After My Death, The CEO Broke Down

The news of the engagement between Abby, the illustrious CEO, and Rylan, the popular male star, has taken the internet by storm.

No one knows that the person who was supposed to be engaged to Abby is me.

We had spent five joyful years together, but I never expected her to suddenly abandon me.

Now, as she approaches her happy moment, she remains unaware that I am no longer alive.

1.

When Kathleen informed me that my red carpet appearance had been canceled, I was still interacting with fans on social media.

My fingers froze on the keyboard as I looked at Kathleen in shock. "Why?"

Kathleen gave me a comforting glance. "Well, some people have connections. I heard it was Miss Ashton from Shengshi. Leland, did something happen between you and Miss Ashton?

Why is she suddenly so close with Rylan?"

My heart involuntarily clenched.

Abby was my fiancée.

Half a year ago, she proposed to me. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so I declined her suggestion for an engagement party. Instead, we just had a meal with a few close friends.

So, only a handful of people knew about our engagement.

2.

Seeing Rylan's face in person gave me a suffocating feeling, as if I were drowning.

I always knew Abby had an idealized first love in her heart and that she had briefly been with him. But I never realized how much I resembled this idealized first love, to the point where someone unaware might think we were twins.

I opened Abby's chat window, but she still hadn't replied to my messages.

She was seated with Rylan right in front of me.

I pressed my lips tightly together, hoping she would turn around just once.

If she did, she would see the dejected me, her fiancé who had been stripped of his red carpet appearance by a single word from Rylan.

But she never turned around, always engaged in conversation with the person beside her.

On stage, the elegantly dressed female host smiled and announced, "The nominees for Best Actor of the Year are-"

The big screen continued to scroll before finally stopping on my name, Rylan's, and another popular male star.

Nervously, I clutched Kathleen's hand.

Kathleen withdrew her hand and leaned in to whisper, "Don't think about it. Miss Ashton is boosting Rylan's profile. This award is definitely predetermined. Recently, the internet loves to compare you two.

Keep your composure and don't give the gossip accounts any ammunition."

My heart trembled, and sure enough, just as Kathleen finished speaking, Rylan's name was magnified on the big screen.

"Let's congratulate our-" The host paused, clearly a bit surprised.

But she quickly recovered with a professional smile, "Let's give a warm round of applause to Mr. Thorpe for winning Best Actor of the Year."

Below the stage, Rylan glanced at Abby in surprise.

Abby nodded slightly at him, "Go on, haven't you always wanted this award?"

But Abby forgot that I, too, had always wanted this award.

She had asked me more than once why I never sought her help if I wanted to win so badly.

I always replied, "I want to rely on myself."

I wanted to rely on myself to get a little closer to her, step by step.

At those times, Abby would always smile and say, "Alright, I'll be here waiting for you. Keep it up."

But she broke her promise.

3.

By the time I realized it, my loss of composure had already been captured and was trending online.

"Leland misses out on Best Actor?"

"Leland's expression?"

"Rylan wins Best Actor?"

Opening the real-time plaza, it was already a chaotic mess.

"Some fans are hilarious. Bragging about their idol before the award was even announced.

How does it feel to be slapped in the face at light speed?"

"That shameless star is amusing, boasting about having a red carpet. I really feel for those fans who traveled so far to see it live."

"This expression is pure jealousy, isn't it? That face is really ugly."

"Some people shouldn't go overboard. After working so hard and not getting the desired result, can't they even be sad for a moment?"

"Rylan's fans know how he got this award. In terms of acting, he's not even fit to carry Leland's shoes."

"Sure, sure, your idol is the best. How come he didn't win Best Actor then?"

"Losing is losing, not winning is not winning. Is it so hard to admit your idol isn't up to par?"

"Who else is with me? Rylan and Miss Ashton walking the red carpet together was killer. Perfect couple, they should just get married right there!"

"I get it, I get it. And those photos of Miss Ashton visiting Rylan on set with a love lunch were a perfect match."

Reading these comments made my eyes sting.

It felt like something inside me was slowly collapsing.

Kathleen patted my shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "Don't be too upset. You're still young, and there are plenty of opportunities ahead.

If not this time, then next time."

I smiled bitterly, my eyes red. "Kathleen, you must know it's different. It doesn't matter who else wins this award, but it had to be Rylan."

Perhaps recalling my relationship with Abby, Kathleen instantly fell silent.

I lowered my head and searched for the video of Abby visiting Rylan's film set. On May 20th, Rylan was filming in Kuprujan, and Abby accompanied him the entire time.

On June 18th, they were photographed traveling together in a park in Juskoustan.

On July 15th, Abby personally took Rylan to audition for Derek's new movie.

On August 10th, Derek announced the cast for his new film, with Rylan as the lead actor.

It turns out, during the days when Abby didn't reply to my messages, she was by Rylan's side.

4.

After the event ended, Kathleen arranged for someone to take me home.

Sitting in the car, watching the scenery whiz by, I thought about the years Abby and I had spent together.

Our first meeting wasn't at my university, as she believed, but at the orphanage where I grew up.

That day, she and her classmates were doing community service there. I had taken a sick leave and happened to run into her, falling for her at first sight.

The second time we met was at my university.

The third time, she approached me with an offer to support me.

At the time, I was overwhelmed by the massive medical bills for the director. Thirty thousand was not much to me now, but for a university student like me and Norah back then, it was an astronomical figure we couldn't possibly gather.

Abby appeared when I needed help the most, telling me that if I agreed to her terms, she would arrange the best treatment for the director.

Looking at the director, who was reduced to skin and bones by illness, and then at Abby's face, which had appeared countless times in my dreams, I nodded and agreed to her terms.

After that day, Abby bought a two-bedroom apartment near my school, and I moved out of the dormitory.

Initially, I earnestly played the role of her companion. Abby would visit twice a week, each time bringing clothes that weren't my style, insisting I try them on for her. During those moments, she would gaze at me intently, as if reminiscing about someone through me.