Chapter 8

Behind me, Caleb's face darkened.

Yara deliberately called after him, "Caleb, go after her!"

His hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms, but he stubbornly held his ground.

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true. She's the one who started this... Besides, we're supposed to be getting married. Let her throw her tantrum. The next time her mom starts pressuring her about the wedding, she'll be the one regretting it."

I had slowed for half a step.

At those words, I walked even faster.

Caleb Foster, I would never look back again.

I checked into the first hotel I found. Not long afterward, Megan messaged to tell me my resignation had been fully processed. All I had left to do was pick up the last of my paperwork whenever I had time.

The company alternated between five- and six-day workweeks, so I knew she'd gone out of her way to rush everything through and even come in on Sunday for me. I thanked her and booked a flight to Northvale for the next morning.

The following day, I went to the office in casual clothes.

The latest promotion list had already been posted on the bulletin board.

I glanced over it.

My name still wasn't there.

Yara's was.

She had just been promoted to manager.

So much for all those principles Caleb was always preaching about.

I'd ranked first in performance again and again, yet I was still only a team lead. Yara consistently came in at the bottom, and she was already well on her way to becoming an executive.

At this point, why didn't he just hand her the entire company?

Maybe because I was leaving, none of it mattered anymore.

Perhaps this was what it meant to be truly done. There wasn't even enough feeling left to be angry.

I had no idea where Caleb came from, but suddenly he stepped in front of the promotion list, blocking it from view.

His voice dropped.

"I'll promote you next time."

I looked away.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Foster."

I had already resigned.

Caleb only assumed I was sulking. His gaze swept over my clothes, and his brows drew together sharply.

"What are you wearing today? I approved your raise two days ago, and now you think you can do whatever you want? Keep this up, and I'll take it back. Then let's see how you pay for your mother's treatment."

A dull ache spread through the hollow place inside my chest.

Even now, he was still trying to use my mother against me.

Yara walked over as well, putting on her usual concerned expression.

"Yvette, you really shouldn't be so greedy. Just apologize to Caleb, promise you'll stop interfering in who he spends time with, and he said he might consider giving you the wedding you want."

Caleb's expression eased.

"Exactly. Yvette, if you can stop being so controlling, I'm not saying we can't work things out."

He paused, as though graciously offering me a compromise.

"I can go file for divorce from Yara today. If your mom is really that impatient, we can have the wedding in as little as three days. We'll take our honeymoon, and when we get back, we'll go to the city hall and make it official."

The words came far too smoothly.

He had clearly spent the entire night thinking this plan through.

But Caleb, my mother was already dead.

And I didn't want to marry you anymore.

"No need," I said coldly. "I wouldn't dream of breaking up a happy marriage. Mr. Foster, I wish you and Ms. Cole a long and happy life together."

Caleb's chest rose and fell with anger.

Just then, Megan spotted me and called from her office.

"Yvette, what are you standing around for? Come on!"

The second Caleb realized someone else was there, he immediately stepped away from me, putting distance between us.

I almost laughed.

He kept talking about marrying me, yet in public, he avoided me more carefully than he would a stranger.

His hand curled into a fist.

Then, apparently desperate to cover himself, he said loudly, "Yvette was late today. Dock her entire month's pay."

Megan blinked.

"Mr. Foster, Yvette already resigned. Did you forget?"

She handed me my paperwork, then sighed and gave my shoulder a gentle pat.

"My condolences, Yvette. I'm sure your mother would want you to heal and move forward. Have a safe trip, and I hope everything goes well for you overseas."

Caleb went completely still.

"My condolences?"

He repeated the words slowly, as though he couldn't make sense of them.

Then he turned to me, disbelief written all over his face, silently demanding an explanation.

I simply took the paperwork from Megan.

"Yeah. My flight's in a few hours. I'm leaving today."