Chapter 4

I stared at her, my hands unconsciously balling into fists.

Julia pulled a bank card out of her bag and waved it in front of me.

"Here," she said. "This is from him. There's 900 thousand on it. Consider it payment for your time with him over the past year."

She tossed the card onto the table in front of me.

"And don't think you could buy your way into the socialite circle," she added. "If Edward hadn't vouched for you, no amount of money would've gotten you in."

I stared at the card, feeling like I'd been thrown into an ice-cold lake.

So was this all Edward's doing? Did he set this whole thing up to push me out?

Julia sat back down, watching me closely. When I didn't move, she spoke slowly, her tone calm and deliberate.

"I know the truth is a bitter pill to swallow," she said, "but this is the best ending you could hope for as a mistress."

She added, "Let's end things on good terms, and don't try to pull any tricks. With the Shaw family's power, it only takes one call to make any rumors disappear."

Her words sounded casual, but every single one hit me like a punch to the gut.

My eyes were red with anger, and my voice trembled as I spoke. "One phone call to wipe out the rumors?

"I heard Shaw Holdings is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into overseas investments, gearing up to enter the high-end jewelry market.

"Coincidentally, I've got some old classmates from my time abroad working at top media companies. I wouldn't mind leaking this story to them. Give Shaw Holdings some free press before their big launch."

"You wouldn't dare." Julia shot to her feet.

I let out a cold laugh. "Why wouldn't I? Do you think everyone's as obsessed with money and status as you are? Pathetic. Not a single dollar of your dirty money will ever touch my hands."

With that, I grabbed my bag, didn't spare her a single glance, pushed the door open, and marched out with long, determined steps.

The early autumn wind slipped under my collar, sending a chill through me. I pulled out my phone and shot a quick message to my mentor.

Not even ten seconds later, my mentor called me right back.

The joy in his voice was unmistakable. "I knew you would come around. The position is still open. When can you start?"

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Tomorrow. I'll catch the earliest flight."

"That soon? Don't you want to take a little time to sort out your personal stuff?" he asked.

"No need," I replied. "Everything that needed handling is done. The rest isn't worth my sticking around for another day."

My mentor paused for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. The International New Talent Jewelry Design Competition is happening in Vittoria in two months, and the headquarters is set on winning this one."

He paused again, his tone serious. "Rose, with your skills, you're almost guaranteed to win first place."

I gripped her phone tighter, and her eyes grew misty with emotion.

"Alright. I'll give it everything I've got," I replied.

After hanging up, I glanced up at the gloomy, cloud-filled night sky.

I let the wind carry away the last trace of tears from my eyes.

Pulled my collar close, I walked into the night without looking back.

Back at my apartment, I booked the earliest flight for tomorrow and packed up my clothes and documents.

I sat on the edge of the bed, slipped the ring off my ring finger, stared at it for a long moment, then scoffed and tossed it onto the nightstand.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

"Baby, I've got a last-minute business dinner and can't get away. I won't be home tonight, so get some rest, okay?" Edward's voice was as doting as ever.

"Okay," I replied, my voice was flat.

He chuckled, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Make sure you keep tomorrow morning free, baby. I've got a surprise waiting for you."

I thought with a mocking sneer. "Alright. I'll be waiting."

Edward hung up and strode down the hallway, pushing open the door to the master bedroom at the end.

The room was dimly lit, and Richard Shaw, chairman of Shaw Holdings, was leaning back on the bed, an old photo album resting on his knees.

When he heard the door open, he looked up, his eyes glancing over Edward with a calm, almost indifferent air.

"Finished talking to that girl?" Richard asked.

"Yeah," Edward replied, pulling a document from his suit pocket and placing it on the nightstand.

"Dad, this is the agreement you had me sign ten years ago. It's up today."

Richard didn't even glance at the document. He slowly turned the page of the photo album.

In the photo, two identical boys stood side by side, both grinning from ear to ear.

"But William, Edward still hasn't woken up," Richard said, his voice rough and weary.

William Shaw pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on the photo.

Ten years ago, he was studying in Veyra when his brother Edward came to visit. In that split second when the accident happened, Edward shoved him out of harm's way and took the hit himself, and he was sent flying to the ground.

After a full day and night of emergency rescue, Edward was pulled back from the brink of death, but he never woke up. He had been in a coma ever since.

Back then, Shaw Holdings was in crisis, with the uncles all circling like vultures, waiting for any chance to swoop in.

Edward was the designated successor. He had to be kept safe, no matter what.

Richard kept the accident hidden from everyone, and that night, he made a reckless, desperate decision. "William, you and your brother look the same. Can you help the family out and take your brother's place?"

He couldn't refuse.

From that day on, he was no longer William Shaw. He became Edward Shaw.

He carried that burden for a whole decade.