Chapter 1

Lauren's POV

It was late when I finally got home. I was drenched to the bone after getting caught in torrential rain.

Not a single light was left on for me in the living room.

The study door was half open, and I could hear my boyfriend Harvey Moore's patient voice from inside. "If this project is too much, I'll have a manager walk you through it. Don't worry about it. Or if you'd like to switch to a different position, just let me know anytime."

"That wouldn't be right—" Vivian Blake's flustered voice came through the speaker.

"It's fine," Harvey cut in, his tone gentle. "I'm here. No one will dare say a word."

I stood frozen in the hallway, chilled to the core.

In my five years at the company, I'd brought up promotions countless times.

Every single time, he shot me down immediately. "We need to maintain professional boundaries at work. Are you seriously just trying to ride my coattails to the top?"

I couldn't understand it. I was an experienced team lead, my performance ranked in the top two every single year, and headhunters were constantly trying to recruit me.

Yet with him, under the guise of "professional boundaries", I was expected to play the submissive nobody.

Meanwhile, for the ex-girlfriend he claimed he needed boundaries with, he repeatedly broke his own rules just to pave the way for her career.

Water dripped from my soaked clothes onto the floor.

At the sound, Harvey slammed his laptop shut. When he turned and saw the chill and mist clinging to me, he froze for a moment.

"I told you to pack an umbrella. You never listen. I wanted to drive you home too, but that wouldn't look good."

There wasn't a single word of concern—just another lecture on keeping up appearances.

I was so terrified of making a scene that I worked through fevers and drank with clients despite agonizing stomach ulcers. I wouldn't even speak to him at the office.

Yet he turned around and bought Vivian painkillers, ordering caffeine-free bubble tea just for her while everyone else got standard orders.

His precious boundaries were reserved only for me.

Right then, Harvey's phone rang with a distinct ringtone.

"Got it. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he smoothed over his expression. "An emergency came up at work. I need to head in."

He leaned over and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. "Get some rest. Don't wait up for me."

But I caught the unmistakable flicker of concern in his eyes.

I didn't even need to guess who it was because that ringtone belonged exclusively to Vivian.

Before I could say anything, he grabbed his umbrella and bolted out the door, missing the resignation letter tucked in my hand.

I dialed the HR director, Sara Gibson. "Ms. Gibson, please process my resignation. And don't bother telling Mr. Moore."