Chapter 4

Team members, and clients I'd worked with before, all started messaging me privately to ask what was going on.

Before I could reply, the company group chat wouldn't stop lighting up.

【Wow, congrats to the boss on finding true love! Wishing the boss and his lady endless happiness!】

【Dying, I've had it up to here with Zelda for ages, always playing the cold aloof career woman, such a poser, what man would ever like that? Good riddance, she's finally out of the company, congrats to the boss for cutting his losses and escaping the misery. Having a psycho ex like that is honestly terrifying, they should just throw her in jail.】

【Let's all look forward to Zelda getting blacklisted in the industry. And by the way, the new lady of the house is clearly the gentle, kind, wifely type. She and the boss are a perfect match!】

The veterans on my team tried to put in a few fair words for me.

They got shot down on the spot.

【Quit going on about the projects. Fighting for the company's interests was just her job, okay? That doesn't make her not a bitch. Without her, the boss can still grow this company just fine. She really thought she was somebody.】

To curry favor with Joe, they doctored my photos every way they could into ugly meme stickers.

Paired with all kinds of vile captions.

Joe sent fat cash gifts to everyone offering congratulations, while turning a blind eye to all the people cursing me out.

I was shaking with rage. I called Joe.

"When did you trick me into signing that non-compete? You want to strangle my whole career to death?"

His tone was careless.

"I was only thinking of the company's interests. If you want to cancel the agreement early, you have to pay the penalty. And you know exactly how high the penalty is at your level."

"These past few years you gave most of your money to Yara's parents. You can't come up with that kind of sum. But in two years, can you guarantee that other companies in the field won't question whether your ability has slipped, that they'll still want you?"

"So, Zellie, all you have to do is publicly apologize to Yara, say you smeared her out of jealousy, and I'll bring you back to the company, same terms as before. Think it over carefully. Don't be stupid with your own future."

I slammed the phone down, my fist clenched hard.

I never could have imagined it. The lover I'd once been inseparable from, the partner who'd stood by me through everything at work.

Could scheme against me like this.

Once I'd calmed down, I made a call to Beulah.

"Beulah, I need your help."

Half a month later, Aunt Diane Abbott suddenly got in touch.

"Zellie, Yara's getting engaged this weekend. You'll come too, won't you?"

"Honestly, this girl. She got a boyfriend and didn't even tell the family. Three months pregnant already, and she waits until the engagement to say anything."

"I still haven't met her boyfriend. Do you know him?"

I paused. So Joe was afraid I'd cause a scene. He'd hidden it well.

"Yes. Very well."

"Is that so. You're a good girl. Anyone you know well must be a good man."

Aunt Diane's voice was as kind as ever.

"Come to think of it, you and Joe should be getting married too. I still want to help raise your babies."

"So we'll see each other this weekend. You and Yara promised each other since you were little that you'd never miss any of the other's important moments. Now you've both found good homes, and I can rest easy."

My voice came out hoarse. "All right. See you this weekend."

I set the phone down, an odd guilt settling in my chest.

Whatever else was true, Aunt Diane had loved me like her own daughter.

But I wasn't the one who'd done wrong. Even if she blamed me, I had no choice but to do what I was going to do.

The engagement banquet Joe had arranged for Yara was lavish, with plenty of clients and friends from the circle invited.

When they saw me, they both looked stunned.

The banquet hadn't started yet. Aunt Diane and Uncle Frank were probably still on their way.

Yara clutched the hem of her dress and worked up the courage to speak.

"We've already cut ties. You're not welcome here. Please leave."

Joe frowned too.

"Zelda, what are you doing here? I don't recall inviting you."

I smiled.

"Didn't you want me to publicly apologize and explain myself? I've made up my mind. I'll say my piece and go."

"Don't worry. I won't hold up the start of your engagement banquet."

With that, I walked straight toward the stage.

Joe tried to stop me, but bodyguards who'd appeared out of nowhere pinned him down.

Off to the side, Beulah gave me a quiet nod.

I picked up the microphone, my words clear.

"None of you are strangers here. I imagine you've all seen Mr. Henson's social media."

"He wants me to apologize to his fiancée and clear up the rumors. But I think words alone lack sincerity, so I've prepared a little presentation."

"Now, please enjoy."

The moment the words left my mouth, every eye in the room went wide.