Leave Him, Be the Heroine of My Life Free Preview

They say every man carries in his heart a woman he once loved but could never have.

Kylie Rehbein always thought Axel Bowen was the exception. After all, she had been with him since they were young.

But the world itself feels like a giant stage built for that unreachable first love.

And Axel, it turned out, was no different.

Kylie had been with Axel since she was 18. Seven full years.

More than 2,000 days and nights together, sharing every intimate moment. Yet none of it could compare to the fleeting crush he once had when he was young.

It was almost laughable.

Seven years, and she still hadn't figured out what was in his heart.

How deeply had he fallen in love with that old flame for Axel to keep it buried in his heart for such a long time?

Kylie's mind drifted. The man on top of her grew impatient. He pushed harder, warning her not to lose focus.

Axel was always intense in bed.

In one rough movement, he knocked over a small black box on the nightstand.

He caught it quickly before it could fall on her.

Axel hadn't seen that box before. For once, his curiosity showed. "What's this?" he asked.

Kylie took the box from him without a change in her expression. She tossed it aside and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips brushed his throat as she whispered, "You're thinking about something else now? Are you tired of me already?"

Her temptation pulled him back. Axel gave in, forgetting the box instantly.

But as Axel lost himself in her, Kylie turned her eyes toward the black box on the side. Her gaze turned watery, filling with a quiet ache.

Axel, you'll never know what's inside that box.

...

A month earlier, Axel's company, Vortex Group, had gone public. His friends threw him a small celebration party.

Kylie dressed up and went with one purpose: she planned to propose to him.

It should have been the man's job.

But Kylie loved him too much. She was willing to put aside her pride and be the one to ask.

No one knew she had waited seven years for this moment.

Axel was always focused on his career, so Kylie had built her life around him. She switched her college major to finance, even though she hated it, just to match his path.

After graduation, she gave up an offer from a top school overseas and chose to work at his company.

She started as an assistant and worked her way up to chief secretary.

The struggle, the sacrifices—only she knew what it cost her.

There were so many times, especially when her love for him felt overwhelming, that she wanted to ask, "Will you marry me?"

But she always held back.

Her mother had told her: gifts and love should never be begged for.

If someone gives freely, it's true affection. If you have to ask, it's charity.

And Axel was not the type of man to express love easily.

Still, in all these years, she had been the only woman by his side.

To her, it felt like marriage was just the natural ending to their story.

Kylie had fought for Vortex for years, giving everything she had.

Big or small, tough or easy, she took it all on.

She couldn't even count how many times she drank herself sick or how many trips she made to the hospital.

The worst was the time she nearly died on the operating table from alcohol poisoning and a miscarriage.

Her best friend Skye Thornton once asked, "After coming so close to death, do you regret it? Was wrecking yourself for a man worth it?"

Kylie hadn't even hesitated. She nodded. "It's worth it."

Skye gave her a nickname then—Cupid's Fighter.

She laughed and told her, "I just hope you don't lose this fight."

Back then, Kylie had answered with full confidence, "Axel won't let me lose."

That belief carried her all the way through until the day Vortex finally went public.

No one knew that while Axel was at Khison ringing the bell for the opening of the stock market, Kylie locked herself in her room and cried until she couldn’t cry anymore.

When the tears stopped, she began planning the surprise proposal for Axel.

She had no choice—Axel was too busy.

Vortex had just gone public. Axel was juggling new projects and celebrating with family and partners.

Romance was the last thing on his mind.

So she took the initiative.

She'd share his burdens and handle some tasks for him.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, when the moment finally came, her nerves nearly broke her.

She stood outside the door, trying to steady her breathing, rubbing her trembling hands.

Kylie was terrified she'd choke on the vows she had rehearsed a hundred times.

Inside, the party was in full swing. Voices carried out through the door.

"Axel, do you still keep in touch with Rhea?"

"Rhea? Isn't she his first love? Why bring her up now?"

"I heard she's coming back to the country."

"Then Axel might get back together with his first love!"

Kylie's hands, which had been trembling with excitement, suddenly froze.

"Let's be real," someone added, "her dad's career has skyrocketed these last few years. If Axel marries her, it would help both him and Vortex. Power and beauty, a perfect match."

"Not to mention, she's his first love. That's a win in both love and business."

The one saying this was Elmer Sowle, Axel's childhood friend.

He always liked to brag that he and Axel grew up together and had been through thick and thin. People usually believed him.

Axel ... had a first love?

The thought struck Kylie like a blade, her chest tightening with sudden pain.

"What about Kylie?" Someone asked curiously. "She's been with Axel for so many years. Maybe she hasn't built the company, but she's put in the work."

Elmer just shrugged. "Pay her off. That should do it."

He smirked. "If Axel really can't let go, he can always keep her around after the wedding."

That was how it worked in their world anyway—wives at home for the picture-perfect family and side chicks on the side to keep life exciting.

Outside the door, Kylie's fingers were clenched so tightly she could no longer feel them.

She was desperate to hear Axel's answer.

Kylie wanted him to push back, to tell everyone clearly—he loved Kylie, and she was the one he would marry.

But after waiting and waiting, all she heard was his calm voice. "When did you all get so nosy?"

No denial. No defense.

It sounded more like silent agreement.

"Come on, it's a celebration. Let's talk about something fun before I fall asleep from all this drinking."

Elmer pushed himself up from the couch, eager to stir things up.

He was a notorious player, changing girlfriends faster than he changed clothes.

Always chasing thrills, he grinned and called out, "Let's play a game. Everyone share the wildest thing you've ever done."

One guy jumped right in. "Make love inside a vehicle."

Elmer scoffed. "That's it? That's not wild."

The guy smirked. "On a train."

The whole room roared with laughter and cheers. "Now that's impressive!"

Elmer's eyes lit up. He turned toward Axel, who looked bored and detached. "What about you, Axel? Tell us—what's the craziest thing you've ever done?"

Axel seemed to think for a moment, then said calmly, "I become the side guy—for love."

The room exploded.

This was Axel!

He was the heir of the privileged family from Slegate, born into wealth and power. He could have any woman he wanted.

If he'd really done that, it could only mean one thing: true love.

Elmer's reaction was the loudest. His voice was so sharp and booming that it rattled through the door and pounded in Kylie's ears.

"It was Rhea, wasn't it? I knew you still loved her! Back then you liked Rhea, but Rhea liked Zander—so you became her lover. Axel, you're a simp supreme for real!"

The room erupted with laughter and teasing. To Kylie, those voices felt like buckets of ice water pouring over her head, chilling her to the bone.

Her stomach twisted uncontrollably, waves rising until she had to crouch down, fighting the nausea.

Inside, Elmer kept talking. "Axel, tell us the truth. On October 10th, did you meet Rhea?"

Axel's calm reply came, "How did you know?"

"That night she posted on Instagram," Elmer said. "She wrote, ‘A reunion is the most romantic thing in the world.' I figured it had to be you she was talking about!"

He leaned in, laughing louder. "So what happened that night? Sparks flying? Old flames catching fire again? Did you two share a wild and intense night?"

Elmer wouldn't stop gossiping.

The others in the room kept egging him on, their voices loud and messy.

Kylie couldn't hear what Axel said. All she felt was a sharp pain twisting in her stomach.

But even that wasn't half as painful as the stabbing ache in her chest.

October 10th.

The day I ended up with alcohol poisoning and lost the baby.

While I was fighting for my life in the hospital, he was out rekindling old feelings with his first love.

"Ms. Rehbein, are you okay? You don't look well."

A passing server froze when she saw Kylie crouched on the floor, her face pale as paper.

Kylie begged her to call an ambulance.

By the time she lay inside the vehicle, drenched in sweat, Axel's call came through.

Any other day, no matter how tired she was, she would have answered him right away.

But today the pain was too much. Too heavy.

She didn't want to care. Didn't want anything.

Not even Axel.

...

Kylie spent five days in the hospital.

The diagnosis was severe gastritis—complications from alcohol poisoning and the miscarriage she never fully recovered from.

During her stay, Axel never came. Not once.

Not even a single text.

Maybe, from the very beginning, she had been nothing in his world.

She just hadn't realized it until now.

On Monday, Kylie returned to the office. Her assistant, Mona Corbyn, pulled her aside, whispering like she was sharing a big secret. "Kylie, did you hear? We've got a parachute hire coming in! And it's a woman!"

"Parachute?" Kylie frowned. That didn't sound right.

Axel was strict about promotions. Even she had started as an intern before working her way up.

The company had never hired outsiders directly into high positions.

But Mona was certain. "It's true! I saw Mr. Bowen's signed appointment letter myself. Director of Investment Division Three!"

Kylie's brows twitched at this.

That was the position Axel once promised to her.

She had given everything to Vortex. Everyone in the company knew it.

By the rules of promotion, she should have been made a director long ago, leading her own projects.

But Axel said he couldn't do without her as his secretary. That no one else could replace her, and kept her as a secretary.

He promised that the director role would stay open, waiting for her.

Once Vortex went public, he promised he would personally sign her promotion.

"Really?" Kylie asked calmly, though her eyes twitched with unease. "What's her name?"

"Something like ... Rhea or something. I didn't catch it clearly."

Kylie's fingers trembled. The cup in her hand slipped, crashing to the floor. Hot water splashed everywhere.

Mona jumped in surprise. "Kylie, did you burn yourself?"

"No."

The water wasn't hot, but it still felt like it burned more than scalding heat ever could.

"Rhea Malone," Kylie said.

Mona blinked, confused. "What?"

Kylie drew in a slow breath. "Her name is Rhea Malone. She's about to be the new director of Investment Division Three."

"Oh, right! That was it! Kylie, do you know her?"

"No."

Kylie carried her cup back to the machine to refill it.

The news of the new hire spread through the company quickly. Soon, people started coming to Kylie to confirm.

Answering the same question over and over wore her down. Her good temper ran out, and finally she snapped. "If you're so curious, why don't you just ask Mr. Bowen directly?"

Her words dropped, and for a few seconds the entire office went quiet. Then a woman's gentle voice floated through the silence.

"Axel, it seems like your employee has quite the temper."

Kylie turned toward the sound. The sight of the two of them standing together hit her like a blow.

After days apart, Axel's gaze brushed over her, cool and detached. He faced the others and introduced the woman at his side.

"Everyone, this is Ms. Malone, the new director of Investment Division Three. She'll be in charge of all Division Three projects moving forward."

Greetings filled the room as people welcomed Rhea.

Rhea had a gentle personality. She smiled warmly at everyone. "I look forward to working with all of you."

She even brought small welcome gifts. Axel, standing beside her, carried the bag for her.

Kylie's lips tugged in a self-deprecating smile.

Back when she had walked beside Axel, she was the one carrying all the things. He had never once offered to help.

But for his first love, he was suddenly willing.

So it was true—there really was a difference between the way he treated the one he loved and the one he didn't.

Rhea even gave Kylie a gift, a set of cute animal wrist rests for her mouse.

"Oh wow, same style!" Rhea's eyes landed on the identical set already on Kylie's desk. Then she turned back to Axel with a soft laugh.

"Looks like you two have the same taste."

She gave Kylie an apologetic smile. "Axel came with me to pick out these gifts. I didn't expect the overlap. If it bothers you, I'll replace yours with something else."

"It's alright. I don't mind," Kylie said, accepting the wrist rest.

Axel spoke in his usual commanding tone. "Ms. Rehbein, show Ms. Malone around."

Kylie had no reason to refuse.

One of Vortex's secretary rules was clear: the CEO's orders always came first.

Rhea seemed to fit in easily. She was polite and gentle with everyone.

Her looks were flawless; her features were perfect.

After all, for her to be Axel's first love, of course she wouldn't be ordinary.

After Kylie showed her around, Rhea asked to see her office.

That space had just been finished two weeks earlier.

Kylie had overseen every detail herself.

The furniture, the layout, the colors—everything was chosen to match her taste.

She had waited years for sitting in that office.

The same longing she'd pinned on marriage with Axel.

But now, both dreams—career and love—had slipped out of reach.

"I really like the design of this office," Rhea said with a smile. "It feels warmer than I imagined. And it's so close to Axel's office too."

She looked so pleased, so eager to share her excitement with Axel. She left Kylie behind and hurried next door.

Kylie stood alone in the office she had designed with such care.

She looked around. For a moment she felt like a clown on stage, her heart twisted so tightly it was difficult to breathe.

...

The Monday meeting was the week's most important forum. No one dared be late.

Kylie wasn't an exception.

Except Rhea.

Even as a newcomer, she broke the rule Axel himself had set.

Kylie expected him to be angry—at least say something sharp.

But Axel said nothing. Not even a word of blame. He spoke calmly, telling Kylie to hand out the meeting files.

For a second, she drifted.

Her mind flashed back to her intern days, when she'd once been late to this very meeting because she'd caught the flu from taking care of Axel. She came in with a fever. Axel had called her out in front of the entire company.

He never even remembered that she got sick from looking after him.

Later, she'd complained about the unfairness.

Axel explained that the company was still young, and he had to set an example and make a warning out of someone.

She had been that example.

Back then, she told herself he was just being professional. It wasn't personal.

But now, years later, this moment landed on her like a hard slap across the face.

Turns out he could bend the rules—just not for her.

People weren't treated the same.

The difference in their treatment was as clear as day and night.

When Kylie finished handing out the files and turned around, she saw Rhea already seated.

But it wasn't just any seat—it was Kylie's usual spot.

Kylie froze for a second, ready to remind her.

Before she could speak, Axel said, "From now on, you'll sit over there."

Rhea gave Kylie an apologetic smile. "I'm new here and still have a lot to learn from Mr. Bowen. It's easier if I sit closer."

Axel had spoken. What else could Kylie say?

She quietly gathered her files, hugged her laptop, and walked to a corner seat.

No one in the conference room dared to say a word, but Kylie could feel their eyes on her—sympathetic, almost pitying.

That sympathy burned worse than any insult.

Halfway through the meeting, Axel pointed out his doubts for one of the projects.

"Why hasn't this been finalized yet? Who's in charge of this?"

His tone was sharp and stern. Those who knew him understood this well; this was his warning sign before losing his temper.

The room went silent.

Under the heavy pressure, Kylie stood up. "I'm in charge of that."

Axel's icy stare cut across the room. His voice was hard as steel. "Explain yourself."

"Sorry, I wasn't feeling well the past few days, so the schedule got delayed—"

She hadn't even finished before Axel cut her off. "That's no excuse. I've told all of you before, no one can let personal matters slow down company progress. That's the rule."

Kylie swallowed her words. She didn't argue, just said softly, "I'll catch up."

Only then did Axel look satisfied.

Before ending the meeting, he announced an invitation.

That evening, he would host a welcome party for Rhea at Everwest Club. Everyone in the company was invited.

Everwest Club was the most high-end club in the city. Expensive, flashy.

Axel was sparing no expense.

It was obvious how much he valued Rhea.

All the staff suddenly started to look at Rhea differently.

Even Mona, the most innocent of them all, could see something was off.

While helping Kylie clean up the meeting room, she whispered, "Kylie, are you okay?"

She was one of the few who had an idea about Kylie and Axel's relationship.

"I'm fine," Kylie said, her tone calm.

"But you look so pale," Mona said, worried.

Kylie touched her face. "That obvious?"

Mona nodded firmly. "Very obvious."

"Just my stomach. Old problem, you know." Kylie brushed it off with an excuse.

"Are you going to the welcome party tonight?" Mona asked.

Kylie thought for a moment. "I'll skip it. Just help me to pass the message for Mr. Bowen."

Axel had invited the entire company to welcome Rhea. With so many people there, what did it matter if Kylie went or not?

Maybe Axel wouldn't even notice her absence.

Whether she showed up or not made no difference.

"Alright then. Go home early and get some rest. Your health is more important," Mona reminded her gently.

Even Mona could tell something was wrong with her.

But Axel—who had shared the most intimate moments with her—couldn't see it.

Before, she used to trick herself. She told herself that Axel was too focused on work; that's why he didn't notice the details.

But now, she couldn't lie to herself anymore.

As if on cue, her stomach twisted in pain again.

But there was still so much work to finish. She swallowed a pill to ease the cramps and pushed through until the end of the day.

When Kylie finally got home, she collapsed on her bed, too drained to even move a finger.

Her body and heart both felt drained.

She curled up for a long time, waiting for the pain to pass. When it finally eased a little, exhaustion swept over her.

Maybe a good night's sleep would make her feel better. At least that's what she told herself as her eyes drifted shut.

Kylie had just fallen asleep when the phone rang.

The ringtone was Axel's—she had set a special tone for him.

It used to make her heart race with excitement. Now it only felt like torture.

She let it ring, not wanting to answer.

Kylie knew Axel was the type that was always impatient. If she didn't pick up, he usually wouldn't call again.

But this time, he broke his rule.

The phone rang again.

She couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Mr. Bowen, what is it?" Kylie answered. Her voice was distant, cold—nothing like before.

Axel frowned, checking his screen to make sure he hadn't dialed the wrong number. Then he asked, "Where are you?"

"I don't feel well, so I'm staying home. Hope you all have a good time."

Kylie was about to hang up when she heard another voice in the background.

It was Rhea.

"Ms. Rehbein isn't coming? Axel, does that mean she doesn't like me being here?"

Kylie barely had time to react before Axel's sharp voice cut through. "Kylie, stop acting difficult. Everyone else is here. You're the only one missing. Trying to stand out?"

"I ... "

"You've got 20 minutes. If you don't show up, don't bother coming back to work."

He hung up.

The busy tone filled her ear. For some reason, Kylie almost laughed.

Missing one welcome party was enough for Axel to threaten firing her?

So all her years of hard work and sacrifice meant nothing?

The severe stomach illness she got from drinking for his business deals—was that worth nothing too?

...

When Kylie finally reached the Everwest Club, the room was buzzing with laughter.

Elmer was egging Axel on, shouting for him and Rhea to drink a cross-arm toast.

Axel's voice was gentle, full of tenderness, nothing like the cold man on the phone. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Axel, what's the matter? Can't handle the game? We're all drinking. It doesn't look right if you don't join."

Before Axel could answer, Rhea lifted her glass and invited him with a confident smile. "Axel, it's just a game. Play along; don't leave me hanging."

With everyone watching, Axel finally raised his glass of iced tea.

The moment Rhea hooked her arm through his, Axel's eyes met Kylie's at the door.

It lasted only a second before he looked away, raising his glass as he leaned closer to Rhea.

Elmer, eager for gossip, pulled out his phone to snap a photo. In his excitement, he bumped into Rhea.

"Careful."

They stood so close that when Rhea lost her balance, Axel instinctively caught her.

The two of them collided, pressed against each other.

The whole room seemed to reach its peak of excitement.

From Kylie's angle, it looked exactly like the embrace of two lovers.

In that moment, she felt no heartbreak—maybe it was just numbness.

But her stomach churned so violently she thought she might be sick.

A sudden cry broke through the noise.

It was Mona.

She had spotted Kylie in the doorway and couldn't hold back. "Kylie, what are you doing here? Weren't you not feeling well? You should be resting at home!"

Her worried voice clashed with the cheerful mood of the room.

Rhea lifted her head from Axel's chest, still smiling as she greeted Kylie. "Ms. Rehbein, you're here! Come in, we've been waiting for you."

"Sorry, something came up," Kylie said as she stepped inside, her face calm.

Elmer suddenly felt guilty; maybe the game had gone too far.

He was about to explain when Axel's cold voice cut in. "Isn't the one who's late supposed to make it up with three drinks?"

At the mention of alcohol, Kylie's stomach twisted harder. Pain rolled through her in waves, leaving her dizzy and weak.

When Mona heard someone suggest alcohol, she panicked.

"No way. Kylie's not feeling well. She can't drink."

The night Kylie almost died from alcohol poisoning, Mona was the one who had gone with her to the business dinner.

She saw everything with her own eyes, and the memory left her shaken.

The doctor even said that if they had arrived a little later, Kylie's life would have been in danger.

Elmer frowned, annoyed. "Come on, don't underestimate her. Everybody knows Kylie can drink anyone under the table! Remember when she went north with Axel for that business trip? There were 20 people at the table. She drank round after round and walked away fine. And now you're telling me she can't handle three glasses? What, she just picking and choosing when it's convenient? Or is she's just trying to embarrass Rhea?"

Rhea didn't want the atmosphere to stay so tense. She jumped in to ease things. "Elmer, come on. Ms. Rehbein is a woman. Don't make it harder for her."

Elmer wasn't happy with that. "I'm not making it hard."

He turned to Axel for backup. "Axel, do you think I'm making things hard for her?"

Axel lifted his eyes. His gaze slid across Kylie's face, unreadable. Then the corner of his mouth tugged coldly. "Not really."

Hearing that, Elmer grew more confident. "See? Axel says it's fine. Rhea, you're just too kind. Not like Kylie—she's a seasoned player in the business world, always knowing how to chase profit and avoid trouble."

Kylie didn't argue back. She just looked straight at Axel, as if trying to find something else in his eyes.

She waited for him to step in, to say something—anything. Even just enough, or don't push her.

Like a last desperate reach before drowning.

But Axel never spoke.

His eyes stayed cold.

And in that moment, Kylie understood.

It felt like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over her, crushing the last bit of hope in her heart.

Her smile was faint, almost dazed. She bent down, lifted the glass on the table, and said calmly, "Guess I don't know the rules. I'll drink."

She had learned plenty of tricks for drinking at business dinners.

Eat first, drink some milk, and take small sips. Those tricks had helped her hold her ground many times before.

But tonight, none of it mattered.

She just kept pouring it down.

One glass.

Two.

Three.

The whiskey burned her nose and made her stomach twist in pain.

But she brushed it off, lifted the empty glass toward Axel, and said lightly, "Done. Now can I leave, Mr. Bowen?"

...

Kylie didn't know if Axel ever nodded in the end.

She didn't wait to find out.

She turned and left the room, her stomach churning so badly she was afraid she'd throw up right there.

In the restroom, she collapsed over the sink, vomiting until her head spun. In that miserable moment, she almost felt lucky she had taken stomach medicine before drinking instead of antibiotics.

Nobody is born with a strong tolerance.

Before joining Vortex, Kylie never touched alcohol.

The first time she went with Axel to a business dinner, the host insisted he drink, saying it was the only way to show his sincerity.

But Axel was allergic to alcohol—he couldn't touch it.

So Kylie stepped in.

It was her first time drinking. She had no idea what she was doing. One glass nearly choked her, but she forced it down.

But when she thought about how hard Axel had fought for that chance, she forced the alcohol down, no matter how hard it was for her.

That was the first project she won for him.

Axel had called her the hero of Vortex. He promised that once they made it big, they would share the glory together.

For that promised future, Kylie never let Axel touch another drop.

Every business dinner, every toast—she took it all.

Her tolerance was built one painful glass at a time.

And now, years later, the armor she forged for him had become the arrows he used to protect someone else. Seven years, and it struck her straight in the heart.

It hurt. But the pain also made her see everything clearly.

When she walked out of Everwest Club, the fall rain had started without warning.

Her stomach still felt raw, her face as pale as paper.

She pulled out her phone to call a ride, but Axel's driver spotted her and jogged over.

"Ms. Rehbein, the party's over? Where's Mr. Bowen? Didn't he come out with you?"

"Yeah, he still needs to stay inside for a while," Kylie answered weakly.

The music and laughter were still going strong. Axel had a beauty in his arms. It wasn't ending anytime soon.

Bill Fisher glanced back at the entrance. He noticed how pale she looked. Making his own call, he said, "Ms. Rehbein, why don't I just take you home? It's late, and with the rain, rides will be hard to get."

Kylie didn't refuse. She felt awful and didn't want to push her body any further.

But halfway down the road, Axel's call came through. His voice boomed through the car's speaker. "Where are you?"

The driver answered honestly. "Ms. Rehbein wasn't feeling well. I thought the party would go on for a while longer, so I started taking her home."

Axel's reply was icy. "Do you remember who signs your paycheck?"

The driver jolted in fear. "Y-yes, Mr. Bowen. I'll turn around to pick you up now."

Before the call ended, Axel's voice softened, smooth as ice melting. None of the coldness from earlier remained.

"The car will be here soon. It's chilly out here. Go inside and wait."

Rhea's reply was gentle. "Then stay with me, Axel."

Kylie never heard his answer—the call cut off.

The driver looked uneasy.

Kylie spoke first. "Bill, just drop me on the side of the road. I'll get a cab from there."

But on this stretch of road, there were no cabs. There was no shelter from the rain.

Feeling guilty, the driver handed her an umbrella before leaving.

Maybe fate gave her a small break that night. She hadn't waited long before a car finally came.

Still, the next day Kylie woke with a fever and chills.

Her body, already weak from the miscarriage, with stomach problems that kept coming back, had no strength left to fight. Even a cold wind could knock her down.

But today she had a meeting with Gresham Pascall from Pascall Group. The same project Axel had called her out for during the meeting.

If she missed it, Axel would surely find another way to mock her.

The thermometer read 101.3°F. Not life-threatening, but miserable.

She could have taken some medicine. But Gresham was known for his drinking. He preferred to talk business over shots, not coffee.

Kylie shoved the pills back in the drawer, grabbed the files, and walked out of the office.

...

She had just ordered food and drinks when Gresham arrived.

Gresham saw the table filled with his favorite dishes and drinks. He broke into a smile. "Ms. Rehbein, why not join my company and work as my secretary? You can name your salary."

"Thank you, Mr. Pascall, but my contract with Vortex hasn't ended yet. I don't plan on leaving for now."

It was her usual answer.

With her skills, people in the industry were constantly trying to recruit her.

Once, a drunk business partner even tried to poach her right in front of Axel.

Axel didn't say a word. But that night, he took it out on her in bed, proving his point in his way.

In the end, Kylie signed a long-term contract with Vortex, just to coax him.

When Gresham heard her words, he sighed with a mix of envy and admiration. "Mr. Bowen is lucky. Having someone like Ms. Rehbein on his team explains why his business is so successful."

Kylie smiled politely. "You give me too much credit, Mr. Pascall. Compared to Mr. Bowen, I respect you even more. You built everything from the ground up."

It was the kind of polite talk people said over drinks, but Gresham still felt flattered. Her words lifted his mood.

"I enjoy working with you, Ms. Rehbein," he said warmly. "Talking with you always feels easy. Here, let me toast to you."

"You have liver problems. I'll drink this one for you," Kylie replied quickly. She lifted her glass. "I'll finish mine. You can take it slow."

Gresham laughed. He liked straightforward people. Kylie's style suited him well.

Once she drank, he leaned closer and advised, "Don't push yourself too hard. I'll only sign this project with you. No one else will change my mind."

"Thank you, Mr. Pascall," Kylie said with a grateful smile. She poured him another glass.

But Gresham noticed her face looked pale. Concern showed in his eyes. "Ms. Rehbein, are you sick? You don't look well."

"I'm fine," she answered quickly.

"Do you want me to have my driver take you to the hospital?"

Kylie was about to decline when a knock came at the door.

A waiter stepped in. "Mr. Pascall, Mr. Bowen found out you're dining here. He asked me to bring you this wine."

Gresham glanced at the bottle in the waiter's hands.

Romanée-Conti. An expensive gift.

But what puzzled him more was—if Axel was also at the Regal Hotel, why wasn't he here with Kylie?

Before he could ask, Axel walked in with Rhea.

"Mr. Pascall, do you like the wine?" Axel greeted him casually, his eyes sliding right past Kylie.

He wore only a crisp white shirt, perfectly tailored to his frame—fitted just right, not too loose, not too tight. It gave him a sharp, refined look.

As for his jacket?

It was draped over Rhea's shoulders, a display of closeness he didn't bother to hide.

The cruelest part was that Kylie had been the one who picked that jacket out for him.

"This is a thoughtful gift, Mr. Bowen. How could I not like it? And this young lady is ... "

Gresham's eyes shifted to Rhea, who had walked in with Axel. Instinctively guessing what their relationship was.

When a man gave his coat to another woman, there was no mistaking the meaning.

Almost unconsciously, Gresham looked toward Kylie.

She appeared calm, but her face was paler than before.

"Let me introduce you," Axel said. "This is Rhea Malone, Director of Investment Division Three. And Rhea, this is Mr. Pascall of Pascall Group, one of Vortex's oldest partners."

Rhea stepped forward, smiling as she extended her hand. "Mr. Pascall, it's a pleasure. I look forward to working with you."

"Ms. Malone, the pleasure is mine," Gresham replied politely.

Pascall Group had worked with Vortex on several projects, so they knew a bit about how the company operated.

Investment Division 3 had only been around for less than a year, and its director's seat had always stayed empty. Everyone assumed it was being saved for Kylie.

After all, she had been the one running Division 3's projects for the past year.

Even while juggling two roles, she pushed the division performance to the top of Vortex. Naturally, she put in more work than anyone else.

But in the end, all her effort just paved the way for someone else to take the reward.

Even Gresham, an outsider, felt sorry for her.

"By the way, Mr. Pascall," Axel said smoothly, "from now on Ms. Malone will be your contact for this project with Vortex. I wanted to bring her over so you could meet her."

At that, Gresham frowned. "But Ms. Rehbein has been my contact from the beginning. This sudden change ... "

Axel didn't care. "Kylie is just a secretary. Ms. Malone was away before, so Kylie stepped in to handle things. Now that the rightful lead is back, the project naturally goes to her."

He added quickly, trying to reassure him, "Don't worry, Mr. Pascall. Ms. Malone holds a PhD in finance from Woton University and worked at one of the top international banks. I personally recruited her to Vortex with a high salary. Her abilities are beyond question."

Gresham wasn't worried about her skills. What bothered him was how unfair this seemed to Kylie, who had poured so much into the project.

And now Axel handed it off like it was nothing. As an outsider, even he found it hard to watch.

But Kylie's reaction was surprisingly calm.

Axel introduced Rhea personally, making it clear he wanted to pave the way for her and protect her.

He was going out of his way for Rhea.

That kind of care—Kylie had never experienced it herself.

She spoke evenly, "I'll prepare the project files for Ms. Malone and hand them over as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Ms. Rehbein." Rhea's tone was polite.

Kylie gave a small nod. As she picked up her bag, she turned to Gresham. "Mr. Pascall, please continue your discussion with Ms. Malone. I'll take my leave."

Gresham wanted to stop her, but he had no standing.

In the end, he could only speak up for her in a roundabout way. "This is an internal decision at your company; I have no objections. Whoever I work with is fine. But Mr. Bowen knows my style—I like to make friends over drinks. I remember Ms. Rehbein impressing me by finishing nine shots that night. I wonder if Ms. Malone can handle her liquor the same way?"

"Maybe not as much as Ms. Rehbein," Rhea replied confidently, lifting her glass, "but I can keep you company."

Before she could drink, Axel took the glass from her hand. "She's not feeling well. I'll drink this one for her."

And without waiting for a reply, he downed the glass in one gulp.

Gresham froze. He knew Axel was allergic to alcohol—at every dinner, it had always been Kylie who drank in his place.

In all the years they'd known each other, this was the first time Axel had taken a drink for someone else.

So what did that make of all the drinks Kylie had swallowed for him?

Outside the door, Kylie was thinking the very same thing.

...

Kylie had just taken her medicine and lay down when her phone rang. It was Skye.

She asked if Kylie had been resting well lately.

If she was taking care of herself.

If she was following the doctor's orders and staying away from alcohol.

Kylie gave vague answers.

Skye saw right through her lies. "So you drank again, didn't you?"

"It was a work thing. I couldn't avoid it."

Skye exploded on the other end. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Did you forget you almost died from alcohol poisoning? And Axel—that jerk—he still drags you to those dinners?"

"It won't happen again," Kylie promised.

"You've said that before!" Skye snapped, not believing her promise.

"This time I mean it."

"How much do you mean it?"

Kylie paused, then asked, "Do you know any lawyers? Someone strong enough to stand up to Vortex's legal team?"

Skye's brows shot up. "What are you planning to do?"

"I want to end my contract with Vortex. But you know how long it is, and the terms are brutal. Their lawyers at Vortex are ruthless. Most attorneys wouldn't even take the case."

Skye realized Kylie wasn't joking. She asked in surprise, "Wait—are you really Kylie?"

"The one and only."

"This is a day worth celebrating! My love-struck best friend has finally woken up!" Skye was genuinely happy for her.

If it weren't for Kylie needing rest, she would've kept her on the phone all night.

"Leave the lawyer to me," Skye said firmly. "I'll find someone good."

Before hanging up, she reminded Kylie to rest easy.

After having someone to talk to, Kylie felt lighter. Sleep was already pulling at her when her phone lit up again. This time, it was Axel.

She answered, her tone calm.

"Mr. Bowen, how may I assist?"

"Bring me my allergy meds," Axel ordered, as casually as ever.

"Alright, Mr. Bowen."

Kylie ended the call, switched off her phone, and finally let herself sleep in peace.

As for the hero who couldn't drink and always needed someone else to step in for him, he had an allergy.

What did that have to do with her?