Chapter 2: Severance Pay

[Giana's POV]

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I let out a long sigh, trying to calm myself. His words hurt, but I had to understand because Jasper had no memory of me.

“We’ll talk about it after your memories come back. Then you can make your decision,” I said with a smile.

“Ma’am, the Windsor family has arrived,” Noah said, making me turn immediately.

Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, along with my brother-in-law, Axel, entered the room. The doctor followed behind them. Meanwhile, I deliberately stepped away and left the room to give his family some space.

Noah followed me out. He looked confused by what Jasper had said in the room. The atmosphere between us became awkward.

“You don’t need to worry about my feelings.”

I broke the long silence between us.

“I understand that you’re in a difficult position. Even if you do what he ordered, I won’t blame you.”

He nodded slowly.

“Actually, there’s something I want to tell you. I know I probably shouldn’t say this as his trusted assistant, but after seeing Mr. Windsor tonight, I think you should know.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You said that on the night of the accident, you stopped Mr. Windsor from going to work, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Actually, there was no official agenda for Mr. Windsor that night.”

I bit my lip. “Are you sure? Maybe dinner with a client?”

Noah shook his head.

“Impossible. Mr. Windsor asked for that evening to be kept free.”

My heart began pounding. The uneasy feeling I had that night returned today, but this time it was several times more suffocating.

Usually, I simply believed everything he said without asking questions or checking for myself. Jasper had never lied to me. Or was I just the one who had never realized his lies?

“Please keep what I told you a secret from Mr. Windsor.”

I didn’t answer. I massaged my aching head. I still couldn’t process all of this.

The door to the room opened. The doctor nodded at me before walking away.

“Giana, come in.” Mrs. Windsor’s voice came from inside.

I dragged my feet heavily into the room.

“Giana, are you okay? You look pale,” Axel said, looking me up and down.

I could only imagine how disheveled I must look right now.

“I’m fine. I just haven’t gotten enough rest.”

“You should get some—”

“Axel,” Mrs. Windsor called his name, “go outside for a moment. We need to discuss something important here.”

“Go ahead and talk then? I’m old enough to hear it, aren’t I?”

“Axel!” Mr. Windsor raised his voice.

“How long are you going to treat me like a child?” Axel clicked his tongue before leaving the room in frustration.

The door was shut tightly, leaving only the four of us inside. For a moment, the room fell silent. I glanced at Jasper, who seemed to have already fallen asleep in his bed.

What secret was he hiding from me that he had to lie? Had he been preparing something special for me, or was it betrayal instead? I wanted to ask him why, but the Jasper I was facing right now wouldn’t remember anything.

“Giana, we’ve already heard from the doctor, and from Jasper as well.” Mrs. Windsor spoke to me. “It seems Jasper has lost his memories from the past few years, including his marriage to you.”

I nodded.

“I heard the same thing. Retrograde amnesia. But I’m sure this can be treated. I’ll stay by Jasper’s side through his treatment until his memories return.”

“You haven’t heard? The doctor can’t guarantee that his memories will return. Part of his brain has been damaged, and there’s a possibility that his memories are gone permanently.”

I tried to hide my shock. I hadn’t listened to the doctor’s explanation all the way through earlier.

“But maybe with the best facilities and the best treatment, his memories can still come back,” I argued.

And the Windsor family was more than capable of paying for all of that.

“Giana,” Mr. Windsor lowered his voice, as if he didn’t want Jasper, who was sleeping, to hear, “how many years have you been married to Jasper? It’s been almost three years, hasn’t it?”

I paused for a moment before answering. I had a bad feeling about this.

“Two and a half years.”

“Perhaps now is the right time to end our agreement from back then. We can terminate it early.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what we mean, Giana. Your marriage contract with Jasper, wasn’t it only for three years?”

“But Jasper and I had already agreed to cancel the contract and continue our marriage.” At least, that was what we had agreed on before the accident. “If Jasper’s memories return, he’ll remember that.”

“His memories may return, but what about his feelings? Will his feelings automatically return as well?” Mrs. Windsor narrowed her eyes on me. “Jasper said he doesn’t want to continue his marriage with you.”

Mr. Windsor added, “Don’t worry. We’ll pay you for the full three years.”

“This isn’t about money, it’s—” I cut myself off.

I took a deep breath, forcing my mind to think quickly. What exactly was I trying to hold on to in this marriage? I loved Jasper, but I should have realized that he no longer wanted me.

And Jasper’s lie that night—was it something I could simply forget?

“Giana,” Mrs. Windsor said, her gaze cold, “this is what’s best for all of us.”

All of us? I wasn’t stupid. If they were suddenly throwing me out just like that, I was sure they had another motive. Something that benefited them.

“Fine.” I smiled calmly. “But this isn’t my decision. It’s yours. And according to the terms of the contract, unilateral termination comes with a hefty penalty.”

“Whatever. I don’t care.”

Jasper’s voice from the bed startled me. I thought he had already fallen asleep.

“Dad, Mom, I don’t care how much she asks for. Just give her whatever she wants. Consider it severance pay for a fired employee.”

My smile remained, no matter how much his words hurt. After everything I had done as a wife and daughter-in-law in this family, I was being treated as nothing more than an employee who could be fired at any time.

But my contribution to Nexora Corporation was no small thing. It was their loss.

“Sure,” I made sure my voice sounded confident. “In that case, just prepare the drafts—the contract termination, the divorce, the settlement agreement…”

I won’t forget this humiliation.

“I’ll sign them all.”