After Betrayal, the CEO Found New Love

When Janelle Thomas first met Kaleb Gray, he wasn't the way he is now.

Janelle came from a less privileged background, having moved from a small rural town to a bustling city, where she often felt left out by tight-knit circles. Kaleb was the one who stood up for her.

He told her that tears wouldn't help and that becoming stronger was what really mattered. Although he was aloof with most people back then, he would discreetly slip his notes into her desk. To preserve her pride, he promised her that if she got into the same university as him, they would give their relationship a chance.

Before Cataleya Myers entered the picture, Janelle always believed Kaleb's affection was just unspoken, not nonexistent. But Cataleya's sudden arrival made Janelle quickly realize how easily Cataleya earned Kaleb's attention. Janelle's share was meager.

Cataleya's presence seemed solely to highlight that Janelle wasn't special to Kaleb, and that he didn't love her as much as she had convinced herself. These were thoughts Janelle couldn't linger on, because if she did, she would have to admit she had been deluding herself all these years.

That evening, when she groggily awoke, it was already dark outside. She half-opened her eyes to find her home empty and dim. Kaleb hadn't come back.

With effort, she grabbed her phone to send him a message, just as a notification popped up. It was a Facebook post from Cataleya:

"Finally proved to the family that I can stand on my own two feet, haha!"

The accompanying photo showed a round dining table with a signed contract prominently displayed. Almost inadvertently, a man's hand was visible in the photo, placing a piece of pulled pork onto her plate.

As Janelle clicked on the picture, the video began to play automatically, with a noisy background from which she heard someone ask, "So, Kaleb, when are you and Cataleya planning to set the wedding date?"