Chapter 3
By the time I got home, it was already one in the morning.
I barely managed to clean up and didn't even have the strength to eat before collapsing into bed.
For five years, I kept myself too busy to feel anything, drowning in endless work just to stay numb.
I forced myself not to think about what happened before.
But running into James again still messed with the peace I'd worked so hard to build up over the years.
It wasn't until I glanced at the savings I'd managed to scrape together on my phone that I snapped back to reality.
Once I wrapped up this project, I'd score a pretty decent bonus.
This year, I might finally save up enough to quit for good and just take it easy.
Back when James and I split up, he tried to hand me a bunch of money, but I didn't want it.
However, I never even got the chance to give it back.
He wiped every trace of my contact info from his phone.
Security at his company would toss me out the moment they spotted me.
I stood outside his building for hours, hoping James would come back, but he never did.
Instead, Olivia finally stepped out, looking at me like I was nothing but trouble.
She ordered the driver to call the police, accusing me of breaking in.
Just as the driver reached for his phone, I hurriedly pulled out the bank card James had given me.
I never even bothered to check how much money was on it.
I had no idea James had kept it from his parents, telling them I left with nothing.
Olivia snatched it and stuffed it into her Hermès bag, ordering the driver to kick me out like I was just some bum.
"You wasted years of my son's life, and now you think you can just take our family's money? You poor people are always scheming!
"Trying to use this as an excuse to get my son to feel sorry for you and let you back in? Let me tell you, my son is out with the girl I actually like, and they're getting engaged soon!" she snapped.
It turned out that Olivia was telling the truth.
Three days later, the Easton Group announced James' marriage alliance with Monroe Holdings' heiress. Yes, James got engaged just seven days after the divorce.
*****
The next day, I showed up at work looking exhausted, with dark circles under my eyes after spending over an hour packed into the subway.
Everyone in the office was way more excited than usual, almost all of them fixing their makeup in little mirrors.
A coworker who got along with me pulled me aside and whispered, "The big boss' daughter from HQ is coming by to inspect us today. Everyone wants to make a good impression!"
I was just another corporate drone, counting down the months until I could finally save up enough to quit for good.
Honestly, I couldn't care less if the big boss' daughter showed up, or even the CEO himself.
But I never expected that the woman in the middle of the always secretive top brass turned out to be James' wife—Sophie.
As she walked past, Sophie shot me a deliberate look.
Just one look, and I got the message.
Yesterday's drama wasn't over yet, and she wasn't done with me yet.
*****
Sure enough, not long after, the manager, David Wilson, came over.
Having collected all the unfinished work from the other employees, he dumped every last bit of it on me.
"You have to finish all this today, or you're not leaving," David said, his tone cold and unyielding.
The pile of files was so massive and messy that it actually blocked my computer from view.
Even if I had a whole week, there was no way I'd get through all this.
I shot to my feet, pointed at the ridiculous stack, and glared right at David.
"No way. There's just no way. Even if I could spawn clones of myself, I'd still be buried!" I blurted out, my frustration completely taking over.
One of my coworkers spoke up for me, "Mr. Wilson, are you sure about this? There's no way Summer can handle all that by herself," she protested.
David just snorted, making it clear there was no room for discussion.
"Ms. Monroe gave the order. If anyone wants to help her, just grab your paycheck and leave!" he snapped, his voice cold and final.
Everyone just kept their heads down and stayed silent.
During lunch break, I didn't even touch the pile of files on my desk.
While everyone else was eating, a coworker hesitated, then gave my shoulder a gentle pat, whispering, "Summer, if you know Ms. Monroe, just apologize. She's obviously waiting for you to ask for forgiveness."
But how was I supposed to apologize for something I didn't even do?
James and I were married. That was just a fact I couldn't erase.
If she was out to mess with me just because I was his ex, then no matter what I did, she was not gonna quit.
By the afternoon, even the coworkers who used to get along well with me were suddenly giving me the cold shoulder.
Something must have gone down.
A wave of indescribable injustice suddenly washed over me.
James and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.
Just a few more months, and I'd finally be free from this place.
Why was it that every time hope was finally in sight, they had to throw another curveball at me?
Why did they always have to stand in the way of my happiness?
I was stuck at my desk all afternoon, slogging away without a break.
After finishing up my own tasks, it still wasn't even time to clock out.
I tried to cheer myself up. At least I got off on time today.
Maybe I should reward myself with something nice to eat.
When it was finally time to clock out, everyone snatched up their bags and rushed for the elevator.
Right, I almost forgot. They dumped all their work on me—no wonder they didn't have to stay late.
They obviously didn't want to hang around me.
After everyone else had cleared out, I finally shut down my computer and dragged myself downstairs.
Outside of the building, James' car was parked, impossible to miss.
He was there with Sophie, who was hanging onto his arm, looking all sweet and dependent.