Chapter 1

Last night, I received a termination email from HR.

The reason? I was "too old," "lacked a prestigious degree," and was "holding back the company's modernization."

This morning, the HR manager pulled me aside, looking at me with a mix of pity and helplessness. "Aria, you crossed the wrong person this time."

I followed her gaze. Across the glass partition, Chloe Davis was laughing loudly, surrounded by her clique of newly hired team members.

Chloe was the CEO's niece.

Two weeks ago, she was parachuted into the sales department as the new Director.

She brought a dozen of her college classmates with her, branding them as a "highly intellectual, Gen-Z elite task force."

Yesterday, I rejected her marketing proposal because it was completely detached from reality.

Suddenly, Chloe glanced my way. Her eyes flashed with childish provocation.

"Older, uneducated women really should just stay home and be housewives. It saves them from embarrassing themselves in the professional world!"

I didn't say a word. I just calmly signed the severance agreement.

What she didn't realize was that I didn't need this job. The company needed me.

A few minutes later, I posted a simple update on my Instagram:

"Officially resigned. Excited for the next chapter."

Within seconds, my notifications blew up.