack Cloud through Lottie’s social media post. They both worked there. The post was a selfie of Lottie and Sonja, their heads tilted together. Lottie looked starstruck. Sonja had a calm, elegant smile.The caption read, “So lucky to work with a returning PhD! Dr. Campbell, welcome onboard!”Rebecca let it go. Lottie had no idea Sonja was Bruce’s first love. No point blaming her. She managed a small, forced smile. “It’s fine.”On the other end, Lottie paused, eyebrow raised. She was just going to let this go? Her fiancé’s ex had stolen the VP spot that should have been hers, and it was fine? Lottie shook her head. Rebecca was just totally head over heels for Bruce. Her patience was something else.Bruce had already told Lottie not to mention Sonja’s new job to Rebecca. Yesterday, Lottie had set her post so only Rebecca could see, expecting her to flip out and confront Bruce. But Rebecca hadn’t done anything. She hadn’t even asked. What a coward, Lottie thought, disappointment settling in.After they hung up, Rebecca went downstairs for breakfast, planning to grab a cab home afterward. As she finished eating, a message popped up on her phone.[Ms. Harper, have you had time to think about my offer from yesterday?]It was from Stephen Duncan.Before she could reply, he sent another message. [I’m serious about inviting you to join Sunforge Tech as general manager.]General manager? Did a company under Duncan Corporation really need to bring in an outsider for that role?Rebecca’s grip tightened on her phone. She stared at the message, lost in thought.Rebecca took her time before replying. [I’ll think about it.] She finally wrote.She’d already made up her mind to leave her job, so there was really no reason to turn down a new opportunity. Especially not one from a company under the famous Duncan Corporation.The message got an immediate response. [Great. If you’re free today, I can show you around the office. You can decide after you’ve seen it.]Maybe it was the respectful way he asked that softened her. Rebecca simply replied, “Okay,” then went to have breakfast.Later, she grabbed a cab to Sunforge Tech. It was early autumn, the sky clear and the air bright. She rolled down the window, letting the breeze play with her hair. The wind seemed to lift away the heaviness in her chest.The car pulled up to the lobby of the Duncan Corporation building. Rebecca was surprised to see Stephen himself waiting at the entrance. He looked like he’d been there a while.She walked up and nodded. “Good morning, Mr. Duncan.”Stephen was dressed in a black suit, his features sharp and striking. He reached out a hand. “Thanks for coming.”He noticed she seemed a little tense, so he smiled and led her toward the elevator, holding his arm out politely to keep the doors open.“Relax, Duncan Corporation isn’t some shady operation. Work is about mutual choice. If you’re not interested after the tour, that’s totally fine.”His words eased some of the pressure she felt.Stephen was the oldest son and heir of the Duncan family, famous in Coralbridge. Despite his age, he managed the entire family business, expanding it into the city’s biggest corporation.Sunforge Tech, the company he mentioned, was a fully owned subsidiary founded just two years ago. They focused on developing fintech products and were based right here in the Duncan headquarters. At first, the company was a favorite with investors, but for some reason, its growth slowed down and it faded from the spotlight. Meanwhile, NovaStack Cloud had made a name for itself in the industry.Both Sunforge Tech and NovaStack Cloud developed tech products for financial companies, both at home and abroad. They were rivals and competitors. That was probably why Stephen wanted to recruit her.Rebecca and Stephen had first met by chance at a government reception. Back then, they’d just exchanged polite nods. Their real interaction happened during her recent business trip up north.Stephen himself had shown up to meet a client on behalf of Sunforge Tech, which was a big deal, but in the end, the client chose to keep working with Rebecca.As she was leaving the building, Stephen approached, introduced himself with a slight bow, and handed her his business card. He looked serious but there was a smile in his eyes.“Ms. Harper, I’ve heard a lot about you. Meeting you in person is even more impressive. Would you let me take you out to dinner?”Rebecca was surprised he even knew her name. She turned him down politely. “Sorry, I need to head back.”By coincidence, they bumped into each other again at the airport. Stephen invited her out again, but Rebecca declined once more.Even though Rebecca wasn’t really the type to judge by appearances, she had to admit Stephen was good-looking, but in a completely different way from Bruce. Bruce was aloof and distant. Stephen was…In the elevator, Rebecca couldn’t help but glance at him.He seemed to notice and raised his eyebrows. “Something wrong?”“Oh, nothing.” Rebecca looked away, pretending to study the floor.After a moment, she finally found the right words to describe Stephen. Kind, confident, and full of charm.She kept that thought to herself.When they arrived at Sunforge Tech, Stephen personally showed her around, then took her to his office and gave her an honest rundown of the company’s situation.Chapter 3Bruce had a first love that he kept hidden in his heart for over ten years. She had finally come home after studying abroad. Since then, everything had changed. First, he forgot to go with his girlfriend Rebecca to pick out her wedding dress. Then, without even hesitating, he handed the company’s VP position to his old flame.Now Rebecca stood outside Bruce’s office, trying to gather the courage to ask why he was acting this way. But before she could knock, voices drifted through the door. Bruce’s best friend was inside.“Didn’t you promise that VP job to Rebecca? She’s your fiancée,” his friend said.Bruce sounded casual, almost bored. “Does it matter? I’m the CEO of NovaStack Cloud.”Rebecca swallowed hard, her throat tight. There was a long silence. Then his friend spoke again, quietly, “After all this time, you really haven’t gotten over Sonja, have you?”Bruce’s answer was low, almost a whisper. “You know what it is about the one you couldn’t have when you were young? She’ll haunt you for your whole life? For me, that’s Sonja.”A memory flickered through Rebecca’s mind. Years ago, in the middle of the night, Bruce had whispered that name in his sleep. She’d brushed it off, thinking he was just dreaming. Now she realized the truth had been there all along.She felt frozen in the hallway, a sharp ache spreading through her chest. She wanted to leave, but something inside her needed to hear the rest. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to keep quiet as tears slid down her face.After a moment, Bruce’s friend tried again. “But you and Rebecca are getting engaged. That’s happening soon.”Bruce’s voice was cold, almost detached. “I’ll marry Rebecca, but it’s not for love. It’s a responsibility. Once her mom is out of the hospital, we’ll hold the engagement ceremony as planned.”Rebecca’s last hope crumbled. He never loved her. Not even a little.Seven years ago, she had fallen for Bruce at a college party. They started dating soon after.Five years ago, she was accepted into her dream grad program, but Bruce was starting his own business. Without a second thought, she tore up her acceptance letter and threw herself into building a company with him. All these years, NovaStack Cloud had been their life. Now it was a unicorn, worth more than a billion dollars.A month ago, over dinner, Bruce had casually asked if she wanted to get engaged. There was no ring, no flowers. Still, Rebecca had been ecstatic. She’d waited so long for him to propose. She said yes right away. Bruce just nodded and said, “When you get back from your business trip, we’ll go try on wedding dresses.”Today was the day she’d come home. She went straight from the airport to the bridal shop and waited for him from two until six. He never showed. He didn’t answer her texts as well. Calls went straight to voicemail. So she came to the office to find him, and ended up hearing the truth instead.Rebecca stood in the hallway, listening to every cruel word. Five years of loving him, sacrificing everything for him, had been nothing but a joke. She had to face reality.She wiped her face, grabbed her suitcase, and left as quietly as she could.Downstairs, her phone rang. It was the bridal shop. “Ms. Harper, your dress is still here. When will you and Mr. Lamont be coming in?”Rebecca stared at the neon lights flickering outside. She let out a bitter little laugh.“We’re not coming. The engagement is off.”The lady on the phone gasped. Rebecca hung up. She was so tired, her whole body felt heavy. She didn’t want to go home and let her mom see her like this, not when she was about to have surgery. She couldn’t risk her mother worrying.After a moment, Rebecca decided to grab a cab and stay at a nearby hotel for the night. She needed time to pull herself together.Standing on the sidewalk, her phone buzzed. It was finally a message from Bruce.[Sorry, I was tied up in meetings this afternoon and couldn’t make it to your dress fitting. Just pick whatever you like. Your vacation starts tomorrow, so take some time for yourself. Handle the engagement details however you want. Work’s hectic for me, so I won’t be involved.]Rebecca had scheduled this month off long before her last business trip. Part of it was to help her mom during her hospital stay, and the other part was for engagement prep. Now, the second half seemed pointless. Still, her mom’s surgery was set, and she couldn’t push that back, so she’d take her vacation as planned.She turned off her phone and didn’t bother replying to Bruce. The car she’d called finally pulled up. Rebecca loaded her luggage in the trunk and slid into the back seat. She’d barely settled in when a black Maybach shot past. The driver was Bruce. In the passenger seat? His old flame.So much for being busy with work. He’d got no time to help his fiancée pick out a dress, but dinner with his first love fit right into his schedule.Rebecca felt tears sting her eyes again. At the hotel, she checked in and took a long shower, letting the water clear her head. Once she felt a little steadier, she pulled out pen and paper from her suitcase and started writing her resignation letter.They were together for seven years, and she wanted to end it quietly, with dignity. No drama. Just a clean break.Early the next morning, she handed her resignation envelope to a courier, making sure it would go straight to Kane at NovaStack Cloud. Kane was Bruce’s personal assistant.After packing up, Rebecca wheeled her suitcase down the hall. As soon as she stepped out of her hotel room, her phone rang. Her friend Lottie’s name flashed on the screen.“Rebecca, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your message yesterday.”Rebecca had learned about Sonja joining NovaStack Cloud through Lottie’s social media post. They both worked there. The post was a selfie of Lottie and Sonja, their heads tilted together. Lottie looked starstruck. Sonja had a calm, elegant smile.The caption read, “So lucky to work with a returning PhD! Dr. Campbell, welcome onboard!”Rebecca let it go. Lottie had no idea Sonja was Bruce’s first love. No point blaming her. She managed a small, forced smile. “It’s fine.”On the other end, Lottie paused, eyebrow raised. She was just going to let this go? Her fiancé’s ex had stolen the VP spot that should have been hers, and it was fine? Lottie shook her head. Rebecca was just totally head over heels for Bruce. Her patience was something else.Bruce had already told Lottie not to mention Sonja’s new job to Rebecca. Yesterday, Lottie had set her post so only Rebecca could see, expecting her to flip out and confront Bruce. But Rebecca hadn’t done anything. She hadn’t even asked. What a coward, Lottie thought, disappointment settling in.After they hung up, Rebecca went downstairs for breakfast, planning to grab a cab home afterward. As she finished eating, a message popped up on her phone.[Ms. Harper, have you had time to think about my offer from yesterday?]It was from Stephen Duncan.Before she could reply, he sent another message. [I’m serious about inviting you to join Sunforge Tech as general manager.]General manager? Did a company under Duncan Corporation really need to bring in an outsider for that role?Rebecca’s grip tightened on her phone. She stared at the message, lost in thought.Rebecca took her time before replying. [I’ll think about it.] She finally wrote.She’d already made up her mind to leave her job, so there was really no reason to turn down a new opportunity. Especially not one from a company under the famous Duncan Corporation.The message got an immediate response. [Great. If you’re free today, I can show you around the office. You can decide after you’ve seen it.]Maybe it was the respectful way he asked that softened her. Rebecca simply replied, “Okay,” then went to have breakfast.Later, she grabbed a cab to Sunforge Tech. It was early autumn, the sky clear and the air bright. She rolled down the window, letting the breeze play with her hair. The wind seemed to lift away the heaviness in her chest.The car pulled up to the lobby of the Duncan Corporation building. Rebecca was surprised to see Stephen himself waiting at the entrance. He looked like he’d been there a while.She walked up and nodded. “Good morning, Mr. Duncan.”Stephen was dressed in a black suit, his features sharp and striking. He reached out a hand. “Thanks for coming.”He noticed she seemed a little tense, so he smiled and led her toward the elevator, holding his arm out politely to keep the doors open.“Relax, Duncan Corporation isn’t some shady operation. Work is about mutual choice. If you’re not interested after the tour, that’s totally fine.”His words eased some of the pressure she felt.Stephen was the oldest son and heir of the Duncan family, famous in Coralbridge. Despite his age, he managed the entire family business, expanding it into the city’s biggest corporation.Sunforge Tech, the company he mentioned, was a fully owned subsidiary founded just two years ago. They focused on developing fintech products and were based right here in the Duncan headquarters. At first, the company was a favorite with investors, but for some reason, its growth slowed down and it faded from the spotlight. Meanwhile, NovaStack Cloud had made a name for itself in the industry.Both Sunforge Tech and NovaStack Cloud developed tech products for financial companies, both at home and abroad. They were rivals and competitors. That was probably why Stephen wanted to recruit her.Rebecca and Stephen had first met by chance at a government reception. Back then, they’d just exchanged polite nods. Their real interaction happened during her recent business trip up north.Stephen himself had shown up to meet a client on behalf of Sunforge Tech, which was a big deal, but in the end, the client chose to keep working with Rebecca.As she was leaving the building, Stephen approached, introduced himself with a slight bow, and handed her his business card. He looked serious but there was a smile in his eyes.“Ms. Harper, I’ve heard a lot about you. Meeting you in person is even more impressive. Would you let me take you out to dinner?”Rebecca was surprised he even knew her name. She turned him down politely. “Sorry, I need to head back.”By coincidence, they bumped into each other again at the airport. Stephen invited her out again, but Rebecca declined once more.Even though Rebecca wasn’t really the type to judge by appearances, she had to admit Stephen was good-looking, but in a completely different way from Bruce. Bruce was aloof and distant. Stephen was…In the elevator, Rebecca couldn’t help but glance at him.He seemed to notice and raised his eyebrows. “Something wrong?”“Oh, nothing.” Rebecca looked away, pretending to study the floor.After a moment, she finally found the right words to describe Stephen. Kind, confident, and full of charm.She kept that thought to herself.When they arrived at Sunforge Tech, Stephen personally showed her around, then took her to his office and gave her an honest rundown of the company’s situation.