Chapter 2

Lily's POV

Nathan probably hadn't expected me to be so calm. After all, I was so calm that I didn't even question him once.

He pulled me into his arms, his large hand caressing my waist. He lowered his head, trying to find my lips. "Lily, you're not angry?"

"Didn't you say it was fake? Why would I be angry?"

I turned my head, avoiding his kiss, and used the momentum to slip out of his embrace.

"I'm not feeling well today. I'm going to bed early."

Nathan's hand froze in mid-air. He watched my retreating figure without any trace of reluctance, his brows furrowing slightly. But in the end, he didn't press the issue.

"Alright. Rest well then."

The next morning, when I woke up, the space beside me was already empty.

I didn't pay it any mind. After washing up, I took a cab to the office myself. When I arrived, I didn't go to the design department. Instead, I went straight to HR and got a resignation form.

After filling it out, I tucked the resignation form into a stack of design drafts that needed signing, went upstairs, and pushed open the CEO's office door.

My steps faltered slightly when I saw the scene before me.

Nathan, who was always cold and decisive in front of others, was now half-kneeling on the floor with an ice pack in his hand, carefully tending to the ankle of Susan, who sat on the sofa.

"Why wear such high heels? You don't need to look perfect for me. I just want you to be comfortable." His voice was so gentle it could drip honey.

Hearing the sound, they both turned around.

When they saw it was me, Nathan's expression instantly shifted. He unconsciously stood up and cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment.

Before he could speak, Susan on the sofa frowned, her voice coquettish yet condescending. "Nathan, how can your director have such poor manners? She didn't even knock before entering."

I opened my mouth, finding it somewhat laughable.

Not knocking was a privilege Nathan had once given me. He'd said his office was always open to me.

But now, this privilege had become a crime in front of his true love.

I turned to look at Nathan. His gaze shifted away, not daring to meet my eyes. He just said coldly."What is it?"

"Mr. Sterling, there are some documents that need your signature."

I walked forward and handed him the papers.

Nathan took them, looking through them as he signed his name. When he got to the last page, I held my breath slightly.

It was my resignation form.

"Ah!"

Just as Nathan's gaze was about to fall on that page, Susan suddenly cried out. The coffee cup in front of her tipped over, the scalding liquid splashing onto the back of her hand. It instantly turned red.

Nathan's expression changed dramatically. He couldn't care less about the documents in his hand. He hastily signed the last page, threw down the pen, scooped Susan up in his arms, and rushed out the door.

"Hold on, I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

Watching their figures disappear beyond the door, I stood there, my heart completely calm.

I pulled out the signed resignation form, carefully tucked it away, and headed to HR.

"Since Mr. Sterling approved it, you can resign once the one-month handover process is complete." The HR manager looked at the signature and stamped it.

I nodded. When I returned to the design department, the group chat on my phone was already exploding.

"Mr. Sterling is so good to Miss Susan! She just got scalded a little and he literally carried her out!"

"I heard Miss Susan is entering the jewelry business. Mr. Sterling is planning to put her in full charge of our core project next quarter."

"Now that's true love. Our company is about to have a first lady."

Looking at the messages in the group, I turned off my phone screen.

Nathan really did love Susan. As soon as she returned to the country, he couldn't wait to lay everything at her feet.

And as for me, the substitute. It was finally time to exit the stage.