My Life Is Not Devoted To You

Ben Luke and I have fought side by side for a full ten years. From inexperienced and immature graduates to partners in charge of the group's core business today, we are regarded as a made-in-heaven couple by others. At every industry summit and every company annual meeting, we stand side by side, receiving everyone's admiration and blessings. This friendship of fighting together and this seemingly unbreakable relationship also allowed me to successfully pass the family's ultimate test. I began to make preparations, taking him home to meet all relatives and friends, and finalizing our marriage. I thought that ten years of companionship and perseverance would eventually lead to a natural and satisfactory outcome. That afternoon, I ended the business negotiation early and returned to the company to pick up a forgotten document. The safety exit at the end of the corridor was somewhat dimly lit. I looked up inadvertently and saw Ben Luke. Standing beside him was Vivian Lincoln. He had one arm around her waist and leaned down to whisper something in her ear, his tone extremely intimate. Vivian smiled with her eyes curved into crescent moons, took the initiative to lean closer to him, and her fingers gently brushed his wrist. That scene was like a thin needle, piercing my eyes unexpectedly and slowly seeping into my heart. I paused in my tracks, instinctively hiding around the corner, my heart pounding wildly. Maybe I was mistaken. I told myself that Vivian was just his subordinate, and perhaps they were too engrossed in work matters. After calming my emotions and walking out of the corner, they had already separated and were talking about work side by side, looking open and aboveboard, as if the intimacy just now was an illusion of mine. When Ben saw me, he immediately smiled and walked over, naturally taking my hand: "Jennifer, why are you back?" His palm was still warm, but I felt that there was something unfamiliar in that warmth that I couldn't understand. "I came back to get something." My tone was flat, deliberately avoiding his gaze and the flustered look Vivian gave me. I didn't question, didn't make a scene, and didn't even show the slightest sign of abnormality. In front of others, we were still the loving Jennifer Scott and Ben Luke. But only I knew that that seemingly insignificant crack had quietly taken root and sprouted in my heart. Doubts, like vines, wrapped around my heart, tightening more and more. To prepare for meeting the parents, I returned to the Scott family's old mansion two days in advance. The moment I pushed the door open, I was stunned. The entire living room was decorated like a fairy-tale world, with white balloons hanging all over the ceiling, pink roses paving the path, and a faint fragrance lingering in the air. On the coffee table, there was a velvet box. I walked over and opened the box. A pigeon-egg-sized diamond ring lay quietly inside. The perfectly cut diamond sparkled brightly under the light. Next to it was a card with Ben's familiar handwriting: "Jennifer, ten years of walking together, I want to share the rest of my life with you." My heart softened suddenly, and my eyes filled with tears instantly. Could I have really misunderstood him? Perhaps the scene in the corridor that day was really an accident. He had done so much for me and planned so much for our future—how could he betray me? Holding the velvet box, the doubts in my heart gradually dissipated, replaced by full joy and expectation. I even began to blame myself for not trusting him enough and for overthinking. In the evening, I heard the sound of the door lock turning. I thought it was Ben coming, so I immediately got up to greet him, a smile uncontrollably on my face. But standing at the door was more than just Ben. By his side, holding his arm, was Vivian. Vivian was holding a cake, with a sweet smile on her face. When she saw me, she didn't look flustered at all. Instead, she took the initiative to greet me: "Ms. Scott, Ben said he wanted to bring us to here to celebrate."