Warning: Mention of nguage that may be offensive. Reader discretion is advised.

  The very next day, Jun was discussing matters with Stephanie at the cafe when an unexpected customer walked in.

  A waitress greeted Mei, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she moved towards them, looking at Jun with a hint of jealousy and resentment.

  When Jun noticed her, Mei revealed a strained smile, her eyes fshing with barely suppressed anger, and asked, “Can I have a word with you?”

  Jun and Stephanie exchanged meaningful looks before she nodded. She said, “Sure, let’s go over there.”

  In the private room, Jun and Mei sat across from each other as heavy tension filled the air. The scent of lilies did little to mask the underlying animosity as each waited for the other to speak. Stephanie carefully pced two gsses of iced lemon tea before she quietly retreated.

  When they were finally alone, Mei stopped pretending. She spoke, breaking the silence.

  “Jun, can you please let Liam go? Because of you, he changed.”

  Without a change of expression, Jun sipped her tea. “What do you mean?”

  “Because of you, he wouldn’t eat or sleep well. He would call your name every day, washing his face with tears. In just one month, he became haggard and thin, all because you wouldn’t stop pestering him. If you had stopped, he wouldn’t be like this.”

  Jun chuckled, amused by how absurd her words were. Although she couldn’t help but feel surprised. If things had gone as pnned, like in the original plot, Mei would have been telling the truth because Jun Lee would relentlessly pursue Liam’s affection in a desperate attempt to win back his heart. Liam’s patience would eventually wear thin under her constant harassment, and it wouldn’t be long before he would resent her.

  But now?

  She had broken up with Liam because of his infidelity, and yet Mei still stubbornly persisted in bming her for his behaviour when she had nothing to do with it. Ironically, by walking away from Liam first, she inadvertently allowed her absence to amplify her presence in his heart, giving him the time and distance he needed to think about her. But sadly, it was too te. She had no intention of returning to Liam, even if he grovelled for her forgiveness.

  “Mei,” Jun gently pced down her gss on the table, watching the ice cubes slowly melt, diluting her tea. “Liam and I have already broken up, and what you two do is none of my concern. Besides, after leaving him, I have never been happier.”

  “Impossible. You’re lying!” Mei retorted. “How could you be happy? You loved him so much!”

  Hearing her ridiculous words, Jun stared at Mei’s serious expression, speechless. Who would have guessed Mei, the female lead in this world, based her entire happiness on a man? Did losing love meant she couldn’t find happiness anymore?

  Jun sighed. “Let me make this clear.”

  “Liam and I are over. Whatever he’s dealing with right now has nothing to do with me. In fact, shouldn’t you be happy? He’s finally yours.”

  “Why would I be happy?!” Mei scoffed, smming her hand on the table. “If you hadn’t interfered, things would have worked out differently, and I would have already been with him!”

  Jun’s smile vanished. Not only was Liam selfish, Mei was equally foolish and self-centred. Blinded by their own beliefs, they prioritised their own happiness above all else, oblivious to the pain they caused.

  As such, Jun Lee became the unfortunate lovesick vilin who had to walk down the path of no return because of their so-called “true love”.

  “I really hate how self-righteous you think you are, as if you have done no wrong, especially since you’re also the culprit for my breakup. Besides, if Liam had truly loved you, why was he so easily affected by my absence? Perhaps what he always wanted was me, and not you.”

  In an instant, Mei spshed the tea at Jun, her face twisted into a fury.

  Jun brushed the water from her face, leaving droplets clinging to her fingertips. Fortunately, it was cold. Otherwise, she would have been scalded. She said, “What’s wrong, Mei? Cat got your tongue? Or did I just speak the truth?” With a nonchant expression, she calmly swept her wet fringe back. “You know I’m right.”

  Provoked by the sight of Jun’s shallow smile as if mocking her, Mei cursed. “Jun, you bitch!!” Then she threw the gss at Jun, narrowly missing her by an inch.

  Hearing the distinct sound of gss shattering, Stephanie suspected something was amiss and burst through the door. Seeing Jun drenched and surrounded by shards of broken gss, she felt a fiery anger erupted inside her.

  Stephanie stood in front of Jun, quickly checking for any injuries. She gred at Mei and snapped, “Excuse me, I do not tolerate such violent behaviour in my establishment. Please leave this instant!”

  Mei blushed with embarrassment. Just as she was about to reach for her bag, ready to leave, Jun stopped her. “Wait a minute.”

  Mei paused, gring at Jun. “What more do you want? Let me tell you, I won’t apologise.”

  Unexpectedly, Jun mocked her. “Do you think doing this will bring him back to you? I highly doubt it.”

  Mei’s eyes widened in anger. “You damn bitch!” She raised her hand, intending to sp Jun hard.

  But Stephanie caught Mei’s hand, her fingers tightening around her palm, before shoving her away. She threatened, “You dare!”

  With Stephanie guarding Jun so protectively, there’s nothing she could do. Mei bit her lips. Furious, she snatched her bag and stormed out of the room. As she left, she smmed the door. It was clear she wasn’t guilty at all. Just embarrassed at being stopped.

  With a concerned frown, Stephanie turned to Jun and asked, “Are you okay? Should I report her to the police?”

  Jun shook her head and smiled. She patted Stephanie’s shoulder reassuringly. “That’s kind of you, but there’s no need. I did, in fact, py a part in provoking her.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Jun nodded.

  Since Jun didn’t want to pursue the matter anymore, Stephanie had no choice but to let it go. She checked on Jun one st time before leaving to tidy up the mess.

  When Jun stepped out of the cafe, it was almost evening. She turned the corner and inadvertently saw Xavier leaning against his car, waiting for her. Surprised, she approached him and asked, “How did you know I was here again?”

  But Xavier didn’t answer her. Instead, he gave her a quick gnce before taking off his coat to put it around her. Once he was satisfied that she was properly covered, he leaned in close and revealed a faint smile. He whispered, “Don’t catch a cold.”

  Jun stared at Xavier’s seemingly kind appearance and vaguely felt something was wrong. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. In the end, she silently climbed into the car and returned home with him.

  After they left, Mei finally emerged from the shadows. She had been standing across the street, under a tree, watching Jun and Xavier’s intimate moment the whole time. Witnessing Xavier’s gentle attentiveness towards Jun, which was once hers, her heart swelled with jealousy. Unknowingly, the two men closest to her had been taken away by Jun.

  Now that her retionship with Liam was falling apart, how could she possibly bear to see Jun happy?

  A burning hatred consumed Mei as she vowed to destroy Jun — the vilin who had cruelly stolen her happy ending.

  …

  Weeks passed, and it was time for Liam’s company to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is the company’s first selection in five years since Liam and Xavier had founded it. Every five years, a meeting between the board members and the shareholders would be held to elect and vote for the new CEO.

  Votes were based on the percentage of shares owned by each person, with the majority shareholder essentially deciding the outcome. But just gaining the most votes wouldn’t be enough, as the CEO candidate had to be a senior-level executive with at least three years of experience in the company. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to effectively manage the company’s strategic direction and vision.

  In the boardroom, Father Lee, Jun, Xavier, Liam and the remaining board members and shareholders waited for the meeting to begin. But they all expected the meeting to be nothing more than a formality since they had expected Liam to get the CEO position. After all, he already owned 29% of the company shares. No one had enough shares to stand close to that.

  But when Father Lee nominated Xavier to the CEO position, the room fell into utter silence before everyone erupted into an uproar. To them, they thought the nomination was unexpected, driven by petty revenge.

  “Mr Lee, with all due respect, this is not appropriate. Even though Mr Grey is indeed your son-in-w, I believe we should keep personal matters separate from business. A fair decision shouldn’t be influenced solely by your daughter’s distress.” One of the board members who supported Liam couldn’t help but speak out.

  Despite Mr Lee’s powerful background as the chairman of one of the top global conglomerates, it was common knowledge how much he adored his only daughter, Jun Lee. He would spare no expenses to help her succeed, even handing over his entire business upon his retirement. As such, her wedding had been the subject of much gossip since the groom was repced at the st minute. Even if it went well, many doubts still lingered about the marriage’s future. Therefore, it came as no surprise they specuted Jun of exploiting her father’s great influence for her personal goals and openly voiced those suspicions.

  However, Father Lee was neither provoked nor affected by those words. Instead, he remained calm, his steady gaze betraying no hint of anxiety.

  “I stand by my decision. If you have any objections, do it after the votes are cast.”

  His words made it obvious he backed Xavier for the CEO position, plunging everyone in the room into a thoughtful silence.

  Liam’s gaze fell on Father Lee, his former supporter, who had now turned against him. Even though he had expected it after he ruined his daughter’s wedding, he didn’t think Father Lee would use this opportunity to undermine him.

  But it’s too te.

  Ever since he discovered Jun’s retionship with Xavier, he has been working to get the board to be on his side.

  Combining his 29% and his father’s 5%, they would have 34%, exceeding Xavier and Father Lee’s combined 33% by 1%.

  Moreover, with the other five board members backing behind him, the total would be 54%, securing his position as the CEO.

  Regardless, even if Jun had somehow gained 13% from the previous two board members who sold their shares, it would still be insufficient. They would only have 46%, behind by a significant margin of 8%.

  There was never a fight to begin with.

  And yet Liam couldn’t help but feel uneasy when he gnced at Jun, who seemed to be unfazed despite the odds against her. He unconsciously frowned. What gives her that confidence? In any case, the CEO position was bound to be his.

  No matter what, he wouldn’t lose it.

  In the end, after the secretary tallied all the votes and announced the results, it left everyone dumbfounded.

  “The next CEO is Mr Xavier Grey with 51%.”

  Liam was in disbelief. A moment of silence passed through him before he stood up, utterly confused. Then he pounded the table and yelled, “How is that possible?”

  “How could I lose?!”

  Jun watched Liam’s shocked expression, and a chuckle escaped her lips. With a sly smile, she lifted her chin from her palm and sat up. She asked, “Are you done?”

  Liam’s eyes darkened. A murderous rage filled his heart as he turned towards Jun. With a deadly look, he spat each word in a menacing tone.

  “What did you do?”