Chapter 2

I didn't tell anyone I was leaving.

The next morning, on my way to work, I got a call from HR.

They said my promotion had been approved and told me to come in and take care of the paperwork.

But when I got to the office, something felt off.

My coworker Zoe leaned in, lowering her voice. "Julia, did you know? That marketing director job was supposed to be yours, but out of nowhere this morning, someone new showed up. Her name's Chloe Grant.

"I heard Mr. Hayes made it happen himself."

I froze.

Hardly anyone knew that Samuel and I had been secretly dating for years.

He was one of the company's shareholders, but he never meddled in HR stuff.

Besides, he'd already promised me that promotion. He told me that the job was as good as mine.

I went to HR.

The manager looked uncomfortable. "Julia, this is out of my hands. You'll have to talk to Mr. Hayes."

I hesitated.

Part of me wanted to cut Samuel out of my life for good.

But it pissed me off. After busting my ass for so long, all my hard work was handed over to someone else.

Right as I was about to go confront him, the elevator doors slid open.

Chloe stepped out.

She was decked out in this season's Chanel couture, rocking red-soled Louboutins, and carrying the kind of bag I'd need two months' salary to buy.

When she saw me, she gave a sweet, almost smug smile. "Julia, fancy seeing you here.

"Looks like we're coworkers now. Let's get along."

Chloe had her employee badge hanging from her neck, and under her job title it said: [Marketing Director.]

That was supposed to be my job.

I suddenly laughed. It all felt so pointless.

There was no changing it now.

I didn't even care to ask Samuel for an explanation.

It would only be humiliating myself.

I turned around and headed back to my desk, starting to pack up my things.

Samuel was way above me in the company hierarchy.

When it came to HR decisions, anything about me would never even cross his desk.

Zoe hurried over. "Julia, aren't you going to say something? That job was supposed to be yours. Everyone knows it."

"No need," I said.

I didn't waste my time hoping for someone whose heart had already changed.

*****

I carried a box downstairs. When I passed Chloe, she was touching up her lipstick.

As I walked by, she murmured, almost showing off, "Sorry, my boyfriend was really wild last night. He wouldn't stop. I didn't even get any rest."

I scoffed, pulled out my phone, and showed her a photo.

Chloe's smile instantly froze. "You and your mom really are something else. But does it even matter?

"After you and your mom kicked mine out, your mom lived in that house for twenty years. But what did she really get? In the end, my dad dumped her for a mistress fifteen years younger."

Carrying my box, I stepped into the elevator, and before the doors closed, I said, "Stolen things never last."

*****

These last few days, I was busy tying up loose ends at work. My phone kept buzzing nonstop.

Samuel kept blowing up my phone with messages.

He wasn't apologizing. He was begging me to let him go.

Samuel: [Julia, the wedding's tomorrow. I won't be home tonight.]

Samuel: [Once we're married, Chloe's going to be my side piece, having no official status, nothing.]

Samuel: [She's upset, so I have to go comfort her.]

Samuel: [I handed her the director job you were supposed to get. Consider it her consolation prize.]

My flight was already booked.

I didn't reply. I locked my phone without a word, expressionless.

I snapped my suitcase shut and didn't spare it another glance.

I wrote off ten years of my youth as nothing but a waste.

Before I left, I opened the safe.

Inside was the one thing that mattered most to me.

It was a protective talisman my mom gave me before she passed, holding a letter she wrote to me and the only photo of her from when she was alive.

I couldn't leave without it.

But when I opened the safe, the talisman was gone.

I tore the place apart, searching every corner.

But it was gone. I couldn't find it anywhere.

I called Samuel, and it rang forever before he finally picked up.

He was breathing heavily. I knew exactly what it meant.

"Julia? What's wrong?" he asked.

I held back my tears. "My mom's talisman is gone."

On the other end, he went silent for a moment.

He fumbled for words, mumbling.

Suddenly, I got it.

Of course, it was Chloe.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"Julia, don't get worked up," Samuel said.

"I asked you. Where is she?" I snapped.

Samuel sighed, "We're at our place. Come get it."

I could barely stand.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Chloe sitting there in my nightgown.

She was on the couch, absentmindedly spinning the protective talisman in her hand, like it was nothing but a meaningless toy.

Samuel was sitting beside her, rubbing her ankle.

When I walked in, he didn't even change his posture.

Samuel's voice was full of indulgence, like he was doting on her. "Hey, you're here? Chloe, you promised you'd give it back."

Chloe clutched the talisman behind her back. "I don't want to. I like the color."

I felt myself start to tremble. "Give it back."

Chloe had always liked taking my stuff, ever since we were kids, like toys, notebooks with pretty covers, and later, even Samuel.

I could tolerate all that.

But my mom's keepsake was the one thing I could never let anyone take.

I repeated, "Give it back."

"Nope." She stuck out her tongue and started untying the string on the talisman.

"Don't you dare touch it." I lunged at her.

Samuel reached out and stopped me.

He pressed a hand to my shoulder and shoved me back a step. "Julia, chill. She's only checking it out. It's not like she's going to mess it up.

"We're getting married, and Chloe's going to be the one with no title, no status. Honestly, I already feel guilty enough for her."

But what did I ever do wrong?

It was the most precious thing I had.

I was trembling. "Samuel, I've never begged you for anything.

"You know how much this means to me. For the sake of all those years we grew up together, please give it back to me, okay?"

But in that split second when Samuel hesitated, Chloe had already opened up the talisman.

She took out my mom's letter and started reading it aloud. "Julia, I failed you."

"Give it back." I went wild and charged at her.

My nails scratched down Samuel's arm.

He winced and loosened his grip, and I rushed straight at Chloe.

I reached out, trying to snatch it back.

Chloe pulled away.

The letter was ripped right down the middle.

Half the letter fluttered to the floor.

The living room went dead silent.

I stared down at the half of the letter lying there.

My mom's handwriting stared back at me. [Don't ever let anyone make you put yourself second.]

I heard Chloe's voice from above. "Oops, I didn't mean to."

I slowly lifted my head and stared at the half of the letter she was clutching in her hand.

I raised my hand and slapped her right across the face without any hesitation.

The sound echoed, loud and sharp.

Chloe slumped sideways onto the couch.

Suddenly, blood began to trickle from between her legs.