Chapter 3

After leaving home, I went to Chris’s office.

The employees all knew who I was, but they avoided eye contact, which gave me a clue.

And I was right.

Through the glass window of his office, I saw Chris and Wendy sitting at the same table, sharing a meal.

Wendy picked up a piece of carrot, about to feed it to Chris.

He frowned but still ate it.

Chris hated carrots.

My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides.

I couldn’t control myself—I pushed open the door and slapped Wendy across the face.

“He has a girlfriend! Didn’t you know? How can you be so shameless? Get out!”

Wendy’s eyes widened in disbelief, and then tears started falling. Sobbing, she explained, “I… I didn’t know. I don’t understand why you’re hitting me. We’re just friends. You misunderstood, right, Chris?”

I turned to look at Chris.

He thought for a long time before finally speaking.

“Anna, stop making a scene. Wendy’s just an old friend. You hit her without hearing the full story. Apologize to her.”

My hand holding the lunchbox began to tremble.

Chris, you’re lying again.

The tension in the room hung thick as Wendy continued to sob, shattering Chris’s patience.

“Anna Lewis, if you hit someone, you need to apologize! Say sorry to Wendy!”

Chris frowned, tapping the table impatiently.

I had rarely seen him this upset.

Suddenly, I was reminded of Chris at twenty—how I had gone out of my way to please him, and how stubborn he’d been, telling me over and over, “Anna, I’ll never love you. You should give up.”

It was exactly the same now—all because of Wendy.

Memories rushed up, filling my eyes with tears that I tried to hold back.

With my throat tight, I forced the words out.

“I’m sorry.”

Chris’s expression softened, and he smiled.

“Anna, come sit and eat with us.”

Wendy chimed in, her voice bright and proud.

“Yeah, Anna, join us! I got this food especially for Chris from a famous restaurant!”

She looked at me, unable to hide the challenge in her eyes.

I stayed calm, not causing a scene again.

Chris seemed delighted.

I placed the lunchbox on the table, and Chris suddenly froze, as if remembering something.

I knew what was on his mind. Every day, I brought him lunch—it was our routine.

But today, he had eaten Wendy’s meal.

Suppressing the tremor in my voice, I smiled and said, “I brought you lunch, but since you’ve already eaten, I’ll head home.”

Chris opened his mouth but only managed a single word.

“Okay.”

I turned and left, determined.

Out of Chris’s sight, the tears finally rolled down my cheeks.

The office staff exchanged uneasy glances as I forced myself to smile and leave.

Still, I could hear their whispers.

“What’s going on? How can the CEO’s girlfriend lose to the other woman?”

“Shh, don’t talk nonsense. I went to school with the CEO. That woman in his office is his ex. They used to be inseparable—a love story for the ages.”

“Really? So, who will he end up with?”

“No idea, but the girlfriend sure is pitiful.”

Yeah, pitiful.

I laughed bitterly to myself and left Chris’s office.