Chapter 1: The Resignation

I was on my way to Sir Denver’s office—my boss, and the CEO of Thompson Corporation. Today was the day. I had made up my mind. I was going to resign. I may have just started working here, but I already knew I didn’t want to stay a second longer.

My heart was burning with rage and disgust. After all this time, I finally learned the truth. Sir Denver was the reason my brother Simon died four years ago. That truth hit me like a truck, and it shattered everything I had believed. It was Kuya Steve who called me with the news. He had done some digging, found some buried information, and when he shared it with me, I felt my entire world crash.

I didn’t need to think twice. I wrote my resignation letter that very night. I had packed what I could, and I was ready to leave this place behind. Mama and Kuya had already left for the province—Bulacan. That’s where we grew up. That’s where we felt safe. I would follow them there and never look back.

When I reached Sir Denver’s door, I paused for a moment. My hand shook as I knocked. But I had to do this.

“Come in,” he said.

I stepped inside and held out my letter. “Sir Denver, I’m going to resign.”

He looked at me, confused and surprised. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”

I stared at him, anger bubbling to the surface. “Yes. Something very, very wrong,” I said, gritting my teeth.

“Tell me, what did I do for you to resign?” he asked again, standing up from his seat. He looked genuinely confused, but I had already made up my mind.

“You killed my brother Simon. Four years ago. Don’t pretend you don’t remember.” My voice cracked, and the tears I had been holding back finally spilled down my cheeks.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, his brows furrowing. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

I laughed bitterly, full of pain. “Don’t lie to me. I know everything. I know how you used your wealth and power to cover it all up, to make sure the police wouldn’t touch you. You think we’re just poor people you can erase like we’re nothing?”

“Please, Sienna,” he stepped closer, his hand reaching out to me. “Let me explain.”

I pulled my hand away sharply. “You don’t get to explain anything. Not to me. Not after everything.”

“You don’t understand how painful it is to lose someone you love,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “You don’t know what it’s like to see your mother cry herself to sleep, barely able to work. You don’t know the helplessness we felt when no one would take our case seriously because we didn’t have money. Because we weren’t important.”

“I’m sorry, Sienna,” he whispered, lowering his gaze.

“Sorry?” I snapped. “Do you really think saying sorry will bring back my brother? Do you think it can make up for the years we lost, the pain we endured?”

“I know I can’t undo what happened—”

“Damn right you can’t!” I cut him off, shaking in fury. “And I’ll never forgive you. Never.”

People like him—people with wealth and power—were untouchable. They controlled everything. They manipulated justice. And people like us? We were disposable. Forgettable.

“Please, just listen to me—” he pleaded again, reaching out.

This time, I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“I don’t want to hear your lies. I don’t want to hear a single word from you. You rich people are all the same. You look down on us. You think we’re trash you can trample on and throw away. But I won’t let you do that to me any longer.”

Without waiting for another word, I stormed out of his office. I didn’t care what he had to say. It was over. He had taken enough from me already. I would not let him take anything more.

We couldn’t fight him in court. We didn’t have the money. We didn’t have the connections. All we had left was our dignity—and that’s what I was saving now.

As I walked down the hallway, I ran into Faye, a coworker. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

“Sienna, what happened?”

“I resigned. I’m just getting my things,” I said, not stopping.

In my office, I began packing my belongings. Every stapler, every pen, every photo on my desk—each item reminded me of the time I wasted here. I just wanted to go home.

My phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. I ignored it. Nothing mattered right now but getting out of here.

A few minutes later, Faye entered.

“Sienna, why did you resign? You don’t have to tell me, but... I’m here if you need anything.”

“Faye, can you please give this to Mr. Denver?” I said, handing her a folder. “It’s for his meeting tomorrow. I won’t be going back to his office.”

“But—”

“Please, Faye. I’m in a hurry,” I said softly but firmly.

She nodded and quietly left.

I packed the rest of my things, then scanned the room one last time to make sure I hadn’t left anything. Once satisfied, I headed out. But as I opened the door, I found Denver standing there. Had he been waiting for me?

“Sienna, please—”

“No, Denver,” I said firmly. “You can’t stop me. Nothing you say will undo what you’ve done. You took my brother’s life, and you can never give it back.”

I walked past him, not even glancing back.

Inside the elevator, I held my things close. He didn’t follow me. Maybe he finally realized there was nothing more to say.

Outside the building, I finally checked the message from earlier. I wasn’t surprised.

It was a video of Oliver—my boyfriend—having sex with another woman. The seventh one I’d discovered. Disgusted, I sent him a text.

Love

:Let’s break up. I’m tired of your endless cheating. Go enjoy your new girl.

SENT

Then I blocked him. Deleted him from everything—my accounts, my photos, my life.

He’s just a part of the past now. A mistake I would never repeat. I promised myself that.

I got on the bus heading to my aunt’s mansion. A place full of cruelty, but I wouldn’t be staying long. I would finally leave that house, leave everything behind.

And this time, I wouldn’t look back.