These days, the ones most afraid of "collapsing the house" are not me but them.

Gerald and Daniel have carefully crafted my image as the happiest woman in the world. But in reality, it’s just a ploy to mold themselves into the most affectionate men—a facade they wear to keep their audience hooked.

“Do you think I care?”

Nora’s words were sharp, aimed to provoke me. But my calm response seemed to throw her off.

My lack of reaction chipped away at her smug demeanor and she snapped. “Why do you always pretend so much? If you’re angry, just yell at me already!”

“You obviously want to scold me, don’t you? Don’t you ever get tired of pretending?”

I ignored her rant, focusing on packing up my belongings. There was no point in engaging with someone like her—someone so needlessly petty.

But just as I was about to leave, Gerald walked in.

The moment she saw him, Nora’s entire demeanor shifted. Her eyes welled up with tears and she plastered on an expression of pure vulnerability.

Gerald’s concern was instantaneous. His brows furrowed as he rushed to her side and wrapped a protective arm around her.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Nora pointed at me, tears streaming down her face. “I just asked Hannah if she could kindly make us some food…”

She sniffled dramatically before continuing, “I even humbled myself, but she scolded me—said I’m useless, that I can’t even cook for myself.”

Her voice quivered as she tried to move toward the kitchen, muttering in a broken tone, “I’ll prove I’m not worthless. I’ll cook something, no matter what.”

I stood there, stunned at the performance. With acting skills like hers, she could easily land leading roles.

Predictably, Gerald pulled her back, his face dark with anger as he turned to me.

“Hannah, are you out of your mind?” he snapped. “What’s the point of berating Nora over something so trivial? Apologize to her right now!”

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve hated unnecessary drama. I’ve never been one to shout or argue; it’s just not in my nature. All my anger, when it comes, is swift and decisive.

I fixed my gaze on Nora, who continued to cry pitifully. Suppressing my frustration, I muttered a cold, indifferent, “Sorry.”

Her tears dried almost instantly and a victorious smirk flickered in her eyes.

As I turned to leave, she leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper.

“See? This is how things should be. You can’t fight me. Gerald and Daniel only have room in their hearts for me. You don’t deserve them.”

I clenched my fists but refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

***

The next day, I walked into the police station with my immigration documents in hand.

The staff member at the desk glanced at me, a bit hesitant. “Are you sure you want to do this? Once your account is canceled, your identity will no longer exist in this country. You won’t be traceable.”

“I’m sure,” I replied firmly. Without a moment of hesitation, I signed the papers, erasing every official trace of myself from this place.

It was a clean break—a final step toward freedom.

When I returned to the company, I barely had time to process what was happening.

“Bang!”

The sound of two celebratory cannons echoed around me, showering me with confetti. Cheers erupted as employees clapped and whistled.

“Welcome back, our star!”

Daniel stood at the center of the room, leading the applause. His grin was wide and animated, a signal for everyone to cheer even louder.

Before I could react, Gerald gently placed his arm around my shoulders and guided me toward the stage. Photographers flanked us on both sides, snapping away from different angles.

Looking at the entire setup—the decorations, the applause, the cameras—it was obvious this was just another performance. All of it was for show, designed to dazzle their audience.

On stage, Daniel grabbed the microphone, his voice booming with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for our greatest contributor—Hannah! Without her, this company wouldn’t be where it is today.”

I forced a polite smile, matching the role they expected me to play.

But then something unexpected happened.

Even after the cameras stopped rolling, Gerald’s smile didn’t falter. He turned to me, his expression unusually soft.

“Hannah,” he said gently, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I know you’ve been unhappy lately. You probably think everything we’ve done for you is just for the cameras—just an act for the audience.”

His words caught me off guard, but I kept my expression neutral.

He continued, “But it’s not just for show. You mean more to us than you realize.”

I stared at him, trying to gauge the sincerity in his eyes.

For a moment, I almost wanted to believe him.

But then, I remembered the past few months—the cold indifference, the constant demands and the relentless manipulation.

And just like that, whatever flicker of hope his words had sparked was snuffed out.

“But you’ve misunderstood us,” Gerald said softly. “Spoiling you isn’t just for show. We truly mean it.”

As his words lingered in the air, Daniel suddenly appeared, pushing a cake cart toward me with a flourish.

“Do you know why we scheduled this celebration today?” he teased, grinning. “It’s because you, being the scatterbrain you are, forgot something important—your own birthday!”

“Happy Birthday!”

The room erupted into song and the lively atmosphere felt almost infectious.

Daniel led the employees in a cheerful chorus while Gerald clapped along with a smile, his gaze soft and warm. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the past—the days when their care and attention felt genuine.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been too quick to judge them. Maybe I’d misread their intentions.

As the crowd cheered and celebrated, Nora approached me with a gift box in hand. Her smile was radiant, her tone syrupy sweet.

“Hannah,” she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. “I’ve always seen you as my closest sister. Today is your special day, so I prepared a gift just for you. I hope you’ll like it.”

The entire room fell silent as I opened the gift. All eyes were on me, their expressions a mix of anticipation and envy.

But as the lid came off, the atmosphere shifted.

Inside was a pair of green high heels.

The room erupted into laughter.

“Hannah, these shoes suit you perfectly!” Nora exclaimed with feigned excitement, her voice loud enough to incite the crowd further. “Go on, try them on! They’ll look stunning on you!”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, the provocation unmistakable. The laughter around me grew louder, turning crueler with each passing second.

Green high heels. The insult wasn’t lost on me. A symbol of mockery, meant to humiliate.

I instinctively glanced at Gerald and Daniel, searching for some sign of solidarity. But what I saw instead made my chest tighten.

They were laughing too.

Not just laughing—they were enjoying the spectacle, like spectators entertained by a cruel joke.

The warmth and kindness they’d shown moments ago evaporated in an instant, replaced by smug amusement.

Daniel was the first to break the tension, clapping Gerald on the shoulder as he roared with laughter. “Look at her face! Did she actually think this was her birthday cake?”

“She really took it seriously!” He doubled over, gasping for breath. “No, no, this cake is for Nora. She’s the true star of this company, after all.”

The laughter felt like needles pricking my skin, each sound sharper than the last.

Gerald smirked and turned to Nora. “Nora, looks like we won this bet.”

Nora’s face lit up with triumph. “Alright, fine. I’ll admit it—you two were right!” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “I didn’t think Hannah would fall for it so easily. But I guess if you shine just a little bit of light on her, she’ll bloom like a flower.”

“She really can’t leave you two, can she?”

Both men grinned, their egos swelling with satisfaction.

Daniel leaned back, crossing his arms. “Of course not. We’ve treated her like a queen all these years. How could she ever survive without us?”

Gerald nodded in agreement, his tone patronizing. “Exactly. So don’t worry, Nora. No matter how upset she gets, she won’t dare to challenge us. She’s too dependent.”

My stomach churned as their words sank in.

This was all a game to them—a bet between them and Nora. They’d gambled on my loyalty, my inability to stand up for myself. They thought I was so used to their control that I’d never be able to break free.

For a moment, the world around me blurred. My chest felt tight, my breaths shallow. The laughter of the crowd roared in my ears, blending into a cacophony that made my head spin.

It wasn’t until I felt the sharp pain of my nails digging into my palms—so hard they broke the skin—that I snapped back to reality.

I told myself to stay calm. Now wasn’t the time to lash out.

Throwing a tantrum or screaming at Nora would only play into their hands. I’d look like a fool—a shrew unable to keep her composure.

No, I needed to bide my time.

I clenched my fists, inhaled deeply and forced a bitter smile.

“Thank you, Nora,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “The shoes are... lovely.”

Her smirk widened and the crowd’s laughter continued.

But I was done being their punchline.

Deep down, I knew one thing for certain: they may think they’ve won this battle, but the war was far from over.

A woman who loses her favor and crumbles is just that—a woman defeated.

"You all have a good time celebrating," I said with a bitter smile. "Excuse me."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and left the company.

Behind me, their laughter echoed, unabashed and cutting.

"Did she leave because she's upset?"

"Let her be. She'll come around."

"Women like her just need a little coaxing when the time comes. We've known her since forever—she's as predictable as they come."

Their words trailed behind me like ghosts, each one etching itself into my mind.

***

Back at home, Nora didn’t waste any time.

She sent me dozens of photos from the party—each one flaunting her position as the princess adored by Gerald and Daniel.

I stared at the images coldly before deleting them, along with her contact information.

Then, with quiet determination, I grabbed a suitcase and began packing. A few clothes, my essentials—just enough to get by.

Before leaving, I made one final call.

It was to a trusted friend, asking her to release the video I’d prepared at the company’s fan meeting tomorrow.

With that, I left the house, the weight of years spent under their control finally lifting.

Sitting in the airplane seat as it took off, I exhaled deeply, relief washing over me.

It was all over now.

Gerald, Daniel—you thought I couldn’t leave you.

But the truth is, without me, you will crumble.

Meanwhile, Gerald and Daniel were still indulging Nora late into the night.

Drunk and boisterous, she clung to them as they stumbled into the house, her laughter filling the space.

“I drank too much,” Nora cooed. “I’m thirsty... I want honey water.”

Daniel, ever eager to please her, immediately turned toward my room and shouted, “Hannah! Didn’t you hear that? Nora’s thirsty! Hurry up and make her some honey water!”

He waited, expecting a response.

But silence greeted him instead.

Nora giggled, feigning concern. “You two, really... She must be upset! How could you gamble about her in front of everyone? Poor Hannah, what if her fragile little heart breaks?”

Gerald smirked, waving off her comment.

“Don’t worry,” he said confidently. “She’s not that fragile. Watch—give me a minute and I’ll have her downstairs, making your honey water in no time.”

Stumbling up the stairs, he swaggered toward my room, flinging the door open.

“Hannah!” he called out, his voice still tinged with amusement. “Didn’t you want a vacation? Fine, I’ll be generous. Three days—take three days off. How about that?”

The silence that followed was deafening.

His drunken bravado faltered as he realized the room was empty.

Not just empty—bare.

Gone were the small traces of my presence.

He rubbed his eyes, disbelief washing over him. Ever since I’d lived with them, I had never stayed out overnight.

“Where... is she?” he muttered, his tone shifting from confusion to frustration.

His anger flared instantly, his brows knitting together in disbelief.

“You’ve got some nerve staying out overnight!” he growled. Pulling out his phone, he dialed my number.

The robotic voice that greeted him was like a slap to the face.

“The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”

His grip tightened on the phone as the realization hit.

“She blocked me? She blocked me?!”

Fury surged through him as he cursed loudly at the empty room.

“Hannah! If you have the guts, don’t come back! And when you do come crawling back, don’t think we’ll forgive you!”

Slamming the door shut, he stormed downstairs, his frustration palpable.

***

Nora looked up at him, feigning innocence.

“Hannah didn’t come back?” she asked, her tone laced with mock curiosity.

Daniel leaned back on the sofa, smirking.

“Where could she go?” he scoffed. “At this hour, she’s probably curled up in some dingy hotel room, crying her eyes out.”

Their laughter echoed through the house, full of arrogance and confidence that I’d come crawling back.

But they didn’t realize—this time, I wasn’t coming back.

This time, I was done being their puppet.