Chapter 3
The bag over my head couldn't shield me from the pouring rain.
Nor could it keep Cason's self-important words from ringing in my ears.
I was drenched, but inside, I felt unusually calm.
I was truly done with him.
Still hung up on him? What a joke.
When I got back to my place, I quickly changed out of my wet clothes.
My fever still hadn't gone down, and after getting soaked in the rain, it only got worse.
Lying in bed, I wasted no time and called the village head back home.
When I was a sophomore in college, my parents died in a car crash, leaving me with nothing but a rundown house way out in the sticks.
That place was basically worthless, and I only ever went back for New Year's.
The village head called me out of nowhere during the day.
He said some real estate developer was tearing down the old houses, and my family's place was supposed to get ten new apartments as compensation. He told me to hurry back and sign the paperwork.
And today was my birthday.
I was going to tell Cason the good news when he took me out for my birthday.
After all, we'd been together for three years.
Cason was always saying he'd save up for a house, give me a real home.
So I was the one covering the rent for our place the whole time.
But now, I didn't need to worry about saving up for a house anymore.
The second I dumped him, I was already planning to quit my job and head back home to become a full-time landlord.
After hanging up, I noticed Cason had sent me a WhatsApp message. [Working late tonight. Not coming home. Sleeping at the office. Don't wait up.]
I didn't bother replying.
He probably still thinks I'm just giving him the cold shoulder.
Ever since Brenna joined their project team, I'd been arguing with him all the time.
It wasn't the umbrella that pissed me off today.
It was how Cason started out not wanting Brenna on the team, but then kept siding with her for no good reason.
The whole reason I got together with him was because I wanted someone who'd always have my back.
The next second, my phone buzzed with a notification. Brenna had just posted something on her story.
I tapped on it.
Her post was super simple, just one line: [Got someone to keep me company.]
Underneath was a photo of an umbrella tossed in the trash.
Just one look and I knew. That was my umbrella.
The next day at work, the first thing I did was type up my resignation letter.
Honestly, busting my ass at the office couldn't hold a candle to kicking back at home and collecting rent as a landlord.
But then, after claiming he'd be sleeping at the office, Cason showed up at work with Brenna Horne by his side.
I barely glanced at them before turning away, acting like I couldn't care less.
When Cason spotted me, he froze for a second.
But seeing how calm I looked, he let out a breath and relaxed.
He must've thought I'd finally let it go as he even gave me a look with that smug, knowing smile in his eyes.
"Jasmine, you're in early today?" he said. "Good, Brenna and I haven't had breakfast yet. Go get us two orders. And don't take forever, we're starving."
Brenna was rocking that designer silk blouse she bought yesterday, acting like she ran the whole office.
"I'm lactose intolerant. And I don't eat onions, garlic, or ginger. Don't mess it up," she said flatly, not even pretending to hide her commanding tone.
Her attitude irritated me so much that I almost laughed.
I shot back, "Then why don't you go buy it yourself? What, are your legs broken? You've got plenty of energy to order me around, but not enough to walk downstairs for breakfast?"
A few people nearby couldn't hold back their snickers.
Cason's expression darkened immediately. "Jasmine, what's wrong with you this early in the morning?" he snapped. "It's just a small errand. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? You're the office assistant. This is literally your job. If you don't want to do it, someone else will."
I bit back my response, reminding myself that I was still at work.
But to him, my silence probably looked like defiance.
Brenna seized the moment, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Cason, Jasmine just doesn't like me. Every time I ask her for help, she finds some excuse to avoid it. Honestly, why did the company even hire her? Is she here to work, or just to freeload?"
Cason's temper finally snapped.
He grabbed my wrist, yanked me up from my chair, and shoved me aside.
I staggered and nearly fell, saved only because a coworker reached out in time.
Cason's face was completely cold, as if every trace of warmth had vanished.
"You're only here because of me," he said harshly. "If you can't even handle this job, then get out."
I stayed silent. To him, that probably looked like fear.
He knew I had no family to rely on, and this job was my only lifeline.
He stared at me, his expression rigid, his eyes sharp with warning.
"If you don't want to get fired, get downstairs and buy the food. Now," he said.
Then he added, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "You're my girlfriend. What's so hard about getting me breakfast?"
I straightened, lifted my chin, and met his gaze with a faint, mocking smile. "Cason," I said calmly. "We already broke up."
The moment the words left my mouth, his face darkened even further.