Chapter 1

After saving up for five years with Cindy Labelle, we finally go house hunting. My best friend, Caleb Jarding, comes along too.

He points to the floor plan I've been studying for the past six months and asks Cindy, "The second bedroom needs to be turned into a gaming room. Can we knock down the wall?"

Cindy replies, "Let's get a designer to take a look tomorrow. You can change it however you want."

The two of them talk about everything from the orientation to the tiles, and then from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the bathtub.

I stand in the corner, unable to get a word in.

Only when it's time to sign the contract does Cindy suddenly remember my existence.

She says, "Let's put Cal's name on the deed for now. He's been working hard here on his own, so consider it a company perk. And since the company is a little tight on cash lately, you can keep renting for another two years, Zachary."

But five years ago, I, too, traveled thousands of miles to be with her as she chased her dreams. We squeezed into a cramped partitioned room without air conditioning.

Back then, Cindy was deeply moved and promised, "Once the company takes off, the first thing we'll do is get a home of our own."

Now that the company is doing well, she gives someone else a home first.

I stare at the two signatures side by side on the contract. There is no place for mine.

Since she has already planned a future without me, I won't wait for her anymore. I open the webpage to terminate my lease and press confirm.

Chapter 1

Cindy Labelle, Caleb Jarding, and I walked out of the property office. There were only two seats left on the shuttle.

Without a second thought, Cindy took Caleb's hand and led him onto the bus.

She said, "You can walk, Zachary. We'll go pick up the keys first. Cal's wearing dress shoes today, and they're rubbing his feet raw."

She was worried about whether his Isaric designer shoes would hurt his feet. However, she'd forgotten that I had an aggravating old back injury that made it painful for me to stand for long, from working around the clock to help her meet deadlines.

I no longer expected her to remember.

I turned and walked away while saying, "I'm not going."

Cindy didn't care.

She called after me, "Then you can go renew the lease with the realtor. Today's the last day."

There would be no renewal. The paperwork to terminate the lease had already arrived, and I'd signed it without hesitation.

When I got home, I happened to see Caleb's latest post on Instagram. He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, grinning from ear to ear.

He wrote, "Finally, I've put down roots in this city."

I'd spent more than six months researching that apartment. On top of that, I'd stayed up countless nights drawing up the renovation plans.

Just last week, I'd excitedly called my mom and said, "Mom, you'll finally get to see our new home next month."

Her voice had trembled with emotion as she gushed, "Okay. Your dad and I will be waiting. All these years you've devoted to Cindy haven't been for nothing."

But now, someone else's name was on the deed.

I gave the post a like and left a comment. "I'm so jealous. Your company has amazing perks."

Then, I started packing.

My 300-square-foot rental was so small and bare that I couldn't even fill a suitcase. My clothes were all bought on sale, and my daily necessities were the cheapest brands I could find.

Every penny I saved went into the same account.

After five years of pinching pennies and saving up, I'd finally bought that spacious riverfront apartment. Yet, Cindy had given it to Caleb without a thought.

When she came home later, she looked immensely displeased.

She fumed, "What did you mean by that comment? Everyone at the company can see it, and so can your parents. What will they think?"

I almost laughed at her absurdity.

I countered, "When you took the money we'd saved for five years and bought Caleb an apartment while calling it a company perk, did you ever stop to consider what other people would think?"

She frowned and argued, "Cal is your best friend. He came to the company to help me. Was I not supposed to take care of him? Can't you be more considerate, like him?"

The anger I'd kept bottled up for five years suddenly surged forth.

Five years ago, Mom had cried as she tried to talk me out of it. "She has this crazy dream of starting a business, and you're going to throw your life away chasing it with her?"

Dad had locked my state ID in the safe and roared, "If you can't settle down and find some stability, forget about getting married!"

I ignored them both.

I quit the federal job I'd worked so hard to land. Then, I bought a one-way ticket, grabbed a suitcase, and traveled across the country to be with Cindy.

Back then, she was working herself to the bone, running from one project to the next. She'd even ended up hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer.

She always used to say the same thing. "As soon as the company takes off, the first thing I'll do is buy us a home. We'll bring the deed home. Then, your parents will finally have to approve of us."

Five years had passed. The company was thriving. We had money and bought the apartment.

But the person living in it wasn't going to be me.

"Like Caleb?" I repeated, my voice eerily calm.

Cindy raised her voice. "Shouldn't you? It's just an apartment. Besides, it makes things easier for the company financially…"

I looked at her incredulously as she compared me to him as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Suddenly, I was tired of all of it.

Cindy rambled, "The company is at a critical stage in its funding round. I come home, and I still have to listen to you complain about this—"

I cut her off, "Then don't listen."

She froze for a moment before grabbing her car keys. "I won't waste my time arguing with you. Spend some time alone and calm yourself down."

The door slammed behind her.

It was always like this. Ever since Caleb came along, she couldn't see my pain anymore. She always assumed I was making a scene and picking a fight over nothing.

Then, she'd walk away and leave me alone to deal with my emotions and everything else.

But this time, I wasn't going to lie to myself anymore. I opened my transportation app.

Five years ago, I'd bought a one-way ticket to come here. Now, I was buying another one-way ticket to leave.

Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the office to finish my last project. I'd been working on it for more than six months. I'd drawn hundreds of blueprints. I couldn't just leave it unfinished.

In the conference room, Cindy pushed Caleb to the front and said, "The last project launched ahead of schedule because Cal pulled several all-nighters. He deserves most of the credit."

Then, her eyes landed on me, and her voice turned cold. "As the lead designer, some people need to pick up the pace. Don't make the new guy clean up after you."

My drawings and proposal had been carefully organized and sent to the project group one by one just last night. I was the one who'd pulled three straight all-nighters.

Ironically, I was the one getting publicly reprimanded.

After the meeting, Cindy called the entire team out for dinner at an upscale Akhtelian restaurant.

She remarked, "Cal loves fresh seafood. Let's not forget the lobster and sea urchin."

After making sure everyone knew what he liked, she casually pushed a set meal toward me. It was the cheapest option on the menu.

"Zachary, you can have this. We're saving for an apartment, so we need to cut costs wherever we can," she said callously.

She remembered exactly what Caleb liked, but she'd forgotten that I was allergic to seafood. I couldn't touch a single piece of the food spread out on the table.

Somehow, she still remembered to tell me to save money for our apartment.

What she never knew was that six months ago, when Caleb had lost his job and was desperate, I was the one who brought him to her.

I had convinced Cindy. "His background is a perfect fit for us, and he's a hard worker. Give him a chance."

After he arrived, I somehow became the inconsiderate one. When we both worked late into the night, she'd let Caleb take a cab home and reimburse him. But when she saw me still working hard at my seat, she frowned and complained.

"Why are you still in the office? Do you think the electricity and water bills are cheap?"

Caleb once mentioned craving fresh sea urchin, and she drove five miles out of her way to get some for him. When I had a fever and asked her to pick up some medicine, she told me there was cold medicine at home and that it would work just as well.

She kept saying Caleb knew how to make people feel good, but all that emotional support came at my expense. It was built on my sleepless nights, my work, my savings, and all the times I swallowed my pride and gave in.

After dinner, she wanted to drag me to go see our new apartment. "Come on. Let's go take a look. We can figure out how we want to decorate it."

I brushed her hand away and said, "I'm not going."

Caleb came over with a smile and draped an arm around my shoulder. "Come on, Zach. Come with us. I could use your opinion."

Cindy sighed helplessly. "Are you still mad? It's just an apartment. Don't be so petty."

Without a second thought, she had Caleb take the driver's seat while she sat in the passenger seat. It wasn't until I climbed into the back seat that I realized something.

At some point, this car had become Caleb's, too. He'd only been here for six months, yet I hadn't driven Cindy's car once since he arrived.

She went out of her way every day to pick him up. She said he had to take a 20-minute bus ride to work and lived too far away.

I lived on the other side of town. It took me two hours by bus and subway just to get to work. She'd never once asked if I needed a ride.

Caleb said he wanted to tear out the entire bedroom, living room, and study and redesign the layout. Cindy agreed without batting an eye.

She'd probably forgotten that I'd spent weeks creating a thick stack of design plans for this house. Every page accounted for the structure, spatial flow, natural light, and even how each room would function.

Now, she was casually throwing it all away.

But then again, the apartment had nothing to do with me anymore.

Caleb was still flipping through my designs as he commented, "Zach, this layout is pretty good, but this style feels a little cold. I'd like something warmer."

As if it was the most natural thing to do, Cindy ordered, "Then make a new version based on what Cal likes. You're the professional. It shouldn't take you long. Is three days enough?"

I pulled the drawings out of his hands and objected. "These were designs I made for my own home. When did I ever say you could use them?"

Cindy disapproved and wouldn't have any of it. "You won't be needing them anymore anyway. What are you planning to do with all those drawings?"

I said nothing and stared out the window. The sunlight was painfully bright and so glaring that my eyes began to hurt.

Chapter 3

Caleb spoke up softly. "It's okay, Zach. I'll look at some other designs. If nothing works, I can design it myself. You're already so busy—"

"You're still a newbie in the industry," Cindy cut him off. "Your workload is already heavy enough. Designing the place yourself on top of that would be exhausting."

The concern in her voice came so naturally. In fact, she had said it so matter-of-factly that I was sure she'd completely forgotten I was still responsible for the project I'd been working on for more than six months.

I'd been just as busy and just as exhausted. Yet, she expected me to make time to redesign a home that was supposed to be mine for someone else.

Looking straight at me, Cindy said, "Put your current project on hold. Focus on helping Cal get this done first. The next phase is due next week. You're efficient. Three days should be enough for you to finish the drawings. Then, you can oversee the renovations. You'll have plenty of time."

She said it so casually, as if I had an infinite reserve of time at my disposal.

My voice turned frosty as I pushed back. "I can't put it on hold. This project is mine."

Cindy let out a short laugh. "Yours? At this stage, the project is where it is because of the company's resources, not because you drew a few blueprints and carried the whole thing."

Caleb tugged gently at her sleeve. "Don't argue with Zach because of me. Maybe I should—"

She pressed his hand down and went on, "Don't worry about it. Zachary, if you're feeling overwhelmed, just say so. I can have someone else take over the project. You don't have to carry everything yourself."

She said it so easily. The project I'd poured my heart and soul into was nothing more than an insignificant task to her. Apparently, anyone could take over.

I looked straight at her and said, "Cindy, I think I should make myself clear about some things. First, I'm the company's chief designer. I've been the lead designer for this project from the very beginning. You don't have the authority to replace me whenever you feel like it."

"Secondly…" I paused and continued, "I'm breaking up with you. You don't get to order me to hand over my designs so someone else can use them to renovate the apartment."

Cindy froze for a second before laughing. There was unmistakable mockery in her laugh.

"Break up with me? Zachary, are you kidding me? All this over an apartment?"

She stepped closer and pressed, "You just renewed your lease and paid six months' rent up front. How much money do you even have left? How long do you think you can survive on whatever's in your bank account?"

I replied, "I didn't renew the lease."

She clearly didn't believe me.

"Stop throwing a tantrum. If you really break up with me, you won't even be able to afford the place you're living in now. Apologize, and I'll pretend you never said any of this."

Caleb stood beside her, not saying a word.

I turned and walked out.

Just then, my phone suddenly rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Mr. Zachary Lennox, we've received a report alleging irregularities in your licensed contractor application. You're suspended from all work effective immediately as we carry out an investigation on your credentials."

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned. Cindy was watching me calmly, as if she'd been waiting for me to look back.

"Did you do this?" I asked, my voice slightly trembling.

She didn't deny it. If anything, there was almost a soothing tone to her voice.

She said, "Consider it a lesson. I want you to calm down. If you bring up breaking up again, things won't end this easily."

She stopped in front of me and went on, "I hope you'll understand. The company didn't get to where it is today because of you alone. You may take work here very seriously, but the company… doesn't necessarily need you."

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything else.

Five years ago, when she'd said I was all that she had, there had been a light in her eyes.

Back then, I was full of reckless determination. I believed that if we just held on a little longer, we'd eventually have everything we wanted.

And now, we did have everything.

But somewhere along the way, she'd forgotten how we'd gotten here.

Chapter 4

Cindy dragged me back into the conference room and announced her decision in front of everyone.

"Starting now, Caleb is taking over the project. Zachary, hand over everything you have to him."

No one said a word. Some people lowered their heads and flipped through their notes. Others pretended to be busy on their phones.

These were the same people who had pulled all-nighters with me six months ago. Just three months ago, they still addressed me as "Mr. Lennox" respectfully. Now, when it mattered most, they had all gone mute.

Caleb walked over to me. "Zach, what about the model files…"

"I'll send them to you," I said, standing up and walking out of the conference room.

Cindy hurried after me. "Get started on the renovation designs. Cal came here to make it on his own. He can't keep renting forever. You're free now anyway…"

I turned and looked at her with disbelief. "I'm free now, you say? But isn't that because you reported me?"

A flicker of discomfort crossed her face before she quickly concealed it by composing her expression.

I added, "Besides, why can't Caleb keep renting? I've rented my place for five years."

"That's different," Cindy said immediately.

Then, as if she'd suddenly realized how that sounded, her voice softened. She reached out to take my arm.

"We've been renting for five years already. You've renewed the lease anyway. Another couple of years doesn't make much of a difference at this point. I'll buy you an even bigger place later—something better than this one. And as for your parents…"

Just then, Caleb came running out. He said breathlessly, "Wait, Zach! You're my best friend. If you design the place for me, I'd be really happy."

I looked into those eyes of his that seemed so sincere.

They were so sincere that for a moment, I almost forgot that six months ago, when he'd been desperate and had nowhere to go, I was the one who recommended him for the job. And the house he'd been showing off on social media had been bought with the money I'd spent five years saving.

I said nothing. I pushed Cindy's hand away and walked off.

"Zach…" she called after me.

I didn't turn back.

I only heard Caleb ask quietly, "Is Zach mad?"

Cindy sounded absolutely reassured as she replied, "It's fine. That's just how he is. Give him a couple of days, and he'll get over it. He already paid his rent. Where else could he go?"

My footsteps faltered for a moment. Then, I kept walking.

A message from Caleb appeared on my phone.

"I'm sorry, Zach. But think about it… You already have everything. You're talented, and you have a bright future… Please, just give Cindy to me. You'll be fine without her, but I can't do the same. I have nothing. She's all I have."

I stared at the screen and laughed.

Caleb stole my girlfriend, moved into the apartment bought with my money, and then told me to give her to him because I had everything.

In that moment, I finally understood.

The young man from college who had looped an arm around my shoulders and sworn we'd be friends for life…

The woman who had whispered in my arms that I was the one thing that gave her the courage to keep going…

They had both died somewhere in the past.

I returned to the apartment and picked up the suitcase I'd already packed.

Without hesitation, I messaged the realtor, "You can take the apartment back. I'm moving out tonight."

By the time my plane started to glide along the runway, preparing for takeoff, my phone was vibrating nonstop. Call after call from Cindy came in.

I didn't answer.

The next moment, the messages started flooding in.

"Where are you?"

"The realtor said you terminated the lease."

"Zachary, what the hell are you doing?"

The last text read, "Stop this, okay? Come back, and let's talk this out."

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the window.

Meanwhile, Cindy stood outside the apartment.

The realtor came out and said, "Mr. Lennox applied to terminate the lease three days ago. He's moving out today. You'll need to clear out the rest of your belongings, too."

Cindy didn't answer. She suddenly realized, in a panic, that every trace of me was gone from the apartment. Nothing was left behind.