Chapter 3

In the company, all the colleagues knew how Sloane treated me and Aiden differently.

Projects that I had worked on for three days straight, she would suddenly hand over to Aiden on a whim. He would just make a PowerPoint presentation, and it would become Aiden's achievement.

Clients that I had negotiated with for days and were about to sign contracts, she would take Aiden to have one meal with them under my name, and the contracts would become Aiden's accomplishment.

There were countless such incidents.

Over time, other colleagues only felt that Sloane favored Aiden more.

Some even thought Sloane didn't like me, and because of this, I endured quite a bit of side-eye and bullying in the company. She saw it but pretended not to notice.

I didn't want to explain. Anyway, even if I did, she would say I was making excuses.

"Oh," I responded indifferently. "You don't need to tell me these things. I have nothing to do with the company anymore. Do whatever you think is best."

Sloane didn't say anything.

Finally, she let out a sigh.

She walked up to me, stood on her tiptoes, and wrapped her arms around my neck, her breath warm against my skin.

"Actually, I have my own selfish reasons. I want you to take a break for a while and think about our wedding."

"When are you planning to propose to me?" she asked with a coy smile.

But I had already proposed many times before, and each time, she had rejected me.

Every time we had a fight, she would use marriage to coax me.

Sometimes, I felt like I wasn't her boyfriend, but more like a dog she was toying with.

I didn't say anything.

Sloane then scratched under my chin like she was teasing a dog.

"Don't be angry anymore, can you smile for me?" she said.

As she spoke, she deliberately kissed my Adam's apple, as if trying to please me.

She rarely took the initiative to be intimate with me.

In the past, I would probably have been very happy.

After her advances, I would have taken control, only to be pushed away by her, laughing as she called me dirty-minded.

Thinking about it now, I really found it quite boring.

I pulled her arms away and wiped my throat with a wet wipe.

Sloane stood there as if struck by lightning, dumbfounded.

"You're disgusted by me?" she asked.

"I have to go out later, I'm going to change clothes now," I said flatly.

I turned around, ready to go back to the bedroom.

Sloane tried to follow, but I closed the door without hesitation and locked it.

"Fine! Don't regret it!" Sloane seemed to have really gotten angry this time. After throwing out these harsh words, she kicked the door hard and stormed off.

When I came out of the bedroom, the living room was already empty.

Sloane had sent a message in the company group chat saying she was treating everyone to dinner and asked who wanted to join.

Everyone remained silent.

Only Aiden sent three "excited" emojis in a row.

I knew Sloane was deliberately trying to make me jealous.

This had happened many times before. Every time it was like this - other colleagues were unwilling to participate, and only Aiden would enthusiastically respond.

In the past, I would have already been jealous and followed them, only to be mocked by them.

Now, I couldn't be bothered.

I went directly to my friend's place to sign the contract.

My friend was very happy and specially arranged a celebration dinner for me.

After three rounds of drinks, I went to the restroom. As I was walking, I heard familiar voices from a nearby private room.

I instinctively stopped.

Through the slightly open door, I saw Sloane nestled in Aiden's arms. I don't know what they said, but Sloane was laughing uncontrollably.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Aiden quickly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Sloane was stunned for a moment but didn't push him away.

"Sloane, when are you going to break up with Dane?" Aiden asked.

"I can't wait to be with you. Do you know how upset I am every day seeing you with him?"

Aiden said with a grieved expression.

Sloane moved her lips, seeming to want to say something.

Finally, she hugged Aiden back, gently patting his back like comforting a child.

"Wait a little longer," she said.

"It won't be too long."

The two of them cuddling intimately looked exactly like a couple.

I sneered and didn't watch any further.

Back in the private room, after a few more drinks, we called it a night. As we were entering the underground parking garage together, my friend suddenly pulled me in front of a top-of-the-line Porsche and asked if I liked it.

I nodded, not quite understanding.

Thinking it was his new car, I was about to compliment him when my friend suddenly shoved a set of car keys into my hand.

"It's for you," he said.

He winked at me.

"I've been wanting to replace that old car of yours for a long time. It's in such bad shape. Now that you've joined us, it's time for an upgrade."

I was about to refuse, but he seemed to already know what I was going to say and went straight to the point: "I heard Sloane gave a car to that new guy in your company. With his terrible skills, he can drive a luxury car, so of course you can't be worse off than him."

"You know, I've seen the stuff that new guy of yours produces. The style is different every time, obviously copied from somewhere. I don't know how he's managed to stay in the company..."

Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, but my friend spoke without any filter, complaining non-stop about Aiden.

I remained silent.

What he said was right. All those things were actually done by me and other colleagues in the team.

Almost every time, just as we were about to finish, Sloane would demand that we hand it over to Aiden.

That's why Aiden's style was always different.

Even my friend, who wasn't in the company, could see through this.

Yet Sloane somehow couldn't understand.

I thanked my friend and chatted with him for a bit more before heading home.

As I opened the door, I saw Sloane already sitting on the living room couch.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

She seemed to be in a good mood, her tone much lighter.

The scene of her and Aiden embracing in the hotel flashed before my eyes again.

I felt a wave of nausea.