Chapter 2

Sarah didn't go back to the apartment she shared with Ethan. She found a cheap motel, the kind with flickering neon signs and threadbare carpets.

The room smelled of stale cigarettes and despair. She sat on the edge of the bed, Mary's urn beside her.

Sleep was impossible. The words "test," "assessment," "Hayes fortune" echoed in her mind.

Her mother' s sacrifice. For nothing. For a game.

By morning, a cold resolve had settled in. She took out a piece of motel stationery and drafted her resignation letter. Short, to the point.

She went to the Innovate Solutions subsidiary. The office was buzzing.

"Did you hear? Mr. Hayes! He's the CEO!"

"And Sarah! She' s going to be Mrs. Hayes!"

Colleagues offered congratulations, their faces beaming. Sarah offered a weak smile, her insides churning.

Ethan summoned her. His office wasn't the cramped cubicle he'd pretended to have. It was lavish, with a panoramic view of the city. He sat behind a large mahogany desk, looking every bit the powerful CEO.

He tried to act as if everything was normal, as if her world hadn't just been obliterated.

"Sarah, you're here. How are you holding up?"

"I was seeing to my mother's affairs," she said, her voice flat, devoid of emotion.

Ethan feigned ignorance of Mary's death, though he must have sensed her distance. He probably thought her coldness was due to his "confession" of wealth.

"I know this is a lot to take in," he said, rising and walking towards her. He pulled out a platinum credit card. "For your mother... some nice things. A token. For her care, for whatever she needs."

Sarah looked at the card, then at him. "My mother doesn't need anything anymore."

She refused to take it.

His phone buzzed. "Excuse me, a business call," he said, turning away. Part of the ongoing test, no doubt. Another assessment of her reaction.

Sarah used the moment. She walked out of his office, straight to the HR department.

The HR manager, a woman named Ms. Albright, beamed at her. "Sarah! Mr. Hayes just informed me about you. We were expecting you. A promotion, I assume?"

Sarah handed her the resignation letter. "I'm resigning, Ms. Albright. Effective immediately."

Ms. Albright looked bewildered, the smile frozen on her face. "But... I don't understand."

"There's nothing to understand," Sarah said, turning to leave. "I'm done."