Chapter 5

The moment I walked into the office, I was met with my coworkers' mocking looks.

One said, "He's just bitter that Julian has a rich, beautiful girlfriend. What a jealous guy."

"I knew being a workaholic can't be healthy. Living like that every day would mess anyone up," another coworker chimed in.

The room was silent, and every word felt like a stab.

Yet I said nothing.

When I glanced at Nina, I suddenly remembered how she used to defend me the moment anyone said even a few words against me.

But now, she didn't even look up.

The next second, Nina posted a lawyer's letter on her social media.

"Anyone who maliciously attacks or insults my boyfriend will not get away with it."

The attached image was a screenshot of the messages mocking Julian in private chats the past few days.

They were nowhere near as harsh as the words I was hearing now.

But Nina cared about what was said about Julian instead.

Inside the office, my superior got straight to the point. "You did well with the preparation for this event. Let Julian handle the rest."

That meant all the credit would go to Julian.

I clenched my fists. "Why?"

The moment I said it, I saw Nina walk in.

She was the daughter of the company's chairman.

I was so angry that I lost control and raised my voice.

"How can you do this to me? I worked myself to the bone on this for three whole months. You know that–"

"So what?" Unlike my angry tone, Nina's voice remained calm. "You cause Julian to get attacked online. He's upset."

I said, "So you're using your authority to punish me for him?"

Nina didn't deny it.

It felt like my throat had suddenly closed up, and I was forced to swallow all my anger and pain.

Back then, I was sexually harassed by a coworker.

I tried to resolve it with my superior and got nowhere. So I asked Nina to help me transfer to another department, even if it wasn't related to my area of expertise.

But Nina refused.

She said, "Wouldn't that be abusing my authority? My family values integrity, and that's exactly what my parents hate.

"If they found out, they would think badly of you."

Her words then made me feel so ashamed that my face burned. I thought I had crossed a line.

But now I finally understood.

Nina only cared because Julian was the one who got hurt.

Seeing me suddenly fall silent, Nina sighed helplessly.

"Would any of this have happened if you hadn't made that comment?" she said. "Julian is in a bad state. I can't leave him alone, so I won't be coming back for a while.

"Once he's feeling better, I'll…"

It seemed like she wanted to say more. But the moment she received Julian's call, she turned and left.

"Don't be scared, Julian. I'm on my way." Her anxious expression and the concern in her voice gave away how much she cared.

The last time I heard that tone was last year, when I fell off my bike.

For the first time, Nina looked like she was about to cry in front of me.

She had stammered, "What would I do if something happened to you?"

Back then, I was deeply moved.

Yet, I never thought that one day, Nina would care about someone else this way. Especially when that person was my best friend.

I stood there until Nina disappeared from sight.

After a while, I slowly removed my ID badge.

At the time, just to be closer to Nina, I turned down a better offer back home and applied to this company.

For seven whole years, I woke up early, worked late, and broke down countless times.

One thing kept me going. It was the thought that after getting promoted, I could finally stand proudly in front of Nina and her family.

"Look. I'm worthy of Nina."

But now, everything was in ruins.

Nina had destroyed it all.

After leaving the office, I took a cab home to get my things.

On the way, I happened to see the Mercedes Nina usually drove.

I saw her recording a voice message on her phone.

A strawberry cake sat safely on the passenger seat. It was Julian's favorite.

My phone chimed. It was a voice message from Nina.

I played it.

She said, "The situation at work is something you owe Julian for. But don't get too upset. Stay home and rest for now.

"I'll have someone come cook for you. You haven't been looking well lately, so you should take better care of yourself."

I listened to every word, but I didn't reply.

I blocked her and deleted her contact instead.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in Somerby, thousands of miles away.

-

Meanwhile, the company sent Nina a message.

[Ryan Larson resigned.]

Nina froze. She had expected Ryan to only take a short leave of absence.

A moment later, the cook called her too. "Mr. Larson's things are all gone. Are you sure he's coming back?"