Chapter 4

Aidan stayed out all night again. Evelyn didn't know if he and Dayna spent the night in the garage or went elsewhere, but it no longer mattered to her.

She looked around the house she had lived in for three years, feeling no attachment.

She didn't belong here and never would again.

She threw out everything tied to Aidan, keeping only a small suitcase-the one she brought when she first moved in.

She arrived alone, and now left scarred, feeling her sacrifices were worthless.

The next morning, Evelyn went to the company and submitted her resignation to her supervisor.

"Evelyn, you've been doing so well. Why resign?" Her supervisor valued her skills. Evelyn had once declined a promotion that could have surpassed her supervisor's role.

Back then, she didn't want to be too busy, prioritizing time to care for Aidan.

She had given up more than a promotion-she had lost three years of her soul.

"I'm just feeling tired and need a break."

No one knew about her relationship with Aidan, so her resignation went smoothly.

She didn't expect to see Aidan as she carried her belongings downstairs.

His smile faltered when he saw her.

Evelyn nodded politely and headed for the elevator.

Aidan had set the rule that she couldn't speak to him at work.

In three years as colleagues, aside from necessary occasions, Evelyn had no interactions with him at the company.

As she reached the ground floor, Aidan intercepted her.

He pulled her into the stairwell and leaned down to kiss her lips. "Sweetheart, why are you avoiding me? I've been too busy to come home. Is your fever gone?"

Evelyn turned her head, dodging his kiss.

The memory of him with Dayna last night made her stomach churn, and the scent of perfume on him made her feel like a fool.

"I'm fine. You're busy, so I'll go. I have things to do." She turned to leave, but Aidan held on, causing her belongings to scatter across the floor.

His brow twitched as he recognized her work items. "What's this? Are you quitting?"

Evelyn crouched down, gathering her things into a box, then tossed it into a hallway trash bin. "No, I just don't need these anymore."

Useless things needed to be discarded, just like people.

Aidan looked skeptical. "I'll ask your supervisor..."

"Aidan, why didn't you wait for me?" Dayna approached, her heels clicking.

Aidan released Evelyn and greeted Dayna with a smile. "I thought you'd gone up already, so I came ahead."

He glanced at Evelyn. "You remember Dayna, right? She just returned from abroad."

Evelyn remembered her vividly. They attended the same high school, where Dayna bullied her relentlessly because of her connection to the Harrisons and her closeness to Aidan.

In Aidan's presence, Dayna played the sweet, charming princess, but behind his back, she was a cruel bully.

Evelyn still bore a scar on her arm from Dayna's whip.

Dayna smiled sweetly. "Of course she remembers. We were good friends back then, right, Evelyn? Aidan, wait for me in the car. I want to catch up with her."

Aidan pinched Dayna's cheek fondly, giving Evelyn a warning glance as he left.

Evelyn smiled bitterly. She knew what Aidan feared-that she might ruin their plans. But she had no interest in that. They could stay locked together forever for all she cared.

Once Aidan was gone, Dayna's true nature surfaced. She slapped Evelyn across the face. "A lowlife like you, warming Aidan's bed for three years, really thought you could climb the social ladder? Aidan only kept you around to get back at your father for making me sick for three years."

The slap stirred every memory of Dayna's past bullying.

Back then, Evelyn had no power or support. She valued her hard-earned life and never fought back.

But things were different now. She had nothing left to lose but her life.

Her eyes blazed red. Evelyn raised her hand and returned two hard slaps.

Dayna's eyes widened in shock. The always submissive Evelyn was fighting back?