I could put up with everything else, but that watch was different.

It was a birthday gift from my late older brother, Norman, who had spent almost six months saving up for it.

Two years ago, he was killed during an undercover mission. They never even found his remains.

That watch was all I had left to remember him by.

Samson was already so unfair. Meanwhile, I was exhausted, and I didn't even want to fight about this anymore. When I thought about my decision to leave soon, I felt strangely at peace.

I looked down at the application in my hands. "Let her have it."

Samson paused. "You're not just saying that because you're upset?"

I didn't even look up. "Yeah."

There was no point in arguing anymore. What really mattered now was the marriage application in my hands.

To avoid complications, I couldn't tell him yet that I was leaving.

Samson seemed satisfied, even letting his voice soften a little. "I'm off tomorrow. I'll go with you to buy a new watch."

Before I could refuse, I heard crying at the door.

Two female operators were helping Celia inside. Celia was limping, her face streaked with tears. When she got to me, she started crying even harder.

"Jess, it's all my fault! Please don't be mad at Sam anymore. I'll give the watch back right now."

Her hands shook as she pulled out the watch. But before I could react, it slipped from her grasp and hit the floor.

There was a sharp crack, and the face of the watch was shattered.

Before I could say a word, Celia started bawling. "I'm sorry, Jess, I didn't mean to, I…"

I picked up the watch, running my fingers over the broken face. My chest hurt so much it was hard to breathe, and my eyes stung. I just couldn't hold it in anymore and asked quietly, "What's the point of being sorry now?"

Celia immediately looked even more pitiful and threw herself into Samson's arms.

"Sam, I really didn't mean for this to happen! I just didn't want Jess to blame you, so I hurried to bring it back. I…"

She seemed too flustered to go on, so the other operators jumped in to help her.

"It's just a watch. Celia just borrowed it, and it's not like she was keeping it. Why are you making such a big deal?"

"She even hurt her knee and elbow rushing to return it!"

"We're all on the same team. Isn't helping each other what we're supposed to do? Jessica, you are one of our best broadcasters! No need to be so petty!"

With everyone taking her side, Celia started sobbing even harder. Her whole body was shaking like she was completely devastated.

Samson gently patted her back, then shot me a hard look. "Are you happy now?"

Then he picked her up like a princess and murmured, "Don't cry, I'll take you to the hospital."

Celia buried her face in his shoulder, and from an angle that no one else could see, she shot me a smug little smile.

I held onto the watch, ignoring her.

At the door, Samson suddenly stopped and looked back at me. "You. Don't you have anything to say?"

I shot back, "Say what?"

Should I start crying and admit I was wrong? Or beg to tag along to the hospital? I wasn't about to stoop that low.

Samson stared at me for a moment, then snapped, "Turn in the application yourself."

I watched him hurry out with her in his arms, practically stumbling as he rushed.

I let out a bitter laugh. It was all so familiar. Back when I twisted my ankle, he would carry me to the clinic just like that. The only difference was, now he had someone else in his arms.

Of course, I was just a shadow in his life, someone to keep him company when he was lonely. Celia was the one he truly cared about.

One always had to return the life that one stole. How foolish of me to ever think I was the right person for him.

But none of it mattered now. I had already solved my first problem.

Samson was so focused on Celia, he would never suspect I would hide the marriage application.

And even if I turned it in normally, it would take at least ten days to get approved.

I would be gone long before the marriage application would be approved.

After work, I went around to a few watch shops, but everywhere I went, I got the same answer.

"It can't be fixed."

When I got back to the house where I was staying temporarily, I drew a little sunflower on the back of the marriage application.

Samson taught me how to draw it when I was a kid.

But now, once I had drawn ten of these, he would have nothing to do with me anymore.

The next day, I still made a point to stop by Mr. Hall's office.

Mr. Hall had been my father's comrade and close friend. After my father was killed in action, Mr. Hall always looked out for me. He was almost like family.

He was also one of my superiors. Since I was leaving, I had to let him know, both officially and out of respect.

Mr. Hall frowned deeply after hearing my decision. "Are you sure about this? After so many years with Sam, are you just ending things like this?"

I nodded. "I'm not right for him."

"Not right? Who can be a better match than you two around here?" Another one of my superiors, Mr. Jameson, came in with his mug and jumped in, teasing me.

I managed a bitter smile. Samson and I had grown up together. Because of my brother, he started giving me rides to and from school early on. After my brother died, Sam stepped up to look after me, no questions asked.

He came from a good family and was talented, and everyone expected he would move up fast. I wasn't as exceptional, but I had earned a decent reputation at the broadcasting station.

Pretty much everyone assumed we were meant to be. No one realized the one he really cared about was the girl who had gone back to her hometown—his childhood sweetheart and the housekeeper's daughter, Celia Smith.

"Don't go quiet on us. Is there some kind of misunderstanding? Don't do anything rash. I really think Sam cares about you…" Mr. Jameson babbled.

"Alright, that's enough. Go somewhere else, would you?" Mr. Hall cut Mr. Jameson off before he could finish.

Mr. Hall was quiet for a long time, then finally sighed and patted my shoulder. "You're grown now. It's good for you to see more of the world."

As I left the office and walked away, I could still hear Mr. Jameson muttering, "It's over just like that?"

Mr. Hall sounded annoyed. "Keep your voice down! Do you want to announce it to the whole world?"

Samson didn't come looking for me for the rest of the day. But honestly, I didn't care about the watch he promised me anymore.

That night, I drew another sunflower on the back of the application.

Eight days left.

-

On the third morning, the liaison from the home office delivered my ticket. My departure was right on schedule.

I had officially resigned. Mr. Hall must've already spoken to the supervisor, so everything went smoothly.

As I was packing up and carrying my box out, I overheard two operators gossiping in the hallway.

"Did you hear? Commander Samson wants his childhood sweetheart to work at the station."

"I didn't know we were hiring! Is it just temporary work?"

"No way. She's his favorite. She'll never settle for that."

"That's true. Worst case, Jessica can just give up her spot for her."

"Stop." One of them spotted me and quickly greeted me, flustered. "Hey, Jessica! What a coincidence!"

Both of them looked embarrassed to be caught gossiping about me.

I just nodded like nothing happened and kept walking.

I couldn't blame them for thinking that way. When Celia first came back, Samson had already suggested I give up my job for her.

I had flatly refused, and that was actually how we had our first real argument.

But Samson's favoritism had gotten so obvious that people didn't even bother hiding their opinions anymore.

At this point, it didn't bother me at all. If anything, I just wanted the next few days to pass faster.

Everything was in order. I just needed to finish packing.

When I got back home, I happened to overhear Celia talking about this.

"If I start working at the station, do you think Jess will be upset?"

"The radio station isn't Jessica's personal territory and is owned by the military. If she can't understand that, she doesn't deserve to wear the uniform," Samson said to Celia, firmly and confidently.

"But Jess hasn't been home in days. I don't want you two fighting because of me," Celia said.

"She's just being stubborn. This isn't about you," Samson replied.

Then, the whole mood changed as I heard Celia laughing. "Sam, don't let go! Hold on, I'm going to fall! Ah…! I'm falling! Sam! Catch me!"

When I walked in, I finally saw what was happening. Samson was helping Celia learn to ride a bike out in the yard, holding her steady as she wobbled along. In the end, Celia shrieked, fell off the bike, and tumbled right into his arms.

"Sam, am I really that stupid? Why can't I get the hang of this after so long?"

Samson's voice was gentle. "You'll get it. Just keep practicing."

Celia's smile was radiant. "Sam, you're the best!"

I couldn't help remembering when I was learning to ride a bike as I watched the moment. I kept falling, no matter how hard I tried.

Samson eventually lost patience and took me to a hill, saying, "Just fall a couple of times, and you'll figure it out."

So, it turned out he did have patience. Just not for me.

"Jess, you're back!" Celia spotted me first, waving with a big smile.

I nodded. Samson walked right over, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "So, you finally remembered you still have a home?"

He reached for the box I was carrying, but I stepped aside. "It's fine. You're busy yourself."

Samson frowned. "You're really so…"

Just then, Celia called out to him, "Sam, the sun's getting so hot. I'm going to get burned out here! Can you grab me a sun hat?"

"Sure." He turned and headed inside. I was going to follow him.

"Jess." Celia blocked my way with the bike.

"What is it?" I asked.

She glanced toward the door to make sure Samson was gone, then turned back to me. The sweetness in her expression vanished, replaced by a cold sneer.

"Jessica, you get it now, don't you? I'm the one Sam really likes. If your brother hadn't stuck you with him before he died, Sam never would have given you a second look. If you have any self-respect at all, you'll back off and leave before you get kicked out and embarrass your family."

She paused, eyeing me up and down, then made a show of covering her mouth, like she'd just remembered something.

"Oh, right. I forgot! Your whole family is dead! No one survived! No wonder you're so desperate to hang onto Sam!"

She snickered behind her hand, her face full of smug disdain.

I felt my whole body go cold. My parents and brother had devoted everything to serving others, right to the very end. They had never let anyone down. Why should they have to endure this kind of humiliation?

I glared at her with my blood boiling. "Celia Smith… Apologize. Apologize to my family!"

"Jessica!"

Before I could say another word, Samson came out of the house. He probably thought I was about to hurt Celia and immediately cut me off.

I froze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Celia raise her eyebrows at me, then suddenly let go of the bike. The next second, pain shot through my side as something heavy crashed down on me. By the time I realized what had happened, I was on the ground, with the bike Celia was riding on top of me.

"Jessica!" Samson rushed over and tried to help me up.

But Celia grabbed his arm, her panic perfectly planned. "Sam, you scared me when you yelled! Oh no, I messed up again! Jess, are you hurt? I'm sorry! It's my fault, I'm so easily scared that I can't even hold onto the bike…"

Samson moved her aside, picked up the bike, and bent down to check on me.

"Are you okay? Celia didn't mean it, don't pin the blame on her."

I shook my head and turned away, my expression full of bitterness. That was when I noticed all my things scattered on the ground, my resignation letter backup and plane ticket lying right on top.