Chapter 1

The atmosphere at the annual company gala was lively.

On stage, the boss, Daniel Aster, spoke passionately, his face flushed with excitement.

“This year, we secured eighty million dollars in core contracts, and that wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s hard work!

“So this year, everyone’s year-end bonus will be doubled!”

The room instantly erupted.

“My fifty-thousand-dollar bonus just arrived! Thank you, Mr. Aster! Thank you, company!”

Daniel’s niece, Veronica, was the first to raise her phone and scream.

Then cheers followed one after another.

“Wow! Veronica is right! I got fifty thousand too!”

“Same here! The company really delivered this year!”

“Mr. Aster is so generous! Hard work pays off! Let’s make next year even greater!”

…

One shout of “fifty thousand” after another burst around me like firecrackers.

I lowered my head and checked my banking app.

It was empty. Just like previous years, there wasn’t a single deposit notification.

A tight frustration slowly built in my chest.

I had joined the company right after graduating from college with a monthly salary of six thousand.

Eight years had passed; the company had grown from five employees to five hundred.

Yet my monthly salary was still six thousand.

For five consecutive years, I had secured eighty million dollars in core contracts for the company.

While everyone else on the team received a fifty-thousand-dollar year-end bonus, mine was zero.

What I received, as always, was still just the six-thousand-dollar base salary.

“Lily, do you have any wishes for the new year?”

Perhaps my expression stood out too much in the middle of all the celebration.

Daniel suddenly called my name.

“I want a raise,” I said.

My voice wasn’t loud, but everyone heard it.

The room suddenly fell silent.

People slowly turned to look at me.

The smile on Daniel’s face disappeared.

“What did you say?” He walked down from the stage.

He tossed the microphone aside, and it let out a sharp screech.

“Say it again.”

He stopped in front of me.

“I want a raise,” I repeated.

“Mr. Aster, I’ve been with the company for eight years, and my monthly salary has always been six thousand. New hires are already making fifteen thousand a month, but I’m still at six.

“And for five straight years, I secured eighty million dollars in core contracts—”

"Smack!"

Before I could finish, a slap struck my face.

My head snapped to the side.

My ears buzzed, and my cheek instantly burned.

Before I could react, a second slap came. Then a third.

"Smack."

"Smack."

"Smack."

He slapped me from left to right three times.

I hadn’t even processed it when a metallic sweetness filled my mouth.

Blood slid from the corner of my lips and dripped onto the collar of my white shirt, blooming like red flowers on snow.

He was breathing heavily, his finger almost stabbing my nose.

“Eighty million in core contracts?

“You think those clients signed because of you? They recognize the company!

“Without the company, what are you even worth?!

“Paying you six thousand is already charity, so don’t push your luck!”

I slowly raised my eyes.

His face was twisted with anger.

Behind him were the familiar faces of my coworkers. People I had once guided step by step, whose proposals I had stayed up all night helping revise.

They simply watched.

Some looked away, while others covered their mouths and laughed.

There were some who even raised their phones, as if they were watching a ridiculous show.

In the end, the hotel manager walked over.

“Sir, assaulting someone in public is illegal. Please be mindful of the situation.”