Chapter 4

I got up before dawn and started packing my things.

At some point, Jesse got up too.

"You don't have to rush to move out. The divorce won't happen that quickly," he said.

I didn't look up. "I need to start getting used to it."

Jesse didn't say anything, just leaned against the door and silently finished a glass of water.

"I'll have my lawyer contact you about the divorce agreement and property division," he said. "If you have any requests, just let me know."

I nodded. "Okay."

This was the last time I took Harry to school.

"Harry, starting tomorrow, Mommy will be very busy," I said. "Daddy will find a nanny to take care of you. You have to listen to her, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy, I got it," he replied absentmindedly.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Harry was chatting on his tablet, grinning from ear to ear, not really listening to me.

I didn't say anything else and drove him to kindergarten.

"Mommy, will you pick me up this afternoon?" Harry asked.

"Mommy has something to do this afternoon," I said. "The driver will pick you up."

Harry could barely hide his excitement as he hopped out of the car with his backpack.

"Bye, Mommy." He waved goodbye at me.

"Bye, Harry," I said.

As Harry turned away, he was already chatting with someone on his smartwatch.

Back in the car, I saw the unfinished chat on his tablet.

Harry: [Priscilla, I want to have dinner with you. Will you play games with me?]

Priscilla: [What about your mommy?]

Harry: [I can see Mommy every day because she's always at home, but I don't get to see you that often. I really miss you, Priscilla.]

There were still so many messages left unread, but I didn't check them.

For a moment, my heart seemed to slow.

I pulled out my phone. "Ian," I said, "I'm heading back."

Before, all I had cared about was looking after Harry and Jesse. Now, that was all over.

Ian smiled and said, "Welcome. You'll always have a place here."

Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears.

*****

I handed my resignation letter to Yolanda.

"I'd like to leave within a week," I said. If there's a contract termination fee, I'll cover it."

Yolanda joined the company two years ago and quickly proved to be exceptionally capable.

I'd been with the company for four years—still dealing with refreshments. The moment Yolanda joined, she instantly became my boss.

I knew perfectly well that people in both the Service Department and the executive office were laughing at me behind my back.

But one thing they couldn't deny: when it came to making drinks, no one could replace me.

For years, my colleagues had tried to secretly pick up my drink-making skills—especially Yolanda—but none of them ever really mastered it.

Over the next week, Yolanda didn't even bother hiding her attempts to learn my drink-making techniques—she started doing it right out in the open.

I had nothing to hide. I just let her learn if she wanted—she wasn't the only one. Plenty of young women in the Service Department want to get close to Jesse with such skills.

When Mike came to fetch refreshments and witnessed Yolanda openly learning my skills, he was taken aback but kept silent. It wasn't until the very last day that he finally served Jesse a drink made by Yolanda herself.

Jesse took a slight sniff and set the cup down.

He asked calmly, "Did the Service Department change?"

"Winona Lynn has resigned," Mike replied.

Jesse's hand paused briefly before he continued working.

Mike wasn't even sure what he was thinking, but he added, "She paid a hefty contract termination fee just to leave within a week."

I guessed Mike felt a bit sorry for me.

Unfortunately, Jesse didn't even blink.

*****

Ian brought me to Leaprise.

As luck would have it, on that very same day, Caleb showed up with Priscilla in tow.

Xavier Ford, the CTO, almost threw himself in front of Priscilla, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Killkore? Is that really you?" he asked.

Priscilla remained perfectly composed, extending her hand with effortless grace. "Hello, I'm Killkore—my real name is Priscilla Kelly."

Xavier's face flushed with excitement as he clung to Priscilla's hand, eagerly recounting her legendary achievements over the years.

Ian and I exchanged a helpless glance, not knowing what to say.

Caleb cast a dismissive glance my way before completely ignoring me. To him, I was just a nobody who made drinks—someone who had never even registered in his mind.

Caleb strode straight toward Ian.

He announced, "Mr. Ludwig, I've brought you the talent you wanted."

Ian couldn't be bothered to keep up appearances anymore, his face darkening.

"No need. I've already found the employee I want," he said.

Only then did Caleb turn to look at me, his lips curling in disdain. "You mean her?"

His eyes brimmed with undisguised contempt.

Ian instinctively stepped in front of me. "Mr. Swanson, are you questioning my judgment? Or are you trying to interfere with Leaprise's affairs?

"We signed a mutual non-interference agreement under the witness of higher authorities.

"That's the foundation of Leaprise's partnership with Triverge."

The whole Technical Department was stunned—Ian, their legendary leader, had actually rejected the famous Killkore for me.

In an instant, everyone's gaze turned sour—filled with disbelief, resentment, and something unreadable.

Priscilla, however, didn't seem to care at all. After giving me just a brief glance, she fixed her gaze firmly on Ian.

She declared confidently, "Mr. Ludwig, you may not know me well yet, but I'll show you what I'm capable of."

With that, she strode out ahead of the others.

Caleb followed but halted at the doorway, casting a contemptuous glance back at me.

He looked down on me just because of Priscilla. But I didn't mind. It was not like I ever cared about him, anyway.

Besides, I didn't think I'd ever have anything to do with a guy like him. So what if I offended him?

But the next night, as I was driving to the dry cleaner to pick up my clothes, a man covered in blood suddenly burst out of an alley and stopped my car.

Before I could react, he pressed a gleaming knife against my throat.

"Drive!" he barked.

In the rearview mirror, I recognized him just as he recognized me. It was Caleb.

Our eyes met, and for a split second, time seemed to freeze.

He pressed his lips together in silence, but the blade never wavered from my throat.

The car had barely sped away when several black-clad men reached the alley's entrance.

With a dagger pressed to my throat, I kept the car steady and drove straight to where he wanted to go.

The car stopped, and I saw Elliot with another group of people.

When Elliot realized I was the one being held hostage, he paused briefly, then said politely, "Thank you."

I was a little annoyed that I received a thank you instead of an apology.

I didn't bother being polite. Pointing at Caleb, who was being helped out of the car, I asked Elliot, "Mind if I punch him?"

Elliot's mouth almost twitched into a smile. He stepped back and gestured with an open palm, as if to say, "Do what you want."

Caleb's face paled. "Elliot—"

Before he could plead for help, my fist was already flying toward his face.

But that was it. Turned out, I was nowhere near as tough as Priscilla.

I heard she could even hold her own in kickboxing.

However, my wrist was sprained from the impact.

It really hurt. But I couldn't show it in front of Caleb, Priscilla's simp.

Clutching my wrist discreetly to hide the pain, I nodded at Elliot as if nothing were wrong, then calmly got into my car and left.

Caleb looked dazed. "Did she just... scratch me?"

His chest felt strangely itchy.

Elliot struggled to keep a straight face. "You can tell she genuinely wanted to punch you."

She just didn't have enough strength.

Elliot's subordinates couldn't hold back their laughter.

Elliot turned his face away, trying to hide his smile.