Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I gave him a puzzled look. "You're letting her manage the design department? Since when did Miss Mason study jewelry design?"

Melany giggled and gave Darin a playful look. "I told you, Jillian is still mad at me for taking you home last night. It's my fault; I didn't respect boundaries. I'll keep my distance from now on."

Darin snorted and gave me a sidelong glance. "Going out for business is common. I don't know why you're fussing! Melany is a manager, not a designer. She doesn't need to understand design."

I found it ridiculous. "You want an outsider to be in charge?"

Darin grew impatient. "What's the problem? I don't understand your stuff either, but I still run a jewelry company, don't I? The design work is still your responsibility. You just need to cooperate with her management."

So, he was giving me an outsider as my direct superior? I felt indifferent. "I can't cooperate."

"Jillian!" Darin was angry. "You're just an ordinary employee. It's your job to follow your superior's arrangements!"

I let out a frustrated laugh. Jenkins Jewelry Company was originally just a distributor. I had painstakingly built the original design department from scratch. Now, Jenkins Jewelry's designs had become industry benchmarks, yet I was still just an ordinary employee who received no respect?

I felt a chill in my heart. I pulled off my work badge and threw it at him. "I don't have to be your employee either."

Darin glared at me. "Jillian!"

I stared back at him defiantly.

In the tense silence, Melany cleared her throat softly. "You two should discuss this calmly. I'll step out for now." She then gently advised, "Darin, hold your temper. She is your fiancée, after all."

Ha, was she really trying to calm him down, or was she just stirring things up?

After the door closed, Darin pursed his lips and looked at me for a few more seconds before suddenly sighing. "How long are you going to target Melany? She's also a partner in the company. You're putting me in a difficult position."

Here we go again. Every time Melany and I had a conflict, he always blamed me first. If the food was too spicy, it was my fault for targeting her. If I couldn't join the conversation at a dinner party, it was my fault for targeting her. Even on our anniversary, when I asked Darin to stay with me instead of going to see her, it was still my fault for targeting her.

He chose Melany over me time and time again. I had already lost miserably.

I suddenly felt a wave of hopelessness. "It won't happen anymore."

Soon, I wouldn't have to see them anymore.

Darin squeezed my hand, looking satisfied. "That's more like it. The wedding is in two days. Be good and stop causing trouble." He took out a black and gold bag and placed it in my hand. "The bag I ordered for you last time has finally arrived. Take it and cheer up."

I walked out in a daze.

Darin called after me. "Jillian."

I turned back.

His expression softened slightly. "I got tickets for tonight's jadeite exhibition. I'll pick you up, and we'll go together."

I didn't respond and returned to my desk.

A sharp-eyed colleague spotted my bag and exclaimed, "That's a classic from The Kissing Board! It's so expensive! Jillian, you really are a little rich lady!"

I forced a smile and dropped the bag onto the table. A small receipt slipped out.

The colleague kept chattering. "Miss Mason also has a bag from The Kissing Board today. Hers is amazing, the new summer Mini Gold Bar. You have to order it a month in advance, and you can only buy it if you also get a classic model!"

I glanced at the matching information on the receipt and let out a cold smirk.

Of course, mine was the old model to match hers.

Melany was always the star in Darin's eyes, and I was just the nobody that came with the package.

Just like that pregnancy test report, left on the coffee table all night. Darin slept and woke up on the sofa next to it but never saw it.

When it was time to leave work, I took a cab to the jadeite exhibition.

Darin had stood me up too many times. I never expected him to accompany me, so I got my own ticket early on.

After the exhibition, it suddenly started pouring rain, and I was trapped under the eaves.

Bored, I scrolled through my phone and saw Melany's Facebook post.

A delicate, pale hand with an IV needle was held by another hand with distinct knuckles. On the ring finger was a matching ring identical to mine, gleaming brightly.

Once again, he had stood me up for Melany and didn't even think to inform me.

Bitterness surged in my heart. I blinked away the tears and put my phone away.

I heard a voice behind me.

"Miss Harvey, do you need help?"