Chapter 3

“Jayden, I know you must resent me, but Coco and I are really just friends, and nothing more than a superior and a subordinate.

“Even if she prays for me day and night and sends people to look after me every day, that’s only out of friendship. The person she truly loves has always been you.”

Seeing Gerald’s smug expression, however, I almost threw up.

Just as I was about to respond, Isaac pressed his hand on my shoulder and urged, “Jayden, don’t act on impulse. Just bear with it a little longer.

“Three years ago, your parents died suddenly in a car accident. The group was thrown into chaos. After Claudia went into retreat, she issued a statement saying she would no longer involve herself in worldly affairs. She didn’t step in to help you, and you were gradually sidelined by the group.

“If you fall out with her now, it’ll be even harder to reclaim your inheritance.”

Listening to Isaac only worsened my impression of Claudia.

Even an outsider like him knew these inside details. There was no way Claudia wasn’t aware of them.

Yet she still chose to stand by and watch.

Still, even without her help, I believed my talent and ability would be enough for me to carve out a future of my own.

I cut Isaac off and looked straight at Claudia.

“I don’t care what your relationship is.

“And remember this. Today, I’m the one firing you.”

With that, I didn’t bother waiting for her reaction and simply walked out with Isaac.

As soon as we stepped out of the company, Isaac grabbed my arm and pressed me.

“Have you lost your mind?

“Never mind. You’ve got amnesia. Talking to you is pointless. I’ll go talk to Claudia again. For the sake of your seven-year marriage, she’ll surely cut you some slack.”

I frowned.

It seemed that over the past seven years, I’d lived a life even more pathetic than I imagined.

I reached out and grabbed him.

“Stop lecturing me. Come drink with me!”

The moment I mentioned drinking, Isaac froze in his tracks and stared at me in disbelief.

“Didn’t you quit drinking seven years ago because Claudia couldn’t stand the smell of cigarettes and alcohol?

“You even got into a fight with us to prove you’d quit, saying you’d cut ties with anyone who ever mentioned alcohol in front of you.”

The more I listened, the more absurd it sounded.

As far as I could remember, I’d loved alcohol more than anything. Before I was even seven years old, I was already mixing orange powder with beer at home to make my own “cocktails.”

I never thought I’d quit drinking for a woman who didn’t love me, or even fell out with a friend I’d known since childhood. That was beyond stupid.

Coming to my senses, I gave Isaac a playful punch to the chest and chuckled.

“After all those excuses, you’re not getting old and worried you can’t keep up with me, are you?”

Isaac instantly flushed red and fired off a message in our circle of friends’ group chat.

“Just you wait. Tonight I’m bringing all the guys over, and I’m going to drink you under the table!”

…

Soon enough, several close friends gathered, and everyone started talking at once, asking how I’d been lately.

Eventually, the conversation circled back to Claudia.

“I heard from Isaac that you’re getting a divorce?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you use to say Claudia was the love of your life, and that you’d rather die than live without her?”

Not wanting to worry my friends, I didn’t mention my memory loss. I simply smiled.

“I just figured some things out.

“Come, cheers!”

After a few rounds, the mood grew lively and everyone started teasing me.

From what they said, right after the wedding, Claudia had laid down a whole list of rules for me.

No smoking. No drinking. Must be home before midnight. No questioning where she was. Not allowed to touch her phone.

After Gerald’s accident, things got even worse.

Claudia moved out to go to her retreat and completely stopped managing the company.

Apparently, because I was worried about her health, I personally brewed healing broth every day and delivered it to her, rain or shine.

It had been seven years, and I hadn’t even seen her once.

I was even more speechless. In my memory, I had once been full of ambition and talent, determined to make a name for myself after graduation.