Chapter 3

The attention burning into my skin made shame rise in my throat, and it also snapped me awake. I looked at Cassandra and held my ground. "I want to take time off—"

A loud smack echoed through the office.

Cassandra had slapped me across the face. "You're impossible. Are you trying to drive me to an early grave?"

For a second, my mind went completely blank.

She hit me.

Cassandra was still furious, and she raised her hand again.

Just then, Xavier rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her.

"Cassie, don't be mad. It's my fault. I'm the useless one who led him astray," he said. "Give me another three months off and one million dollars as living expenses, and I'll disappear to the farthest country. I won't corrupt him ever again."

Cassandra pulled out a card and threw it at him. "Ten million dollars. Take it. Keep your promise and get as far away as possible."

The sharp edge of the card knocked his forehead and left a red mark, but he broke into a wide grin. "Cassie, your money hits so good. I'm so happy. Love you!"

He even blew her a kiss.

Cassandra's mouth curled in disgust, but her eyes held a hint of indulgence.

Something inside me cracked.

I had too many words stuck in my chest, and none of them could find their way out. I held my burning cheek and turned to go downstairs.

It was then that the lines of text floated into view again.

"Don't be sad, Harvey. Cassandra can't stand Xavier either. She's only putting up with him because she owes him. Look, you just left, and Cassandra's already chasing after you. She's even holding a gift for you."

I froze, staring at the words.

Before I could process them, Cassandra was already in front of me, touching my face.

"I'm sorry. I lost control," she apologized. "Honey, I just didn't want to see you get led astray and ruin everything you've worked for all these years."

When I didn't respond, she held out a pure gold pendant. "I had this specially requested for you. It'll keep you safe and steady."

I was rather touched, and I almost reached for it.

Then, the lines of text appeared again.

"Cassandra's unbelievable! She clearly requested the pendant for Xavier. It even has his initials engraved on it."

"He saved her life. What's wrong with her requesting something for him? You people are so ungrateful."

My face drained of color as I flipped the pendant over. The letters "XL" were engraved on it.

Cassandra seemed to think I was happy to receive the gift.

"He's just a nobody. I don't care what happens to him, but you're my husband," she said. "You're the person closest to me. When you love someone, you hold them to higher standards. Everything I do is for your own good."

Her words barely reached me. All I could see were the words in front of my eyes.

"She shouldn't have given Harvey something Xavier didn't want. That's downright humiliating!"

"Cassandra has no choice. Xavier owes too much money. She wants to pay it off quickly so he'll stop clinging to her. In fact, she's saving money by doing this."

"Saving money? Harvey's phone broke once, and he wanted to spend a thousand dollars on a new phone, but Cassandra refused. She only spent 200 dollars to buy him a used one.

"Meanwhile, Xavier gets ten million dollars for vacations, swaps phones twice every month, and even buys the latest headphones the second they drop. Cassandra pays for all of it. Why didn't she try to save money then?"

As it turned out, even the apology gift was something Xavier didn't want. Moreover, she had spent so much on him behind my back.

A bitter smile tugged at my mouth. The favoritism couldn't be any more obvious, and she still claimed to love me?

Cassandra urged me to go back to work again.

Disappointed, I handed the pendant back. "I'm not going."

Her face darkened immediately. "What are you doing? You used to be so obedient!"

I stayed silent.

Even the lines of text that had been defending me started pushing back.

"Harvey, what are you doing? Once you finish this project, the money will be enough for Cassandra to pay everything off. After that, she can finally love you wholeheartedly. You made it through five years already. Why give up right when it matters most?"