Chapter 2 Cut Ties With Derrick

I spent the night on a park bench, clutching my father's memorial portrait in my arms.

When I turned my phone back on the next morning, it was flooded with messages from Derrick.

With a blank expression, I deleted every single one.

After placing my father's portrait carefully into my bag, I went straight to the club to wash up.

Today, I was resigning.

This place was one of the top private clubs under the Waterson Group. I had worked here for eight years as a supervisor.

…

Eight years ago, I met Derrick outside the club entrance.

In the pouring rain, he told me he had lost his memory and had nowhere to go. I took him home and made him a bowl of hot soup.

Later, he became my fiance.

My father liked him very much. He said that although Derrick had fallen on hard times, his eyes were honest. That meant he was someone worth trusting for a lifetime.

Until one day, Derrick showed up and claimed that his ex-girlfriend had deceived him, leaving him buried in gambling debt.

To help him repay them, I worked myself to exhaustion. My father even ignored his failing health and drove freight through the night to earn extra money.

Then, he died in that car accident.

Only now did I learn the truth that the entire Waterson Group belonged to Derrick.

His amnesia was fake, and so were his debts. Even his love for me had been nothing more than a carefully organized test.

Linda from HR widened her eyes when she saw my resignation letter. "Millie, Mr. Waterson just ordered a transfer for you…"

After signing the paperwork and walking out of the HR Department, I overheard my coworkers whispering behind me.

"I heard that Mr. Waterson is promoting her as a vice president. She's insanely lucky."

"Right? Imagine randomly picking up a homeless guy who turns out to be the heir to a company."

"Didn't the trending news yesterday say Mr. Waterson is getting engaged to the Nesley family's daughter? Is she about to get dumped?"

Their eyes swept over me. Some were envious. Some were jealous. Most were simply eager to watch the drama unfold.

At the corner of the hallway, I ran into Derrick.

He frowned tightly at me and asked, "Why was your phone off? Did you go to the hospital last night?"

"Yeah. My phone died yesterday," I answered calmly.

All night long, I had held my father's portrait, too consumed with guilt to even close my eyes.

If it hadn't been for paying off Derrick's fake debts, my father would never have driven freight overnight. If he had not gone, there would have been no accident.

He could have used the compensation money to save himself, but he chose to leave it for us instead.

Thinking I was worried about my father, Derrick held my hand and comforted me. "Don't worry. I've already contacted the best brain specialists."

When I didn't respond, he pulled out a checkbook. After hesitating for a moment, he wrote down an amount.

"Let's use the best medicine. You don't worry about the cost." Then, he pushed the check toward me.

The number on it was enough to reserve an entire hospital wing. Yet only a month ago, when debt collectors had blocked our home because my father had guaranteed Derrick's debts, Derrick had not even answered a single phone call.

"It's fine." I pushed the check back.

Derrick's jaw tightened instantly, and panic flashed across his eyes.

Just as he was about to speak, someone knocked on the office door.

As Derrick stepped outside, he kept glancing back at me while speaking to the person outside. Seeing no reaction from me, he parted his lips, then chose to leave without another word.

That check was another one of his tests.

If I accepted it, he would feel justified in believing I was greedy. If I refused it, he would marry me.

However, I no longer wanted to marry him.

…

While I was packing my things, the HR came to confirm yet again whether I truly intended to resign. "Mr. Waterson is transferring you to headquarters. Are you still quitting?"

I looked at the HR manager and sneered inwardly.

Before this, she had looked down on me. Now, she treated me with respect.

Everyone seemed convinced I already had one foot inside a wealthy family. They all wanted to curry favor with me. However, none of them knew that I had lost the person who loved me most in this world.

If time could turn back, I wished I had never crossed paths with Derrick at all.

…

As I walked out of the club entrance, I saw Jessica linking arms with Derrick, whispering something to him.

The moment Derrick noticed me, he quickly pulled his arm away and hurried to explain. "My marriage with Jessica is only to satisfy my family. Don't take it seriously."

"Nonsense." Jessica hooked her arm around his again and looked at me provocatively.

"We already got our marriage certificate," she said.

I stared at them in silence.

Jessica lifted her chin toward me and asked, "Aren't you going to congratulate us?"

"Congratulations," I replied flatly.

Derrick opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent and left with Jessica.

That night, I went alone to the cemetery. I placed my father's favorite liquor in front of his grave and whispered softly, "Dad, it's all over now."

During that time, Derrick called several times. I did not answer. I simply switched my phone to silent mode.

I no longer expected him to know what my father looked like after death. If my father's spirit still lingered somewhere above, I was certain he would never want to see Derrick again either.

I wanted to end all eight years of misplaced devotion right here.