When I got out of the car, Grayson immediately came up and took my hand.

“Jade, I know I was wrong to leave you alone yesterday to comfort Sylvia, but it was all part of my plan for revenge.

“I initially wanted to register our marriage today as compensation. Look, I even prepared everything, but we still arrived too late. City Hall is already closed. Next time, I’ll definitely marry you.”

I had lost count of how many times he had said something like this.

Next time, there would be no next time.

If he truly wanted to marry me, he would not have deliberately chosen a time when it was closed.

“Grayson, honestly...”

I pulled my hand back, about to tell him it was not necessary anymore, when he cut me off.

“Even though we didn’t get the certificate, don’t worry. Our revenge plan will end tomorrow. I’ll make her lose everything and pay the price for her sins at her celebration banquet.

“I’ll treat you to a big meal tonight to make it up to you, all right?”

He smiled as he spoke, already reaching for the car door.

The next second, his face went pale, and he froze completely.

“Sylvia, what are you doing here?!”

…

Sylvia was already standing behind us. Her eyes were red, tears trembling at the corners.

“So you’ve been lying to me all along, Grayson. Everything you did for me was fake!

“Jade told me you were going to register your marriage with me, so I even dressed up for it. In the end, it was just another part of your plan for revenge.

“I trusted you so much. How could you do this to me?! Take back everything you’ve ever given me. I don’t want any of it. It’s all disgusting!”

In a fit of anger, she ripped off the bracelet Grayson had once spent millions on at an auction and hurled it in my direction. She also tore off the scarf he had given her and stomped on it hard.

I could not dodge in time. The diamonds on the bracelet scratched across my cheek, leaving a bright red line.

However, Grayson did not even look at me. He was wholly focused on comforting Sylvia.

“Sylvia, listen to me—”

“I don’t want to hear it! Stay away from me! I don’t want to see you! If you hate me that much, then I’ll just die to atone for Jade’s sister!”

She shoved him away and ran toward the traffic.

Panic finally broke through Grayson’s composure. He rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.

Even though he reacted quickly, she was still grazed by a passing car. Grayson held her tightly. His eyes were full of distress, but they turned cold as he looked at me.

“Why did you call her here? Were you trying to provoke her? You couldn’t even wait a few more days?”

“I didn’t—”

“If anything happens to Sylvia, I won’t let you get away with it!”

He cut me off sharply, then carried Sylvia straight to the hospital without looking back.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

Of course. Between Sylvia and me, Grayson would always choose her.

At that moment, I noticed Grayson had already approved my resignation. He really did hate me that much.

I took a taxi back to the office.

After finishing the handover, I packed up my desk and carried my box of things as I prepared to leave.

I heard mocking voices from my colleagues behind me.

“So what if she was the CEO’s fiancée? She still got kicked out.”

“She already tried to leech off Mr. Shaw’s money before getting married. What a parasite. She deserved it!”

Ever since Grayson started this so-called revenge plan, Sylvia had used his favoritism to make things difficult for me.

My coworkers followed suit, throwing obstacles in my way to please her. I had long grown numb to their cold words. They no longer hurt me.

Night had already fallen when I walked out of the office.

My phone buzzed. Sylvia had sent me a provocative message.

In the photo, Grayson had taken over the entire hospital and gathered all the top specialists for her treatment.

[Jade, the one who isn’t loved is the true third wheel. You two aren’t even married yet. I still have a chance!]

As I looked at Grayson’s anxious expression, something in my chest tightened. That expression was all too familiar to me.

Back then, when I accidentally cut my finger slicing fruit, he had looked at me exactly like that. He had also booked an entire hospital and summoned specialists just to treat my small wound.

That tenderness, which was once exclusive to me, was now entirely given to Sylvia.

This time, I did not spiral into jealousy like before. I simply ignored her message in silence.

I took a taxi home. As I was about to go rest, Grayson came back.

As soon as he entered, he instinctively ordered, “Jade, give me a massage. Also, run a bath for me.”

Previously, I would have obeyed without question.

Now, I could not be bothered to respond. I simply closed my eyes and rested.

Grayson frowned, feeling irritated.

“I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?”

“You’re not disabled. Can’t you do your own things?”

My words made his anger flare. He slammed the takeout he had brought home onto the table.

“What’s with your attitude?

“I even specially brought you your favorite dish because I was worried you hadn’t eaten. I shouldn’t have bothered!”

A flicker of expectation rose in me. I opened the box.

My face turned cold.

There was barely anything left inside besides a few lone strands of spaghetti.

I did not like spaghetti. Sylvia did.

He had brought me her leftovers.

I let out a cold laugh and threw the box straight into the trash.

“I’m not a garbage bin. I don’t eat trash.”

Grayson’s face darkened, and he yelled, “So what? I just comforted Sylvia a little, yet you’re still holding a grudge?

“If you don’t want it, fine. I wasted my good intentions on the wrong person!”

In a fit of anger, he kicked the cabinet beside him and knocked over the urn I had placed on top.

Crash!

It shattered on the floor, and the ashes scattered everywhere.

I shoved him away. My eyes were burning red.

“Grayson, are you insane?!”

Grayson looked unconcerned.

“It’s just a case. I’ll get you another one! Was that really worth yelling about?”

My nails dug deep into my palms. Each breath I took felt painful.

“This is Dolly’s ashes!”

He froze for a moment, then frowned.

“Jade, enough already! You’re so jealous that you’re even cursing your own sister. Have you lost your mind?!”

I felt exhausted, so I did not bother explaining. It would not matter anyway. He would not believe me. I had already cried all my tears dry when Dolly died.

I no longer had tears left to cry since then.

I found another container and carefully gathered her ashes bit by bit.

Grayson noticed that my grief did not look fake. His furrowed brow eased, and his tone softened.

“Jade, the revenge plan is almost complete. Wouldn’t it be a pity to ruin everything now? Why can’t you understand my efforts?

“Stop using Dolly as an excuse. It’s not funny anymore.”

I remained silent. Left with no choice, Grayson pulled out his last resort—a doll—and pressed it into my hands.

“Look, I bought this specially for Dolly.

“Stop being upset. After tomorrow’s celebration banquet, we’ll take Dolly for surgery, then we’ll get married. Everything will go back to how it used to be. All right?”

I slapped Grayson’s hand away and said coldly, “It’s over. Grayson, let’s break up.”

Grayson’s patience finally snapped.

“Break up? Just because I comforted Sylvia?

“Or is it because she didn’t approve your salary withdrawal, so you’re using this as an excuse?”

I nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly why.”

His expression darkened completely.

“Your sister is still alive. Is this grudge really worth holding onto?”

To him, that money meant nothing. To me, it was Dolly’s life-saving money.

I let out a cold laugh and held out my hand.

“Exactly. I’m that petty. So, give me back the salary you’ve been holding for me all these years.”

Ever since his bankruptcy, Grayson had become extremely sensitive about money.

The moment I mentioned it, he went into a full rage, pointing at me and shouting, “Money, money, money! Are you obsessed with money?!

“I was helping you keep it safe, yet you’re blaming me for it? Fine! Take it all back. I won’t manage anything for you ever again!”

He threw a supplementary card at me and stormed off, slamming the door so hard that the whole room shook.

This time, I did not apologize like before or chase after him. I simply picked up the card, went into the study, and slept there with a pillow.

Just as I was about to turn off the light, Sylvia sent me a provocative video.

In the video, the scarf that she had once thrown away was now back around her neck.

Grayson, the man who was always so proud and untouchable, was kneeling in front of her.

“Sylvia, I really did start it to get revenge on you, but I ended up falling for you. Please forgive me. I can’t live without you. I’ll go crazy!”

I did not react at all. I turned off my phone and slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, I woke up early, dragged my suitcase out while Grayson was still asleep, and went straight to the airport without looking back.

…

When Grayson woke up and did not see me, he assumed I had gone to work.

He drove to the office and only then learned I had not shown up.

He immediately called me.

“Jade, why aren’t you at work? You don’t have any leave!”

I laughed.

“I already resigned. Didn’t you know?”

He thought I was just being dramatic.

“The celebration banquet is about to start. This isn’t the time for tantrums. I may not have brought Sylvia down yet, but I’ve already convinced her to give back your managerial position. Just wait a little longer. I’ll get justice for you and Dolly sooner or later.

“I’ve already sent a driver to the hospital to pick Dolly up. You should come back too—”

Before he could finish, I cut him off coldly, “I’m not going back, and you won’t be picking up Dolly either.”

He asked, confused, “What do you mean?”

The next second, the driver who had gone to the hospital rushed back in a panic.

“Bad news, Mr. Shaw. The hospital said Miss Dolly passed away the day before yesterday. Miss Jade has already bought a plane ticket and left the country!”