Chapter 4

My heart leaped into my throat. Ignoring the pain, I fumbled to gather them.

"I'll get it." Valerie had already knelt down, picking up the resignation letter before me.

My breath hitched, my eyes fixed on her hand. Fortunately, her attention was entirely on the letter. I quickly tucked the confidential document under other miscellaneous items.

"You quit?" Her tone held surprise.

"Yeah." I haphazardly stuffed my things back into the box.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, displeased. "I told you to hand over the project to Brandon, and you were so unwilling. Did you finally come to your senses?"

Perhaps my face was too pale, as her tone softened slightly for a rare moment. "It's fine that you quit. Grandma left you enough to live on. Just be Mr. Wen now, and stop competing with Brandon. He's innocent; he doesn't have as many tricks up his sleeve as you do."

I bit my lower lip, nodding, my heart feeling like it was being pricked by countless needles.

I endured the pain, trying to stand. She reached out to help me, then continued, "Before you leave, make sure to explain all the project details to Brandon, so those difficult clients don't give him trouble."

"He's not as good at dealing with people as you are, and he's not like you, knowing how to win over Grandma and get so much stuff."

I didn't want to waste any more time on them. I calmly replied, "Okay."

Valerie seemed pleased by my obedience, a faint smile gracing her lips. "That's better. I've neglected you lately, but once Brandon fully takes over your work, I'll make it up to you."

"After Grandma's mourning period is over, we'll have our wedding, so she can rest in peace."

I bit my lip hard, suppressing the ache in my chest. That day would never come.

Over the next few days, I quietly packed my bags, prepared a detailed project memo for Brandon, and made time to visit Valerie's grandmother's grave, informing her of my decision. She had loved me dearly in life; I knew she wouldn't want to see me suffer like this.

On the last day, Valerie didn't go to the office.

I was a little nervous, wondering how to avoid her. But she found the long-unused astronomical telescope. "Brandon wants to go stargazing and camping in the park. I'm going with him today."

"Okay." I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This suited me perfectly.

"The company's charity gala is tonight," she added. "Get his tux ready."

I thought for a moment. By then, I would already be on my way to Nevada.

Brandon walked over, intimately linking his arm through Valerie's, his voice tinged with a well-placed hint of difficulty and grievance. "Valerie, asking Julian to prepare the tux... his project files caused me so much trouble with clients before. Maybe I should just wear something casual? I don't want to..."

He lowered his eyes, his voice trailing off. Though there were no tears, he perfectly portrayed that look of suppressed grievance, of being wronged but not stating it directly.

Valerie immediately frowned and glared at me. "Julian! If you don't want to, you can just say so! Doing these sneaky things behind my back is truly disappointing!"

The moment of departure was close at hand. I didn't want any more conflict. I calmly told Brandon, "My apologies, that was my oversight last time. It won't happen again." Then I said to Valerie, "I'll prepare the tux, don't worry."

A faint look of shame flickered across Valerie's face. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke in a stiff voice, "Julian, tomorrow... tomorrow I'll go with you to pick out a new puppy. We'll definitely find one just like Lucky."

Before the car Professor Davies sent came to pick me up, I had already delivered the perfectly ironed tux. I also placed the "forever" ring and the never-effective pre-nuptial agreement on the living room table.

Carrying my simple luggage downstairs, Professor Davies looked at my expressionless face and sighed softly.

"Since you've made your decision, focus on your work there and make a real impact."

"I will."

The car started, and Valerie's mansion grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, eventually disappearing from sight.

In the early hours of the morning, Valerie returned home with a slightly tipsy Brandon.

The house was dark and silent. She instinctively felt annoyed. Usually, no matter how late, I would always leave a light on in the living room.

"Julian? Go make some hangover soup."

The empty house offered no response.

Valerie irritably flipped on the light. The moment her gaze landed on the documents and the ring on the table, her pupils constricted, and she shrieked, "Julian! Who gave you permission to take off the ring!"