Dumped With Cancer: I Became The Woman He Spends His Life Chasing

Aria shuddered. Over the next three days, she didn't get a single full night's sleep.

From lighting calibration to model walk paths, from the scent system to background music, every detail was soaked in her effort.

The project bonus was one million dollars, just enough to cover the first payment for her treatment in Edelmark.

On the day of the bidding, she walked into the venue in a sharply tailored black suit.

The exhibition director smiled slightly. "Aria, your proposal passed unanimously. We're just waiting for you to sign the contract."

The next second, Aria's smile froze.

Julian walked in with Lila on his arm.

"Mr. Lawson?" The exhibition director looked surprised.

Julian sat down lazily, his gaze sweeping over Aria. "I heard you decided on Aria?"

"Yes. Her proposal is very—"

"I'll add another one million dollars in investment," Julian cut in. "Transfer the position to Lila. She wants to transition into a fashion director."

The room fell silent.

Aria dug her nails into her palm.

One million dollars. Exactly the money she needed for treatment.

And he would rather spend that money to buy empty prestige for a woman who couldn't even understand a proposal?

The exhibition director hesitated. "Mr. Lawson, Miss Bennett does have potential, but Aria's professional expertise—"

"Two million." Julian suddenly smiled, his eyes stabbing straight at Aria. "Another million. To buy her silence."

Aria stood frozen as a roaring hum filled her ears.

She watched the director finally nod, watched Lila lift her chin in triumph, watched four months of her work get priced, sold, and discarded.

She didn't cry.

She only turned away, went into the restroom, and vomited until the world spun, the pain in her stomach nearly knocking her to the floor.

Three days later, at the model exhibition.

Lila took the stage as the director. Under the spotlight, her makeup was flawless, but her nerves showed.

She stumbled on her very first line. "Thank you… thank you all for coming… um, for supporting my… my…"

Whispers rippled through the audience.

Sweat pooled in Lila's palms. She rushed through the rest and fled the stage.

Then the disasters came one after another.

The international supermodel scheduled for the finale was absent due to visa issues. The backup model, never having rehearsed the walk, froze at the center of the runway, looking around in confusion.

The guest singer arrived forty minutes late, leaving the intermission painfully empty.

Most fatal of all, the brand's promotional video meant for the big screen cut straight to black.

The venue erupted. This million-dollar launch became the biggest joke in the fashion world in the past five years.

Social media exploded instantly, trending topics filled with Lila's name.

"Lila Bennett's debut is a total disaster!"

"A pretty face playing fashion director?"

"Has the Lawson Group lost its taste?"

The investor's representative was livid. "Miss Bennett! Do you know how much brand value evaporated today? Thirty million dollars! Thirty million!"

Lila's legs gave out. She lunged at Julian, her voice shaking. "Julian… it wasn't me… it was Aria! She deliberately didn't tell me the international model needed a visa in advance! The schedule was wrong too! She just wanted to humiliate me!"

All eyes turned to Aria in the corner, wearing a badge labeled "Assistant," silent from start to finish.

Julian looked at her, his gaze cold as a blade.

One second. Two.

Then he spoke, his voice carrying clearly across the venue. "It was indeed Aria's mistake. Lila didn't know anything. She was completely kept in the dark."

He paused, then delivered the final blow. "Effective immediately, Aria is relieved of all duties at this company."

Just like that, Aria was thrown into the media spotlight, drowned in a storm of abuse.

Julian stared at Aria, waiting for her to charge over like before, to explode, to wreck the venue, to grab his collar and demand, "Why are you doing this to me?"

But Aria didn't argue.

She simply unclipped her badge and set it down.