The world does not end with fire and destruction, nor with a zombie apocalypse or a massive tsunami.
It ends in solitude, buried beneath manipulated contracts and betrayal from the one you once considered your whole world.
That was how it felt for Vincent Rothvale as he walked the cold marble corridors of the Imperial Hotel, his footsteps echoing like a funeral march.
Just yesterday, this place had been his stage of triumph. The grand hall had buzzed with excitement, his name on everyone's lips as it was on online news and television.
Vincent Rothvale, the New Market King - A Monopoly Deal in AI and Agriculture That Will Reshape the Country's Economy.
His company, Rothvale Enterprises, was on the verge of securing a multi-billion-dollar deal—a monopoly in AI-driven agriculture that would reshape the country's economy. The deal was his ticket to immortality in the tech world, a testament to years of relentless work and sacrifice.
But today, every news platform tells a different story.
The Fall of Rothvale Enterprises - A Failed Deal, A Bankrupt Company.
His name rival, Pearson Voss of Universe Enterprises, had snatched the deal from under him, and Vincent knew exactly how it had happened.
As he approached the grand hall where his rival company's celebration was taking place, he hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to step inside or turn away.
The guests, dressed in expensive suits and gowns worth thousands of dollars, turned toward the entrance, watching him as he stood there.
He was already wearing his black suit, the one he had bought weeks ago—not for this event, but for his own victory celebration.
And the person who helped him choose it was the one he loved most in this world, his partner, the only person he truly trusted.
The murmurs from the guests, who had noticed his presence, pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Poor Vincent," one whispered.
"All his efforts to win the contract ended in complete failure."
Another chuckled, "Haha, he should've known that contract was never meant for a small fish like him."
Vincent clenched his jaw, ignoring their whispers. He wasn't here for them. He was here for her.
'You're all wrong. I didn't lose that contract because my company is small...' he thought, his gaze fixed on the stage at the end of the hall.
Standing there was a beautiful woman with long black hair and golden eyes, dressed in an elegant black gown. She was laughing, covering her mouth with one gloved hand, the black silk stretching all the way up to her elbow.
She was not wearing the dress he had bought for her. The gown and jewelry she wore now looked far more expensive, and he remembered the moment she had stopped in front of the boutique mannequin displaying that very dress.
The man standing beside her was undoubtedly the one who had purchased it for her—a young man with sharp features and a strong jawline, dressed in an impeccable suit, speaking with a group of businessmen while standing next to the woman Vincent once knew so well.
Seeing her, he ignored all the murmurs around him and stepped forward, walking directly into the grand hall toward her.
Guests who noticed his arrival instinctively made way, some whispering to each other, others watching with expressions of anticipation, eager to witness the inevitable confrontation.
Selena Hilton, her name echoed in his mind over and over with every step he took toward the stage.
His lover. His manager. The one person he trusted most in this world.
And also a traitor.
For years, Selena had been his savior, his source of motivation. He had always worked hard to give her everything she wanted.
She had been by his side through sleepless nights while he built the AI-driven agriculture program. She had helped him shape business strategies, forging connections with influential figures in government and technology.
She had even helped him secure the tender that was supposed to change his company's fate forever.
But in the end, she sold what he had spent months creating, what had cost him endless nights of exhaustion—to his competitor. And worse, his competitor had greater funding and resources, allowing him to develop supporting programs for AI and agriculture.
And that damned contract slipped right into his hands, leaving Vincent with nothing.
She was the cause of it all. The woman who had once been his lover was now standing beside his rival, Pearson Voss, heir to Universe Enterprises.
And she noticed him and smiled as he approached.
Seeing her smile sent a wave of fury through his mind, tangled with the burning question—why had she betrayed him?
As Vincent neared her, she took a small step away from the men she had been conversing with, and tilting her head slightly while holding a champagne glass close to her chest.
"You!" Vincent called out with a hoarse voice, filled with anger. "You stole my hard work and sold it to Universe Enterprises!"
Selena let out a soft, crisp laugh at his words, almost pitying.
"Oh, darling. I only helped others gain broader access to this program. But what can I say? You were destined to lose," she said, taking a slow sip of her champagne.
Vincent felt his blood boil and his hands balled into fists.
"Why? After everything we've been through, why did you do this?" he shouted, causing the entire room to fall silent and all eyes now fixed on the commotion unfolding at the edge of the stage.
Selena sighed and took a small step forward, moving closer to Vincent as he stood beneath the stage. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper only he could hear, "You will never understand the meaning of power and money, will you?"
Then she straightened back her posture, her gaze locked into him, and said, "You were never meant to have it all."
Her words hit him like a physical blow. He had given her everything—his trust, his love, his dreams. And she had thrown it away for a man who could offer her more. The realization burned through him, leaving a hollow ache in its wake.
"You're wrong," he said, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I built that program. I poured my soul into it. And you—"
"Enough," Pearson interrupted, his tone sharp as he stepped forward. "You've already lost, Vincent. Go home before you embarrass yourself further."
With those final words, Pearson grinned and wrapped an arm around Selena's waist, raising his champagne glass toward Vincent in a silent toast.
Moments later, Vincent felt strong hands gripping his arms. Security, having received Pearson's signal, seized him and dragged him away.
The guests watched, some with smug satisfaction, others with pity.
Even they, mere security staff, treated him like garbage. He was shoved out of the hotel, forced into the cold street where snow blanketed the ground, with no chance to grab his coat.
The cold bit through his thin suit, but it was nothing compared to the chill in his heart.
He turned back, pounding on the glass doors, but the guards inside ignored him. One of them tossed his old coat at him, and it landed in a heap at his feet.
Vincent picked it up, clutching it tightly as he stood along in the snow. The city lights blurred around him, tears stinging his eyes.
How had it come to this?
Just yesterday, he was on top of the world.
Now, he was nothing—a bankrupt man with a broken heart and a shattered dream.