Chapter 4

In the taxi, my phone vibrated.

Even I wanted to laugh at myself. After everything, some part of me still could not help expecting it to be him.

But the message was from my mother.

[Clara, you've been single for so long. Mom found a few nice young men for you. I sent you their photos. Look when you have time.]

I stared at the message, and my eyes heated again.

Two years ago, I had booked a flight home.

Alex said, "Stay with me," and I really stayed.

Like a little dog who ran back happily the moment its owner crooked a finger.

Two years.

I had not even managed to earn an official title.

And now I had been pushed to the margins at work.

I took a deep breath and forced the tears back.

Then I opened the photos my mother had sent.

I casually picked a few who looked decent and replied:

"Let's meet these first."

I leaned against the taxi window and watched the lights of the company building recede bit by bit, until they disappeared around a neon-lit corner.

I had never been an irresponsible person.

I had been at this job since my internship, and I had always believed a person should finish what they started.

But this time, I wanted to be willful.

The afternoon I submitted my resignation to HR, Alex's assistant came to call me to his office.

Alex threw my resignation letter back at me, his brows drawn tight, his tone hard.

"Clara, do you have to throw a tantrum at me this way?"

I stood in front of his desk, my back straight.

"This is a normal career move. I made the decision after careful consideration."

"Careful consideration?"

He gave a cold laugh.

"You spend a few days out of the hospital and away from home, and the decision you come up with is resigning?"

Instinctively, I tightened my fingers and looked away.

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Sir, you and I are only ordinary superior and subordinate."

The air went quiet for a second.

He looked at me, his eyes cooling inch by inch.

"Superior and subordinate?"

He repeated it slowly, his voice pressed very low.

"Are you still enjoying this little amnesia game? I'm trying to solve the problem with you."

My heart soured.

What gave him the right to sound so light, so certain?

"Thank you for reminding me before. I know very clearly now what you and I are."

"From now on, I won't cross any lines. I hope you can keep things professional too."

He stared at me, his gaze dark and bottomless.

"Clara, we've been together for two years. Is that really what you think of me?"

I turned my face away and said nothing.

He leaned forward slightly, and his tone softened by half a degree.

"Are you upset because of the promotion and the project? I can explain--"

"I understand," I interrupted. "The company has its own considerations."

I took a deep breath, keeping my voice steady.

"I also have other, better career prospects. An employee at my level does not need your personal approval to resign. I'll ask HR to confirm as soon as possible and cooperate fully with the handover."

He looked at me and suddenly laughed.

There was a trace of mockery in it.

"Since you know your resignation doesn't require my approval,"

"then why, two years ago, did that resignation letter land directly on my desk?"

It felt like being slapped.

My face burned and stung.

Back then, I probably had indeed been gambling.

Gambling that I was special to him.

I thought I had won.

But how could Alex ever truly let me win?

I blinked back my tears and forced the corner of my mouth up.

"Back then, I overestimated myself."

For one brief moment, his expression went blank.

It vanished almost immediately.

"And this time? A new strategy? You want everyone to think I mistreated you? What kind of hard-to-get trick is this?"

My heart had hurt so much it had gone numb.

I clenched my fingers and forced myself not to cry.

"Once is enough for foolish fantasies."

I lifted my eyes to him, my tone calm.

"I've decided to go home and seriously get to know the men my mother introduced to me."

His face darkened in an instant, frighteningly grim.

He stared at me as if he wanted to nail me in place with his eyes.

"Good. Very good."

His mouth curved into a cold line.

"Then I won't hold up your new career or your new relationship."

He pressed the intercom.

"HR, I've approved Clara's resignation. Process it as soon as possible."

I stood there and heard every word clearly.

Then I smiled.

"Goodbye forever. I won't waste any more of your time."

I turned and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind me, I quickened my pace.

I turned into the restroom and locked the door behind me.

The person in the mirror had eyes so red they looked ready to bleed, trembling lips, and a face white enough to be unreal.

Anyone could have seen it.

This person was heartbroken.

So why couldn't Alex?

Because he had never given his heart.

His coldness finally woke me up.

It turned out I had never been anything to him.