Chapter 3) Shadows of the Past

I smiled bitterly and replied, "Yeah, it’s been a long time. How... how are you?"

He responded coolly, "I’m fine. So, you work here?"

His eyes locked onto mine. Deep and unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was teasing me or if he genuinely didn’t know I had been fired. But knowing William—my ex—it wouldn’t surprise me if he had orchestrated the whole thing and simply didn’t care.

A lump formed in my throat. The sight of him after years, coupled with the fact I had just lost my job, was suffocating. I bit my lip hard, determined not to cry in front of him.

When I didn’t answer, he asked again, this time in a deeper, almost taunting voice, "So, you work here, right?"

My eyes burned with the effort to keep my tears in. "No. I worked here."

William didn’t even flinch. He smiled. "Oh? That’s unfortunate for you."

His words felt like knives. I realized then—this wasn’t a coincidence. He had fired me. His presence, his control, his malice... it was all calculated.

Still trying to keep my composure, I asked, "Sir, may I ask you a question?"

He nodded casually. "Sure."

"Why did you fire me?"

His response came without hesitation. "Because I don’t like people who disappear without informing."

Tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I wiped them quickly. "Sir, when did I disappear without informing?"

He looked like he was about to say something more, but then paused. His lips curved into a cruel smirk. "You were absent for a few days, but you didn’t inform anyone."

I was stunned. "That’s not true. I emailed the manager. You can check."

He didn’t respond. He simply stared at me, as if daring me to challenge him further.

Taking a shaky breath, I straightened. "Okay, sir. Then may I ask—why did you call me here?"

William leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but victorious. "Just so you won’t forget me."

How could I ever forget him? The man who broke my heart when I was ready to marry him. The man who slept with someone else—my best friend. And now he’d sabotaged my career too.

I clenched my fists but kept a small, cold smile. "Don’t worry, sir. I won’t forget you. Thank you."

I turned to leave, wiping my tears. But just as I reached the door, a woman walked in.

She was dressed elegantly in a fitted dress, high heels clicking confidently against the marble floor. Her long, curly hair bounced with every step. Her makeup was light but flawless—red lips, sculpted features.

She was stunning.

I stepped aside, giving a slight bow, prepared to walk past her. But she paused.

"Lily?"

I turned slowly, masking my emotions with a forced smile. "Yes?"

Her eyes widened, and she stepped closer. "Lily? Is that really you?"

I blinked. The voice was familiar. The posture. The face.

Natasha.

Of course, it was her.

I bit the inside of my cheek. Natasha had once been my best friend. We shared dreams, classes, and secrets. And she’d betrayed me. Betrayed our twelve-year friendship for William.

She looked glamorous, successful, content.

I plastered on a fake smile. "Yes, it’s me."

As I turned to leave, she stopped me again. "Have you forgotten me? I’m Natasha—your best friend."

Best friend? What a joke.

"Nice to meet you," I said politely.

She walked closer, smiling sweetly. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing," I said with a shrug. "Just... leaving the company."

I tilted my head, casting a glance at William. He was watching us quietly.

Natasha’s expression turned concerned. "What? Why?"

"I don’t know," I replied. "My boss decided to fire me. Even after getting a promotion."

She put on a sympathetic face. "That’s awful."

I nodded. "Well, I should be going."

"Hey! Don’t call me ma’am," she laughed softly. "That’s embarrassing."

Embarrassing? It wasn’t embarrassing when you betrayed me?

"Okay," I said coolly. "I won’t."

And I walked out.

As soon as I entered the elevator, tears streamed down my face. How were they still together? Had karma just skipped over them? I had lost everything, and they had gained more.

Ting!

The elevator opened. I headed straight to the managing department to collect my certificates. I needed them to apply elsewhere.

Just as I was about to reach the front of the line, a clerk ran up. "Ma’am, the boss is calling you."

Again? Which boss this time?

I followed him reluctantly. To my surprise, it was once again William.

Natasha was seated beside him, legs crossed, looking elegant as ever.

I walked a few steps closer and asked coldly, "Yes, sir?"

William said nothing. Natasha turned to me and smiled gently. "Lily, I have some good news. When I found out William was firing you for being irresponsible, I requested him to give you one more chance. We were colleagues, after all."

Colleagues? Really?

"And finally, William agreed," she added, smiling proudly. "Don’t let me down."

I wanted to slap the pretense off her face. But I stayed calm. After all, I needed this job.

I asked cautiously, "What about my promotion?"

William smirked and looked at Natasha.

She replied, "Lily, be grateful you still have a job. Isn’t that enough?"

Enough? I worked hard. I earned that promotion!

I drew a deep breath and said, "No, I’m not asking too much. I’m asking for what I deserve. I passed the interviews. My performance was ranked among the top. I was only absent because I was seriously ill. I informed my manager and have the emails to prove it."

I opened my phone and displayed the emails. "Please check my leave history. You won’t find more than ten leaves in all these years. I didn’t vanish. I was just sick."

Natasha looked at William. "If she has proof, then why was she fired?"

William shrugged, his voice firm. "Because I don’t trust her."

My eyes widened.

He continued, "She has a questionable record in my mind. Anyone who could betray me personally could betray the company. And she worked under a manager who was leaking information. He couldn’t have done it alone."

I interjected quickly, "I didn’t even know what he was doing! I wasn’t involved. I was sick the day you came to investigate."

But William’s smile told me he didn’t believe me.

No matter what I said, in his eyes, I was still the one who had left him.

And now…

The one he wouldn’t forgive.