Chapter 1

I never thought Charles Sawyer would embarrass me like that in front of the entire company.

The moment the words left his mouth, the whole office went silent.

Every pair of eyes locked onto me.

Natalia Leigh, who was standing next to Charles, looked like a terrified little rabbit. Tears were brimming in her eyes as she dove into his arms.

"Charles, it's all my fault. I messed up the contract and caused such a huge loss for the company. I'll resign."

Charles gently stroked her hair, speaking tenderly in a way I'd never heard from him before. "It's just a few million in sales. If we lost it, so be it. Is it worth crying over?"

Natalia looked up at him. Her admiration was practically spilling out of her eyes.

My longtime assistant couldn't hold back anymore. "Mr. Sawyer! Back when we were just starting out, and money was tight, Ms. McBride used her own savings to get the company off the ground!

"She worked herself to the point of intestinal bleeding just to land clients for you, and she didn't even tell you she was sick! Is this how you repay her?"

Charles let out a laugh. His gaze was icy as it swept over me. "Repay her? Don't be a fool. Everything she did was only because it benefited her. Simple as that."

My chest sank like a stone. He was right. I did benefit from him.

At first, I had approached him to complete a mission.

However, then, I actually fell for him. I risked everything, trading all my points just to help him go from a broke kid to the richest man in Broxia.

A year ago, the moment he found out I was taking on missions, everything I had done suddenly seemed deliberate and calculated to him.

Lately, he had been mocking me at every turn.

Now, watching him pamper Natalia like that hurt so much that I could barely feel anything.

Without thinking, I yanked my badge from around my neck and slammed it onto his desk.

"Mr. Sawyer's right. Someone has to take responsibility for mistakes at work. If Natalia won't resign, then I will."

Charles froze for a moment, then smirked coldly. "Melissa McBride, what game are you trying to play now? Is this some kind of 'push-and-pull' trick?"

I didn't answer. I just turned and left.

Over the years of fully supporting Charles, I hadn't even bought a car, so all I could do was grab a cab home while carrying my box of stuff.

It was pouring, and I didn't have an umbrella. I trudged through the rain, soaked to the bone.

Just then, a sports car shot past me, spraying filthy water all over my clothes.

The window rolled down slowly, and Charles' handsome but icy profile came into view.

Natalia was sitting in the passenger seat. There was a slightly mocking smile on her lips.

"Melissa, you're 30 years old, and you don't have any savings. Yet you quit? You'll be left with absolutely nothing," Charles said. His voice was dripping with sarcasm.