Chapter 5

I shot back coldly, "What's there to be jealous of? Laura's useless. Only a blind jerk like you would treat her like some kind of prize! Then again, you two deserve each other!"

With that, I turned and walked away.

I stopped at a print shop and printed out my resignation letter.

Afterward, I wandered around with no particular destination in mind. Before I knew it, I found myself outside a familiar coffee shop.

I froze when I saw the sign. This was where Sebastian and I had first gotten together.

Back in high school, someone had accused me of stealing her design. The truth was, she had copied mine, then turned around and spread lies about me online.

The harassment got so bad that I became a complete outcast. Everyone treated me like I was guilty.

One day, I went to the coffee shop hoping to cheer myself up with a latte.

But the moment I walked in, people started talking about me. Even the employees treated me with open hostility, shouting at me and kicking me out.

Just as I was fighting back tears, Sebastian showed up and handed me his latte.

"Here. It's still warm. I haven't touched it."

When he heard what I'd been through, he comforted me and helped me believe in myself and the future again.

I never forgot what he did for me that day, and his favorite latte became mine too.

The next time I saw him was at college orientation, where I discovered we were in the same class.

I was thrilled and ready to tell him how I felt, only to find Laura already by his side. So I backed off and quietly wished them well.

Later, Laura left him for a rich guy. Sebastian fell into a deep depression after the breakup and hurt himself several times.

I took the opportunity to tell him how I felt. I comforted him, took him to see a therapist, and helped him through the heartbreak.

With my support, he slowly got back on his feet, and we eventually got together. Later, I stayed by his side while he built his company.

Even after the business took off, we still came back here often to relive the happy memories we'd made together.

But then Laura came back from overseas.

Not long after she returned, Sebastian brought her into the company. He bypassed the interview process entirely and made an exception just to hire her.

After that, he started taking her on frequent business trips and bringing her along to business dinners.

Before long, rumors about the two of them were spreading around the office. I asked Sebastian about it a few times, and he snapped.

"God, are you ever going to stop? You're suspicious of everything. You sound bitter and paranoid!"

Looking back, Sebastian had never really gotten over Laura. A part of his heart had always belonged to her.

Just then, Laura's sugary voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Well, look who showed up. Cindy, I thought you said you weren't coming. Sebastian, she even bought your favorite latte. Looks like she's trying to get back on your good side."

Every word was meant to make me sound calculating. That was when I realized the coffee shop was right next to where they were having the team outing.

Sebastian looked at me and scoffed. "Grow up."

The others started whispering among themselves, clearly waiting for more drama.

I tossed the latte straight into the trash, as if I were throwing away our relationship along with it.

"Don't flatter yourself. I'd rather throw it away than give it to you."

Then I pulled a document from my bag and flung it down in front of him. "Perfect timing. Sign this."

"A resignation letter? You're quitting?"

The moment Sebastian saw what it was, his face went livid, a vein bulging at his temple. "Cindy, is this just you playing hard to get again?"

My mouth twitched in exasperation.

How had I never realized what a jerk Sebastian was?

I scoffed. "I've already handed over everything I could. What reason do I have to stay at the company?"