Chapter 9

Audrey's words cut deep.

Once the people in the audience understood what was happening, they began looking at Nathaniel with scorn and contempt. Their eyes made him feel as if he were being humiliated in front of the entire world.

Support work? Organizing documents? Lacking the skills to do core research?

Audrey had just denied his entire worth in public and stripped him of his dignity. All to protect another man.

A smug look flashed across Jackson's face.

That was the last straw for Nathaniel.

All the hurt and anger he had been holding back turned into an urge he had never felt before.

He suddenly stood up and headed for the stage. But before he could take more than one step, someone grabbed his wrist.

Audrey hurried down from the stage and clamped her hand around his wrist. Her grip was so tight that it hurt.

"Let go!" Nathaniel struggled against her, his voice shaking with anger.

Without even looking at him, Audrey turned to the audience. "I'm sorry. My assistant just needs to confirm a few details with me."

Then, ignoring his protests, she practically dragged him away from the stage and out of the conference hall.

She pulled him into the hallway and slammed the door shut.

Now, they were alone.

Nathaniel wrenched his hand free and glared at her with bloodshot eyes. His chest rose and fell as he struggled to control his breathing. "Audrey, you just made me sound like someone who does nothing but run errands, all to protect him! What am I to you? What do I even mean to you?"

His voice broke, but he fought back his tears.

Audrey watched him in silence. The hallway lights cast deep shadows across her face, making it impossible for him to read her expression.

Nathaniel thought she would give him another excuse. Instead, she suddenly stepped closer.

She wrapped one arm around his neck and gently touched his cheek with her other hand.

Then she lifted her head and kissed him.

It was brief and completely without passion. Their lips touched for only a moment before she pulled away.

Nathaniel froze. He couldn't believe what had just happened.

Audrey stepped back slightly and looked down at him. He was still too shocked to speak.

"Can you calm down now and stop disrupting the presentation?"

Nathaniel stared at her in disbelief.

He had spent ten years chasing after her. He had imagined countless times what it would feel like to be close to her. He had even accepted her proposal of marriage, knowing she had only offered it out of guilt.

He had once desperately longed for even the smallest touch from her.

But now, the kiss he had dreamed of for so long had finally happened under these circumstances.

She had done it only to shut him up and stop him from ruining Jackson's big moment.

The shame that washed over him was unbearable. It was 100 times worse than the humiliation he had suffered in front of everyone just moments ago.

Slap!

Nathaniel slapped Audrey hard across the face.

He put every ounce of strength into it. His palm tingled from the force of the blow.

Audrey's face snapped to the side. A clear red handprint quickly appeared on her pale cheek.

She stood there in shock, clearly never expecting him to hit her.

Nathaniel's eyes were bloodshot, but he still refused to cry.

His voice trembled as he spoke. "You think I'm making a scene because I wanted this? Audrey, you disgust me."

Audrey's cheek stung. She looked into Nathaniel's eyes and saw the complete loss of trust and hope in them. For once, she had nothing to say.

Nathaniel didn't look at her again. He simply pushed open the door and walked out.

He didn't return to the conference hall. He didn't try to argue his case or reveal the truth.

It all felt pointless now.

The hallway lights were painfully bright.

He roughly wiped the tears from his face, then went straight back to the lab. He turned on his computer and logged into the system.

Without hesitation, he permanently deleted every piece of data related to the project.

Even if he was leaving, he wasn't going to let Jackson get away with academic fraud.

A few hours later, Nathaniel arrived at the airport.

When he heard the boarding announcement, he picked up his small suitcase and headed down the jet bridge.

He had also blocked Audrey on every platform and cut off every way she could contact him.

With that, he ended ten years of loving her.