Chapter 3

I stood frozen in the hallway, my cheek throbbing, the wail of the ambulance siren fading into the distance.

Every breath felt like swallowing shards of glass.

I had genuinely believed today would be our happy ending.

Thanksgiving. Our tenth IVF cycle finally succeeding...

I never imagined that they had cut me out of the picture long ago.

I picked up my purse and drove straight to the company headquarters.

The hallway walls had been repainted in pastel colors. The department directory was updated. The desks were filled with fresh, young faces—not a single one I recognized.

As I neared the corner of the executive suite, Chloe walked out of the breakroom.

The moment she saw me, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Ms. Vance... you're finally back! What happened to your face...?"

I shook my head quietly.

Her voice trembled. "After you took your medical leave, Mr. Miller brought in a new secretary named Elena Brooks. He claimed she had a degree in business administration. Ever since she arrived, Mr. Miller changed completely. The company underwent a massive restructuring. All your senior directors and loyal managers were systematically forced out. I've been waiting for you to come back..."

I looked at Chloe, the loyal girl who had stood by my side for six years.

"What's Elena's current title?"

"Executive Vice President."

I let out a soft, humorless chuckle.

Twenty-two years old. Executive Vice President.

"Call Attorney Davis. Tell him to meet me here immediately."

I pushed open the door to the corner office.

The lights clicked on. But this was no longer my office.

The mahogany desk was cluttered with fresh-cut roses and cute, childish trinkets.

A knit cardigan that didn't belong to me was draped casually over the executive leather chair. On the feature wall hung a newly framed business license.

Under the line for 'Chief Executive Officer' was Sean Miller's name alone.

Right in the center of the desk sat a framed photograph.

Four people: my mother, my brother Trevor, Sean, and Elena.

They were all smiling radiantly, perfectly coordinated, looking just like a happy family.

I picked up the frame, stared at it for two seconds, and placed it face down.

On the corner of the monitor was a pastel sticky note: *Sean, remember your meds after lunch. The stomach pills are in the left drawer.