Chapter 3

[Your onboarding procedures are all set. Just come report for duty the day after tomorrow.]

I received Porter's message while I was packing my luggage, preparing to leave what had once been our wedding home.

Livia came back with Parker. Seeing me at home, she frowned.

"Why are you here?"

My hands paused in their movement. I couldn't help but reply sarcastically.

"You must have forgotten—this is my home too."

She seemed not to have expected this attitude from me, who had always been so compliant. After a moment of surprise, she softened her tone.

"Parker's neighborhood has had security issues lately. He's now the company's Vice President with significant authority. As his superior, I should naturally show concern."

"So I've decided to let him stay at our place for the time being, until he's saved enough money to move out."

This was clearly an announcement, not a request for my agreement.

Parker stepped forward with fake sincerity.

"Joseph, I don't want to intrude on your and Ms. Livia's life either, but Ms. Livia was so worried about me being alone that she insisted I stay here."

"She even said that you're older and more tolerant, so you wouldn't mind these things."

Over these years, I'd heard countless provocative remarks like this, but this time my heart was already unmoved.

I picked up my luggage and said coldly.

"Do as you please. I already said the engagement is cancelled. Who you want to bring into this room has nothing to do with me."

Near the entryway, Livia suddenly grabbed my hand, saying with displeasure.

"A whole night has passed and you still haven't calmed down? Yesterday you embarrassed me in front of so many people and I didn't even make an issue of it. What exactly are you trying to pull?"

"Pull?" I laughed mockingly, pressing down all the questions I wanted to ask her and Parker.

Looking at this carefully decorated wedding home, I suddenly felt pathetically foolish.

In this house, she had once knelt on one knee to propose to me.

"Joseph, I promise you—I'll never let you suffer even a little bit ever again."

In the past, whenever we had even the slightest conflict, she would immediately put down her work to comfort me.

But now, knowing full well that I was upset, she dealt with it by giving me the cold shoulder for a night to "calm down on my own."

I shook off her hand and said flatly.

"I'm serious about cancelling the engagement. I'll have you submit my resignation letter for me."

Parker suddenly rushed forward to block me, bowing and apologizing profusely.

"Joseph! This is all my fault! I shouldn't have come here and made you think I was taking your place!"

"I'll resign right now and never appear in front of Ms. Livia again!"

With those words, he rushed out the door.

Livia clenched her fists tight, pushed me away hard, and roared furiously.

"Joseph! Won't you be happy until you've driven Parker to his death?! The whole company has been talking about him because of yesterday's incident. He only fined you to set an example for everyone else!"

"If he doesn't live and travel with me, he'll be ostracized by everyone at the company! This is me atoning for your sins! There's nothing between Parker and me—can you please put away those filthy thoughts of yours!"

I crashed into the cabinet by the door, my lumbar vertebrae nearly breaking.

And she left with a slam of the door, not even looking back once.