Chapter 3

"Vivian, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Samuel snapped at me, his voice cold.

I ignored him, grabbed my suitcase, and headed straight for the door, leaving all by myself.

Samuel suddenly grabbed my arm, his brows furrowed as he demanded, "There's a party tonight. Where do you think you're going?"

I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip was like iron—impossible to shake off.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break free. Each futile attempt left my chest tight and suffocating, as if wet wool had been packed inside my lungs; every breath was an effort.

So I stopped struggling altogether.

I looked Samuel dead in the eye and said, "We've already called off the engagement, you know that. The house we were supposed to live in has been cleared out. Just get rid of whatever's left of mine."

Samuel barked, "Vivian, what kind of drama is this? Can you not toss out sharp words over something so minor?

"We've spent years together, and now you're just ending the engagement like it's no big deal—do you even care how I feel? What am I to you?

"Besides, the party tonight? That's for the Linwood family project you've been following all this time. You know exactly how crucial this deal is.

"For the days you disappeared, I refused to assign the project to anyone else, just to make sure this big contract stayed in your hands. Jealousy or not—look, if you're really that upset, I'll find a way to make it up to you.

"This is not the time for a tantrum. We need to secure this contract, understand?"

When he brought up the project, I couldn't help but feel my heart sink even lower.

Samuel had no clue that I wasn't just leading the Linwood family project—I was also its biggest investor.

All those years we'd been together, his company only managed to grab such a big piece of the market because I'd been pulling the strings for him behind the scenes.

I'd meant to lay everything on the table for Samuel at tonight's party.

But now, there was really no point.

I pulled my hand away, not backing down for a second. I said, "Sorry, but I'm not going with you tonight."

"Vivian, Samuel's company is really on the rise right now. You can't put everyone at risk just because you're upset," Emily chimed in, her voice laced with phony concern.

Then she squeezed out a few crocodile tears, looking all pitiful. She added, "There's truly nothing between me and Samuel. He just pitied me since I've got nowhere else to go. You're his wife—the one meant to spend your whole life with him.

"If you don't want me here, I can leave this instant. Vivian, if someone has to go, let it be me. Please, don't make things harder for Samuel."

With that, she stepped up and pretended to comfort me, grabbing my hand—but her nails dug deep into my skin.

I winced at the pain, instinctively shaking her off, and Emily lost her balance and crashed to the floor.

Samuel snapped, "Vivian, are you really going off the deep end today?"

He rushed to help Emily up and shielded her behind him, face darkening with rage. He barked, "You're throwing a tantrum—calling off the engagement, and now you don't even care about work? Fine! If you're set on this, then walk away from everything.

"Get out and resign right now—make it clean, make it final."

I nodded calmly, unfazed. I said, "Alright, I'll send my resignation notice right away." With that, I turned and left.

Behind me, Samuel let out a cold, bitter laugh. He spat, "Just remember, don't come crawling back in regret."

I didn't respond. Without a backward glance, I left them all behind.

My assistant was already waiting with the car nearby. After I climbed in, I rubbed my tired brow, trying to shake off the fatigue.

The assistant said, "Ms. Linwood, your father is still out of town and won't make it back anytime soon. He asked me to let you know you'll need to represent the party tonight."

My fingers stopped in midair. These past few years by Samuel's side, it was always my dad who showed up for the Linwood family at events.

Tonight would be the first time I'd let everyone know who I really was.

To be honest, I couldn't wait to see the look on Samuel's face when he finally realized the truth about me.