Chapter 1

After our breakup, I decisively quit my job.

I was ready to leave the country when my ex-boyfriend and ex-boss, Mark, suddenly appeared at the airport, trying to win me back.

He said he'd fired his assistant, Chloe, and from now on, I'd be the company's Vice President.

But just as I decided not to leave the country and was ready to go back with him, he ripped his hand from mine and called Chloe:

"You win your bet. This idiot actually thought I'd keep her around."

Then he sneered at me, "Just a joke. You actually fell for it? Go on, get out of here. No one's stopping you this time."

The colleagues present laughed at me, as if I was some pathetic puppy who'd wag its tail and come running back with a single wave of his hand.

But what they didn't know was that I wasn't leaving the country because my new company had just finalized an acquisition.

And I was about to become their new CEO.

I wasn't angry when my ex-boyfriend, Mark, smugly told me his attempt to win me back had been nothing more than a cruel joke.

I just pulled out my phone to call a ride home.

The colleagues standing by watched me with mocking eyes, sneering:

"Skylar, Mark said he doesn't want you. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your flight, just leave already!"

"Didn't you say you got a job abroad? What happened? Did they ditch you again?"

Mark watched them mock me, indulging in their taunts, not bothering to stop them.

This suffocating, humiliating workplace bullying had been a constant shadow over me for years.

I used to argue back, feeling deeply wronged that my boyfriend, who was literally the head of the company, never stood up for me.

But now? I felt nothing. It was like watching a pathetic clown show.

"My business, I don't think it concerns you, does it?" I said, my voice flat.

Mark scoffed, his gaze sweeping over me with disdain.

"Even now, you're still talking tough?"

"With your meager abilities, do you honestly think you could've lasted in this company all these years if it wasn't for me?"

"Going abroad? What a joke."

Yes, I, a top-tier university graduate, had thrown away a high-paying job most people could only dream of. I had helped him build this company from the ground up. Yet, in Mark's eyes, I was completely useless, someone who only got where I was through his charity.

I almost laughed out loud.

I used to love Mark more than life itself. Even after decades of hard work, only reaching a manager role, I never complained.

But then he started giving my projects to Chloe, his new assistant, again and again. He even dumped her screw-ups onto me, making me take the fall.

He used it as an excuse to cut my pay and suspend me, while giving Chloe a promotion and a raise.

That's when I finally woke up. This one-sided love, sustained only by me, had to end.

So I quit on the spot and broke up with him, deciding to pursue opportunities abroad.

I never expected him to pull such a "joke" on me, especially when I was just about to board my flight.

I didn't feel sad or heartbroken. Just… perplexed.

How blind had I been to fall for a man like him?

I shook my head, not bothering to argue.

"You're right about everything. Can I go now?"

I walked around Mark, heading for the gate.

But he suddenly grabbed my arm, his eyes locked on me with a sneer.

"You're such an actress! Your excuse about going abroad has been exposed, and you're still putting on a show?"

"Out of respect for our past, I'll give you an out."

"Come back with me, and I'll let you be Chloe's assistant."

Seeing his condescending posture, I finally understood the real purpose behind Mark's "joke."

On the surface, it was a bet with Chloe to see if I'd be soft-hearted enough to stay.

But in reality, he just wanted me to remain at the company, to be his and Chloe's slave.

I had to admit, Mark was incredibly thorough in planning Chloe's future. He gave her promotions, raises, and even assigned someone to assist her.

Meanwhile, I, who had helped him achieve his dream of being a boss step by step, saw him ruthlessly take everything from me to pave Chloe's way.

I let out a cold laugh. "Chloe isn't even worth my time, let alone my help."

Mark's face instantly darkened.

"Skylar, it seems I've indulged you too much all these years, making you think you're so important…"

Before he could finish, a figure suddenly approached from a distance.

"Mark!"

Mark instantly softened, walking to meet her. "Chloe!"

Chloe glanced at me, then smiled at Mark.

"See, I knew Skylar's talk about going abroad was just an excuse. She really didn't leave."

Mark glared at me, his eyes full of disdain.

"Some people think too highly of themselves, believing the company can't function without them!"

"Unlike you, Chloe, you're talented and humble. Since she won't take the opportunity, then fine. Let's go."

Chloe, however, pulled Mark's hand, her voice a pathetic whine.

"Mark, we can't leave yet. My watch has been missing ever since Skylar quit last time."

"That watch was my grandmother's heirloom."

She then looked at me, pleading.

"Skylar, please just give it back."

Before I could even process what was happening, Mark suddenly glared at me in a fury.

"Skylar, did you actually steal something?!"

I was about to deny it, but Mark coldly cut me off.

"Don't try to deny it. Are you really suggesting Chloe would lie about you?"

"You don't even have a job now, who knows if you've turned into a thief?"

Then he commanded a few other people:

"Open her suitcase, search it!"

I stared at Mark in disbelief.

For the past ten years, living together day in and day out, he knew my character better than anyone.

Just because of Chloe's baseless accusation, he wanted to publicly open my suitcase?

Earlier, he played a cruel joke on me, and I didn't want to argue.

But this, this act of outright bullying, finally ignited my fury.

Not disappointment, not heartache.

Only pure, unadulterated rage and disgust.

"Stop it!" I yelled, furious.

Chloe, feigning innocence, said, "Skylar, why are you getting angry? Could it be… that you actually took it?"

Now Mark's gaze turned even more hateful. He signaled two people to block me, his voice cold.

"Don't mind her, keep searching!"

I watched in horror as my suitcase was toppled, my private clothes spilling onto the floor.

Furious to my core, I screamed for airport security.

Only then did they awkwardly stop.

"Didn't find anything," Chloe said, disappointed. "Never mind, don't make it hard on Skylar. She's had it tough enough."

Mark, however, shot me a venomous glare. "I bet some people stole it and sold it!"

Then he turned to Chloe, his voice gentle.

"It's okay, Chloe. I'll buy you a new one."

As they left, he coldly swept his eyes over me.

"Skylar, when you're homeless and desperate in the future, don't come crawling back to me."

With that, he walked away with his entourage, Chloe shooting me a triumphant glance.

I said nothing, but a cold laugh formed in my heart.

They still didn't know that the company's major projects had imploded, and it was on the verge of bankruptcy and acquisition.

And I wasn't leaving the country because my new company had just appointed me as the new CEO of their company.