“It’s nothing.”

I turned and walked into the company, the resignation letter already tucked into my pocket.

The resignation process went smoothly. As a vice president, I submitted and signed it myself without needing anyone else.

That night, I didn’t return home; I checked into a hotel. Ellie sent message after message.

[Where did you go? Why aren’t you home?]

[Are you still mad? I only said those things because I was upset. Come back, I brought you a gift from abroad.]

[Honey, I was wrong. Please come home. It’s so empty here. I’m scared of being alone.]

I grew irritated and shut off my phone.

The next morning, I figured Ellie should already be on her way to the company. So I checked out of the hotel and returned home to pack.

But just as I opened the door, I froze. Ellie sat coldly on the sofa, and beside her was Brandon, sobbing, struggling to catch his breath.

“Why did you kill Ali?” Ellie opened with an accusation.

I didn’t react at first, then quickly remembered that Ali was Brandon’s vicious dog. I let out a short laugh. “That beast’s dead? Whoever did it did a great deed, finally rid the world of a menace.”

“Kairi!”

Ellie shouted, her voice rising with fury.

“You did it, and you don’t even have the guts to admit it? And with that kind of attitude, you—”

“Hold on.” I cut her off. “You’re saying I killed that dog?”

“Who else could it be?” Brandon’s eyes were red with anger. “Ali was always gentle. Other than your mom getting bitten because she provoked him, he never hurt anyone.”

“It had to be you!” Brandon pointed straight at me. “Ali hurt your mom, so you killed him!”

I turned to Ellie. “Is that what you think, too?”

Ellie’s face turned cold. Her eyes, once filled with affection, now held nothing but judgment.

“Kairi, I never thought you’d be so cruel. Just because your mom was hospitalized over a minor injury, you went and killed Ali.”

I stared at her, stunned. So this was what she believed.

My mom being bitten and hospitalized was just a “minor issue,” but the death of that vicious dog was a huge deal.

A human life meant less than a dog’s.

What a joke.

Ellie’s attitude completely chilled me. I didn’t even bother to explain.

“So what if I did kill it?”

“You killed my Ali! I’ll fight you to the death!”

Brandon leapt from the sofa and charged at me.

“Get lost.” I kicked him straight to the floor.

The next second, a heavy slap cracked across my face. Ellie pointed at the door, screaming, “Get out! Get out right now!”

I stood there, stunned.

Ellie had actually hit me.

For Brandon. For a dog.

She rushed to Brandon’s side and helped him up. “Are you alright? Let’s go to the hospital.”

Watching her support him out the door, I said calmly, “You’re the one who told me to leave today. I hope you won’t regret it.”

Ellie turned, her gaze cold and sharp. “You have one day. Apologize to Brandon and attend Ali’s funeral. Repent sincerely. Or the wedding is off. You’ll never marry me.”

I smiled and nodded. “Alright then.”

Without hesitation, I packed my bags, hailed a taxi to the airport, and boarded the flight I had already booked.

As the plane soared into the sky, miles away in the hospital, Ellie suddenly felt a wave of unease swell in her chest. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone and typed in a hurry.

[I didn’t mean it. You don’t need to repent, just apologize to Brandon, that’s enough.]

She tapped send, but a glaring red exclamation mark popped up on the screen.