I understood his hesitation. With our families intertwined, even if I had once harbored feelings for Michael, neither of us would have risked breaking those ties. Later, once I was with Daniel, there was no room for anything else.
“It’s fine. Better to know now than never.”
Whatever bond Daniel and I had was over. From now on, we would only be rivals.
Michael didn’t hold back—he immediately appointed me as Executive Director, giving me responsibility over all major business operations.
But fate has a way of forcing collisions. The industry is small, and when I attended a major summit representing our company, I inevitably ran into Daniel and Emily Johnson again.
They were surrounded by peers, showered with flattery.
“Mr. Walker, you and Ms. Johnson are such a perfect match. Be sure to invite me to the wedding!”
“And this must be Sophia Carter, right? I’ve long heard of her abilities!”
“What a golden couple—you two are enviable.”
At that, Daniel’s face turned ashen. Most of the people there had heard names but never seen faces, so all he and Emily could do was exchange an awkward smile, dodging the truth.
I deliberately circled behind them and suddenly spoke up: