Chapter 1

At a five-star hotel, during the Frost Group's celebratory banquet.

In the restroom, I overheard a familiar voice,

"Genevieve, I only have a year left. Can't you just leave Cian alone? Can we try for a baby as soon as possible?"

Genevieve's sorrowful voice responded,

"Alright, Professor. We'll skip IVF; natural conception is faster anyway."

My mind went blank, and my body reacted before my thoughts could catch up. I burst out of the bathroom stall,

"Genevieve, you promised to start trying for a baby after the project was over. So this was your plan all along? To make me raise someone else's kid?"

Lorne looked up, his deep-set eyes behind his glasses betraying no emotion,

"What do you mean, 'someone else's kid'? Any child Genevieve and I have will rightfully bear my surname, no questions asked."

I turned to Genevieve in disbelief. She avoided my gaze and stammered an explanation:

"My mentor has terminal stomach cancer. Such an exceptional man without an heir – I just wanted to help fulfill his dying wish, to not waste his superior genes."

I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to look at the woman I'd loved for a decade any longer.

"Genevieve, since you're so noble, I'll do you a favor. Let's get a divorce."

————————

1

Genevieve hadn't even opened her mouth when Lorne suddenly stepped forward.

"Cian, are you trying to blackmail Genevieve?"

"I promised Genevieve I would never destroy your family, let alone cost you a penny. Genevieve just wants to help me fulfill my final wish. Why are you being so aggressive?"

Lorne berated me self-righteously, as if I'd be heartless and unforgivable if I didn't let my darling bear his child.

Genevieve gently took my hand.

"Honey, don't misunderstand. We've known each other for over a decade. Don't you know how I feel about you?"

"My relationship with my mentor is purely physical. As soon as I'm pregnant, I'll come straight home and won't have any more marital relations with him."

Genevieve raised her head, explaining softly to soothe me.

I looked at the woman before me, familiar yet strange, not knowing how she could say something so insane.

"Genevieve, can you distinguish between physical attraction and emotional love? Do you know that love can grow from sex?"

"If you've changed your heart, just say it straight."

Seeing that I wouldn't budge and my words were getting heated, Genevieve's expression changed.

"Cian, why are you being so stubborn? Can't you be more tolerant and open-minded? Could you bear to see Mr. Langdon die with unfinished wish, to see him all alone after death?"

"He's so young, so talented, doesn't even have a girlfriend, hasn't experienced the joys of love, and was just focused on his work. But now..."

As she spoke, Genevieve's eyes welled up with tears. She turned and buried her face in Lorne's chest, sobbing.

"Professor, how could someone as brilliant as you get a terminal illness? It's so unfair."

I watched as Lorne held my darling tightly, kissing her forehead to comfort her.

I slammed my fist against the glass mirror and turned to walk towards the main hall.

There were still a few French business partners coming to see me. I couldn't lose my composure.

Moments later, Lorne entered the venue with Genevieve on his arm, looking completely at ease.

She allowed Lorne to hold her slender waist as they navigated through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with all the guests.

When it was time for the speech, Genevieve surprisingly took the stage first, arm-in-arm with Lorne.

"The major success we've achieved in developing foreign markets is first and foremost thanks to the hard work and planning of Manager Lorne Langdon. Without his strategic brilliance, we wouldn't have today's success. Let's give him a round of applause."

The applause was thunderous, with everyone excitedly watching the two figures on stage - one exuding charm and elegance, the other radiating beauty and grace.

If it wasn't my darling up there, I'd be clapping enthusiastically too, celebrating their seamless partnership.

But the overseas project was clearly my brainchild, I was the one directing operations on-site, and I was the one who spent countless hours negotiating with clients. How did Lorne suddenly become the mastermind behind it all?

And since when did he become the General Manager? Wasn't he just our company's legal counsel?

How is a law professor supposed to manage hundreds of employees? This has to be some kind of joke.

Sharp-eyed observers noticed that today, the two of them were actually wearing custom-made couple outfits.

The crowd's eyes turned to me, filled with sympathy, mockery, and confusion.

As the applause died down, Genevieve, with a beaming smile, raised the microphone.

"Today, I have another major announcement to make. In light of Mr. Langdon's contributions to the company, I've decided to gift him twenty percent of the company's shares."

She gazed at Lorne with affection as she spoke.

Lorne looked back at Genevieve, his expression unruffled.

"Genevieve, thank you for your kindness. Putting in effort for everyone is simply my duty. I'll have to decline the shares. As a scholar, what I truly enjoy is academic research. Money holds no meaning for me."

The thunderous applause erupted once again throughout the venue.

"Professor Langdon truly lives up to his scholarly reputation, so magnanimous."

"Professor Langdon is the epitome of grace and refinement, treating money as if it were dirt. A true role model for academics."

My chest tightened with frustration. I rushed onto the stage in one swift motion.

"Mr. Frost, don't you think you're being hasty about the shares? Shouldn't you consult me, your VP, on this matter?"

This marked the first time I had ever publicly opposed Genevieve.

Genevieve's expression froze momentarily, a flicker of regret crossing her face.