No More Love by the WheelChapter 2

"Boss, if Rowan actually hits that one percent chance someday, will you really marry him?" Simon asked.

"You don't have to call me boss in private." Victoria laughed lightly. "I am the heiress to a corporate empire. Rowan is a nobody from a working-class family."

"What right does he have to marry me?"

"You grew up with me. You are my father's most trusted aide. You are out of his league by a mile. Even if he gets lucky and lands on the engagement slot, there are still wedding photos, the license, the ceremony. I can easily create a new hurdle at every step."

Simon chuckled, his voice thick with excitement. "I will make sure to work hard on those hurdles, then."

That night, a drunk Victoria leaned into Simon's embrace. And I stood frozen outside the door, feeling my heart shatter into dust.

This pathetic, self-sacrificing illusion of love was nothing but a sick joke. I was done.

So tonight, this tenth proposal was my final, exhausted act of rebellion.

Back in the banquet hall, Victoria ignored my question. Her posture grew even more arrogant.

"Rowan!"

"When we first got together, I told you I was highly sensitive. I need constant proof of your sincerity. Now, things get a little tough, and you want to quit? You are nothing but a total hypocrite!"

Her beautiful eyes glared at me with pure venom.

"If you truly love Victoria, you should accept everything about her, shouldn't you?" Simon chimed in, fanning the flames. "Looking at you now, your devotion is totally fake."

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

What the hell counted as sincere? Did I need to carve my chest open and hand them my beating heart? What kind of fake lover would endure a highly volatile woman who threatened to break up hundreds of times over seven years? What kind of hypocrite swallows his pride to propose ten times in the face of public humiliation?

The words reached the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them back down. Debating with them was pointless. I turned around and walked toward the exit in silence.

"Rowan!"

Victoria suddenly panicked. She lunged forward, grabbing my arm. Her voice dropped into a cold threat. "You can walk out that door. But if you do, you forfeit everything you have right now."

I stopped in my tracks.

"After seven years together." I looked at her. "Do you really think I stayed with you for the money?"

Victoria lifted her chin, her lips curling into a sneer. "What else could it be? My father introduced me to dozens of billionaire heirs. None of them could handle my temper for more than a few days before running for the hills. Why did a broke loser like you stick around? If it isn't for the money, what is it?"

Once upon a time, she used to curl up in my arms like a kitten and say, Rowan, your love is the only pure thing in my life. You don't want anything from me. I will cherish this forever.

Now, the veil was ripped away. Every word she just spoke was her true, ugly reality.

"Let everyone here be my witness."

I took a deep breath, scanning the faces of the whispering guests before locking eyes with Victoria one last time.

"I announce that as of today, I am walking away from everything."

With that, I ripped my arm out of her grip and walked out. I didn't look back once.

Behind me, Victoria's hands balled into tight fists.

Simon leaned in to comfort her. "Don't worry. It is easy to go from rags to riches, but impossible to go back. Give Rowan a few days. He will come crawling back to beg for forgiveness."

"I heard a new Michelin-star restaurant opened downtown. Let's go grab a bite!"

The surrounding crowd eagerly agreed. Victoria finally nodded.

But they were wrong. I had never lived a life of luxury.