---- mother if it ever saw daylight. Isent everything along with the mate bond dissolution agreement to the mating ceremony venue. Let him see the truth. Let him understand what he'd chosen to ignore. When Max was little and got sold to that rogue camp, he was so scared that his mind blocked it out. He forgot everything that happened. Inever talked about it because I didn't want to hurt him more. I kept quiet to protect him, even though it hurt me. Thinking about how much I protected him back then, I really felt it wasn't worth it now. But it didn't matter anymore. Before boarding the plane, I blocked all of Garrett and Max's contact methods and severed their mindlinks. The mindlink severance hurt physically, like cutting a piece of my soul away. ---- But it was necessary. I pulled out my phone card, snapped it in half, and threw it in the trash. From this moment on, I had nothing to do with my past. At the mating ceremony venue. Garrett wasn't waiting for me at the entrance. Instead, he was looking at Serena with pity. She was lying on a chaise lounge, looking pale and fragile in the afternoon sun. The healers said Serena's silver poisoning was incurable-they'd never even heard of anything like it. They said she didn't have much time left. "Maybe a few months," Dr. Harrison had told him privately. "We're doing everything we can, but..." Every time he thought about her life ending in her most beautiful years, Garrett felt suffocated. She was so young, so full of potential. It wasn't fair. ---- He'd thought more than once-why wasn't it Maya who got poisoned? She was so vicious, so manipulative. Her death wouldn't bea loss. Max had said the same thing repeatedly: "Serena is such a good girl... it should have been that bitch Maya who died instead! "Why do the good ones always suffer while the evil ones thrive?" Thinking about how Serena's life was counting down every day, Garrett's resentment toward Maya grew deeper. How dare she cause stress for Serena during her final days? The mating ceremony was about to start, and Maya still wasn't here. She was really getting out of hand, thinking pregnancy gave her license to do anything! "Where is she?" Garrett muttered, checking his watch for the tenth time. In "Cinderella's Glass Slipper: The One I’ve Always Loved" by CrushReel, a heartfelt romance unfolds between a woman and the president she has long admired since youth. Overcoming insecurities about her appearance, she finds herself working closely with him as his assistant, leading to unexpected twists and turns in their relationship. This modern romance novel explores themes of self-acceptance, unrequited love, and the dynamics of power and attraction in an office setting. The unique blend of billionaire CEO dynamics, hidden feelings, and the revelation of secrets adds layers of intrigue to the story, keeping readers captivated as the plot unfolds. What sets this novel apart is its delicate balance between sweet romance and the complexities of relationships in a contemporary workplace. With each chapter, readers are drawn deeper into the emotional journey of the characters as they navigate their growing connection amidst professional responsibilities and personal desires. For those seeking a compelling tale that combines elements of romance, secrecy, and personal transformation, "Cinderella's Glass Slipper: The One I’ve Always Loved" is available to read at CrushReel, offering a captivating escape into a world where love conquers all.