Chapter 3

John, the HR director, placed the judges' score sheets in front of Caleb.

He casually flipped through them.

"Well, Serena's proposal is certainly impressive."

Caleb spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he remembered how much effort I had put into this competition.

"But," Caleb continued, his tone suddenly changing, "I believe she still lacks experience in team management."

"The Head of Potion Research needs to oversee the entire research team. Serena has only managed relatively small projects before. Promoting her directly to this position would be too big a leap."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds.

John frowned and couldn't help speaking up on my behalf.

"Alpha, although Serena's previous projects weren't particularly large in scale, they involved developing potions for three different werewolf bloodlines and coordinating multiple research teams. She completed the project ahead of schedule and solved the drug resistance problem that had plagued the institute for six months."

"I'm aware of all that."

Caleb nodded.

"But being an excellent researcher doesn't necessarily mean someone can handle a management position."

He closed the score sheets.

"I'm exercising my final review authority. I nominate Elise for the position of Head of Potion Research."

I stared at him in disbelief.

Elise had been at the research institute for less than a month.

She hadn't even completed her probationary period, let alone independently conducted a single potion research project.

Both Caleb and I knew perfectly well that the only reason she'd gotten into the research institute in the first place was because he had personally pulled some strings.

The research experience listed on her résumé amounted to little more than a few impressive-sounding lines.

"Alpha."

John spoke up again, unable to hold back.

"According to the competition regulations, the Head of Potion Research must have experience independently completing research projects. Elise doesn't currently meet the requirements. She isn't even on the list of candidates for this selection."

Caleb raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Rules are rules, but people matter more."

"Elise may have just joined the institute, but she's a quick learner. I'm confident she'll adapt to the position if she's given the opportunity."

He said it with such certainty, as if every rule could be bent as long as he wanted to make an exception for Elise.

Behind him, Elise lowered her head and gently bit her lip.

"Caleb, I don't think this is right."

Her voice was soft, tinged with hesitation.

"Serena has worked so hard for this. How could I possibly take her position? Maybe I should just stay on as your assistant."

She said all the right things, but her fingers were quietly tightening around the fabric of her skirt.

Caleb glanced at her, his voice immediately softening.

"This isn't about taking anyone's place."

"You have potential. I'm simply giving you a chance to prove yourself. You don't need to worry about what anyone else thinks."

Then, at last, he turned to me.

"Serena, I'm sure you understand, right?"

I didn't answer.

Instead, my mind drifted back to those late nights six months ago.

I had spent nearly every spare moment in the laboratory preparing for this competition.

Once, I had stayed there until the early hours of the morning and nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

When Caleb came to get me, the first thing he told me was to take better care of myself.

"You don't have to push yourself this hard."

"Don't overwork yourself. Come home early."

Back then, I genuinely believed he was worried about me.

It wasn't until later that I learned why he'd left in such a hurry that night.

Elise had messaged him in the middle of the night, saying she was hungry.

He had personally driven out to buy her a late-night meal and stayed at her apartment until dawn.

As for the research report I'd spent the entire night working on, he hadn't even bothered to look at it.

So he had made up his mind long ago.

This position had never been meant for me.

The conference room was completely silent.

The ten judges exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them dared to speak again.

I looked at Caleb.

The eyes that had once been filled with tenderness were now almost indifferent.

There was no guilt. No hesitation.

Only the absolute certainty that he was entitled to make this decision.

He was certain I would put up with it.

Just as he was certain that I loved him too much to ever truly leave, no matter how often he favored Elise.

I slowly closed my laptop and stood up.

"Since the final reviewer has already made his decision, I have no objections."

Caleb seemed surprised by how easily I accepted it. His brows drew together slightly.

"Serena, I know how much effort you've put into this competition. But this is the research institute's decision. Don't let personal feelings interfere with your work."

Personal feelings?

I almost laughed.

Who was the one bringing personal feelings into this competition?

I said nothing more. I simply gathered my documents and walked out of the conference room.

The lights in the hallway were painfully bright.

My body was still weak from the fever. I had to lean against the wall for a moment before the dizziness finally subsided.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Caleb appeared.

【Don't overthink it. I was just being fair and professional. I'll take you out for dinner tonight to make it up to you.】

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then I couldn't help laughing.

He knew exactly how much this competition meant to me.

I didn't want people to think of me as nothing more than Caleb's fated mate whenever they heard my name.

I didn't want every achievement of mine to be dismissed as something I'd earned through my connection to an Alpha.

That was why I had studied so hard, worked so hard, and poured everything into my research. I wanted to stand beside him on my own merits.

But in the end, he had personally dismissed all my efforts and handed the position I deserved to a woman who hadn't even finished her probationary period.

Then he casually told me not to overthink it.

As if one dinner could make up for everything he'd taken from me.

I looked down at the application record on my phone.

The status had been updated.

【Application accepted. Awaiting final approval.】

I put my phone away and headed toward the elevator.