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.