Chapter 4

Jake reached for me again, trying to pull me into a hug.

"Lily, let's go somewhere private and talk about this."

I took a step back, putting the desk between us. The physical distance was a clear message.

"There's nothing to talk about, Mr. Miller," I said. The formal address made him flinch. "I've signed my resignation. I'm leaving."

"Why?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine confusion. "After everything we've been through? I was about to tell you... our struggles are over."

A bitter laugh almost escaped my lips. Our struggles. His fabricated, theatrical struggles.

"I have to go," I said, turning away. "I have a family matter to attend to."

"A family matter?"

"My mother," I said, the words catching in my throat. "She passed away."

I said it to see his reaction. A flicker of shock crossed his face, quickly replaced by a calculated look of concern. He didn't know his test had a body count.

"What? When? Oh, Lily, I'm so sorry." He rounded the desk, his voice full of practiced sympathy. "Why didn't you tell me? I'll come with you. We need to arrange the best funeral for her."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek, black credit card. A premium, unlimited one, I was sure. He tried to press it into my hand.

"Here," he said. "Use this. Don't worry about the cost. Anything for your mother."

I looked at the card, then at his face. He thought money could fix this. He thought he could buy his way out of the guilt he didn't even know he had. The blood drained from my face. My mother was dead because we were trying to scrape together money for him, and here he was, offering a piece of plastic that could have saved her life without him even noticing the expense.

The urge to scream, to throw the card back in his face, was overwhelming. But I held it in.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen. It was Chloe. He hesitated, looking from the phone to me, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He was probably thinking this was another one of her interruptions to his grand plan.

He answered the call, turning slightly away from me. "Chloe? Not now. I'm with Lily."

He listened for a moment, his jaw tightening. "Fine. I'll be there in five minutes."

He hung up and turned back to me, forcing a smile. "I'm so sorry, baby. An urgent company matter. I have to go. But we'll talk tonight. Don't leave. Wait for me."

He gave my arm a squeeze and then hurried out of the office.

Another test. Another choice between me and his "urgent" business. I was supposed to wait patiently, proving my devotion. I was so tired of his games.

I handed my signed papers to the stunned HR manager, who took them without a word. The whispers from my colleagues followed me as I walked to my desk to pack my few belongings. They weren't whispers of envy anymore, but of confusion.

I had just put my mother's small picture frame into my box when a shadow fell over me.

It was Chloe, with Jake right behind her.

Chloe smiled, a triumphant, sharp-edged smile. She looped her arm through Jake's, pulling him close.

"Oh, Lily, you're leaving so soon?" she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Jake and I were just heading to a celebratory lunch. You know, for the new partnership. Don't worry, I'll take good care of him for you."

Her words were a clear declaration of ownership. Jake looked uncomfortable but didn't pull away. He just watched me, his face a mess of confusion and frustration.

I didn't say a word. I picked up my box and walked past them, out of the office, and out of their lives.