Stopping Pleasing Him and Marrying His Rival 

"Leo, it's so late, and you're still not heading home? Won't your little puppy get mad?" "You said it yourself—she's just a puppy. I feed her, clothe her. What right does she have to get mad at me?" From Leo Sharpe's casual laugh, Brittany Kay could almost picture the mocking look on his face. Everyone, including Leo himself, had labeled her a simp. Brittany glanced down at the insulated container in her hand and gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. How is she not being a simp? She knew how seedy these gatherings of Leo's could get, but she still rushed over with hangover soup for him. 'Just a little longer,' she told herself, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door to the private room. Inside, Leo was holding a stunning woman in his arms, his expression full of disdain. "She hasn't worked in three years. I give her over $120,000 a month to live on. All I expect is for her to do the laundry, cook, and clean the house. And living like that, she still has the nerve to get mad at me?" Leo's scornful words sparked loud, grating laughter from everyone in the room. "Exactly! Everyone knows how obsessed Brittany is with Leo." "Forget staying out all night—Leo could bring a woman home, and Brittany would probably just change the bedsheets for them." "Brittany, what are you doing here?" The sudden sight of Brittany at the door made one of the men freeze, though he couldn't take back the words spilling from his mouth. 'Did she hear everything just now?' Everyone froze. Leo caught his friend's desperate look for help but didn't flinch. Turning to Brittany, his tone was laced with irritation. "Why are you here?" Brittany held up the soup she'd spent three hours preparing. Her lips moved, but no words came out. She stared at Leo, her heart cracking open like a fissure in solid ground. The face she had once fallen for, so deeply it felt like drowning, was still as handsome as ever—but now it seemed completely foreign. He was so confident she wouldn't get mad. So sure that no matter how reckless his friends' comments were, she'd keep putting up with them. As Leo's patience dwindled, Brittany finally spoke, "I brought you some hangover soup. Don't drink too much. It's bad for your health." The rich aroma of the soup filled the room, but Leo didn't bother masking his annoyance. "Leave it here. You can go now." Brittany stayed rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Leo's arm wrapped tightly around the woman's slender waist. He wouldn't even restrain himself in front of her now? She stood there, her eyes unfocused, until Leo's voice grew cold and harsh. "Still here? If you've got something to say, say it quickly. Don't waste my time—I'm drinking with my friends." When Leo had first started dating Brittany, he'd treated her like a treasure. But after seven years, even the strongest feelings can fade. To him, she had become nothing more than a homemaker who hadn't even made it to marriage yet. How could he possibly respect her? Brittany lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible. "Remember to come home early. We have to get up early tomorrow." "Are you done?" Leo snapped, cutting her off with a sharp frown. His icy indifference stung Brittany like a dagger to the heart. Across the table, Nathan Cooper smirked, his laughter making his eyes curve. "Having a girlfriend is great, huh? Someone's always waiting for you to come home." "Maybe you should head back, Leo. Don't ruin the vibe for the rest of us because Brittany's sulking." All eyes turned on Brittany, brimming with annoyance. There wasn't an ounce of respect in their tone. Because Leo didn't respect her, and everyone knew it. Brittany clenched her jaw, making one last effort. "Tomorrow is—" "Tomorrow's a day off. Company holiday. Do I really need to report my drinking plans to you?" Leo's tone grew sharper, his frustration bubbling over. The more he looked at Brittany, the more she irritated him. "My business is none of yours. Go home and play the housewife you want to be. Get out!" The venom in his shout left Brittany's heart frozen solid. She left the room like she always did, head bowed. As the door clicked shut behind her, mocking laughter burst out from inside. "Don't be mad, Leo. Women just like to meddle." "But not me. Ruby only knows how to make you happy..." The woman's flirtatious voice carried through the door loud and clear, followed by Leo's faint chuckle. Brittany picked at a hangnail, unable to feel the pain. Maybe she'd been clinging to the filtered image of Leo from her teenage years, chasing after him for seven long years. By the time she got home that night, Brittany didn't hesitate. She packed her bags. Leo had forgotten that tomorrow was her birthday. The seven-year anniversary of their relationship, and the day they were supposed to register their marriage. She had endured his growing indifference and impatience over the years. But tonight was the final straw. She didn't have much—just a few clothes and her skincare products, not even enough to fill a backpack. Before leaving, she sent Leo a text. Brittany: Breakup. Then she blocked his number without hesitation. It was late by the time she left the Sharpe mansion, too late to find an apartment. So she returned to the Kay Manor in the city. Since buying the mansion with Leo, Brittany hadn't stayed at her family's home. Normally, the place was empty, but for some reason, all three family members were there tonight—her father, stepmother, and her half-brother, Liam Kay. She never felt any sense of belonging in this so-called "family." When Liam saw her walk in, he paused for a moment, then broke into a smug grin. "What are you doing back here? Weren't you supposed to get married tomorrow? Don't tell me you got dumped and couldn't go through with it!" Brittany had never liked Liam, her half-brother who was two years younger but never missed a chance to bully her. Because she'd grown up starved for love, Brittany had dreamed of marriage from the moment she started dating Leo. Everyone knew how much it meant to her. Meeting Liam's gloating smile, Brittany calmly raised her head. "Who said that? I'm getting married tomorrow. I just thought I'd leave from my own home. Is that a problem?" Liam snorted, disappointed. "Still getting married? How boring." He turned and went to his room, leaving Brittany to collapse onto her narrow bed, completely drained. Curled under the covers, she felt chilled to the bone. After her father remarried, she had become a stranger in this house, barely keeping in touch. But even Liam, her indifferent half-brother, remembered she was supposed to get married tomorrow. Leo, her boyfriend of seven years, had forgotten. Instead, he had spent the night drinking and laughing with another woman in his arms. It didn't matter how long they'd been together. It was time to end it.