1

The sound of clear packing tape echoed through the quiet office.

Natalie  stood in front of her cubicle, carefully placing the last of her belongings into a brown storage box.

A small succulent.

A framed photo of three women laughing at the beach.

A white ceramic mug that read World's Okayest Lawyer.

A stack of legal books she never got around to returning to the office library.

She dusted the empty desk with a microfiber cloth before pausing to look around.

For five years, this had been her second home.

The headquarters of S&S Consultancy, a discreet legal consulting firm owned by Sahara Shanel So.

At least, that was what the public believed.

Behind closed doors, S&S handled highly confidential contractual arrangements for the country's wealthiest families—always legal, always protected by ironclad confidentiality agreements.

Natalie had been its best consultant.

Or rather...

Its best kept secret.

"Seriously?"

Natalie looked up as a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

Jasmin "Jas" Villanueva leaned against the entrance of the cubicle, a paper cup of coffee in one hand and disbelief written all over her face.

Beside her stood Trina Reyes, carrying a folder against her chest.

The two women stared at the half-empty cubicle before looking back at Natalie.

"...You're really doing this?" Jas asked.

Natalie smiled while folding another empty box.

"I am."

Trina frowned.

"So... this isn't one of your jokes?"

"I've never joked about resigning."

Jas clicked her tongue.

"I was hoping you'd wake up tomorrow and tell Sasha, 'Surprise! I changed my mind.'"

Natalie laughed.

"Sorry to disappoint you."

Jas walked into the cubicle, looking around dramatically.

"So this is really it."

She picked up Natalie's tiny cactus.

"I'm adopting this."

"No, you're not."

"Too late."

Natalie reached over and snatched it back, making the three women laugh.

The laughter slowly faded.

Trina looked at the resignation letter lying neatly on the desk.

"I still can't believe Sasha signed it."

Natalie carefully tucked the document into a folder.

"She didn't have much of a choice."

"Oh, please." Jas scoffed. "She's your best friend."

"Exactly."

"Exactly?" Trina echoed.

Natalie nodded.

"If anyone understands why I'm leaving... it's her."

Jas crossed her arms.

"Does she really?"

Natalie stopped packing.

For a brief second, she simply stared at the empty shelves.

"...She knows me better than anyone."

"And yet she still let you go."

Natalie smiled softly.

"That's exactly why she let me."

Silence settled between them.

Trina finally broke it.

"Can I ask something?"

"You just did."

"You know what I mean."

Natalie chuckled.

"Go ahead."

"Are you really done?"

Natalie didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she closed the box and sealed it with tape.

The sharp ripping sound filled the cubicle.

"Yes."

"Completely?"

"Yes."

"No more contracts?"

"No more."

"No more weddings?"

"No."

"No more divorces?"

Natalie smiled.

"Definitely no more divorces."

Jas let out an exaggerated groan.

"There goes the legend."

Natalie raised an eyebrow.

"What legend?"

"The legendary Natalie De Dios."

Trina nodded dramatically.

"The woman who got married nine times."

"...Without a single scandal," Jas added.

"...Without falling in love," Trina continued.

"...And without ever losing a client."

Natalie shook her head with an amused smile.

"You two make me sound like a mythical creature."

"You are."

Jas pointed at her.

"Do you know how many lawyers can negotiate billion-peso contracts?"

"A lot."

"How many women can convince the country's richest families that they're the perfect daughter-in-law?"

Natalie shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Exactly."

Jas spread her arms.

"Only you."

Natalie laughed, shaking her head.

"You're exaggerating."

"No, we're not," Trina said honestly.

"You've turned impossible situations into successful negotiations for years."

"You protected every client."

"You protected every family."

"You even protected people who never deserved your kindness."

Natalie's smile slowly faded.

"I was only doing my job."

Jas studied her carefully.

"...Was that all it was?"

Natalie met her eyes.

"Yes."

Another silence followed.

Then Jas sighed.

"So..."

"What now?"

Natalie looked around her nearly empty cubicle.

The walls that once held photos and certificates were now bare.

Her nameplate had already been removed.

She picked it up one last time.

ATTY. NATALIE A. DE DIOS

She ran her thumb over the engraved letters.

"I don't know."

Trina smiled gently.

"You? Not having a plan?"

"It's refreshing."

Natalie laughed.

"I've had my life scheduled for years."

She placed the nameplate inside the box.

"For the first time..."

"...I want to wake up without wondering whose wife I'm supposed to be."

Neither Jas nor Trina spoke.

They understood.

More than anyone in the office, they knew the sacrifices Natalie had made.

They had seen her leave as a bride.

Return as a divorcée.

Smile for cameras.

Then spend nights quietly reading contracts instead of celebrating another successful case.

Jas rested a hand on Natalie's shoulder.

"You deserve a normal life, Nat."

Trina nodded.

"You deserve to marry because you're in love."

Natalie's smile was warm, but there was sadness behind it.

"Maybe."

Jas tilted her head.

"'Maybe'?"

Natalie lifted the storage box into her arms.

"I stopped believing that kind of love exists a long time ago."

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding.

"Well... would you look at that."

The familiar voice instantly wiped the smiles off Jas and Trina's faces.

Natalie didn't even need to turn around.

She already knew who it was.

The rhythmic clicking of four-inch stilettos echoed across the office floor.

Each step slow.

Confident.

Deliberate.

"Packing already?"

Natalie calmly closed the lid of her box before facing the woman.

"Mackenzie."

Mackenzie Alonzo flashed a picture-perfect smile that never reached her eyes.

She was dressed in an ivory blazer paired with tailored slacks, her long black hair cascading over one shoulder. Every inch of her screamed sophistication.

She was beautiful.

Brilliant.

And after Natalie...

She was the agency's second most sought-after consultant.

Unfortunately for everyone else, Mackenzie knew it too.

"Wow," Mackenzie said as she looked around the nearly empty cubicle. "I honestly thought you'd back out."

Jas folded her arms.

"You sound disappointed."

"Oh, quite the opposite."

Mackenzie smiled sweetly.

"I'm thrilled."

Trina rolled her eyes.

"There it is."

"What?"

"Your fake personality."

Mackenzie ignored her, her attention remaining on Natalie.

"So..." she said, tilting her head. "You're really leaving S&S."

"I am."

"No dramatic farewell?"

Natalie smiled politely.

"I don't like making scenes."

"I noticed."

Mackenzie chuckled.

"You've always preferred graceful exits."

Her gaze drifted toward the framed photo inside Natalie's box.

"I'll admit..."

"...I'm surprised Sasha approved your resignation."

Natalie answered simply.

"I asked."

"And she said yes."

"She did."

Mackenzie's smile faltered for the briefest second.

Interesting.

She had expected Sasha to fight harder.

To beg Natalie to stay.

Instead...

She let her go.

"Well," Mackenzie said with a shrug, "I suppose congratulations are in order."

Jas snorted.

"For what?"

"For finally retiring."

Trina narrowed her eyes.

"You make it sound like you're celebrating."

"I am."

The office suddenly fell silent.

Mackenzie looked directly at Natalie.

"I've been waiting years for this."

Jas took a step forward.

"Mackenzie."

"What?"

"You've wanted her position since day one."

"I still do."

She didn't even bother denying it.

Everyone knew.

Natalie had always been the agency's number one consultant.

The face clients requested.

The woman Sasha trusted most.

Whenever an impossible contract landed on the firm's desk...

It went to Natalie.

Whenever the stakes were too high...

Natalie handled it.

Whenever someone's future depended on success...

Natalie delivered.

And Mackenzie had spent years standing in second place.

Always second.

Always compared.

Always introduced as—

"She's good... but not as good as Natalie."

It infuriated her.

She worked just as hard.

She graduated top of her class.

She closed multimillion-peso negotiations.

She had an almost flawless record.

Almost.

But no matter what she achieved...

There was always Natalie.

Standing effortlessly at the top.

"So yes," Mackenzie continued, folding her arms. "I'm celebrating."

Jas scoffed.

"At least you're honest."

"I've never hidden it."

She turned to Natalie.

"You know... I used to hate how everyone acted as if this agency couldn't function without you."

Natalie remained composed.

"I never asked for that."

"I know." Mackenzie gave a sarcastic smile. "That's the annoying part."

"You don't even try. You don't compete. You don't boast. And somehow...you still win."

Natalie let out a quiet breath.

"I'm not your competition, Mackenzie."

"No." Mackenzie stepped closer until they were only a few feet apart."You were my obstacle."

The atmosphere became noticeably heavier.

Even employees passing by slowed down, pretending not to listen.

Mackenzie looked around the now-empty cubicle before letting out a satisfied hum.

"Well..." She smiled. "I guess congratulations are in order."

"Starting tomorrow... I'm finally the best consultant in S&S."

Silence.

Jas looked ready to explode.

Trina clenched her jaw.

But Natalie merely smiled.

A calm, genuine smile.

"If that's what you've been working toward... then congratulations."

The response caught Mackenzie off guard. "...That's it?"

Natalie nodded. "I hope you become even better than I ever was."

There wasn't a trace of sarcasm. No bitterness.

No challenge.

Just sincerity.

For the first time since arriving...

Mackenzie had nothing to say.

Because deep down, she realized something she had never wanted to admit.

Natalie Ariana De Dios wasn't at the top because she defeated everyone else.

She was at the top because she had never been competing with anyone in the first place.

That realization only made Mackenzie's smile tighten.

"...We'll see."

With one final glance at the empty cubicle, she turned on her heel and walked toward the executive hallway.

The moment she disappeared from sight, Jas groaned dramatically.

"I swear, one day she's going to make my blood pressure skyrocket."

Trina shook her head.

"She's been waiting for you to leave since the day she joined."

Natalie simply picked up her box.

"I know."

Jas blinked.

"...You knew?"

Natalie smiled faintly.

"I've known for years."

"And it never bothered you?"

Natalie looked toward the hallway where Mackenzie had vanished.

"No. Because some people chase positions.... while others simply know when it's time to let them go."

Jas and Trina exchanged glances.

Sometimes, they wondered if Natalie's greatest strength wasn't her intelligence—

It was the quiet grace with which she walked away.