Chapter 4

The next second, I pulled out my resignation letter:

"Also, please sign this so I can resign."

Julian stood there, dumbfounded. Everyone present had a mix of shock and amusement on their faces; some hesitated, wanting to intervene.

But then,

Splash!

Seraphina swept the wine and fruit platter off the table, as if she'd been utterly humiliated:

"You two are a couple?!"

"Julian, I told you, the love I want is one where your eyes are only for me! If you have a girlfriend, just say so! There's no need to try and get revenge on me like this!"

She stormed out of the room.

Julian snapped back to reality, then, losing all composure, slapped me across the face:

"Who told you to cause a scene in front of Seraphina?! Why did you expose our relationship? Don't you know she's too sensitive to handle this kind of shock?"

My head was flung sideways, my eyes cold and empty.

The burning rage in his eyes suddenly died down, replaced by a flicker of pain.

The hand that had struck me trembled violently. He turned his head away and said sharply:

"You just want to force me to marry you, but your plan failed. I'd like to see how you're going to cause trouble for Seraphina without the job I gave you!"

He snatched my resignation letter and signed it.

The next second, he shouted "Seraphina!" and sprinted after her.

I traced the crumpled paper, then, with a sense of relief, walked out amidst the bewildered stares of the crowd.

Now, only one thing remained.

After Mom's death, I decided to take her away, so I'd only arranged a simple funeral and a symbolic tomb.

Tomorrow, I needed to go to the hospital to pick up her ashes and belongings.

The next morning, I arrived at the hospital right on schedule, planning to grab Mom's things and head straight to the airport.

As I passed a medical room, I heard a doctor call out Julian's name.

"You young people are crazy for love. Now your chest skin is inflamed, ulcerated, and bleeding. It could easily get infected internally! You can't keep doing this!"

I involuntarily slowed my steps.

Then I heard Seraphina's sugary voice:

"Julian, I was just saying yesterday, out of spite, that I'd only forgive you when your heart was completely full of me. How could you actually tattoo my name all over your chest?"

Julian's voice was full of devotion:

"For you, it's nothing."

I turned my head and saw Julian's open collar.

His chest skin was red and festering, and I could faintly make out Seraphina's name tattooed densely across it, each letter seeping with blood.

But before, when I had just bought a pair of matching couple's rings, he had reamed me out, saying I was deliberately trying to claim him and tie him down, restrict his freedom.

Turns out, when it came to love, everyone was equally pathetic.

I continued towards the morgue. Seraphina had already spotted me and deliberately picked a fight:

"Ava, Julian said you're just a persistent stalker. What do you want now?"

Julian, however, didn't seem annoyed at all.

He quickly buttoned his collar, smoothed his hair, and a slight smile played on his lips:

"Ava, I know you came to find me on purpose. As long as you promise not to overstep again, I can still let you come back to the company. I heard your mom is in our city recently. I can be generous and take her on a trip."

My eyes were full of sarcasm.

What exactly counted as "not overstepping"?

Continue to be his secret lover, smilingly bless him and Seraphina, then wait until he'd had his fill and settled down, gratefully marrying him?

He still didn't know that Mom had died long ago, and her last words were for me to find someone who truly loved me.

The nurse, however, couldn't wait. She rushed out to find me, handing me Mom's ashes and belongings:

"Ava, I have other families to attend to. Just sign here, and you can take your mother's ashes."