Chapter 3

I blocked Matt on all social media platforms the moment I got home.

Then, I started packing his stuff that was lying around my house—his shirt, his favorite PlayStation, and the cheap plushies he got for me on a whim.

Staring at these items, I couldn't help but lose myself in the past.

During my sophomore year, just to share something in common with him, I forced myself to minor in Finance, a subject I hated.

Once, in my junior year, his gastric condition flared up, and he called me in the middle of the night because he was in pain. I went running to the pharmacy in the pouring rain, stayed by his side all night, and made breakfast for him.

When he woke up and noticed me slumped over the side of his bed, he merely gave me a casual "thanks".

Later, we became an item. Even though our relationship was kept secret, I was content.

I learned to cook for him and even burned my hands on several occasions, all because he told me he wanted some home-cooked food. I burned the midnight oil organizing his company's financial reports and went into work the next day with dark circles under my eyes.

He enjoyed all my sacrifices without a second thought. Whenever our relationship was questioned, he would say, "Sienna is just a close friend of mine. There's nothing going on between us."

I thought if I became good enough, one day he would fall for me. Until he decided to go along with the blind date his family set up for him.

That was when I realized that some people were truly heartless.

I tucked the last of his clothes into the box and taped it up. Then, I dropped them off at the courier office so they could be delivered to Matt's company.

After everything was settled, I let out a long sigh of relief. It was as if the shackles that had been holding me back all these years had finally been taken off.

Late that night, my phone screen lit up with a text from an unknown number. But I immediately recognized the tone of the texter. The message read, "Sienna, why were you with Daniel today? Don't mingle with him. He's not a decent person."

How laughable.

Matt was always like this—limiting me from socializing with other people or interacting with other men, but never truly letting me integrate into his own circle. All his friends just knew me as a close friend who was always at his beck and call.

I didn't bother to reply, choosing instead to block this number too.

…

The next morning, I walked into my superior's office and placed an application form on his table. "Mr. Devine, I'd like to request a job transfer."

My superior, Josh Devine, looked surprised. "Sienna, your current role is stable and low-stress. Why the sudden urge to join the core project team? The workload is notoriously heavy and involves frequent business travel."

In the past, I had remained in the company's least demanding administrative role, earning a meager salary while letting my skills go to waste because I wanted to be with Matt all the time and showed up for him immediately when he needed me.

And to think, I had majored in architectural design and was once an honor student on a full scholarship. Yet, for Matt, I gave up my dreams and goals and became someone who revolved only around him.

"I want to push myself while I'm still young." I smiled, an unwavering determination in my eyes. "I heard a team is being assembled for Brightside Hospital's bidding project, and I'd like to give it a try."

That was the company's biggest project at the moment. If I successfully pulled it off, it would be the biggest turning point in my career.

Josh gave me a thoughtful look before nodding his head. "Sure. Go ahead and try it out. Don't let me down."