Chapter 4

Brooks was as accommodating to Laurient as he once was to me.

He casually removed the pendant and tossed it to Laurient.

The last tightly wound string in my mind suddenly snapped.

I had nothing left now. I'd even lost my job. I couldn't lose this last memento of my mom too.

I pushed hard on the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"Brooks—"

I saw Brooks look up.

Under the brilliant lights, through the glass, he just looked at me quietly with his usual smile, showing no intention of opening the door.

I immediately understood—everything he said yesterday was a lie.

He was angry I'd talked back to him, angry I'd thrown away the ring.

He was warning me, punishing me, using the jade pendant to force me to compromise.

Separated by a door, the hallway was quiet, but the music blasting inside the room was deafening, drowning out my voice.

I was nearly breaking down as I spoke:

"Brooks, I... I don't want the job anymore!"

"I'll find the ring and return it to you today!"

"Please, please give me back mom's jade pendant!!"

A week's worth of pent-up emotions exploded.

I shouted like a madwoman, drawing the attention of many people in the hallway.

But Brooks still didn't move.

The music happened to reach its final few seconds of quiet outro, and everything fell silent.

Through the glass, I watched helplessly as Laurient took the jade pendant and tossed it up and down with distaste.

Then she accidentally fumbled it, and the pendant fell from her hand.

After a crisp, cheap-sounding crack, Brooks suddenly stood up. He stared at the cracked jade pendant, his expression changing beyond his control.

The scene suddenly descended into chaos.

They seemed to be saying something, but my head was buzzing and I couldn't hear anything clearly.

I don't know how I got back to the hotel. I only came to my senses when I realized I was completely soaked by the rain.

Someone equally drenched stood at my door.

That face was familiar—one of Brooks's friends.

"Brooks was taken back by the Davis family. He told me to make sure to tell you that things aren't what you think. He didn't mean to destroy the jade pendant."

"About your job, Brooks will handle it. Something came up with the Davis family, but as soon as he can get out, he'll come find you right away. Don't..."

Before he could finish, I slammed the door shut with a bang.

Silence returned to my ears.

Water dripped from my sleeves, tap tap tap.

I stared silently at the broken jade pendant in my hand for who knows how long before my phone suddenly vibrated.

A notification popped up—I'd been fired, along with a transfer for severance pay.

The full-time position really was Brooks playing me.

Laurient couldn't tolerate my existence, and Brooks condoned her tantrum.

It was all lies. I'd never believe Brooks's fake sympathy again.

After blocking Brooks on all platforms, I bought the earliest ticket out of Los Angeles.

I never wanted to come back.