In this world, I'm an orphan, and Harlan Sawyer is my target.

I've known him for four years.


Since junior year, he's been my knight in shining armor.

Handsome, considerate, gentle… every positive adjective seemed tailor-made for him.

After three years together, I genuinely fell deeper in love with him each day.


I always believed I could wait for his proposal.

Then I'd complete my mission and spend the rest of my life happily with him.


But I was just a fool dreaming.

The clock ticked mercilessly.

I killed the lights, plunging the living room into darkness.

I curled up on the sofa and called him.

He didn't answer.

Stubborn as always, I called again and again until finally, he picked up.

"Rachel, for God's sake, stop bothering me! I'm buying bubble tea for Vanessa. Don't call unless it's important…"

Harlan's voice had lost all its warmth—I'd never heard him speak to me like this before.

The call disconnected with a click, leaving me frozen in shock.

If she could drink bubble tea, how serious could this "accident" really be?

Besides, how the hell could buying her bubble tea be more important than our engagement?

I felt dizzy with doubt. Did Harlan ever truly love me?

What were all my years of devotion worth?

In college, I pinched pennies with him, surviving on ramen and tap water.

After graduation, I supported his startup dreams, playing secretary, chef, and cheerleader all at once.

I fussed over his health, making sure he slept enough and ate properly.

But now it seemed all his ambition and hard work was for Vanessa's benefit.

So that one day he could impress her with his success.

I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Can anyone ever truly compete with someone's first love?