Chapter 3

So I bowed, again and again, perfectly.

Compared to death, everything else felt insignificant.

And yet, I still died.

A miserable death.

All because I was stubborn enough to hope for love.

Whether from family or from a lover.

My father narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

I didn't answer him. Instead, I brought up something else. "Vanessa's been competing with me for the sales director spot.

"I'm stepping aside and letting her have it. I'm sending in my resignation tonight, and I'll try to wrap up the handover in two days."

Vanessa's eyes lit up. Afraid I'd change my mind, she immediately said, "Dad, you heard her. She offered it herself. I'm just as capable as she is. I can handle it."

Back when Dad's company was about to go under, he got drunk one night and started yelling at me, calling me a jinx. He said if I hadn't returned, the company wouldn't be facing bankruptcy.

Business had wins and losses, but he chose to blame the losses on me.

At that time, I had already been out of college for two years, thriving at another company.

After hearing his words, I quit my promising job and joined his nearly bankrupt company as a sales rep.

In just six months, I brought it back to life.

I ran from one drinking party to another to secure contracts. I drank until my stomach burned. I'd been thrown out of banquets, wandering the streets half-drunk and half-awake.

I went after deals so aggressively, I made a lot of enemies along the way.

At first, my enemy and I just disliked each other. Later, I snatched several major contracts from him, causing him heavy losses.

Guess that was when he started to really hate my guts.

Still, I gotta give him credit. When I called for help, he was the only one who picked up and actually came through for me.

That bow and was my way of paying back his kindness.

"No," my father said suddenly.

He refused my resignation.

The company now made tens of millions a year. That was a height he had never reached before.

He was biased, not stupid.

He knew exactly who was keeping the company alive.

But in the end, which side the scale would tip toward, no one could say yet.

Vanessa stared at him in disbelief. She had always been the cherished one, spoiled and indulged. This was the first time she wanted something so badly, only to be denied.

She was trembling all over with anger, crying her eyes out as she stormed off to her room.

Mom rushed after her, afraid she might do something crazy.

I just stood there.

Dad pressed his lips together, and for a change, he actually spoke to me softly. "I know you've contributed a lot. The company is where it is today not just because of my leadership, but because of the orders you brought in. As long as you don't cause trouble, I'll keep you in the director position."

Poisoned honey.

I gave a self-deprecating chuckle. If this were the old me, I would've been deeply moved by those words, wouldn't I?

After all, he was "acknowledging" my effort and my hard work.

It took seeing them clearly for me to realize what it really was. Classic brainwashing. Tear me down first, then toss me a little sweetness, just enough to keep me grinding myself to the bone for them.

People who grew up starved for love fall for tricks like this every time.

It wasn't that I couldn't see through it. I just chose to let myself be used.

That was who I used to be.

What an idiot I was.

"You'd better start looking for a new sales director," I said.

I wasn't falling for their mind games anymore.

Dad got all worked up, gritting his teeth. "Don't think this company can't survive without you. I'm only giving you a shot because we're family. Once you leave, who else would give you a top spot like this?"

I shot him a look, disgust rising instantly.

My ability spoke for itself. Anywhere I went, I'd be fine.

Just the headhunters who've contacted me behind his back are more than five, and every single offer beats what his company can give.

But in his eyes, I was just someone nobody else would ever want, someone he was reluctantly keeping around.

My stare was so blunt, so blatantly filled with contempt and disgust, it actually made him flinch with unease.