Even though the situation was almost laughable, if Calvin was determined to throw away this opportunity to avoid ten years of struggle, then I'd let him.

I sighed and pretended to be resigned.

"Everyone has their own path, Calvin. This is your choice, and I respect it."

"I just hope you won't regret it."

Hearing my words, Calvin smiled.

"Cindy, why would I regret it? I've always known exactly what I want."

"I know you're sad, but people need to aim high. I can't just give up everything for so-called love, can I?"

Even now, Calvin was still trying to justify his behavior.

I nodded indifferently,

"You're right. People should aim high. This society is just that realistic."

"Thank you for teaching me this lesson."

And so, Calvin and I broke up, in the most melodramatic way possible.

My mother comforted me, saying men aren't essential in life, and that I should focus on my career. There would be plenty of men in the future.

After all, she had laid the groundwork for me, waiting for me to return and take over.

I thought about it and agreed, so I poured all my energy into the company's new project.

To prepare the bidding proposal, I worked overtime for two consecutive weeks, revising it over and over until it was finally done.

My team leader said that the general manager was very focused on this collaboration, so there was fierce competition among the design departments.

If my proposal was accepted, I might get promoted, and there might even be a chance to transfer to the headquarters.

I had been following this project since I was still living with Calvin.

To write a good proposal, I had researched extensively and even conducted surveys during my breaks.

Even after Calvin went to bed, I stayed up late revising the proposal.

Now that it was finally completed, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

My mother had put me in the branch office to toughen me up, after all.

So a bit of hardship was nothing. I wanted to prove myself.

But the next day at the bidding meeting, when I was about to present my proposal with confidence, I saw that the proposal Divina presented before me was exactly the same as mine.

My mind went completely blank.

This plan is my brainchild. There are some areas in it that, as a newcomer to the workplace, I didn't quite understand, and I even dragged my mom to visit several business tycoons to finally complete it.

No matter how coincidental it may be, there's no way it could be exactly the same as my ideas and details, right?

It must be Divina who plagiarized my design plan.

But Divina and I are not in the same office, so she wouldn't have had the chance to get my design plan.

Moreover, both my computer and notebook are password-protected.

Wait, passwords?

At this thought, I glanced at Calvin, who was sitting beside me.

But Calvin, knowing full well that I was looking at him, deliberately avoided my gaze.

At that moment, I suddenly understood everything.

Apart from myself, only Calvin knows the password to my computer.

He must have stolen my design plan and given it to Divina, which is why he can't look me in the eye now.

Realizing this, I was so angry that I began to tremble all over.

After being together for so many years, I don't think I've ever wronged Calvin.

Later, when he cheated on me to climb up the corporate ladder, I still gave him the last shred of dignity by ending things peacefully.

Even after the breakup, I never harassed him like a vengeful woman.

But why did he have to treat me like this?

The fatigue from many sleepless nights and my fury made my vision go black, and I nearly fainted on the spot.

Just then, Divina finished her presentation.

I had shown this design plan to my mom before, and even she praised it highly, not to mention the branch manager.

As expected, as soon as Divina finished speaking, the manager applauded and said.

"Divina, this is a good plan. It's clear you've put a lot of effort into it."

Upon hearing this, Divina became even more smug, putting on a show of modesty.

"It's all thanks to the leadership's guidance."

Then Divina looked at me with a slight smile and said.

"Cindy, didn't you also participate in the bidding for the project design? Why don't you come up and explain your design plan?"

I coldly watched Divina's provocative expression and closed the plan I had prepared for the presentation.

I stood up, expressionless, and said loudly.

"The design plan Divina just presented is mine. She stole my design plan."

The moment I said this, the entire conference room exploded.

Divina's eyes immediately reddened,

"Cindy, I know you've always disliked me, but you shouldn't bring personal grudges into work. If you have an issue with me, we can resolve it privately. Don't throw a childish tantrum, okay?"

Suppressing my anger, I pointed to Calvin.

"Calvin, you were the one who secretly took my design plan and gave it to Divina, weren't you? You really would do anything to climb the corporate ladder."

The manager frowned.

"What is going on here?"

Calvin stood up and quickly explained.

"I don't know what Cindy Jones is talking about. This plan is something Divina stayed up for several nights to complete. I have no idea why Cindy would say such things."

As he said this, Calvin lowered his head, guilt-ridden.

At that moment, my blood boiled, and I slapped Calvin across the face.

"Calvin, you were right beside me when I was perfecting the design plan. Now, you twist the truth to climb up the ladder. How can you be so shameless and selfish?"

Seeing me take action, Divina immediately rushed over and stood in front of Calvin.

"Cindy, this is the company, not your home. If you want to act out, go home. Don't embarrass yourself here."

"Moreover, this plan clearly looks like it was written by a seasoned professional in the workplace. You're just a new employee. There's no way you could have written it. Even if you want to slander me, at least have some common sense, okay?"

Divina was right; this design plan indeed didn't seem like it was written by a newcomer.

After all, to write this plan well, I had pestered my mom to visit several of her influential friends in the business world.

I wanted to create a perfect design plan.

But I never thought this would become a weapon for Divina to attack me.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the conference room turned their gaze toward me.

The company manager looked at the HR manager with displeasure.

"What is your HR department doing? How could you hire someone with such a lack of professional ethics?"

The HR manager wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"This was my oversight."

After saying this, he glared at me and said.

"Cindy, stop causing trouble. If you keep it up, you'll pack your things and leave!"

Divina stood next to the HR manager, looking at me smugly.

I had to admit, her plan was brilliant. She incited Calvin to steal my design plan, allowing her to shine in front of the higher-ups, and at the same time, used this incident to force me, Calvin's ex-girlfriend, to leave the company. She is truly wicked.

I am wishing these two scumbags would be locked together forever and never harm anyone again.

Seeing that I didn't react, the HR manager lost face and started pushing me.

"Cindy, stop making a scene. Get out, and don't bother coming in tomorrow."

I reached out to brush off the spot the HR manager had pushed, sneering.

"Some people, even when they copy, can't do it right."

"Divina, the design plan Calvin gave you wasn't the final version. There are a few issues in the plan. Didn't you notice?"