She lowered her gaze to her hands, as though reminiscing about those moments of rejection. "There was one time when I meticulously prepared a detailed business proposal, spending an entire week, staying up several nights. Yet, when I walked into the client's office, full of hope, he casually flipped through a few pages and coldly said, 'This doesn't meet our needs.' In that moment, I felt as though my heart had shattered."

I listened in silence, my heart filled with admiration for her persistence and determination. She continued, "During that period, I had to visit several businesses every day, enduring the scorching sun and braving the rain. Sometimes, after a full day of running around, blisters would form on my feet, and by the time I returned home, I felt like my body was falling apart. Yet, despite it all, I never once considered giving up."

A resolute light flickered in her eyes. "The hardest part was the lonely nights. Every time I returned to the small rented apartment, my only companions were the empty walls. That feeling of solitude was sometimes unbearable. But I told myself, I can't give up—because I still have my dreams, and a future to build."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, before continuing, "One time, I received a call from an important client, asking me to negotiate on an urgent project. It was pouring rain that day, and I waited for half an hour at the roadside for a taxi, but none came. As the minutes ticked by, I became frantic. In the end, I had no choice but to dash through the downpour to the client's office. By the time I arrived, I was drenched to the bone, but I still forced myself to walk into the meeting room with composure and began the negotiations."

Her voice quivered, but her gaze remained unwavering. "That negotiation, I succeeded. The client was moved by my sincerity and decided to collaborate with me. That was not only a significant turning point in my career but also the greatest affirmation of my persistence."

I could feel the emotional weight in her words, and gently patted her hand. She continued, "After that, my business slowly began to prosper. I started to accumulate more clients and built my own team. Though it was still hard, I knew I was getting closer to my dreams."

A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes. "Looking back now, those difficult years taught me so much. Not just in business experience, but also in my attitude towards life. I've learned that persistence and effort are the keys to success."

I nodded, filled with admiration. "You're truly remarkable."

She smiled faintly and asked, "Do you know where the money for my business came from?"

I shook my head, guessing, "It wasn't from your mother, was it?"

Her smile turned a little bitter. "At that time, my relationship with her wasn't very good. If she had offered me money, I wouldn't have taken it. The funds to start my business came from your support, from the pocket money you didn't care about, and from the money I earned working part-time during my university years. Altogether, it amounted to more than 1.5 million."

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Hearing this, I felt a complex mixture of emotions, both moved and guilty.

She looked at me, her gaze filled with tenderness. "This company is ours, mine and yours."

I was deeply touched, a warmth spreading in my chest. "But this is your enterprise, you shouldn't say I have a share in it!" I didn't ask her about Lucas; I didn't want to know.

She spoke with serious conviction. "Ryan, if it weren't for you, I would have already gone down an irreversible path. I've hated you—hated that you never spoke up, hated that you left without a word, hated that you vanished without a trace. And I hated myself, for giving you the cold shoulder. Do you know, from that moment, I knew I had truly fallen for you? I loved you so much, more than you can imagine." Her tears fell, like pearls slipping from a broken string.

A sharp pang pierced my heart, as though countless needles were stabbing into it. Looking into her eyes, filled with tears, I gently wiped them away, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Sophie. I had my reasons back then."

Her tears fell like pearls slipping from a broken string, each one sliding down her face. She clung to me tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ryan, why can't we still be together? I've tried so hard. I know your family is in debt, I even thought of selling the company to help you pay it off, but why did it turn out like this?"

Her sobs cut through me like a sharp blade, deeply piercing my heart. I felt her despair and helplessness, a crushing pain swelling within me. "Sophie, please don't do this. It's just not right for us anymore." I tried to loosen her grip, but her arms only tightened around me, as though she wanted to merge our very beings.

She shook her head, her gaze fierce with determination and anger. "Ryan, you are mine...!" Her voice cracked, heavy with resolve and a boundless commitment. Then, without warning, she bit down on my shoulder, the sharp pain spreading instantly, a trickle of blood seeping out, yet I didn't stop her. Let her vent; she had suffered for so many years.

"You wicked creature, you never let me have peace," she said through clenched teeth, her voice laced with both grief and fury. "Remember this mark. You owe me, Ryan, you owe me..." Her tears soaked my shirt, and I could feel her body trembling against mine.

I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by an unbearable agony and regret. That decision made years ago had altered the course of our lives. Back then, I carried the weight of my family's burdens and had no choice but to leave her. Every night, I was consumed by longing and guilt. Now, she stood before me, still suffering for the love we once shared, while I was unable to offer her a happy ending.

"Sophie, I'm so sorry." I whispered, my voice heavy with sorrow and helplessness. "I know I owe you too much, a whole future. But now, we can never go back."

A fleeting sorrow passed through Sophie's eyes, but she quickly masked it, her gaze firm and unwavering. "Ryan, Eldoria Vanguard Industries, will you take it, please? I beg you."

"But—!" I was torn, my words stuck in my throat. I understood her good intentions, but I couldn't accept them.

"Don't worry about anything else, I'll handle it all for you. I won't disturb you again." Her tone was resolute, as if nothing could stand in the way of her determination.

"Sophie, I truly can't accept your kindness." I shook my head helplessly, my pride making it impossible to cross that line.

She looked at me with a sense of loss, her eyes briefly clouded with sadness. "Ryan, are you really going to shut me out completely?"

"I... I..." I stammered, unable to find the right words.

"You don't need to say anything," she snapped, her voice tinged with anger. "I know your damn pride is getting in the way again. Do you think you can pay off your family's debt on your own? Do you think you can give your mother a stable life by yourself? I've told you, everything I have is yours, whether you accept it or not, that's the truth." She suddenly became bold and fierce again.

"That's not what I meant!" I hurried to explain, but she paid no heed.

"I don't care what you meant, get up," she pulled me to the desk, "Sign it."