Isabella’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, “What’s going on?”

A coworker gestured toward her computer with an apologetic look. “You should check the group chat.”

A flicker of cautious hope ignited inside Isabella.

Could Ethan have finally announced their marriage?

Was he ready to claim her publicly—to tell the world they were bound together?

Heart racing, she booted up her computer and clicked into the work group chat.

For one fragile moment, the corners of her lips lifted in a tentative smile.

But it didn’t last.

The pinned message wasn’t the joyful declaration she’d imagined.

Instead, it was a formal, sober clarification.

Her eyes flew over the text.

It was written by someone from marketing—a woman she’d clashed with before.

The colleague admitted to taking those photos with the sole purpose of ruining Isabella’s reputation.

Right below was an official notice from the company.

It condemned the employee’s actions, issued a severe penalty, and warned against spreading rumors.

So it wasn’t him.

Disappointment washed over Isabella like ice water.

It stung like a slap across the face—sharp and humiliating.

Sophia’s words came back to haunt her, tightening around her heart like a vise.

“Gossip all you want, but in the end, it’s Ethan’s feelings that matter.”

Was it true?

Did he really prefer framing an innocent colleague over acknowledging their marriage… just to protect Sophia’s image?

Isabella’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Her nails dug half-moons into her palms, but she barely felt it.

The pain in her chest was far deeper—a raw, throbbing wound that overshadowed everything else.

The realization cut through her like shards of glass.

She had given everything to this marriage.

She put her own dreams on hold just to stand silently by Ethan’s side.

And this was her reward.

A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her lips.

As evening fell and the office grew quiet, Isabella remained at her desk, lost in thought.

The pale glow of her monitor cast faint shadows across her face, mirroring the turmoil within.

She marveled at how she’d made it through the day.

Every sideways glance and whispered comment from her colleagues had felt like another twist of the knife.

She thought she was strong—armored against heartbreak.

But the truth had revealed how fragile she really was.

Like glass on the verge of shattering.

“Isabella? Why are you still here?”

A familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.

It was Chloe Ramirez—a rare beacon of kindness in their cold corporate world.

Isabella forced a weak smile. “Just… trying to get my head around the new project,” she lied, masking the chaos within.