Chapter 4

Sophia asked to meet at a coffee shop.

"Did you come here to humiliate me?"

I sat down expressionlessly.

"Did you offer yourself up for humiliation?"

Her aura was completely different from when she was around Julian.

I caught sight of her phone's lock screen---a photo of them together.

At an amusement park, she and Julian laughing wildly at the camera.

I'd never seen Julian laugh so freely.

Then my gaze dropped to his wrist, and my psychological defenses completely collapsed.

Sophia followed my gaze, triumphant.

"That's from the amusement park today---I randomly gave him that freebie. He loves it."

When we were dating, I once gave Julian a men's watch, spending all my savings.

He politely declined, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "I never wear watches. I have all the time in the world."

Now that cheap trinket on his wrist reached across time and space to slap me hard.

So, Julian---does your time only flow for her?

I suppressed the bitterness inside and said nothing.

"Vivian Rivers, you know better than anyone that you're not worthy of Julian. If I hadn't gone abroad back then, this marriage would never have been your turn."

She laughed lightly.

"Leaving him to pursue my dreams abroad is my biggest regret. You wouldn't understand. When Julian and I were dating, you were still following your mom around looking for a new husband."

Before my brain could react, my hand had already raised the coffee and splashed it at her.

Sophia screamed.

I trembled all over, hurt and angry.

I'd grown up in a single-parent home. My mom had been trying to remarry.

Julian had even told her that.

I shot to my feet and left without looking back.

She was right---I really did offer myself up for humiliation.

But walking aimlessly down the street, when the evening breeze blew, my eyes couldn't help but moisten again.

Julian, who am I to you?

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Julian's messages were pinned at the top.

He sent me an image---him leaning against the headboard smoking, Sophia sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Even though I was mentally prepared, my breath still caught when I opened it.

The next message read: "As you wished."

Eyes red, I replied "Congratulations."

After sending it, the screen showed "typing" intermittently.

My phone kept buzzing. I stared at the chat screen.

After a long while, he replied: "Since you don't need me, handle the online situation yourself."

Online?

Thinking of something, I immediately opened Sophia's profile.

Sure enough, her latest post showed her covered in coffee.

In a few words, she painted herself as the rightful partner being provoked by a mistress.

As a famous designer with a massive fanbase, her followers automatically charged into battle for her.

Following the clues she provided, they quickly traced everything back to me.

My inbox filled with all kinds of vile insults.

I wiped the tears from my face and laughed bitterly.

Julian, do you really not want to deal with this, or do you just feel sorry for her?

I unpinned Julian from the top of my contacts and canceled all the pre-booked wedding services one by one.

The wind lifted my hair. I repeated to myself mentally---

Vivian, don't look back.

I sold both the house and car at urgent prices. The final payment would hit my account next week.

I stood downstairs from the company and took a deep breath.

Now---time to resign.

But as soon as I entered the company, various stares stuck to me.

"She still has the nerve to show up? Guess the people online didn't curse her hard enough."

"I said all along she wasn't innocent---always throwing herself at Mr. Walker. Turns out she wanted to be a homewrecker."

The mockery drowned me. I clenched my fists hard.

Julian and I had dated for five years, but to avoid affecting work, we never went public.

Now it had become a boomerang stuck in my back.

"Vivian, the Marketing Director's surname is now Sophia." My colleague pointed. "Your workstation is over there."

I looked over. All my things were piled messily in the corner.

And the position I'd fought five years to earn now belonged to Sophia.

To please his first love, I had to hand over my life's work with both hands.

I told myself it was fine---at least I didn't need Julian's signature to resign anymore.

I looked away and crouched down to organize my things bit by bit.

Scattered laughter rang out.

When I looked up, Julian stood not far away, his expression dark.

He still wore that freebie on his wrist. I turned my face away.

"Vivian, pack up and come sign a contract with me."

Consider it the final punctuation mark---one last work handover.