Chapter 4

My face stung, but I was strangely calm.

The poor boy who once thought $10 burgers were too expensive could now throw around $120,000 without blinking.

He'd forgotten how many people's livelihoods were in our hands.

It wasn't just about the money.

Or maybe he knew, but just didn't care anymore.

Since he didn't care about $120,000, what about a hundred times $120,000?

I was curious whether he'd be so indifferent then.

I met my best friend Sophia for afternoon tea.

She hadn't even finished cursing out Ethan when I received a message from Amy.

"Miss Clara, please come back to the office right away!"

As soon as I reached my office door, I saw Lily directing people to move my desk.

All the contracts and documents were scattered on the floor.

This was what I'd built bit by bit over all these years.

What gave her the right?

"Put everything down right now!"

I took three steps in two strides and slapped Lily across the face.

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

Lily covered her face, but her eyes were defiant.

"Ethan said you lost a major deal and don't deserve this position anymore. He told you to work from a cubicle in the main area."

Probably having heard the news, Ethan came over too.

Seeing the mess everywhere, his eyes flickered.

"Lily, I told you to notify her. Who told you to touch her things?"

Lily lowered her hand, revealing the handprint on her face, looking pitifully at Ethan.

He softened immediately.

"Clara, the decision was mine. If you want to take it out on someone, take it out on me."

"But rules are rules. Lily sent the bottom-line pricing sheet, yes, but it was your subordinate who submitted it to her. You bear direct responsibility."

He sighed and placed both hands on my shoulders.

"I saw you bought a plane ticket."

"But I don't have time to go back with you."

"Why don't you take this opportunity to go home for a few days and rest, okay?"

I shook off his hands.

"Who said I wanted you to come? I'm going home to—"

He scoffed: "To go on blind dates and get married?"

"Drop the threats. Lily told me there's no such rule in your village about having to get married at 30."

Lily also said: "Clara, don't blame me for telling Ethan. I just couldn't bear to see him deceived by you anymore."

I calmly looked her over.

Designer suit, Chanel earrings, LV bag.

Completely inconsistent with her current salary, and worlds apart from when I first met her.

Back then she was still grateful to me for funding her tuition.

Her first outfit for college was one I bought her.

Her first bank card was one I helped her open.

Her first time at a buffet was when I took her.

She said she'd repay me once she graduated.

And now, she leaned against my boyfriend, wearing things my boyfriend bought her, then said she felt bad that my boyfriend was being deceived by me.

Even if I didn't care about my own dignity, I wasn't going to give them any more face.

I pulled out a stack of A4 papers from my bag.

In front of all my colleagues, I read aloud:

"Three months ago, my boyfriend took you to a hotel. The room and contraceptives totaled $5,800."

"Two months ago, he bought you a limited edition bag worth $10,200."

"One week ago, he bought you a ring worth $126,000."

...

"So tell me, who exactly is deceiving whom?"