2

Sympathize with him? Like hell. For years, I put up with so much from him, all because he saved my life once.

I even managed to be civil when his family of leeches latched onto me, bleeding me dry.

But things are different now. He saved my life, and I've paid him back with my body. From now on, we're even.

I didn't open the door. Knowing it would be pointless to stay, he just sent me a text telling me to calm down before he left.

I didn't waste any more thought on him. I just replied that we were breaking up and then blocked him.

The next day, the first thing I did when I got to the office was draft my resignation letter to give to Julian Alastair.

I couldn't stand being here a moment longer. It wasn't just because of Caden Chase—it was because of Julian Alastair, too.

When he saw my resignation letter, a wicked smirk spread across Julian Alastair's face.

"What's the plan? Resign, go public with your relationship, and marry him? How many men do you think wouldn't mind what happened?"

Julian Alastair was undeniably handsome. When he first joined the company, he was met with the screams of countless infatuated women.

'Spending a night with a man like him wasn't exactly a loss for me, objectively speaking. I just couldn't accept how it happened.'

"Caden Chase and I are over. I simply don't want to stay here anymore."

Julian Alastair chuckled and shook his head at my words, offering a reminder.

"The company created the Head of the Centralis Sphere position to better develop our branch there. Once that branch is firmly established, full control will be handed over to the Head. You knew that, right?"

Of course I knew. The Head of the Centralis Sphere would become the next branch president; that was an open secret. It was precisely this ambition that had driven Caden Chase to obsession.

"I don't need you to remind me!"

"Interested?"

That one simple word instantly ignited a raging fire in my heart.

'Caden Chase traded me for his future. So why shouldn't I be the one to have that future instead?'

"Of course I'm interested. Are you saying you're going to help me?"

Julian Alastair stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before shaking his head.

"Caden Chase helped me get you, and I promised him I'd make things easier for him. It would be hard to justify helping you now, too. However, I have faith in your abilities."

I frowned. 'Actually, I've been wondering about something... Is it really necessary to maintain the Centralis Sphere project?'

'There's been a complete overhaul in the company's leadership. The Centralis Sphere is a potential time bomb left behind by the previous administration. Will the new leadership really keep it going?'

After a moment's thought, I decided not to ask any more questions and returned to my desk.

I had just sat down when Caden Chase hurried over, holding a cup of my usual coffee.

"Luna, you're back! I saw you come in, so I rushed out to get your coffee. Where'd you go? I stopped by a minute ago, but you weren't here."

I stared coldly at Caden Chase. 'Even after everything that's happened, he can still act so composed.'

"Do you really think this is the time for us to be having a peaceful chat?"

The moment the words left my mouth, a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face, and he looked me up and down.

His eyes landed on the red marks on my neck, and his expression immediately turned to one of delight.

"Luna, I know what I did was wrong, but it's not like you were hurt or anything. Besides, it's not like it was your first time!"

3

I clenched my fists in anger at his words.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What else could it mean? Luna, you don't have to hide it from me. The rumors about you and Mr. Shaw are all over the company. I really don't mind."

Mr. Shaw was the previous head of this branch office. Due to a major shake-up in upper management, he was smoothly ousted.

Mr. Shaw was the one who got me into the company, so it was inevitable that people would gossip.

But I believed the truth would speak for itself, so I didn't pay it much mind. I never expected the rumors to get this bad.

"What is there for you to mind? Nothing ever happened between Mr. Shaw and me. What right do you have to slander me with baseless accusations?"

At my words, a flicker of annoyance flashed in Caden Chase's eyes. It was only for an instant, but I caught it.

"Alright, stop being stubborn. If nothing was going on between you and Mr. Shaw, how could you have been promoted so quickly? I've been with this company for five years and only just climbed to my current position. But you? You did it in just three short years!"

"If I wasn't trying to use your connections, do you think I would've asked you to be my girlfriend?"

I couldn't help but feel shocked. So *this* was the real reason he was with me.

The sweetness of the past three years shattered in an instant. It suddenly made me wonder—that time he risked his life to save me and won my affection, was that all part of his plan too?

"Caden Chase, that time at the company retreat when I accidentally slipped down the hillside and you risked your neck to save me—was that also part of your scheme?"

Caden Chase scratched his head and said nothing, but I didn't need him to answer anymore.

'If we weren't at the office right now, I'd slap him across the face.'

"Anyway, we've been together for three years. Don't worry, I'll definitely marry you. I really don't mind your past. How many women these days are 'clean,' anyway?"

"You're not getting the short end of the stick here. Just help me become the head of the Centralis Sphere, and I'll make sure you're well taken care of. Besides, we've been dating for so long, and weren't you planning on leaving the company anyway?"

"In the future, no one will know what you did. After we're married, you can just be a good girl, stay at home, and take care of me. Once we have kids, won't our life be happy and complete?"

His words made me laugh out of pure anger. Putting aside the fact that I'd never agreed to become a housewife... 'Even if I wanted to, is he worthy?'

"Caden Chase, have you forgotten? I haven't accepted your proposal from last night. Also, I have no intention of leaving the company. I'm officially telling you today: I'm going to compete with you for the position of head of the Centralis Sphere!"

Hearing this, Caden Chase's eyes went wide. He clearly never expected me to do this.

"Are you crazy? A woman who slept her way to the top wants to compete for head of the Centralis Sphere? Mr. Shaw is already gone. Who are you going to rely on now? Julian Alastair already said he'd help me!"

I scoffed and pushed him away, unwilling to waste any more time on him. 'So what if Julian Alastair is going to help him? With his abilities, can he really handle such a heavy responsibility?'

Caden Chase thought I was joking, so he spent the next few days trying to win me back.

It wasn't until I submitted a proposal for the project he was handling that he finally realized I was serious.