Chapter 4

The launch event was set for one week later.

Wesley required me to attend.

My professor placed the invitation on the desk.

"You can decline."

I looked at the words Special Consultant on the card.

"I'll go."

He frowned.

"Fannie, you don't have to tolerate this kind of humiliation."

I took the ring box from the drawer and slipped it into my bag.

"Some things need to be returned in person."

The day I flew back, Wesley was at the airport to pick me up.

He wore a black overcoat, standing tall among the crowd, his features sharp and cold.

When he saw me, he stepped forward to take my luggage.

I moved away.

His hand hung in the air. His expression darkened.

"Still not done?"

I pulled my suitcase toward the exit.

He followed.

"The lead designer change—you brought it on yourself. If you'd just apologized to Jessica properly, I could have put your name back."

"No need."

"Fannie."

He caught my wrist—not hard, but firm enough that I couldn't pull free.

"You didn't used to be like this."

I looked at him.

"You didn't used to put another woman in my seat."

Something shifted in his eyes.

Quickly, he smoothed it away.

"Jessica's only filling in temporarily. She's not well, and her career is just starting. I'm helping her out."

I nodded.

"You've always been very good at helping her."

His brow creased.

"How long are you going to keep dredging up the past?"

"Until it stops hurting, I suppose."

He released my wrist, as if my words had stung him.

In the car, Jessica turned around from the passenger seat.

"What a coincidence! I just happened to come along to pick you up too."

She was wearing Wesley's jacket.

The sleeves were too long, covering her hands.

Wesley leaned over and fastened her seatbelt.

"She gets carsick. She needs the front."

I sat in the back without a word.

Halfway through the drive, Jessica suddenly pressed a hand to her lower abdomen.

"Wesley, it hurts."

Wesley immediately pulled over.

"Where's your medication?"

"In my bag."

He rummaged through her purse with the ease of someone who'd done it a hundred times before.

Jessica watched me in the rearview mirror, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't mind me. The surgeries left some issues. Wesley's just used to looking after me."

I turned to the window.

Wesley's hand paused on the medication bottle.

"Jessica."

She went quiet immediately, eyes reddening.

"Sorry. I said the wrong thing again."

Wesley didn't scold her. He just murmured:

"Drink some water."

Backstage at the launch, everything was chaos.

I'd just finished changing when a staff member brought me a badge.

"Ms. Fannie, here's your seat."

I looked down.

Special Consultant. Second row, end seat.

Jessica walked over. Her badge read: Lead Designer.

She touched the nameplate on her chest.

"Honestly, sis, I didn't expect Wesley to trust me this much either."

She leaned in slightly.

"But don't worry. I won't take what's yours."

I looked at her.

"Haven't you taken enough?"

Her smile faded slightly.

"He gave those things willingly."