Chapter 4

Tonight was the company anniversary with a gala event.

Before officially resigning, I still attended.

At least I needed to claim my year-end bonus.

In front of everyone, Ethan publicly announced Claire Bennett's hiring on stage.

He even specifically told everyone to take good care of the new colleague.

People whispered:

"Oh my God, is this really something our stone-faced Ethan would say?"

I sat in the audience listening, dutifully applauding.

Ethan's gaze drifted toward me, as if observing my reaction.

The next second, Claire beside him wobbled in her heels, and he immediately turned to steady her.

Halfway through the banquet, I went to the terrace for air and heard Ethan talking with his friend.

"What, another cold war with Lily?"

He swirled his wine glass carelessly. "Yeah."

His friend sighed. "When will you ever take the initiative to apologize and comfort her? Girls like her are rare."

"I know."

"Then why'd you bring Claire here to humiliate Lily? This will only worsen things between you two. What if Lily really can't take it anymore and leaves?"

"She won't." Ethan paused, then continued with certainty, "Lily will never leave me."

He was still that confident.

Thinking I'd give in like every time before.

I was about to turn and leave when Claire's voice sounded behind me.

"What a coincidence. Want to have a drink together?"

Claire naturally walked to my side, her tone intimate as if we were old friends.

"I forgot to greet you last time. You're Lily, right?"

"Sorry for taking your position as soon as I arrived."

The remark carried a double meaning.

I caught the provocation in her words and asked coldly, "Claire, are we close?"

She smiled even more brightly. "I don't know much about you, but you must know quite a bit about me, right?"

I knew she must have seen my visitor record in the logs.

Seeing that I still wouldn't take the bait or show the fury she'd imagined, Claire grew unhappy and simply poured the wine in her glass onto herself, letting out a cry.

The aloof man nearby immediately changed expression and rushed over.

"Lily, what are you doing?"

I clenched my fist but didn't explain. I just threw the wine in my glass at his face.

Amid the gasps around us, I laughed coldly.

"This is what I did."

A waiter quickly brought towels.

Ethan wiped the wine from his face, those eyes dark as a frozen pond watching me with inscrutable meaning.

In the end, he said nothing and left the banquet with Claire.

I watched their retreating figures and simply pulled out my phone to send a message.

"My resignation letter and divorce papers are both on your desk."

"Remember to sign."

After sending it, I blocked and deleted his number.

I went home to grab the luggage I'd already packed, discovering two tickets to Hokkaido.

Did Ethan actually think that while I'd been packing these days, I was looking forward to going to see snow with him?

Expressionless, I tore the ticket with my name on it in half.

Without looking back, I left the city.