“Premium tea is worth ten thousand dollars a pound. Vivian, take a look!”

I walked over and saw the box of tea he had tossed aside and the box of premium tea Julia Snow had supposedly sent.

“Dad, I ordered this Yunshan Oolong from overseas for you, didn’t you know?” I asked, confused.

I had given this fine tea to Ethan Reed and asked him to pass it to his father. How could it be Julia’s gift?

At that, Ethan’s father’s face suddenly stiffened.

“Ethan said it himself—Julia sent it. How dare you claim that?”

“This is what you brought. Five dollars a pound of cheap street-stall stuff. Take it back!” He threw another tin of tea at me.

“Spending so little and pretending it’s a grand gift!”

I picked up the tin of green tea, trembling all over. This must have been what Julia had given me.

“Vivian, it’s late, and as you can see, we haven’t prepared dinner.”

Ethan’s mother opened the door, clearly intent on sending me away.

Ethan’s father didn’t even speak further.

To the Reed family, I was always an outsider.

“Mom, Dad, we’re back!”

Just then, the door opened. Ethan walked in, holding Julia’s arm.

At the sight of them, his parents beamed.

“Julia, you’re here! Come in, sit down! We’ll prepare dinner for you,” his mother said warmly.

When Julia saw me, she quickly ducked behind Ethan, her eyes red.

“No, Auntie. Someone doesn’t welcome me. I should go,” Julia said timidly. At this, Ethan’s parents’ expressions hardened.

“Vivian! Are you bullying Julia?” Ethan’s father snapped coldly. “Let me tell you—she’s more worthy of this home than you are!”

“You claim you bought this Oolong? Then take it back! I don’t want it!” He hurled the tin across the table.

Ethan’s mother chimed in.

“Vivian, Julia is just a girl from a small town. How could she manage such an expensive gift? How much thought must have gone into it!”

“You bought a few dollars’ worth of tea from a street stall and dare to claim you gave it? How shameless!”

“We didn’t prepare dinner for you tonight. Leave at once!”

With that, they moved toward me, trying to drive me out. Hearing this, Julia burst into tears and stepped forward as if to stop me.

“Sister Vivian, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be upset with me.”

“I must be in the way. I’ll leave now. Just enjoy dinner with your family. Don’t worry about me.”

Julia dabbed at her tears, preparing to go.

At that moment, Ethan embraced her, then turned and glared at me.

“Don’t mind her. She’s petty and malicious—she’s just finding excuses to bully you!”

Shaking with rage, I picked up the tin of tea.

“Ethan! Tell your parents! Who bought this Yunshan Oolong?”

But Ethan’s expression turned icy.

“Stop twisting the truth, Vivian. Julia gave this to them!”

My whole body trembled with fury.

“Take your cheap tea back to the street stall and get out!” Ethan barked.

“We’re having dinner. None of it is for you,” his parents said coldly, ordering me to leave. Looking at the four of them, I finally realized I had always been an outsider.

Seeing this, Julia’s lips curled slightly.

“That’s not right. Let Vivian stay for dinner.”

She stepped toward me, tugging at my sleeve. But Ethan’s father cut her off coldly.

“Leave now, Vivian. And let me be blunt—don’t ever come back. You’re not worthy of our Ethan.”

"He's the company president, and Julia Snow is a glamorous woman. They're a perfect match."

"Don't contact each other anymore. Don't tarnish Ethan Reed's reputation."

Ethan Reed's father said calmly. Hearing this, I couldn't control myself any longer. I picked up the tin of Yunshan Oolong and slammed it to the ground.

"You drink the tea I gave you and live in the villa I bought for you, and now you're saying that?"

"If you're brave enough, leave! Don't live in my house!"

Hearing this, Ethan's father also turned his face.

"The villa is now registered in Ethan's name. Stop talking nonsense! Grab your lousy tea and get out!"

"If you don't go, I'll call the police."

Seeing this, a cold shiver ran down my spine.

I turned and glanced at Ethan, hoping he'd try to persuade me to stay.

But his eyes were cold, his fingers tightened, and he said nothing.

Seeing this, I turned, slammed the door, and walked out into the night.

Outside, the night breeze blew across my face.

Looking at the lights of countless homes, I suddenly didn't know where to go.

Returning to my desk at work would surely invite my colleagues' ridicule.

The small rental house was far away, but it was the only place I could go now. I went back to the office to get my keys. As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw that my computer, books, and teacup had been cleared out. In their place, the desk was piled with Julia's belongings.

I searched for my keys, but couldn't find them.

I felt a surge of fury, so I called Ethan.

The phone rang for a full three minutes before he picked up.

"What's wrong with you, Vivian? Didn't I tell you not to call me?"

Hearing this, my chest tightened.

"Why are all of Julia's things all over my workstation? You've lost my keys, you know?" I lashed out.

"Your desk is by the window, has good light, and Julia wanted it, so I gave it to her," Ethan said softly. "As for your keys, don't ask me!"

"That's my desk! Why does she just take it?"

"What do you mean by yours? I'm the president of the company. I can give my desk to whoever I want!" His tone darkened. "Can you please be more sensible, Vivian?"

"Julia isn't feeling well. She needs a place in the sun, so why not let her bask in the sunshine? How can you be so cold-blooded?!"

He said coldly, "Besides, didn't Julia give you a travel ticket? Isn't that enough?"

Hearing this, I almost laughed.

"What's a free ticket?"

"Stop joking! The company is mine, and I can give the position to anyone I want." Ethan said in a low voice, "Believe it or not, I can order you out of the company with a single command!"

After that, he continued softly,

"I have another thing to tell you. Julia is now living in the bedroom that used to be yours in the villa."

"Come back later and collect your things!"

"You're insane! That's my room!" Hearing this, my blood rushed to my head, and I shouted, "Just try to touch it!"

Ethan sneered,

"I'm telling you that your pillows and quilts are stacked outside the door. Come back and clear them out!"

"I bought that villa for you. Believe it or not, I'll kick you all out!"

I whispered, "Have you forgotten whose name is on the property deed?" Ethan chuckled sinisterly. "If you mess around, I'll call the police!"

"Julia's family is struggling, so what's wrong with letting her stay with us for some peace? Why are you reacting so strongly?" he said harshly.

"Vivian, have you forgotten that I'm the company's president?"

"If you weren't in management, believe it or not, I'd kick you out!"

Hearing this, a fresh wave of rage welled up in my chest. I could feel every humiliation like a brand, burning and permanent; betrayal tasted sour and metallic in my mouth. I did not know how to survive this hollow life.

I've always been the one working the hardest for the company, yet the department manager position he promised me was handed to Julia Snow. And he still has the nerve to bring this up!

"Vivian, let me tell you something," Ethan Reed continued.

"My mom was furious. She was clearing out some clutter the other day and throwing away the silver box in your safe. It looked like some broken necklaces and other junk. You’d better buy her some nice jewelry."

"Otherwise, if you come to the Reed family empty-handed, we won’t let you in!" Ethan said harshly. Hearing the words silver box, I froze.

"What did you say you threw away?"

"An old silver box, just a worthless piece of junk," Ethan said with contempt.

Hearing this, I trembled all over.

"Ethan! That was my mother’s treasured dowry!"

Hearing this, Ethan faltered, his voice a little unsteady, but he quickly recovered.

"It was just a broken box. How much could it be worth?"

I suppressed my fury. "The box held what my mother left for me. You knew that, Ethan!"

He replied lazily, "I know. Are you upset now about throwing it away? You haven’t treated my parents well for a long time!"

"Find it for me, Ethan," my tone hardened.

"It was flushed away long ago. How could I possibly find it for you?" He said coldly, with disdain.

"Stop pretending, Vivian. Hurry and buy my mom the same set of jewelry!"

"Buy it for you? Dream on." Hearing this, I almost laughed aloud. "Ethan, thank your mother. You’ve finally shown me the true face of your family."

I whispered through clenched teeth.

"Whatever you say!" Ethan barked. "If you don’t buy it, then get out of the company! I’m the president, after all."

His tone was firm, though I caught a faint tremor in it.

"Vivian, we’ve been married five years. I’ve given you five years of my youth, and this is your attitude?"

"I just realized today how ungrateful you are! I was desperate to promote you in the company."

"I’m telling you, Julia will be at your desk tomorrow. You don’t need to come to work anymore. Go beg on the street!" he snapped.

After hanging up, I felt my hands shaking. I buried my face in cold water, finally calming my anger.

I stared at the fading light outside the window, emotion surging in my chest.

Five years of love, a villa, and a row of shops—I’d given so much to Ethan, and in the end, he turned his back on me like this.

By now, I’d seen through his entire family. There was no reason to hold back.

I silently dialed a number.

"Mr. Sullivan? This is Vivian, who contacted you the other day."

Eric Sullivan’s voice was calm on the other end.

"Ms. Vivian, what are your thoughts? Are you sure you’ll bring your core technology?"

"Yes, all of it—along with some high-value clients."

I nodded slowly, then, after a long paus,e asked,

"Eric, do you still stand by what you said that night?"

He was silent for a moment before replying softly, "Yes, we’ll discuss it later."

I nodded again. "Okay, see you then."

After hanging up, I thought back to my conversation with Ethan. All I wanted to do was laugh. He still thought I’d buy his mother a set of silver jewelry.

I lowered my head, gazing at the photo of the silver box my mother left me.

He had no idea the storm he’d stirred up. Not even his whole company would be enough to cover it!