chapter 5

My muffled sobs mixed with the sound of the toilet flushing in the bathroom.

It was only then that I realized how wronged and resentful I’d felt during those ten years with Sean.

As I hid in the bathroom, crying my heart out, voices drifted in from outside the door.

"I heard Mr. Raymond from Operations is leaving, and he recommended Jane for the Operations Manager position."

"Miss Turner, others might not know, but we in the secretarial office all know Mr. Brown once promised Jane that he’d marry her if she became Operations Manager."

Ella let out a cold laugh. "That fool Jane thinks she’s worthy of marrying Mr. Brown? Don’t worry. I stopped her from getting the job before, and I’ll do it again this time.

"That idiot Jane is really persistent. I’ve been holding back her year-end bonuses now and then to push her into leaving, but she just keeps hanging on."

A surge of intense hatred shot through my chest.

All these years at the company, every other employee got a fat year-end bonus when they achieved results.

All the old staff got performance raises based on their tenure—everyone except me, stuck on the entry-level salary.

That was why I’d had no money for Mom’s treatment, why I’d cried and begged Sean for a loan.

And all this time, it had been Ella behind it.

I flung open the bathroom stall door and charged out. "Ella, it was you, wasn’t it? You’ve been docking my pay all these years.

"If you liked Sean, you could’ve just told me. I would’ve let you have him. Why did you have to play these dirty tricks behind my back?"

With that, I lunged at her and slapped her hard across the face.

Anger flared instantly on Ella’s face.

Just as I thought she was going to slap me back, she suddenly knelt down in front of me.

"Miss Clark, I know you’re Mr. Brown’s girlfriend. I can’t afford to provoke you, but can’t I just avoid you? I’ll resign today. I’m begging you, please stop bullying me, stop hitting me. I know I was wrong—just let me go."

Her actions caught me off guard, and I froze for a second.

The next moment, a cold voice boomed from outside the bathroom.

"Jane, what on earth are you making a scene about? This is a workplace, not some place for you to act like a shrew. You need to apologize to Ella right now—this instant."

Sean strode over, then gently helped Ella up, his face full of concern.

"Are you okay? Where did she hit you? I’ll take you to the hospital right away."

But Ella burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.

"Mr. Brown... I’m fine... It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have rejected Jane’s application for Operations Manager. She has every right to be upset with me.

"I just couldn’t stand how she’s been throwing her weight around as an old employee all these years, acting like even Mr. Raymond has to kowtow to her. It’s why Mr. Raymond couldn’t take it anymore and is leaving.

"She even threatened Mr. Raymond to back her for the manager’s job. I didn’t want her to mess up the whole company, so I had to turn down her application.

"I never thought she’d rush into the bathroom and hit me when she found out."

Sean’s face grew darker by the second. He patted Ella’s back softly, then turned to glare at me, fury in his eyes.

"Jane, did you really think I’d marry you just because you became Operations Manager? Have you looked in the mirror? Do you think your status is anywhere near mine?

"For ten years, I’ve fed you, clothed you—and you actually think you’re some kind of rich lady? Get to HR right now, hand in your resignation, and get out of my company."

A sneer tugged at my lips.

So this was what he really thought.

All along, Sean had only seen me as a lover, never a girlfriend.

Deep down, I’d known that for a long time. I’d just been too stubborn, too unwilling to admit it.

Tears spilled from my eyes, but I wiped them away calmly and pulled out my resignation letter.

"No need for you to kick me out, Mr.Brown. I’m leaving on my own. Here’s my resignation."