Chapter 6

The old me might have argued with Jim, trying to prove who had actually given more to this relationship.

However, as I looked at his furious expression, I suddenly smiled.

"Thank you."

Jim's anger faded slightly.

"For what?"

The corners of my lips remained lifted as I answered calmly, "Thank you for showing me that in your eyes, I'm just some pathetic woman who couldn't survive without you."

With that, I carried my empty plate into the kitchen and turned on the faucet.

I washed it clean before walking back out.

Jim was still standing exactly where I had left him. Lucia handed him a glass of honey tea and spoke softly.

"Jim, drink some honey tea. It'll help with your hangover. You used to love this stuff."

For the first time, Jim seemed distracted. He set the glass down on the table. His face flushed red, and after a long silence, he finally said quietly, "That's not what I meant..."

I ignored him. Instead, I picked up the suitcase I had packed earlier and walked out the door.

The moment I stepped outside, I heard a glass break against the doorframe behind me. Someone had thrown it with all their strength.

The glass shattered, and sticky honey tea splashed all over me. Then, another box came crashing to the floor.

Two handmade rings tumbled out.

...

I stared down at the handmade rings by my feet, completely confused.

Behind me, Jim's voice rose into an angry, wounded shout.

"I had those rings made for you overseas! I was thinking about you the whole time, Rose! Why are you being so difficult? Why are you running away from home?"

I almost laughed.

I had no idea what was going through his head.

The inside of the rings was engraved with ‘JC & LN’. They were obviously matching rings for the two of them, yet he actually had the nerve to claim he had them made for me.

I did not stop walking.

I dragged my suitcase to a nearby hotel and spent the night there.

It did not matter. I would be leaving the city the next day anyway.

The next morning, I finished getting ready and headed to the office. I never expected to hear a wave of excited praise the moment I walked in.

"Wow! Mr. Carter and Ms. Newton, you two look perfect together! And you're even wearing matching outfits. I'm obsessed!"

"Mr. Carter, Ms. Newton, I'm a huge fan of you two! Could I get a picture?"

Jim and Lucia stood arm in arm in the middle of the office, soaking up everyone's attention.

Tessa stood nearby, smiling awkwardly.

They were the people headquarters had sent.

When she saw me, Tessa introduced them.

"Rose, this is Mr. Carter, the president of headquarters, and Ms. Newton, the vice president. They're here to inspect the overseas assignment program."

Jim deliberately turned his head away from me. The smile that had been on his lips disappeared.

He asked calmly, "Who is being sent overseas this time?"

Tessa pulled up the applications for two other employees and me.

"These three."

Jim's expression froze. His eyes darkened as he stared at the list.

A flash of malicious delight crossed Lucia's eyes. She immediately stepped forward, looking shocked.

"How do you run this office? Doesn't everyone know that our company strictly prohibits married employees with children from taking overseas assignments? Both the applicant and the person who approved the application will be punished!"

Tessa looked completely confused.

"There aren't any married employees on the list."

Jim's expression turned icy. He pointed at me.

"Didn't this woman take marriage leave a while ago?"

Tessa sighed and answered honestly.

"She originally took marriage leave, yes, but I think there was a mistake on the application. She later changed it to bereavement leave. Her mother passed away."

The moment he heard that, all the color drained from Jim's face, and the finger he had been pointing at me went rigid. He stared at me in disbelief, as though he could not believe what he had just heard.