Chapter 4
“Ava, why didn’t you answer my call? How are you?” His voice was softer, perhaps out of guilt or because we hadn’t seen each other for a few days.
I pulled away from his touch, keeping my voice low. “I’m fine.”
Without hesitation, he reached for my hand again and sat down beside me. He half–knelt on the floor, his expression earnest as he admitted, “Ava, I was too impulsive that day. Can you forgive me?” He pulled out a small square box and opened it to reveal a sparkling diamond necklace. “Do you like it? I bought it especially for you.” He eagerly moved to place it around my neck.
I absentmindedly touched the necklace, feeling no emotion. “I know. Do you have anything else to say?”
He hesitated, his tone shifting awkwardly.
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“Actually, there is something. Evelyn resigned, and I want her to join our
company.” So, the necklace was part of a calculated exchange.
I thought it over for a moment, then nodded. I was leaving anyway, so it didn’t matter. Liam seemed surprised by my quick agreement. His excitement was evident, and he reached out to hug me. But I stepped back, just slightly. A brief shadow of loneliness crossed his face.
“Ava, you…” He trailed off, but before he could continue, the sudden ringing of his phone interrupted him.
He looked at the caller ID, his expression changing to concern. “What’s wrong, Evelyn?”
“Liam, there are some gangsters following me, I’m so scared!” Evelyn‘ s voice trembled on the other end, her distress
clear.
“Wait, I’ll be there right away.” He sprang
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up, rushing toward the door. But as he reached it, he turned back to look at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Ava, you…”
I raised my hand dismissively, not even bothering to look up. “Go ahead. Don’t get into trouble.”
“Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he hurried out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The sound of the door closing echoed in my ears, and as it did, I already had my plane ticket booked to leave. I glanced around the living room. My belongings were noticeably fewer, while there were more cups and pillows for couples, and a photo of Evelyn and Liam on the shelf.
Well, at least I wouldn’t have to clean up the mess.
I packed my things quickly, feeling a strange sense of finality. All I had to do now was wait to leave.
Liam didn’t return that night, and I slept
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up, rushing toward the door. But as he reached it, he turned back to look at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Ava, you…”
I raised my hand dismissively, not even bothering to look up. “Go ahead. Don’t get into trouble.”
“Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he hurried out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The sound of the door closing echoed in my ears, and as it did, I already had my plane ticket booked to leave. I glanced around the living room. My belongings were noticeably fewer, while there were more cups and pillows for couples, and a photo of Evelyn and Liam on the shelf.
Well, at least I wouldn’t have to clean up
the mess.
I packed my things quickly, feeling a strange sense of finality. All I had to do now was wait to leave.
Liam didn’t return that night, and I slept
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soundly, a sense of relief washing over me.
The next morning, when I arrived at the office, I was met with an unwelcome sight. Evelyn had already taken my seat, and she looked at me with a smug, almost mocking expression.
“My assistant is furious,” she said with a sneer. “She’s been telling everyone how you‘ ve been replaced. I can’t believe Liam let her take your position.”
I barely registered what my assistant was saying. My head was spinning, my thoughts racing. It turned out Liam had made all the arrangements without so much as a word to me. It didn’t matter if I agreed or not. What struck me the most, though, was the fact that Evelyn had taken my position, a position I had worked so hard to earn.
I could no longer stay silent. After days of enduring my anger, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stormed into Liam‘ s office, slamming my hands on his desk. “I don‘ t care if you want her in the company,” I
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shouted. “But why does she, someone with a background in design, get to take the position of Sales Director? Are you trying to ruin the company?”
