Chapter 3

Brett chased after Daniella, his voice a desperate murmur as he followed her into the elevator. The doors closed, leaving Elaine alone in the cavernous penthouse.

A makeup assistant rushed forward with a tissue. "Miss Mccray, you' re bleeding."

Elaine waved her away. She walked to the window and touched her cheek, her fingers coming away red.

She pulled out her phone. The screen was still shattered, but it worked. She opened her email and forwarded her resignation letter directly to Brett' s personal address.

The subject line was simple: Resignation.

The body was even simpler: I quit.

Less than a minute later, a notification popped up. Email read. And then, another. An automated message from HR. Your resignation has been processed. Your final day is today.

He must have approved it from his phone in the elevator. It was that easy for him to let her go.

She took off the silk gown and changed back into her own simple clothes. She left the dress in a heap on the floor.

She went to the office to pack the last of her things. It was a Saturday, but the design floor was busy. The whispers started the moment she walked in.

"That's her. The one Brett dumped."

"I heard Daniella is the new VP. She' s getting Elaine' s office."

She remembered all the times she had covered for Brett, worked late nights to finish his proposals, sacrificed her own projects for their "shared dream." It meant nothing.

She ignored the smirks and went to her desk. Her nameplate was already gone.

As she was packing her last box, she scrolled through Instagram. A new post from Daniella.

It was a photo of her hand intertwined with Brett' s. The caption read: "He said it started as a game, but his heart knew the truth all along."

The Patek Philippe watch was clearly visible on Brett' s wrist.

The post had been liked by half their colleagues.

Even Brett's own account had liked it.

Elaine felt a strange sense of calm. There was no more hope to be crushed. There was only the cold, hard truth.

She carried her box home to the now-empty apartment. She sat on the floor and ate a cup of instant ramen. Brett had always called it "poverty trash." He would throw it out if he ever found it in their pantry.

The key turned in the lock late that night. Brett came in, reeking of expensive whiskey. He was smiling.

He had obviously reconciled with Daniella.

He stumbled over her packed suitcase by the door. Her passport and flight confirmation slip fell out.

He picked them up, his smile turning into a drunken sneer. "London? Are you really going to run away over a little fight?"

She didn't answer, just continued to eat her ramen.

He came over and kicked the cup out of her hand. Hot broth splashed onto her jeans.

"I told you, this is a game," he said, his voice slurring slightly. "I needed to calm her down. Give me a month. Just one more month, and I'll find a new way to ruin her. I promise."

Elaine looked up at him, her face impassive.

"Brett," she said, her voice steady and clear. "We're breaking up."