Chapter 3
When my colleagues saw me, they were all surprised and then burst out laughing.
"Man, they're really rubbing their love in our faces. Winona just messed with a hangnail, and Charles actually had a delivery guy bring her a band-aid," one of them joked.
"If someone truly loves you, they'll spoil you like a child," another added.
As I listened to them, I couldn't help but feel a cold emptiness inside.
When Andy was just a month old and suddenly came down with a high fever, Charles didn't even blink. He left me at home and went out partying with Winona.
Luckily, my business trip ended early, so I got back just in time to rush Andy to the hospital.
It was so obvious whether someone loved someone or not.
One of my coworkers said, "Is Evelyn still trying to make herself seen and win Charles over?"
"If I were her, I'd just vanish and never show my face again," another scoffed.
I gave the band-aid to Charles.
He took it quickly and carefully put it on Winona's finger.
Noticing I was just standing there awkwardly, Charles told the waiter to bring over a box of apples.
He said to me, "Go ahead and peel all these apples.
"Support staff should know how to do their job right."
A new male intern tried to help me, but Winona sing-songed in a fake sweet voice, "Evelyn, you really are popular. Looks like you've got all the boys wrapped around your finger."
Charles shot me a look of pure disgust and snapped, "Anyone who helps Evelyn today can just pack their bags and leave tomorrow."
The intern, seeing the situation, quickly went back to his seat.
Squatting on the floor, I peeled apples all by myself, while everyone else was living it up at the other end of the room.
Winona swaggered over and deliberately bumped into me, her eyes full of spite.
My arm jerked, and the fruit knife bit straight into my flesh.
The pain shot through me, and I couldn't help but cry out as blood spattered onto the floor.
Charles saw what happened and chucked the apple he'd just bitten into aside.
He said, "That's disgusting."
Winona quickly handed him a peeled orange, and his face broke into a wide grin.
My colleagues were snickering on the sidelines, sneaking glances, and shamelessly flattering Winona.
One of them said, "Winona, you're seriously the best. So skillful and smart, and you totally crushed it with all those big projects for the company."
But the truth was, I was the one who negotiated all those deals myself. Whenever it came time to sign the contracts, Charles would always come up with some reason to let Winona sign instead.
Winona handed me a band-aid, her lips curled into a wicked smirk as she insisted on slapping it on my wound herself.
The instant the band-aid covered my skin, a sharp, tearing pain shot through my hand.
I shoved Winona away, ripped off the band-aid, and caught a faint, stinging whiff of mustard. She'd totally done it on purpose.
I barely touched her, but Winona staggered back as if I'd shoved her with all my strength, crashing into the table corner. A big lump instantly swelled on her head.
Charles jumped up in a panic, rushed over, and anxiously checked Winona over.
He glared at me and demanded, "Apologize to Winona."
He held Winona in his arms, his jaw tight with fury as he shouted at me.
I kept silent, refusing to explain myself, and slowly rose to my feet.
Charles shouted, "Apologize, or get the hell out."
He grabbed a glass and hurled it at my feet.
I took out my resignation letter and handed it to him.
I said slowly, "You have to sign this first, Charles. Only then can I get the hell out."
He didn't hesitate for a second. He just scribbled his signature, never even noticing the divorce papers hidden underneath.
"Someone like you will come crawling back in three days tops," Charles sneered.
He tossed the papers at my feet with a scornful chuckle.
As I bent down to pick them up, he crushed my hand under his heel.
But I didn't flinch or cry out. I just grabbed the papers and walked out in silence.
Just as I was about to walk out, Winona spoke up in a weak, pitiful voice, "It's all my fault. I ruined everyone's fun.
"Why don't we just head over to Charles's place and keep the party going?"
My colleagues immediately started praising Winona for being so considerate, and Charles told his secretary to get the car ready.
"Evelyn, are you coming?" someone suddenly asked.
Before I could even answer, Charles cut in, "Why bother with her? She just kills the vibe."
The next second, my phone buzzed with a text from Charles.
He messaged: [Don't come home tonight. I don't want people starting any rumors.]
I locked my phone and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.
As Charles wished, I was never going back to that cage; not just that night, but for the rest of my life.