Chapter 4

But the next second I remembered that because of our friendship, all our agreements had been verbal—I didn't even have text message records.

If I really sued him, I wouldn't have enough evidence to even file the case.

"Fine, Ethan. Since you've said as much." I took several deep breaths. "Then I quit. I'm resigning."

I thought when I mentioned quitting, Ethan would at least panic a little. Who knew he'd pull out a resignation form directly from his drawer.

"Sure, Mason. I won't try to keep you then. Go to accounting to collect your wages."

Looking at that paper, I suddenly understood—Ethan had planned this all along.

I let out a cold laugh, picked up that hundred-thousand-dollar bank card, and left.

I went back to the workshop to collect my things.

Many people saw me and rushed over to ask what happened.

I usually managed all the repair work and got along pretty well with the guys, so I told them about Ethan.

For a moment, everyone was cursing him out.

"Isn't this just using someone and throwing them away? Everyone knows you're the one who built this shop up, Mason."

"Exactly. Mason, everyone sees how much you've sacrificed for this place. If it wasn't for the profit share, just for that little salary, who would work themselves to death for him like this?"

"Just wait—he'll regret this sooner or later."

They were all working people who could empathize.

But they still had to work here, so all they could do was say a few words on my behalf.

I thanked everyone, then called over Kyle and asked if he'd be willing to leave with me.

Kyle's family wasn't well off, so he'd dropped out early to work.

I felt for him, constantly giving him spending money and teaching him a lot.

If I took him with me, in probably less than two years he could learn all my skills.

I told him my plan, thinking he'd agree, but Kyle actually refused.

"Master, I'm doing fine here. I don't want to leave."

I said, "You only make three thousand here. Come with me and I guarantee I'll double your salary."

Seeing my insistence, Kyle just came clean. "Master, Ethan already raised me to eight thousand. I don't want to leave."

Hearing that number shocked me. "That's what experienced mechanics make. Why would he give you that much?"

Seeing Kyle hem and haw, combined with Ethan's attitude today, I suddenly understood. "Did you tell Ethan you've already learned all my techniques?"

Kyle's reaction confirmed exactly what I thought.

He had a habit of saying things like that. I'd caught him at it several times.

He was indeed smart and had real talent for car modification, but he also had obvious flaws—he was sloppy in his work.

The cars we usually handled were all luxury vehicles, worth at least several hundred thousand, with parts that were hard to source. The slightest mistake could ruin an entire car.

So normally when he worked, it was only because I was watching that he didn't make mistakes.

Out of goodwill, I told him all this and asked him to clarify things with Ethan.

Ethan had fired even me without hesitation. If something went wrong in the future, Kyle's fate would definitely be worse than mine.

Kyle's expression immediately changed. "Mason, I call you 'master' out of respect, but you really think you're all that? You're saying all this because you're bitter I took your job."

"What's so special about your techniques anyway? It's just the same few things over and over. I learned it all long ago! You think the world stops spinning without you?"

"And you know who I am? I'm Ethan's wife's cousin. He'd fire anyone before he'd fire me. Stop worrying about me and worry about yourself."

My head buzzed like someone had hit me with a club.

Kyle was Ethan's wife's cousin.

No wonder Ethan insisted on making Kyle my apprentice.

No wonder Ethan never said anything when Kyle made several mistakes.

No wonder Ethan dared to turn on me today.

From the very first day I started teaching Kyle, Ethan had already been preparing for today.