I shook my head and continued nudging it toward Irene. I stated, "Just sign the divorce papers. You'd be able to make it official with Cody once I'm gone anyway. Isn't that so?"

"Sebastian!"

Irene was really enraged this time. She snatched the papers from me and tore them into pieces.

"I already told you that there is nothing going on between Cody and me! Do you not understand a single word I said?

"I'm telling you, if you dare to make another huge fuss about this again, the celebration party will be called off, and you can firmly say goodbye to all your promotions and raises next time!"

Then, she turned on her heels and left without another word, without giving me a chance to speak.

I clicked my tongue impatiently.

Since things had turned out like this, I decided that perhaps I should just hand in my resignation first.

I turned on my phone, and countless text messages immediately popped up on Slack.

"Mr. Hart! Why aren't you putting in any overtime for Christmas? Do you know what time it is? Why aren't you at the office yet?"

"Wow, Seb, has the sun risen in the west today? This is the first time I'm seeing you not at your desk early in the morning. Have you already stopped being a workaholic?"

I didn't reply to a single text message.

I first handed in my resignation to the HR department before contacting a lawyer to have the share transfer agreement notarized.

I kept my word and gave the shares to Cody as their wedding gift. I wasn't going to go back on my word.

However, just a short while later, I received a notice that my resignation had been rejected.

I called up the HR representative, and they simply said helplessly, "We're sorry, Mr. Hart, but it was Ms. Owens herself who rejected your resignation. There's nothing else we can do about it.

"Also, this is Ms. Owen's location. She wants you to see her there if you have any questions."

As expected, it was the private restaurant that she and Cody often went to.

By the time I arrived, the atmosphere was cheery and lively, bustling with activity.

"Mr. Harrington! You're such a young and promising lad, and the company's future is going to depend on your leadership!"

"Mr. Harrington, please accept my best wishes for you and Ms. Owens. I hope you'll both be taking your relationship to the next level real soon!"

I frowned hard and pushed open the door to the private dining room.

Everyone in the room was leaning toward and crowding around Cody, who was sitting at the head of the table.

He was wearing the white shirt Irene brought him this morning, and he looked every bit the professional. The work tag bearing the title of "Department Manager" was also already pinned to his chest, where it was prominently on display.

As soon as the people caught sight of me at the door, the clinking of glasses in the room ceased, as if time had suddenly stood still.

Cody stood up first, breaking the tension.

He went up to me and tugged me into the room by my arms like we were best buddies, smiling as he said, "Sebastian! Why are you only here now? I've been waiting for you. Hurry up and take a seat!"

I chuckled mockingly and flung his hands off.

What was the point of taking a seat? They were already done eating, with only bones and leftovers left. Did he think I was a beggar or something?

Meanwhile, Irene, who had been sitting straight in the corner ever since I appeared, finally moved. She shielded Cody behind her and crossed her arms over her chest, scoffing coldly in my face.

"Didn't somebody threaten to resign just a while ago? Why did you come all the way here now to join in the company's team-building activity instead?"

I took a look around the room.

Almost everyone notable was there. They were all people whom I knew well, and yet, not a single one of them had informed me about this "team-building" activity.

They all looked awkward and embarrassed, and none of them dared to look me in the eye.

I didn't even have to use my brain to know that this had to be all Irene's doing. She had to have told them not to inform me of this, afraid that I'd throw a tantrum and make a huge fuss about it.

Also, what kind of team-building was this anyway? It was obviously a celebration for Cody's promotion instead.

Irene kept her chin high as she snorted and said haughtily, "I don't think you're suited to be a department manager at all, Sebastian Hart. You're way above your league.

"You're too impetuous. You should start all over again as an intern from now on."

With the CEO of the company speaking to me that way, the other colleagues immediately and naturally understood the implication and quickly chimed in with their support.

"That's right, Sebastian! I also think that you've gotten a lot cockier lately. Listen to the boss and do as you're told."

"You used to work all year-round without ever taking a break, but you actually dared not to come in for overtime today. I really think you need to work on your work ethic more."

Cody then cocked an eyebrow at me while standing behind Irene, his lips curving upward in a smug grin.

He knew that he'd gotten the better of me. He feigned innocence as he gently tugged at Irene's sleeve, saying, "Don't do this, Rene. I only just joined the company half a year ago. It's obvious that I'm the one out of my league because Sebastian has been working here many more years than I have!

"He's been here so long that you should still reward him for his loyalty even if he never made any contributions after all."

Irene's eyes flickered as she said disdainfully, "Cody, you earned this promotion yourself because of your skills and abilities. As for someone else, he only got his promotion because of his seniority. If seniority alone could get someone promoted, then maybe he should be the CEO instead."

I chuckled sarcastically at that.

Back then, when we first started the business, I had felt sorry for her and thus took on the most responsibilities myself, moving around the executive departments while letting her be the high-ranking decision maker of the company.

I had diligently created a lot of value for the company over so many years, and yet, she ignored all of that and made me out to be completely worthless instead.

I cocked my eyebrow and said coldly, "Kindly approve of my resignation as soon as possible, Ms. Owens. Otherwise, I'm going to get the Labor Department involved."

She still didn't think much about it and cackled.

"That's enough, Sebastian. Stop pretending like you're actually going to resign for real. Where else can you go anyway? Don't you dare forget that you also have shares in this company too."

She looked like she had everything under control, as if she'd already seen right through me and that I was simply throwing a huge hissy fit.

Unfortunately for her, she couldn't have been more wrong about everything.

I replied coldly, "Ms. Owens, I have already transferred all of my shares under Cody's name. I don't want anything else. I just want to resign."

Irene's expression froze on her face. She stared at me incredulously.

The people from the legal department then whispered in her ear.

"Ms. Owens, it's true that we've already received the share transfer notice from Mr. Hart's lawyer."

Cody, who had been watching the drama unfold by the side, suddenly realized that he'd just been struck by a windfall. His eyes lit up at once, and his face turned bright pink with excitement.

"Sebastion! You shouldn't have transferred the shares to me out of spite! Quick, tell me, how can I return them to you?"

I nearly laughed out loud at his horrible acting.

Irene's eyes widened into saucers. She then frowned hard with a bewildered expression on her face as if she'd just encountered the most difficult problem in her life.

She seemed to only realize now that I was set on leaving. And that thought sent her into a panic.

She fought to keep her composure and tried to coax me to stay by painting a rosy picture for me.

"Sebastian, our company is about to go public. If you're sensible and obedient, then I will also be promoting you soon. I'll also agree to your request in the past."

I found it severely laughable.

Even now, she still didn't have the courage to openly and honestly disclose her marital status to the rest of the company. She still remained vague and elusive about it the whole time.

And yet, I kept letting myself be gaslit by her time and time again for years.

But now, I wasn't going to play her games anymore.

I coldly showed her the digital plane ticket on my phone and sighed, saying, "Time waits for no one, Ms. Owens. My plane is leaving soon. You can talk to my lawyer after this."