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!”