Chapter 1

The boss's newly hired secretary secretly added my name to the first round of layoffs.

She leaned close to my ear and taunted me: "Get out while you can, old hag."

Not only did I not get angry — I signed the resignation form with a smile and walked out without looking back.

By the end of the month, the company's tax audit hit. Tens of millions of dollars in accounts were a complete mess, and not a single cent could be reconciled.

The boss was losing his mind in the conference room: "Who laid off my wife? She's the only one with the master access codes!"

HR wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced nervously at the young secretary standing nearby:

"Sir, it was... it was your mistress who did it."

Grace walked in carrying a list, her heels clicking against the floor in sharp, piercing taps.

She stopped beside my desk. The cloud of perfume around her was suffocating.

The office went instantly quiet. Everyone's eyes drifted over — pretending not to look, but looking all the same.

"First round of organizational restructuring. I'll read the names."

Her voice was deliberately sweet, but her gaze was like a needle, driving straight into me.

"Jennifer."

She read out my name, drawing out the last syllable, savoring every bit of it.

The air around me seemed to freeze.

I was one of the company's founding employees. The backbone of the finance department. Ten years in, and no one had ever imagined my name would appear on a list like this.

Grace loved the effect.

She bent down, her red lips nearly brushing my ear, and said in a voice only the two of us could hear:

"Get out while you can, old hag."

I caught the scent on her — the same cedar and sandalwood cologne my husband Matthew wore.

I didn't get angry. I didn't even blink.

I simply closed the spreadsheet I'd been working on. Without saving.

"Where's the resignation form?" I asked.

My calm clearly caught her off guard. She hesitated for a second, then pulled a sheet of paper from her folder and slapped it down on my desk.

"Sign it. You'll get your severance. The company's being more than generous."

"Thank you."

I picked up the pen and signed my name in clean, decisive strokes.

HR manager Chris came jogging over, his face arranged into an awkward smile.

"Jennifer, does... does Mr. Matthews know about this?"

"Mr. Matthews is a very busy man. There's no need to bother him with something this small."

Grace cut in before I could say another word, draping her arm over Chris's shoulder with an easy familiarity. "Chris, I think we're going to work together just beautifully."

Chris looked like he was about to break into a cold sweat.

I stood up and began gathering the few personal items on my desk.

A water bottle. A small plant I'd kept alive for five years. And a photo from the bottom drawer.

In the photo, Matthew and I stood in front of a cramped little office — the company's very first address. We were grinning like idiots. Young, nervous, and full of hope.

I stared at it for a few seconds.

Then I dropped it in the trash with the rest of the paper waste.

Grace watched my every move. She was waiting for the breakdown — the anger, the tears, the desperation.

I gave her none of it.

I picked up my small cardboard box and walked up to her.

"Want to do a handover?" I asked.

"No need." She let out a soft, contemptuous laugh. "Nobody wants your old files. I'm building a brand-new system for this company — something modern, something that actually works."

"Good luck with that."

I nodded, turned around, and walked toward the door.

Dozens of eyes followed me across the office. Some held sympathy. Some held regret. Some barely hid their satisfaction.

Grace stood with her arms crossed, a queen surveying her newly won kingdom.

I didn't look back. The moment I pushed through the revolving door and stepped outside, the afternoon sun hit me hard.

I squinted, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number.

It picked up almost immediately.

"Hey, Jennifer."

"Simon — is everything ready?"

"All set. We can move whenever you are."

I watched the traffic flowing steadily down the street, drew in a long, slow breath, and let it out.

"Then let's begin."