Chapter 4

When I arrived at the company, I went straight to my boss' office.

After briefly reporting on the work done abroad, I placed the resignation letter in front of him.

My boss pushed up his glasses in shock. "Jasper, what's this? You completed this project perfectly. One nod from you, and the position of department director will be yours. Why do you suddenly want to resign?"

"Thank you for your guidance." I smiled. "But I have decided to go back to my hometown."

As I walked out of the office, my colleagues all looked at me with puzzled expressions. I had completed all the work handovers and gave the plants on my desk to the colleague next to me before leaving.

"Jasper, are you really leaving?" The colleague held the flowerpot and looked at me sadly.

I patted his shoulder. "All good things must come to an end."

When I walked out of the company entrance, the sun was shining. I took a deep breath and felt the burden on my shoulders a little lighter.

Three days before I was supposed to return home, I wanted to go to the mall to buy some souvenirs to take back home.

I ran into the intern Sylvia Stan in the mall. She was a promising talent that I had brought up from scratch.

"Jasper, you're really leaving?" Her eyes were red.

"Yeah, I'm going back to my hometown." I patted her shoulder. "You're capable. You'll definitely..."

Before I could finish, a familiar laugh rang.

At a baby store around the corner, Rose was holding up a tiny outfit, sizing it up, while Eden affectionately wrapped an arm around her waist.

Eden spotted me first; the corner of his mouth curled into a provocative smile before he leaned in and whispered something in Rose's ear.

Rose snapped her head up, her gaze piercing me like a knife.

"Jasper!" She stormed over, pointing furiously at Sylvia, who was standing beside me. "Who is she?"

I frowned. "What is it to you?"

"I'm your wife. Of course, I need to know!" She sneered and then feigned a sudden realization. "So that's why you agreed to pay so readily. You've already found yourself a mistress; you were feeling guilty!"

Eden sauntered over; his eyes darted around as he deliberately raised his voice. "Jasper, I hate to say this, but Rose is pregnant. And you're taking your mistress out shopping? That's too much."

"Pregnant?" I looked at Rose's belly in shock.

The crowd had already begun to stir, with whispers and murmurs spreading all around.

"What a scumbag!"

"Cheating on his wife while she's pregnant?"

"He's a monster!"

Rose stood beside Eden with a sneer, with no intention of explaining the situation.

"You two are crazy." I grabbed Sylvia's hand and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" Rose suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my arm. "You're trying to run away?"

I violently shook off her hand, my voice icy. "Rose, I've been abroad for work for the past two months. Don't you have any idea whose child that is?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar. Some people pulled out their phones to record, while others criticized Rose.

"Gosh, I can't believe there's a plot twist like this!"

"After everything, the baby isn't her husband's at all?"

"I knew it. The guy's reaction earlier was off. Turns out he has been cuckolded."

"That guy standing next to her is standing so close to her; he's probably no good either."

Eden turned grim and then pale; he instinctively hid behind Rose.

Rose bit her lip; her red-manicured fingers clutched the strap of her bag so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"Why are you quiet?" I sneered. "Shall we go to the hospital for an examination? Let's see exactly how far along the pregnancy is."

"It's not like that! It's not like that!" She suddenly screamed.

This time, the crowd's sympathetic gaze had already shifted to me. The man who had initially accused me even patted me on the shoulder. "Bro, you've been through a lot."

Feigning utter heartbreak, I grabbed Sylvia and left the scene.

As for Rose and Eden—they were about to be drowned in the crowd's scorn.

That unpleasant encounter at the mall completely killed any desire I had to buy souvenirs.

I decided to go home and pack.

I dug out a long-forgotten storage box, which contained my cherished memories from the past decade.

As my fingers traced the slightly yellowed "Valeditorian" certificate, I recalled the look of pride on my mentor's face at the graduation ceremony as he patted my shoulder and said, "Young man, you have a bright future ahead of you."

I looked at a commemorative photo taken when I received my first promotion; the younger version of me stood among my colleagues, smiling shyly yet full of hope.

Then there was that heavy industry competition trophy—the result of three consecutive all-nighters...

My phone rang, snapping me out of my reverie.

It was Sylvia.

Her voice sounded a bit hesitant. "Jasper, are you really okay after what happened today?"

I leaned against the window, gazing out at the night. "It's alright. I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess for no reason, Sylvia."

"It's okay!" she answered hurriedly, her voice suddenly turning bright and cheerful.

"I trust Jasper's character. It's just..." Her tone dropped again. "Are you really leaving? Will you forget us?"

"Of course not." I smiled. "Even if I leave, I'll still remember you all."

After hanging up, I looked around the room.

Aside from Rose, the world had actually left me with nothing but warm memories—my mentor's guidance, my colleagues' kindness...

Just as I was busy sorting through my photo album, the door was flung open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang.

Rose stood in the doorway, her chest heaving and her carefully styled hair disheveled.

She stared at my suitcase, and her face was deathly pale. "Are you leaving? Where are you going?"

She rushed forward in her ten-centimeter heels, but her heel wobbled, causing her to stumble awkwardly.

"Aren't you an orphan? Where else can you go besides here, by my side?"

I gazed at her quietly and did not respond.

"Jasper!" She suddenly raised her voice, an unprecedented panic in her tone. "Say something!"