Chapter 2

"You've finally come to your senses?" My father sounded surprised.

I sighed. "I used to think that if I just gave enough time and genuine effort, even the coldest heart would melt. Now I see how naive I was."

My father sounded frustrated. "I told you long ago that Mason wasn't a good person, but you wouldn't listen. You stubbornly refused to see reason until it was too late. Do you really think your father would lead you astray?"

I gave a self-deprecating smile but said nothing.

Honestly, in life, you don't always need advice from others. Some lessons you just have to learn the hard way.

After some small talk, my father's tone softened. "I'm relieved you've reached this decision. I'll arrange for you to meet your fiancé right away."

"Also, come home and visit sometimes. Your mother misses you terribly and keeps scolding me, saying it's all my fault for being too strict with you."

"Okay!" I nodded.

After a moment's thought, my father added, "Since that's the case, why don't you just quit that job too? It would be a good time for me to pull those projects."

I blinked. "What projects?"

My father chuckled softly. "You silly girl, did you really think you were so capable, closing all those big deals just by going to a few dinners? If I hadn't secretly had people backing you up, your little company would have already gone under."

I froze, then it hit me.

I thought everything I’d achieved these past few years was purely my own hard work. It turned out my father was still the clever one.

That night, I didn't go home.

I forgot the endless chores I used to do for him, forgot the trivial work, and forgot Mason.

I felt so light, so free. I finally slept soundly, with no dreams at all.

When I woke up, it was already eleven. I got dressed and slowly made my way to the company.

Coincidentally, I ran into Mason by the elevators at the entrance.

Mason frowned at me, his voice sharp with criticism. "Who told you to come to work so late? Your bonus for this month is gone!"

I simply walked past him, indifferent. Go ahead and dock it. It's not like it was much anyway.

But Mason seemed to interpret my silence as submission, his eyes filled with contempt. "Didn't you sound so arrogant on the phone earlier? Talking about quitting, then spending a night out God knows where. Now you have the nerve to come back to work?"

"You must have blown all your money, huh?"

Mason looked at me with that know-it-all expression, like I couldn't survive without him.

He held his head high, strutting around like a peacock.

I knew he was waiting for me to grovel and apologize.

But I just smiled faintly and handed him the resignation letter I'd prepared.

"Mason, I think you've got it wrong. I didn't come back to work—I came to quit."

Mason was clearly caught off guard, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Evelyn, what's your problem?"

I shrugged. "Didn't you always say the company doesn't keep freeloaders? Since you think I spend all day doing nothing, how could I possibly have the nerve to stay?"

"Besides, don't you think Chloe is more outstanding than me? I need to quit early and make way for her!"

Chloe, 'coincidentally' carrying a stack of files, walked over just in time to hear this.

Her eyes immediately teared up. "Evelyn, are you arguing with Mason because you're jealous of me?"

"But everything I do is for the company, to help Mason with his workload!"

"Waaah, it's all my fault for overstepping and causing this misunderstanding… Mason, maybe you should just fire me!"

Her acting was so terrible, anyone could see through it. But Mason? Oh no, he was completely fooled.

A look of pity immediately flashed in his eyes as he comforted her. "Don't blame yourself, you're doing great."

Then he turned to me, shaking his head in frustration. "Look at Chloe—so mature and sensible. And you? All you do is get jealous. You're so childish."

I saw Chloe, hiding behind Mason, shoot me a defiant look, like she was marking her territory.

In the past, I might have been driven crazy with jealousy. But now, I watched it all with detached calm, like watching two clowns perform.

At that moment, Chloe pulled a contract from her stack. "Mason, you need to sign this. I've been working on this nonstop for three days."

"Okay," Mason said.

He gently took the contract, ready to sign without a second thought.

I hesitated, then frowned. "There's a problem with this contract. You really shouldn't sign it."