Chapter 6

It took Luke until nightfall to make it home. The journey was only six miles, but it had taken him the entire day to walk it.

His leg injuries had not healed yet and, while walking such a long distance, he had fallen several times in the darkness. Mud stained his clothes, and blisters and blood covered his legs. The pain was so intense that every step felt like walking on a bed of nails.

He took off his dress shoes and limped into the living room. Just as he was about to sit down and tend to his injuries, someone nearby laughed coldly.

"Did you deliberately interrupt Reuben and I just for your own amusement?"

Luke looked up and met Melissa’s furious gaze.

Bracing a hand against his aching lower back, he slowly straightened and lowered his head, his voice calm and respectful.

“Ms. Dawn, I really was only there to deliver the documents. I didn’t realize Mr. Evers meant so much to you. I’m sorry.”

Then, he handed her the documents he had carried around all day without ever getting them signed.

Melissa accepted them expressionlessly and opened the folder. Then, right in front of him, she tore the pages to shreds, one by one. She followed that by hurling the plastic folder at him, striking him squarely on the body.

“I won’t tolerate anyone with ulterior motives by my side. If anything like this happens again, you can pack your things and get out!”

Then, she stormed out and slammed the door behind her without so much as looking back.

Staring at the scraps of paper scattered across the floor, Luke leaned against the coffee table and slowly sank into a crouch.

He pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from his legs. Then, quite suddenly, he laughed.

Next time? There would not be a next time.

Just ten more days and he would finally and truly be leaving Melissa behind for good.

The next day, when he arrived at the office, Ms. Lynn personally brought him a document.

Luke opened it and skimmed through the contents. It was a disciplinary notice, informing him that his salary for the second half of the year and his year-end bonus were being withheld as punishment.

That was not all. Ms. Lynn also informed him that the company had introduced a new rule.

From now on, whenever Ms. Dawn was spending time with Mr. Evers, no one was allowed to disturb them. Luke’s case was to serve as a warning to everyone else.

Luke did not raise a single objection. He quickly signed the notice, picked up his coffee mug, and headed to the break room.

The new rule sparked a flurry of gossip around the office, with everyone discussing the relationship between Melissa and Reuben.

Those with the right connections even dug up old stories and spread them around.

“I heard the Apex project was launched specifically for Mr. Evers. He likes skiing, so Ms. Dawn just went ahead and acquired the whole place."

“That antique tea set Ms. Dawn asked me to photograph last time? It’s with Mr. Evers now too. I saw it in the news!”

Luke listened quietly without joining in, focusing instead on making his coffee.

A few colleagues knew he had been treated unfairly and gathered around to comfort him.

“Luke, you were completely innocent in all this. Everyone thinks you’ve been caught up in something that had nothing to do with you. Why don’t you apologize to Ms. Dawn and see if there’s still a chance to make things right?”

Luke shook his head, his tone surprisingly lighthearted.

“I’m leaving soon anyway. I was never going to get that money back, so there’s no point.”

Everyone in the break room gathered around him when they heard him, peppering him with questions.

“You’re really leaving? We thought you were joking! Will Ms. Dawn even let you go?”

“Exactly! You’ve been by her side for so many years. She’s not even going to try to stop you?”

Luke smiled and lifted his head to look at everyone, his voice utterly sincere.

“I’m serious. I’ll be gone in nine days. Hopefully, we’ll cross paths again someday.”

Once the news got out, quite a few colleagues made a point of seeking him out to say goodbye.

Fortunately, Melissa had been busy spending time with Reuben over the past few days, so she had not come into the office or contacted Luke again.

He was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet, gradually wrapping up the projects still under his care.

Two days before his departure, he had just returned home when he suddenly received a call from Reuben.

“Mr. Taylor, are you available right now? Could you bring some stomach medication over to my place? Melissa’s stomach condition is acting up.”