After My Fiance Delayed the Wedding, He Went Mad

My fianc had been overseas for five years, and when I went to meet him at the airport and reached out to hug him, his risk analyst shoved me away.

Dark circles under her eyes. Risk level up ten.

No perfume, no tie. Risk level up ten.

Her company is worth less than yours, Clifford. A mismatch in standing. Risk level up eighty.

"Overall assessment: highest possible risk. Marrying this woman would severely damage your reputation. My recommendation is to call off the engagement."

I frowned slightly and turned to Clifford Farley. "You're really going to let her carry on like this?"

He was the one who'd asked me last night to rush an assessment on a partnership and write up a risk report. The least he could do was say a word for me.

Instead he spread his hands and smiled. "Charlotte Harding's a professional. She's never once been wrong."

After the shock passed, I suddenly wanted to laugh.

If sincerity couldn't buy sincerity in return, then there would be no wedding, and I'd take back every bit of support I'd quietly given Clifford Farley while I was at it.

...

"From today on, please stay three meters away from Clifford."

Charlotte moved to shove me again.

As though I were carrying some contagious disease.

I raised my hand and caught her by the wrist, my voice cold. "Remember, you're just an employee."

"But I'm also the person Clifford trusts most."

Charlotte's mouth curled into a taunt, and she turned to Clifford Farley for confirmation.

"Charlotte was recommended to me by my father as my confidante. She would never do anything to hurt me."

Clifford nodded right along with her.

"Ha."

I laughed, furious, and rounded on Clifford Farley. "And I would?"

"No, you wouldn't go that far."

That was his answer.

Watching him, that cool, detached calm, that unnaturally steady tone, left a tight ache in my chest.

Five years ago, before Clifford Farley left the country, he'd leaned against me and said, "Eliana, with you beside me, I'm not afraid of anything, storm or ruin."

"Wait five years for me."

"When I'm back, we'll have a grand wedding."

I had believed that time could never break a love as fierce as ours.

I used to imagine our happy life after the wedding.

But now reality had spelled it out for me. Five years of aching, waiting, and all it bought me was one line. "You wouldn't go that far."

I drew a deep breath and looked at Clifford Farley again.

"Seven years between us, and you'll let some risk analyst who's been here half a year decide what it's worth?"

"When the Farley family was on the edge of bankruptcy, when everyone else steered clear, I was the only one who stood by you, who helped the Farleys pay off their debts."

"Even the chance for the Farleys to expand overseas, that was something I gave up for you"

But this time.

Before I could finish, Charlotte raised a hand and cut me off. "Isn't that just what a girlfriend is supposed to do?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Clifford is the man of countless women's dreams."

"If you really loved him, you'd find a way to lower your risk level, not drag out all this stale old history."

"Start with a little disinfecting."

He pulled out a bottle of alcohol, mocking, and sprayed it in my face.

Crack!

My hand flew up and slapped him, my voice ice. "You dream about him too, don't you?"

"That's why you're standing here stirring up trouble."

The next second.

Before Charlotte could even react, Clifford Farley rushed forward and pressed a knife to my throat.

"Eliana Fox!"

"Who gave you the right to hit my people?"

I froze, but the calm came back fast.

Five years is enough to change a person completely, head to toe, inside out.

The Clifford Farley who once believed in love and knew how to meet someone halfway had died long ago.

The Clifford Farley in front of me now was cold, unfeeling, profit above all.

"Forget it."

"Don't let it happen again."

Just like that, Clifford Farley drew the knife back and frowned as he lectured me. "What Charlotte said was fair."

"With the position I'm in now, you really do need to work on yourself before you're worthy of me."

"The wedding is postponed for now. I'll announce it three days from now, at the signing ceremony with all the partner companies."

I took a deep breath. "Then let's just"

The word breakup never made it out.

Clifford Farley spoke first. "No matter how much you say, it won't change my mind."

"Charlotte, let's go."

He and Charlotte got into the car and drove off.

I shook my head, took out my phone, and made a call. "Within three days, halt all cooperation with Farley Group."

Once I'd given my instructions.

I went back to bed and slept, until the phone woke me the next morning.

"Eliana Fox!"

"I've called you a dozen times. Why won't you pick up?"

The moment I answered, Clifford's angry voice came through.

"Sleeping."

I answered around a yawn.

"What?!"

His voice shot up, thick with displeasure. "Is the risk report done? And you're sleeping? Don't you know I have a meeting today and I need to show it to the shareholders?"

Yesterday I wasn't accomplished enough, and marrying me was too risky.

This morning he was hounding me for the risk report.

I don't know how he managed to sound so righteous about it.

"Isn't Charlotte Harding a professional risk analyst? Let her do it."

I smiled a little. "I'm sure she'll turn in something you'll be happy with."

"That's enough! Stop digging a pit for her!"

Clifford's tone grew more and more impatient. "Charlotte doesn't know much about the domestic market, business isn't her specialty, and she just got back and she's still jet-lagged."

"She was only looking out for me when she said those things about you. Do you really have to hold a grudge over it?"

"You know I don't like petty women."

For him, I gave everything without hesitation.

And I got called petty.

Charlotte, on the other hand, only had to move her lips and hand out scores.

And she got defended at every turn.

The difference in how he treated us was too glaring.

"Have the risk report to me before ten."

"Otherwise I'll take Charlotte's advice and cancel the engagement."

Clifford went on.

"Fine."

"Then cancel it."

I agreed.

The line went silent for half a minute before Clifford spoke again.

"I don't have time to play games with you."

"Charlotte says that if you complete this task, your risk rating can drop two levels."

And with that.

Clifford hung up.

It seemed that in his mind, I was some kind of product, waiting to be judged over and over.

Slapped with every kind of label.

Always at risk of being pulled from the shelf.

I washed up quickly and went to the office, where I picked up that nearly finished assessment report on my desk.

And dropped it straight into the trash.

"Ms. Fox."

The secretary came into the office and handed me a few documents. "These are the projects where the Foxes work directly with the Farleys. Once they're terminated, there's no bringing them back."

"Several of the top companies in the city have called too, confirming whether you really mean to cut ties with the Farleys."

"Do you want to reconsider?"

I couldn't blame them for hesitating.

After all, the whole city knew how fiercely I loved Clifford.

So they were all afraid I was so hopelessly in love with him that I was just acting out of a moment's temper.

"No need to reconsider. Do as I said before. Terminate everything."

I waved a hand and went off to the meeting.

Normally I never turned my phone off, no matter the hour, and I'd given Clifford his own ringtone.

Just so he could always reach me.

Because I knew a long-distance relationship was hard to keep alive.

At first, Clifford messaged me often, sharing his days and his work.

I answered every one with care.

I shared my own life too.

But as time went on, his messages grew fewer and fewer.

He said he was busy with work.

By the time Charlotte was at his side, the chat window was almost all my messages.

He replied maybe once a week.

I asked him about it.

He still said he was too busy and hoped I'd understand.

Until last night, when I finally saw that he wasn't busy at all. He just found me tiresome in every way.

And whatever Charlotte said, he let it stand.

So I should take back the special ringtone and the special treatment I'd given him too.

In the evening, the meeting ended.

When I turned my phone back on, I found Clifford had sent me a pile of messages.

Eliana Fox! Where the hell did you disappear to?

If you won't show up, then send the risk report over. Do you want me humiliated in front of every last shareholder?

I'm raising your risk rating to 1,000. No, to 100,000!!

I was about to reply.

Then Clifford's father called.

"Eliana."

"I heard you and Clifford had a fight. Come have dinner with me, talk it out, don't let it hurt what you two have."

So.

I went to the Farley house.

Seven years ago, the Farleys had sold off nearly everything they owned and been forced to rent.

Five years ago, with my help, they climbed out of the crisis and had a home of their own again.

Now they had bought back the standalone mansion they once lost.

And renovated it into something even grander.

Like a palace.

I walked in just in time to see Clifford and Charlotte laughing together on the sofa.

"Charlotte, which sports car do you like? Which oceanview house, or which bag? Take your pick. You've done so much for the Farleys, you deserve a reward."

Clifford was beaming, his eyes full of admiration.

It sat wrong with me, hearing it.

Seven years together, seven years of giving, and all I'd ever gotten from him was verbal praise. Never anything real. Not so much as a holiday gift.

I used to think that was just his nature.

Only now did I understand: in his heart, I simply wasn't worth it.

"Eliana's here. Sit, sit."

Ned Farley's voice came from across the room.

Only then did Clifford and Charlotte look up and see me, and their smiles vanished at once.

Then Charlotte spoke up first: "Clifford, Uncle Ned, to keep this conflict from escalating any further, I've decided to resign."

"I won't be the risk analyst anymore."

And with that she stood, as if to leave.

A textbook move. Retreat to gain ground.

And it worked beautifully.

Clifford grabbed her arm at once, soothing her. "It's not your fault."

Then.

He turned to me and said coldly, "Look at yourself. Look what you've driven Charlotte to."

"The assessment report, I'm willing to let that go."

"But you have to apologize to Charlotte!"

For a moment I had nothing to say.

I was the one wronged here.

Yet in his mouth I'd become the villain.

"All right, all right, that's enough from both of you. Sit down and we'll talk it through."

Ned smoothed things over, pulling me down into a seat as he went on. "I have an idea. See what you think."

"Eliana's company merges into Farley Group. We'll all be one family soon anyway."

I froze.

I'd thought Ned genuinely wanted to fix the problem. Turned out he was a sly old fox too.

Setting his sights on my company.

Bleed me dry first, then swallow whatever's left.

"Uncle Ned, that's a good idea."

Charlotte adjusted her glasses. "Merging into the Farleys solves the mismatch in status."

"The risk rating drops to 20. Ordinary level. Acceptable."

And off she went into another analysis.

"Fine."

"If Charlotte says it's acceptable, then I agree."

Clifford sat with his arms crossed, chin still tilted high, wearing the airs of an emperor.

"Then let's sign the agreement."

Ned produced it with a smile.

From start to finish, no one had asked what I wanted.

As if they were certain I'd sign.

Ned held out a pen. "Eliana, this is the biggest concession I could win for you. If you still want to marry my son, don't let it slip away."

I gave a small smile and didn't take it.

"This agreement, I won't sign."

Silence dropped over the room in an instant.

Then Charlotte narrowed her eyes and spoke. "Refusing the best advice on the table means a stubborn temper and a short fuse."

"Add a hundred points to her marriage risk rating!"

Ned Farley's smile vanished, replaced by a frown. "Eliana, do you hear yourself? After everything I've tried to do for you."

"It seems Charlotte's risk assessment of you was exactly right."

"Clifford should never marry you."

I stood. "If two people's feelings need a third party pointing fingers to survive, then no, they shouldn't."

I said it, and turned to leave.

Clifford's voice came from behind me. "Eliana, you'd better think this through."

Ned's tone went hard too. "A company your size, going up against the Farleys? Your life won't be easy after this."

I only smiled.

"Suit yourselves."

I was stopped at an intersection, waiting on the red light, when my secretary called.

"Miss Fox, the Farleys have canceled every partnership with us."

"Fast work."

I let out a cold laugh. "Get the word out. Let's see who still dares sign with the Farleys at the ceremony two days from now."

I had just hung up when a car came tearing in from the left.

There was no time to swerve.

A deafening crash, and pain shot through every bone in my body. My head slammed into something, the world spinning, and through the blur I made out Clifford's car passing by.

He saw me. The shock broke out of him. "Eliana?!"

Our eyes met.

Seven years, I thought. Seven years I'd bled myself dry for the Farley Group, given him everything. If he had a shred of feeling left for what we'd been, he would save me.

But the moment Clifford moved to get out, Charlotte grabbed him from the passenger seat.

"Don't!"

"Getting out now is a hundred-point risk! People will spread rumors and drag down your reputation and your image."

Another risk assessment from Charlotte.

Clifford hesitated. In the end he turned his face away, hit the gas, and was gone in seconds.

I gave a bitter laugh and slowly closed my eyes.

So that was it.

I couldn't even measure up to Charlotte.

And next to Clifford's precious face and image, I was worth nothing at all.

Seven years.

Even a dog you'd raised for seven years would grab your sleeve in its teeth and try to pull you clear, wouldn't it?

Instead I'd raised an ingrate.

My consciousness slipped away.

When I woke again it was the next morning, and the door of my hospital room was crowded with people.

Every one of them a well-known local business leader.

"Miss Fox, you're finally awake!"

"That Clifford Farley is worthless. He watched you get into a wreck and didn't lift a finger to help."

"Without you, he's nothing! What a two-faced ingrate!"

One after another, they took my side.

I wanted to see how the Farleys would carry off their grand signing ceremony tomorrow.

The next day, at the signing venue.

"Clifford, by my assessment the risk for this ceremony is zero," Charlotte said with a smile.

"The Farley Group will surely land favorable deals with every local business."

Clifford and Ned nodded and said in one voice, "With you here, we can rest easy."

As the business leaders took their seats, Clifford stepped up to the stage. "The agreements are in front of each of you. Once everyone has signed, we'll begin the banquet."

"Here's to a pleasant partnership."

But the room stayed dead silent. Not a single person picked up a pen.