Chapter 1

The day I officially resigned from Julian Thorne's company, I bought a bouquet of white roses to take home. "If you take good care of it, this white rose can last at least seven days," the florist said. Before I left, I placed it in a vase by the door, a final farewell. But even as the white rose withered and rotted, the person I wished to say goodbye to never arrived. ... "Assistant Vance, the CEO has signed the resignation application. It's just... he doesn't seem to have noticed that you're the one resigning. "

My expression remained calm as I listened to the HR manager's hesitant voice. Last night, for the first time in the seven years Julian and I had lived together, I found another woman's stockings in our home. I thought I would confront Julian hysterically, demanding to know why he kept cheating, why he kept trampling on my heart. But I didn't. I was surprisingly calm. I've had a crush on Julian since I was fourteen, a secret love at first sight that has now spanned fifteen whole years. This love, which I once thought was indestructible, had finally reached its end. At that moment, I simply picked up the stockings, tossed them into the trash, and calmly told Julian, "I'm resigning. "

All I got in return was his dismissive smile. "You'd actually give it up? Fine. If you want to resign, follow the proper procedure. "

I nodded, then left without a moment of hesitation. That very night, I drafted my resignation letter at a hotel and sent it to HR. My thoughts snapped back to the present. The HR manager's voice grew even more hesitant. "Assistant Vance, are you really leaving? "

"Yes. Please arrange for the new assistant to take over from me as soon as possible. "

After I spoke, I left the HR department. I had just returned to my office when Julian called me into his. Julian was looking down at a report, his expression perfectly normal as he instructed, "Reschedule this afternoon's meeting for tomorrow. Go home and get my new suit. I need it for a dinner party tonight. "

I instinctively said, "Okay," and watched as Julian waved me off without even looking at me. He still hadn't realized he'd approved my resignation. I glanced at him, but didn't bring it up again, and walked out. After arranging his schedule, I returned to his family home, Julian's place, and quickly found the suit he wanted among a pile of others. I had performed such tedious tasks for seven years without a single complaint. From managing the biggest company deals to the smallest office errands, I also took care of his family's endless drama. That included dropping his nephew off at school for his mom, settling my maternal cousin, Leo's, gambling debts, and even searching for his niece, Ava, when she'd run away in the middle of the night... I was like a free, round-the-clock crisis manager. Anyone with a mess to clean up would just ring me. But all that was about to end. Just thirty more days, and I'd be completely free, saying a final goodbye to Julian and his dreadful relatives. I rushed the suit back to the company, then quickly touched up my makeup. At precisely seven o'clock, I appeared by Julian's car. On the way to the dinner party, I kept looking out the window. Outside, neon lights twinkled, and at this moment, they indeed caught my attention more than Julian did. "I bought you a Chanel bag. I've already had it sent home. "

Julian suddenly spoke. "Don't look so sulky. People at the dinner party aren't there to see your sour face. "

I paused, knowing this was his way of offering an olive branch, and obediently said, "Got it. "

Seeing his expression slightly ease, I added, "I've been a little tired lately. I'll only stay until ten tonight, then I'm going home. "

Julian gave a noncommittal hum, as if he heard me, or perhaps not. I silently turned my head away, saying nothing more. At the dinner party, Julian left me to my own devices, going off to meet industry seniors. I was happy for the peace, standing in a corner, but someone, restless and full of mischief, still sought me out. "Stella? Why are you standing here all alone? Aren't you going to stick with Mr. Thorne? What if he forgets you at the party again, like last time? "

Veronica covered her mouth, giggling. "But then again, you've got thick skin, otherwise you wouldn't have been clinging to Mr. Thorne all this time. "

I fell silent for a moment. The woman before me had a brief, fleeting fling with Julian, and her jealousy blazed with undisguised malice. "Instead of wasting your breath talking to me, why don't you focus on figuring out how to push other women aside and climb your way up? "

I said, looking in Julian's direction. I saw Julian, holding a glass of wine, chatting amiably with a new, young woman. They were lost in laughter, a clear flirtation sparking between them. Such scenes had happened countless times; I was utterly numb to them now. I raised my wrist, watching the seconds tick by. At ten o'clock sharp, I set down my glass, gave Julian one last glance from afar, and turned to leave without hesitation. I had waited long enough; it was high time I left. I returned home, showered, and it was almost midnight. Julian still hadn't come home. I didn't message him to ask where he was; I just fell asleep. In the past, when Julian didn't come back, I would lie awake all night, wondering whose arms he was in.