Chapter 4 The Wrong Photo

"Give me some time. I'll handle it."

"That's fine. I'm here to tell you I've already submitted my resignation." I kept my voice calm.

"As for the system, I'll leave the lab's access active for another month so you have time to find a replacement."

Jane's expression darkened. "Have you had enough? Resigning? Do you have any idea what's going to happen to the lab without you?"

"That's your problem, Prof. Vance."

With that, I walked around her and headed for the door.

"You're really just going to leave?" She grabbed me from behind, her voice suddenly frantic. "Five years together, and you're throwing it all away?"

I turned around and saw her bloodshot eyes.

"We'd been together for five years, and you were the one who walked away first. When you went to City Hall and married Lucas, did you ever stop to think about what that would do to me?"

Jane didn't know how to respond.

After a long moment, she let go of me, her tone once again calm and self-assured. "I know that you're upset. I'll give you a few days off. Go home and clear your head. Once you've calmed down, come back to work."

"Oh, one more thing. I've already found a new place. I'll pack up my things tonight and move."

With that, I walked straight toward the elevator.

Behind me, Jane sounded exasperated. "Are you seriously doing this? Moving out, too? Won't you just have to move back anyway?"

The moment the elevator doors closed, I heard Lucas' voice.

"Jane, did Seth say he was resigning? It's no big deal. He's just throwing a tantrum. He'll get over it in a few days."

The elevator doors closed at just the right moment, shutting out the faces and voices of those two idiots.

…

After quitting, I stopped contacting Jane and focused entirely on coordinating the handover with Joanna's team.

However, Lucas clearly had no intention of letting me have any peace. Every so often, he'd send me a message. "Seth, why haven't you been coming to the lab lately? We all miss you. Jane said you have some family stuff going on. Do you need any help? Don't hesitate to ask."

I figured he'd stop after a few messages, so I didn't pay much attention. Who knew he'd keep at it?

On the third day, he dropped a bombshell.

It was a photo of him shirtless, his eyes closed as he held Jane tightly in his arms. Jane was just as disheveled, and there was no mistaking the intimacy between them.

The photo stayed on my screen for less than three seconds before he quickly deleted it.

Immediately afterward, he sent me a voice message, his voice frantic. "Oops! I'm sorry, Seth. I didn't mean to send it to you. I meant to send it to my buddy. My finger must've slipped. Please don't get the wrong idea!"

Honestly, it made me sick.

When I didn't respond, Lucas sent me a long string of messages.

"Seth, I know the reason you haven't been coming in lately is that you've got your heart broken. I get it, though. You and Jane used to be so close, and now she's suddenly married to me. You must be having a hard time coming to terms with it."

"Jane is a great woman. The last time I had a bad stomach bug, I called her, and she came rushing over without a second thought. She stayed with me at the hospital all night while I had to get an IV drip."

"Another time, I was feeling down, and she turned down a very important academic meeting just to spend the whole afternoon shopping with me. She's a real gem, that's what she is."

"But Seth, don't be discouraged. You're such an outstanding guy. I'm sure you'll find a good woman who's truly right for you. Don't be too upset. It'll all pass."

As I stared at the long string of messages, memories I'd deliberately buried came rushing back.