Chapter 1

It was Tuesday today.

By nine in the morning, I had already cleaned out my desk, leaving only one mug behind. It had been a birthday gift from Sharon Solt, my fiancee, last year. On it were printed the words, "World's Best Boyfriend", which was ironic, considering what had happened. Either way, the sight of it was an eyesore to me now.

Marcy Grant of the HR department accepted my resignation letter and paused.

"Simon, are you sure about this? The project bonus will be handed out next month, so if you leave now, that means you just wasted half a year's effort."

I lowered my gaze. "I'm sure."

Marcy sighed. "Did you talk this over with Sharon? Aren't you two—"

"Marcy, please just help me follow the usual procedures."

Seeing how resolute I was, she stopped trying to talk me out of it.

It took a total of 47 steps to get from my work desk to the elevator. As I walked, I thought back to what Sharon had told me the night before she left for her work trip.

At the time, she had been busy packing her suitcase, and she hadn't even bothered raising her head when she asked me, "Simon, you've been really quiet recently. Don't tell me you're still mad about what happened the other day?"

I didn't respond.

Tossing a jacket into her suitcase, she zipped it before continuing, "I've been working at the company for four years. As a man, could you not be so petty? Danny was just a little too excited that day. Just who are you showing that grumpy face to? Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was after that? Everyone in the department is saying that my fiance is an easily jealous man."

From my position leaning against the doorway, I stared at her and replied, "Am I not allowed to be jealous, considering what you two did?"

Perhaps she was recalling the event, for her cheeks flushed red in a blush, and even her voice sounded small when she said, "I already told you. It was just a game…"

I laughed. "Then what about the nickname you saved him as in your contacts? Sunshine?"

For a brief second, Sharon froze in the process of pulling her suitcase upright. "You went through my phone?"

"I happened to see it when the message popped up on your screen."

She stood up to pin me with an impatient glare. "Simon Lane, since when did you become so sensitive? Danny just graduated and is only 22 years old, practically a kid. What sort of relationship could I possibly be in with him? You're my fiance! Don't you have any confidence in yourself?"

I returned her gaze. "I am confident in myself. But that day, when you were feeding him the grape, he used his tongue."

Sharon was momentarily surprised before she laughed. "How did you even see that? Do your eyes have a zoom function or something?"

A suffocating feeling weighed on my chest, and I answered anxiously, "I'm your man, so of course, I was able to notice it."

Hearing that, Sharon moved over to hug me and rest her head against my chest. "Alright, alright. I just thought it must've been nerve-wracking for him, being a newcomer and all, so I wanted to help ease the atmosphere. Don't overthink it. Once I return from my trip, I'll make it up to you, okay?"

The scent of her usual perfume tickled my nose, but this was the first time I found the smell somewhat unfamiliar.

That night, I wasn't able to sleep. At two in the morning, I climbed out of bed to get a glass of water, only to see Sharon's phone light up once more.

Daniel Zugler, the new intern and also the person saved as "Sunshine" in her contacts, had sent her a photo. In it was a pink suitcase exactly the same as the one she planned to take on her work trip.

The attached message read, "Sharon, we're using the exact same suitcase! Isn't that an interesting twist of fate?"

Sharon didn't reply to the message, but early the next morning, she told me there had been a change in plans and that she would be taking one more person along—Daniel.

I was making scrambled eggs in the kitchen when she leaned against the doorway and said, "Simon, Danny wants to go on the trip as well. After thinking it over, I decided it would be a good idea to take him along so he can broaden his horizons. It's just one more mouth to feed, after all."

Even though I already had an inkling of the answer, I still asked, "There are six people in your department, so why did you choose him?"

"Because he volunteered for it. Isn't it wonderful for young people like him to be more proactive?"

"But it's only been two months since he graduated, and he has the least experience out of all of them."

Shoving her phone into her bag, she snapped harshly, "Simon, are you going to kick up a fuss again? Who I choose to be my assistant is my business. You're from another department. Don't you think you're overstepping your bounds by interfering in our department's matters?"

I shut off the stove and piled the scrambled eggs onto a plate. "You're right. I'm overstepping my bounds."

She came over and took a bite of eggs. "That's more like it. Stop letting your imagination run away all the time. Anyway, I'm leaving. It's just seven days, so I'll be back before you know it."

I sucked in a deep breath, not saying another word.

That afternoon, I headed to the HR department to fill in my resignation form.

"Name: Simon Lane

Department: IT Department

Position: Programmer

Duration of employment: 3 years and 7 months

Reason for leaving: Career development."

Those few simple words wrote the final sentence of my three-year relationship.

Marcy urged me, "Have you really thought this over? You and Sharon both work here. What's she going to think if you leave?"

"What she'll think is her business."

"When are you two getting your marriage registered? You planned it for next month, didn't you?"

I didn't answer. We had planned it for the 18th of next month, and I had even prepared the diamond ring already.

However, all that was unimportant now.

As the elevator door shut, my phone vibrated.

Sharon had sent me a voice message. Upon playing it, I could hear the faint sound of a hotel lobby announcement in the background.

"Simon, we've arrived at the hotel. Danny says that he'll treat us to a seafood dinner tonight. I'll send you some photos later."

Instead of replying to her, I tucked my phone into my pocket and walked out of the company building.

Outside, the sun blazed down upon the earth. I stood there for a moment, squinting my eyes against the glaring light.

Then, I sent a message to our landlord, "We're not renewing the lease next month."