After our company's IPO approval is granted, my boyfriend, Derek Calloway, finally agrees to publicize our relationship at the celebratory banquet.

Derek and I have been in a relationship for seven years. For so long, he refuses to make our relationship official. He always cites the fact that office romance is forbidden in the company, and that he, as the CEO, should follow through as a prime example.

On the night of the banquet, I wait for the news to be broken with bated breath and unadulterated delight.

But when Derek stands on the stage, he chooses to utter the name of the new recruit who has just joined the company for two months—Jocelyn Grant.

"It's all thanks to Jocelyn's contributions to the project that our company gets to go public. She's the MVP of our company."

I just stand beneath the stage, completely stunned. For a moment, I don't know how to react.

I'm the main person in charge of that project, and I'm the one who's contributed the most to that project. Not only have I stayed up countless nights working hard on it, but I also got hospitalized a few times because of it.

Soon, I receive Derek's text message.

"Jocelyn has just joined this line of work. She needs a project to help spruce her resume up. Just let her receive the credits this once.

"We'll discuss more on publicizing our relationship in the future."

I can only grip my phone so tightly that my fingertips go white. Finally, I key in one word.

"Okay."

Jocelyn can have the project. She can also have my position as the director. Heck, she's free to have Derek, my now ex-boyfriend.

I'd like to see how these assholes can pass the subsequent trials without me.

Applause thundered through the room.

Onstage, Jocelyn Grant looped her arm through Derek Calloway's, smiling sweetly.

"Thank you, Mr. Calloway, and thank you, everyone, for your support. I wouldn't be where I am today, and neither would the company, without all of you."

Her words sounded modest, but the smug satisfaction in her eyes was impossible to hide. She repeatedly glanced at me on purpose. Her gaze was provocative.

One of my colleagues, who was standing beside me, nudged my arm and lowered her voice. "Kathy, weren't you the one in charge of this project? Why is Mr. Calloway giving her all the credit?"

I smiled a bitter smile as I shook my head. "If she wants it, she can have it."

My colleague looked stunned. "But you spent two whole years on this! I remember you nearly collapsing in the lab more than once. How can you just let it go like that?"

Indeed, it had been two years.

I hadn't slept properly in all that time. I practically lived in the lab, constantly worrying over formulas and experimental data.

I used to think I was doing all of this for a future Derek and I would share. No matter how hard it got, I never complained to him once. I just kept pushing through.

I never imagined that he would hand over everything I had worked for to a rookie who had barely been here, without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing the look on my face, Derek made his way through the crowd and stopped in front of me.

"Kathy, I know you contributed a lot, too. Don't worry. I'll still give you the promotion and raise I promised. Once the company goes public, you'll also get a share of the equity."

I looked at him in a daze. "Is that all you have to say?"

He paused for a moment.

I smiled, then unclipped my badge and handed it to Jocelyn. "You don't have to do all that. I'm giving her full credit for the project. She can have my position as the director too."

And she could have Derek.

The room fell silent, and whispers quickly spread.

Derek's expression darkened. "Don't say things you don't mean. I already told you, you'll get every bit of compensation and salary you deserve."

"I don't care about any of that anymore," I replied. "Whatever happens to the project or the company from here on out has nothing to do with me."

Ignoring the noise behind me, I turned and left.

Back in my office, I submitted my resignation to the HR department immediately.

I then went on my computer and started clearing out my files. Even though my thoughts were a mess, I still forced myself to stay professional. I organized the handover documents carefully before sending them to my team.

At the very end, only the incomplete drug development project remained on my screen.

Two years of work were all condensed into that one file.

For a biopharmaceutical company like ours, whether the IPO would pass review depended almost entirely on the progress of this drug.

It was also one of my dreams that I had yet to complete.

I consolidated the foundational materials and sent them over to my colleagues, but I kept the most critical parts.

As the inventor and patent holder of this drug, I had every right to take the core technical documents, clinical trial records, and data with me.

After shutting down my computer, I called our partner research team.

The moment they heard I was leaving, the other end of the line erupted in shock.

Our company had started from scratch, and most of the researchers had only agreed to collaborate because of me. After all, I was one of the top researchers in this field.

Someone asked anxiously, "Are we continuing the research?"

I went quiet for a moment before answering, "Let's pause for now, but I'm not giving up on this project. If an opportunity arises later, I'll work with you again."

After I hung up, the only thing left in my eyes was cold resolve. I wanted to see how they planned to pass the next stage of approval without me.

I hadn't even left the company for long when Derek called. "Where are you? The celebratory dinner isn't even over yet. Stop throwing a tantrum and come back."

My voice stayed even. "I told you, I quit. Let Jocelyn take over the project. And from now on, we're done. Don't bother me again."

His tone instantly turned impatient. "Can you stop causing a scene? She's just a rookie. There's no way she can handle R&D."

I let out a scoff. I was unable to hide the sarcasm in my tone as I said, "So, you're aware she can't handle it. Then, why did you have no qualms giving her all the credit for my work?"

"I already said I'd give you a promotion and a raise. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get every cent you deserve on your bonus."

Even now, Derek still thought all I cared about was money.

I didn't want to argue with someone like him. I simply hung up.

I drove back to the home Derek and I shared. I didn't want to stay there any longer than necessary, so I started packing that same night.

It wasn't until late that night that Derek came home, reeking of alcohol, with Jocelyn right behind him.

The moment he saw me packing, he lost his temper and snapped, "Kathy, are you done yet? It's just one project. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

Jocelyn hurried forward, pretending to stop him. "Derek, don't be mad. If Kathy's so bothered about it, I can give her the credit instead. Don't let this affect your relationship.

"After all, I'm not like her. I don't have her education or experience. Someone like me isn't qualified to take on this project."

The more she tried to sound modest, the more Derek turned his anger on me.

He strode over, snatched the suitcase from my hand, and slammed it onto the floor. Everything spilled out.

"I'm telling you right now. Without my permission, you're not going anywhere!"

As the suitcase was forced open, a round glass bottle rolled out and stopped at Jocelyn's feet. She picked it up, sniffed it, and immediately put on a disdainful expression.

"Kathy, why are you still using cheap perfume?"

My expression instantly shifted. That bottle of perfume was the last thing Mom had left me.

"Give it back!" I shouted and rushed forward.

Jocelyn flinched, but a flash of malice crossed her eyes. When I reached her, she suddenly threw herself backward.

The bottle hit the ground with a sharp crack. Glass shattered everywhere, and the perfume spread across the floor.

Jocelyn collapsed onto the ground, clutching her arm as she cried out, "Ouch! That hurts… Kathy, why did you push me?"

"Jocelyn!"

Derek shoved me aside and rushed over, pulling her into his arms as he anxiously checked her injuries.

I didn't even bother looking at them. I could only stare at the shattered glass and the perfume that was gradually evaporating.

This had been Mom's favorite perfume. After she passed, every time I smelled it, it felt like she was still with me.

All these years, I had protected it so carefully.

Now, it was gone. It was reduced to broken glass scattered across the floor.

Derek cast an icy glance at me. "It's just a bottle of perfume. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it? Good thing Jocelyn only got a scratch."

My lips parted as I tried to speak, but no sound came out. I could only look at him in disbelief.

He knew exactly what that bottle meant to me. I had told him more than once that it was Mom's keepsake.

He had once promised that it would stay with us forever, like she was still watching over us. Now, he was telling me it was just some cheap perfume.

He took Jocelyn's hand and carefully wiped the small scratch on it. "Let's get that treated. As for you, we both need to cool off tonight."

With that, he left with her. The door slammed shut behind them. I sank to the floor and slowly gathered the broken glass, placing the pieces into a bag.

I sat there beside the fading scent, waiting for it to disappear little by little.

It felt just like back then, when Mom's life was slipping away from me bit by bit, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

By the time morning came, the fragrance had completely disappeared.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was the professor from the partner research team.

"Kathy, your project has real potential. If it succeeds, it could save countless lives. Are you sure you don't want to keep going?"

I let out a sigh. "I've already left the company."

He chuckled. "That's not a problem. A pharmaceutical company has already reached out to me. They've been interested in you for a while and want to bring you over to their team."

When I heard the company's name, I paused.

It was one of the top biopharmaceutical companies in the country. It was already publicly listed and incredibly well-established.

Thus, I stopped hesitating and nodded in agreement.

"Okay."

I scheduled a meeting with the CEO of that company to go over the details.

I had assumed I'd be meeting someone middle-aged, but when I arrived, I realized he was about my age.

His name was Bryce Hoult. He was dressed in a crisp, dark suit, had deep-set features, and a composed, distant air.

As we talked, I learned that although he had inherited the family business, he wasn't the type to coast on it. He had a sharp mind for business and a clear understanding of what he was doing.

More importantly, he showed genuine respect for my project.

"If you're willing to join us, the project will be entirely under your control. Funding, equipment, facilities, and everything else will be provided with no strings attached. The patent and all research results will also belong to you."

Bryce's offer was straightforward and sincere.

I felt genuinely grateful, so I agreed.

The onboarding process went smoothly. I rented an apartment near the company, transferred over all my backed-up core data, and threw myself back into research.

My life returned to its old routine, moving between home, the lab, and the office. But this time, without financial pressure, I didn't have to rush progress just to meet IPO deadlines.

During that time, Derek sent me several messages.

He seemed to think my disappearance was just a temporary standoff, and he even sounded like he was trying to appease me.

"I'm still saving the project lead position for you. Don't worry."

"The IPO approval's gone through, so you can slow down your research. You don't have to push yourself so hard."

"I found the same perfume. I left it in your room."

"Once you've had enough rest, come back. We still need you for the post-IPO review process and the project."

I ignored every single message.

Maybe it was because I had been gone too long, or maybe the company had reached a critical stage in the IPO process, but Derek finally started to panic.

He called my former colleagues to ask where I was. Not knowing the situation, one of them casually replied, "Kathy's been working in the lab."

Derek rushed over. When he saw me, he visibly relaxed.

"So you've been working on research this whole time. I knew you wouldn't just walk away."

Jocelyn followed closely behind him as always. He nudged her forward.

"I brought her here to apologize to you," he said. "Calm down and come back already. There's still a lot to handle."

Jocelyn stepped forward, took my hand, and looked at me with sincerity written all over her face. "I'm sorry, Kathy. I didn't mean to break your perfume. Please don't be mad. Come back with us."

They had never been to the lab, so my colleagues looked confused when they saw them.

"Kathy, who are they?"

Before I could answer, Derek suddenly raised his voice and announced, "I'm Kathy's boyfriend of seven years, and the boss behind your collaboration project. There's no need to be nervous. We're all on the same side."

Everyone's expression shifted into something complicated at his words.

Everyone here knew that the current project sponsor was Bryce, who frequently came to the lab to check on our progress and understand what the team needed.

This man in front of them, however, was a stranger.

I paused for a moment, not expecting him to announce our relationship like this, especially here at this moment.

However, it was too late.

I shook my head and said evenly, "We broke up. We're not together anymore."

Derek panicked the moment he heard that. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. "Don't take this too far. What do you mean we broke up? We've been together for seven years. Do you really think you can just walk away from that?"

The commotion quickly drew a crowd.

Coincidentally, Bryce had come to the lab today, and he walked over. "What's going on here?"

Derek froze when he saw him, then quickly put on a flattering smile.

"Mr. Hoult, what a coincidence. Thanks to your support, our company is already moving through the IPO process.

"The review team has been pushing us pretty hard lately, and my girlfriend's throwing a tantrum and refusing to come back to work. I came to take her home."

Bryce frowned as he looked at me. "Is he your boyfriend?"

I shook my head. "We broke up a long time ago."

"Kathy, you—"

Bryce cut him off, and his expression turned serious. "Mr. Calloway, watch your words. Ms. Montgomery has already signed a formal contract with our company. She is now our employee.

"You have no authority to interfere with her decisions or dictate where she should go, and you certainly have no right to demand anything from her.

"As for the project we're currently working on, the core patent for this new drug is registered under Ms. Montgomery's personal name. I assume you're aware of that."

Derek froze where he stood. It took him a long moment before he managed to react.

"What did you just say?"