Chapter 2

Perhaps it was because I hadn't said a word the entire journey home, for Liam glanced at the rearview mirror before actually explaining his actions, which was a rare occurrence.

"Mel is on her period and can't get wet. Don't misunderstand."

What a wonderful boss he was! He remembered that his assistant was on her period, yet he couldn't remember that his girlfriend had a shoulder injury that couldn't get wet either.

My shoulder began to throb with pain, causing my hand to fly up and grip it. Almost instinctively, I wanted to retort, but what actually left my lips was, "It's okay."

What else could I say?

That she was just an assistant, so why did he have to remember when her period was? Or why had he given me her leftover steak? Why had he been worried that she would get soaked by the rain?

Far too many times before, I had demanded such answers from him that even I was beginning to grow tired of it, because similar incidents had happened every single day since Melissa joined the company.

I could still remember the first time Melissa mixed up our names. It had been during a collaboration with a very important client.

Since that was our first time working together with that client, the company treated it with the utmost importance. I stayed up for seven consecutive nights to finish up the proposal, yet when Liam finally met with the client to discuss the project, Melissa had actually put her own name on the presentation.

After that meeting, I asked Liam why we couldn't just change the names back.

In response, he told me that that would affect how the client would look at us, as they might think we were careless. It was enough that everyone in the company knew that I was behind the proposal.

However, after the project was over, the ten-thousand-dollar bonus went to Melissa, and so did the industry recognition and recommendation that came with it.

When I sought out Liam to question him about it, he personally transferred me 30 thousand dollars, along with three words.

"Is that enough?"

Those three words trapped all the resentment and hurt inside my chest, leaving me with nothing but bitterness.

From then on, Melissa mixing up our names became the norm.

When Liam instructed her to order me a bouquet, the recipient ended up becoming her. When attending a business dinner, the place card of the seat next to Liam's also became her name.

Time and again, Liam would find all sorts of excuses for her, saying how she was his junior, that she definitely hadn't done it on purpose, that I shouldn't be so petty.

However, I honestly never expected that he would have so little care even for a banner that was supposed to wish us a happy marriage.

It seemed that we just weren't fated to live happily ever after.

The car came to a stop at the front of our apartment building. Still, there were no signs of the rain lightening up.

"We're here. Get out of the car."

I didn't move, my gaze focusing instead on the newly-changed rabbit car ornament.

"What happened to the small tiger I gifted you before?"

Chuckling softly, he replied, "Mel said that it was too old, so she gave me a new one. It's quite cute, isn't it? It's just an insignificant and worthless trinket, so there's no need for you to overthink it."

What was truly old wasn't the ornament, but me.

I didn't bother responding to his words, simply moved to open the door and get out.

It was then that Liam belatedly realized that he had given the spare umbrella to Melissa. He hastily handed me his jacket.

"It's pouring out there, so use this to cover yourself."

I gazed down at the thin suit jacket for a few seconds before ignoring it, stepping straight out into the rain and dashing into the building.

Upon returning home, I took a quick shower, carefully avoiding my wound, before I changed out the bandages.

It wasn't until I stepped out of the bedroom that Liam noticed the fresh bandages. He appeared momentarily surprised before a hint of guilt crossed his face.

"Mari, you've suffered today."

Yet, in the next second, the words that left his mouth chilled me way more than the earlier soak in the rain had.

"As compensation, you should hand over the Cloud Corporation project that you've been heading to Melissa. She can handle the rest from here. You've been running yourself ragged recently, so this is a good opportunity to get some rest."

I could hardly believe my ears, and it took some effort to strangle the laugh that wanted to burst from my lips.

I had spent over four months toiling over that project due to the client's strict demands. Even the tiniest details took many tweaks before they were satisfied. Now that things were about to be finalized, he wanted me to step aside?

"On what basis? I don't agree with this."

The guilt shining in his eyes was swiftly replaced by impatience.

"On what basis? On the basis that the company is mine, while you're just an employee working there! Marissa Parker, why do you always have to be so stubborn and aggressive? Why can't you learn a thing or two from Melissa? You two have such similar names, yet the difference between you is as far apart as the sky and the earth!"

Something in my chest seemed to shatter at those words.

Back when he first started the company, he had taken my hand and told me that I was incredibly capable, so he wanted me to come work at his company to help him. He had also vowed to let me live in a huge house and drive the best luxury cars.

Now, he could afford all that and more, yet he no longer had eyes for me.

I smiled.

"Give it to her if you want. I'll just resign and find a new job. It's about time I move on to the next company anyway."