Chapter 3 Moving Back

Caleb, one of Declan's most trusted associates, was stunned when he saw Samira's resignation letter.

As one of the few employees who knew about the marriage between Samira and his boss, Caleb also understood an uncomfortable truth. Declan had never truly given his heart to her.

After their marriage, Declan remained distant, almost like a stranger. He rarely came back to the house they were supposed to share. Hoping to close that emotional gap and catch her husband's attention, Samira chose to work at the Whitmore Group. At first, she planned to become Declan's personal assistant so she could stay near him every day. Declan rejected the idea without hesitation.

Even Ronan Whitmore stepped in to help, but his influence changed nothing. In the end, Samira accepted an ordinary role in the secretariat, blending in with the other employees.

Caleb had once worried that keeping Samira in the company might create awkward tension and disturb the office balance. None of that happened.

Samira handled the situation with patience and quiet determination. She stayed close to Declan through her work but never crossed the boundary between personal feelings and professionalism. Her conduct remained respectful, and she always knew where the line stood.

Maybe it was her wish to earn Declan's approval that pushed her forward. Over time, she built a solid reputation in the company. People saw her as hardworking, careful, and reliable. Even when she was pregnant and after she gave birth, she continued working under the same rules as everyone else. She never asked for special treatment. Years passed, and her ability eventually earned her the position of head of the secretariat.

Caleb had always noticed how deeply Samira cared about Declan.

That was why her sudden resignation shocked him. It felt impossible that she would leave on her own. If she had decided to quit, something serious must have happened between her and Declan. In Caleb's mind, it meant Declan had finally pushed her away.

Despite his regret over losing such a capable colleague, Caleb didn't let it affect his professional judgment.

"I've approved your resignation," Caleb said calmly. "I'll arrange for someone to take over your files as soon as possible."

"Very well. Thank you," Samira replied. She lowered her head slightly before returning to her office.

After finishing his remaining tasks, Caleb prepared his daily report and connected with Declan through a video conference. As the meeting drew to an end, he briefly considered mentioning Samira.

"Mr. Whitmore, regarding..."

He wanted to confirm the exact date of her departure. If Declan wished for her to leave the company the next day, Caleb was ready to arrange everything immediately.

But an earlier instruction suddenly came back to him. When Samira first joined the company, Declan had made it clear that anything related to her should be handled strictly according to company policy, without involving him personally. Over the years, Declan had remained firm about that rule. He never interfered with her work matters, as if Samira were simply another employee. Even when management once asked about promoting her, Declan had responded coldly and reminded them that he wouldn't get involved.

Declan noticed Caleb's hesitation and frowned.

"What's the problem?"

Caleb quickly shook his head.

"Nothing, sir."

Since Declan said nothing about Samira's resignation, Caleb understood that the matter held no importance for him. In the end, Caleb chose to follow the standing rule. Samira would be treated like any other employee.

The call ended with the same silent indifference.

Noon arrived. Samira had been lost in thought when a colleague suddenly tapped her shoulder, making her jump.

"What were you thinking about?"

Samira offered a faint smile.

"Nothing in particular."

"Aren't you calling your daughter today?"

"Not today."

She usually called Kylie twice every day, once at dawn and again around noon. Everyone at the office had grown familiar with this routine. None of them knew that the child's father was actually their powerful boss.

When work ended, Samira stopped by the market. She bought groceries and picked out a few potted plants to bring some life into her home. After dinner, she spent a long while reading updates about the Future Tech Expo, one of the biggest events in the tech industry. Eventually, she picked up her phone.

"Book me a ticket for next month's event."

A cold voice answered on the other end of the line, "You said the same thing the past two years, and you never showed up. Those seats are valuable, and you've already wasted two."

"This time I'll go," Samira replied firmly. "If I can't make it, I won't ask again."

A heavy silence followed before the call ended. Neither of them said anything more, yet the understanding between them was clear.

A faint smile brushed Samira's lips. Even so, she had kept her true thoughts hidden. Deep down, she longed to return to the world she had once left behind.

As one of the founding partners of a company, Samira had stepped away right after its launch so she could focus on her family. That decision slowed the company's growth and left her former partners frustrated. Over time, distance grew between them. Even so, she still wanted to rejoin them. At the same time, she doubted she could keep up with their current pace. Before she even considered returning, she needed to study the field again and catch up on the latest developments.

Her life soon settled into a steady rhythm. The daytime belonged to her job, while her nights were spent working on personal projects. She didn't contact Kylie or Declan. Neither of them reached out to her either. After more than six months, the distance between them no longer surprised her.

Meanwhile in Goldland, Kylie relied on a comforting routine. Every morning, the moment she woke up, she called Merrick. That day, however, her voice trembled as tears filled it.

"Mrs. Sloane is moving back!"

The moment she heard the news from Merrick, the little girl quickly called her father.

"Dad, did you know?"

Declan was buried in paperwork. Without even lifting his head, he answered, "Yes."

"When did you find out?"

"I've known for a while."

"You're terrible!" Kylie cried, hugging her stuffed pig tightly against her chest. "Why didn't you tell me? I don't want her to leave. I can't stay here without her! I want to go back too!"

Declan's tone didn't change. "It's already been decided."

"What do you mean?" Kylie asked in confusion.

"We're going back next week."