Chapter 2

She would push all the blame onto me without distinguishing right from wrong.

Before I could say anything, Aiden's eyes slowly turned red.

"Sloane, don't blame Dane," he said.

"Dane just resigned because of me, it's normal for him to be angry with me."

"After all, it's all my fault."

As he spoke, he clenched his fist and hit his forehead hard, as if in frustration.

But just before his fist touched his forehead, he deliberately loosened his grip.

Sloane couldn't see through this act. Her eyes filled with concern as she gently rubbed his forehead, saying lovingly, "It has nothing to do with you. Don't take everything on yourself."

After saying this, she glared at me angrily. Seeming to get more upset the more she thought about it, she poked my forehead hard.

"Dane, can't you learn from Aiden and take some responsibility?"

"He knows how to be humble. You've been working for so many years, why are you still so childish and arrogant?"

I stumbled back a couple of steps from her push. After regaining my balance, I found it somewhat amusing.

Over the past year, it had been Aiden constantly stealing my achievements and scheming to pin blame on me. Now suddenly he was humble and responsible, while I was childish and arrogant.

Knowing that talking further would be a waste of breath, I couldn't be bothered to say anything more. I turned around, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment," Sloane suddenly stopped me.

I thought she was going to scold me again and defend Aiden, but to my surprise, she pulled me aside.

She spoke earnestly.

"Dane, I admit my attitude towards you today was indeed too harsh."

"But it's because I have high expectations for you, that's why I'm so strict with you."

Hearing her gentle words, I was still a bit confused.

However, I soon understood her intentions.

Sloane smiled lightly at me and patted my shoulder.

"I'll withdraw your resignation letter. Just come to work as usual, but find a time to apologize to Aiden in front of everyone."

"Also, you're fully responsible for this rear-end collision. I'll deduct the compensation from your salary later."

I realized what was happening.

I let out a sneer and looked up at Aiden.

He had probably already known what Sloane was going to say. His face was full of smugness as he winked at me provocatively.

I sneered again.

"No need."

"As for who's responsible for the rear-end collision, we can check the surveillance footage. If that's not enough, you can call the police."

"I have things to do, I'm leaving now."

With that, I left directly.

Sloane was fuming behind me: "I've already given you a chance, don't regret it!"

Regret?

I won't regret it.

I got back in my car and sent a message to my friend.

"I've resigned. I can start working at your company tomorrow."

My friend called back in less than half a second, his tone excited: "Are you serious?"

He sounded a bit unsure: "Do you want to discuss it with Sloane again?"

My friend and Sloane had started their businesses around the same time.

Compared to Sloane who started from scratch, my friend had more resources and could offer more attractive benefits.

My friend was in desperate need of excellent technical talent, so he promised me higher shares and profits to get me to help them out. He even made an exception and offered to let me work part-time after learning about my relationship with Sloane.

But for Sloane's sake, I had refused without hesitation.

When I was at my lowest point, lying in the snow almost freezing to death, it was Sloane who dragged me into a police station and saved my life.

I was very grateful to her, so I gave up everything and devoted myself wholeheartedly to the business, doing everything I could to help Sloane's company grow step by step.

But now it seemed that she didn't care at all.

Moreover, after so many years, I had more than repaid her kindness.

I didn't need to keep compromising myself anymore.

"No need, I can make my own decisions," I replied.

After chatting with my friend for a bit more and confirming the time to sign the contract, I drove home first to get the documents needed for signing.

I thought Sloane wouldn't be back until late at night as usual.

But to my surprise, she walked into the living room not long after, talking happily on the phone with Aiden.

Seeing me, her face immediately darkened. She deliberately rolled her eyes at me before pushing open the bedroom door.

I knew she was waiting for me to coax her.

Every time we had an unpleasant encounter at the company, I would always find ways to apologize to her and beg for her forgiveness.

Even when she was the one at fault, I would still have to swallow my pride and admit I was wrong.

Before, I thought I should do this, whether it was to repay her kindness or to maintain our relationship, I should pamper her.

But now I just found it boring.

I focused on looking for things in the drawer.

After a while, she came out of the room with a gloomy face.

"Has Aiden's car been fixed? Have you fixed your car?" she asked.

I knew this was her signal of giving me a chance to make up.

In the past, I would have thought she had forgiven me and would have rushed to please her.

But now, I didn't even look up as I replied indifferently, "It's just an old car, not worth fixing."

Sloane frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

I looked up at her in confusion, not understanding what she was unsatisfied with now.

This car had been scratched many times before. When I said I wanted to fix it, she would say the same thing I just said.

I thought she was going to get angry again, but to my surprise, she let out a sigh.

"Aiden has indeed been doing well at work lately, so I gave him a car to keep him motivated."

"You're my boyfriend, and when we get married, won't the company be yours too? Why do you have to be so calculative about salary with him?"

"Dane, everything I do is for the company. I don't want other colleagues to think I'm favoring you."

Realizing she was actually trying to explain to me, I was a bit surprised.

She had never bothered to explain these things to me before.

But I knew clearly that these were just excuses.