My heart felt like ice. I kept telling myself that I'd be leaving soon and that it was just a car, so it wasn't worth getting upset over.

But the more I thought about it, the colder I felt. I'd been with Jasper for over twenty years, yet I couldn't compare to Yvonne, who had only been in his life for three months.

Seemingly noticing my gaze, Jasper seemed to remember something and explained, "Hazel, I told you about this car. Yvonne's boyfriend asked me to buy it."

His lie was so clumsy that I didn't even want to expose it.

I excused myself to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water. I kept reminding myself that I'd be free of this place in just three days.

My phone buzzed suddenly. The lawyer had sent over the finalized agreement. I forwarded my resignation letter along with it to Jasper.

When I returned to the living room, Jasper saw the documents and immediately swiped the notification away. Then he looked up at me and asked.

"Is the document you sent urgent? I'll sign it after I help Evie pick out her car."

"Evie," that affectionate nickname from across the way. It's a shame I didn't realize what it meant back then.

I scoffed inwardly, composed myself and said calmly, "It's very urgent. I need you to sign it now."

Jasper frowned, seemingly annoyed. "Can't it wait a bit?"

"That's my resigna … " Before I could finish, Yvonne's voice cut me off. She looked sweet and considerate.

"Jasper, please sign the document first! The car can wait."

Only then did Jasper reopen the file. He barely glanced at it, quickly skimmed through a few lines, signed at the bottom and promptly sent it back to me.

Then, he went back to helping Yvonne look at cars. If Yvonne wasn't satisfied with something, he immediately agreed to have it customized.

At that moment, the man who always claimed to be too busy for me suddenly wasn't busy at all.

I looked at the document on my phone, a pang of bitterness in my chest. Was this Jasper's trust in me? Or was it just complete indifference?

Yvonne suddenly hugged my arm. "Hazel, could you lend me Jasper for a day? I want to customize the car, please?"

Before I could answer, Jasper spoke up. "Hazel's not the petty type. I'll go with you."

He picked up the car keys and left with Yvonne. As they walked out, he kept glancing back at her like he couldn't take his eyes off her.

I stood on the balcony, watching as they drove away. The car sped off and all the strength drained from my body.

Back in my room, I picked up the violet necklace Jasper had given me. It was a gift for my eighteenth birthday.

Back then, he was poor. He spent all his part-time earnings to buy me that necklace. He put it around my neck, his eyes tender and full of affection.

"Hazel, the violet symbolizes eternal love. I can't give you the best right now, but will you wait for me? I promise I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."

I believed it, but over the years, as his status grew, my wounds increased.

The happiest woman? Now, he was a big shot, capable of making any woman in the world happy, but that woman was no longer me.

I took the necklace I'd treasured for years and tossed it into the trash without a second thought.

The four-leaf clover good luck bracelet, the nail polish, the dress, the cosmetics Jasper bought me and our love token.

I gathered everything that carried memories of us and put it up for free online.

Then, I headed to the office. I handed off my projects and files to others, packed my things and got ready to leave.

The office was abuzz with chatter. An employee couldn't help but ask, "Hazel, where are you going?"

I replied casually, "I've resigned. The company will rely on all of you from now on."

The girl's eyes immediately welled up. "Hazel, don't go! Mr. Sage won't want you to leave either. I'll go tell him to keep you."

Keep me? I smiled faintly and patted her head. "I didn't want to stay and he signed the papers himself."

She looked shocked. "How could that be?"

Yes, how could it end like this today? But Jasper probably didn't want me to stay in the company anymore.

I stepped to leave, but then heard a commotion in the company lobby. Jasper walked in, holding Yvonne's hand.

The company employees respectfully called Yvonne "Madam." At that moment, standing on the second floor looking at them, I suddenly felt like a complete joke.

Even the people in the company knew about their relationship and I was the last to find out. Jasper Sage, you hid it so well!

Two more days. Once those two days were over, we would never see each other again in this life.

That night, Jasper carried Yvonne back into the house. She had twisted her ankle and he suggested she recover in my room.

"Hazel, Yvonne is thin and weak and your room has better lighting. Let her stay there for a while."

I was silent for a few seconds. Yvonne's eyes were red and she shook her head somewhat sadly. "Never mind, Hazel certainly wouldn't want that. After all, this is your and her room."

She even looked genuinely wronged. Jasper immediately got upset, turning to glare at me.

"Hazel, you and Yvonne are like sisters. Can't you even give up a room?"

I stared at him steadily, my voice very soft. "Fine, she can move in." I'll be leaving soon anyway.

Both of them were stunned, seemingly not expecting me to agree. But I had already casually packed my things and moved them to the second bedroom.

Jasper helped Yvonne carry the things and he seemed to find something wrong when he saw the room. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly calmed down.

"Hazel, where are the things I gave you in your room? They're gone."

My voice was flat. "I packed them away."

Yvonne put her things down and looked at me with teary eyes. "Thank you, Hazel. You're so kind to me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have met such a wonderful person as Jasper."

Her face was pure, but her eyes flashed with smugness and provocation.

How could I have ever thought she was innocent?

Jasper's expression turned slightly awkward. He looked at me instinctively and said, "Hazel, let me handle dinner tonight! I promise you won't be disappointed."

He spent ages bustling around the kitchen, only to prepare a table full of spicy dishes. Yvonne gazed at Jasper with adoration in her eyes. "Jasper, how did you know I love spicy food?"

"Because Hazel likes it."

Hearing that, Yvonne's smile faded, replaced by a look of grievance.

Jasper glanced at me. Seeing no reaction from my end, he picked up a crayfish for me, then another for Yvonne.

"Hazel, you've always loved crayfish. I even learned to make it just for you."

My table was covered in bright red, explosively spicy dishes. Hearing his words, it felt incredibly laughable. It was Yvonne Lake who loved crayfish and it was she who loved spicy food.

Because of him, I suffered a stomach injury years ago, leaving it very sensitive. I've disliked spicy food and been unable to eat it ever since a fact he's completely forgotten.

Jasper put dish after dish onto my plate, urging, "Hazel, eat up! Don't you love spicy food the most?"

I was never the one who loved spicy food. I wanted to tell him, but in the end, I endured the discomfort in my stomach and ate all the dishes.

Soon after eating, I ran to the bathroom and threw up violently. Later that night, my stomach was cramping with sharp pains and I was covered in cold sweat.

Jasper wasn't in bed. I forced myself through the discomfort to the living room to look for medicine.

Before I even reached it, I saw the living room lights on and heard a man's gasps and a woman's seductive moans.

My body stiffened. I walked closer and saw Jasper holding Yvonne in his arms.

Yvonne was naked, not wearing a stitch, leaning intimately against Jasper.

Even though I already knew about their relationship, I never expected them to do such things at home. My vision blurred and I nearly collapsed.

I finally stood up. My stomach was aching and I could only lean against the wall to barely support my body.

Just as I started calming down and trying to leave, I heard Yvonne panting as she confronted Jasper.

"Jasper, who do you truly love in your heart? Hazel or me?"

I paused. Then came his answer without the slightest hesitation. "You, of course."

His words were firm and decisive, piercing my already numb heart.

My hand trembled as I clutched my chest, only to realize that even numbness could still feel pain.

"But everyone says Hazel is your capable assistant and that you owe your success to her. You've had decades of history together. I can't compare to Hazel."

Her voice held a hint of grievance. Jasper lowered his head and kissed her deeply, a shadow crossing his eyes when he heard the first few sentences.

He scoffed, "Sage Enterprise has been built entirely by my own hands these past years. Everyone knows she helped me, but without me, there would be no Sage Enterprise at all."

"Besides, as a man, why would I need her protection? She only did that to make outsiders humiliate me."

"Now her ambition is growing. She's not like you, obedient and sensible. Evie, you're so much better than Hazel, that tomboy."

"Evie, are you still questioning my love for you? If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have made it so Hazel can never get pregnant again."

The intimate sounds in the living room continued. I leaned against the wall, head tilted back, trying to keep the tears from falling, but I couldn't stop them.

I never imagined he thought of me this way. Decades of knowing each other, yet it couldn't stand up to human nature.