Chapter 30
The fawning praises of Nicholas and Gwendoline as the perfect golden couple echoed clearly in my ears. Nicholas’s gaze swept over me without a hint of recognition. I felt like nothing more than an insignificant stranger.]
Staring at the man I had loved for five years, I finally understood why my parents always said my judgment was lacking. Turns out, they were right–I had been utterly blind.§
I never realized Gwendoline, Nicbolas’s ever–loyal secretary, had been in a relationship with him all along.
As the daughter of the Godfreys, my blindness didn’t necessarily prove my incapability to work in the elite society. No matter what, I had the power to lift him to the top and I could just as easily send him crashing down from the heights!
Clutching the resignation letter in my hand, I turned to leave this suffocating place.
However, just as I took my first step, Mr. Webb from HR stepped in front of me, a fake smile plastered on his face.
“Rose, there’s no need to rush off so soon.”
He adjusted his glasses, his tone carrying an undeniable firmness, “The company has regulations. Before resigning, you must sign a statement declaring that all your actions during your tenure have no connection to the company. Additionally, you’ll also need to sign a non–compete agreement–just to prevent you from using underhanded tactics to steal our clients once you leave our company.“}]
Not long ago, everyone knew me as Nicholas’s fiancée. With my ability to secure high–profile clients, I was treated with nothing but the best hospitality.
Mr. Webb was especially eager to involve me in his interactions, he would bow his head and sweetly address me as ‘Mrs. Brakefield‘. That was in the past though. Now, he looked down at me with a self–satisfied smirk, as if belittling me could somehow restore his own sense of superiority.
I took in his pathetic display and said coldly, “A statement? A non–compete agreement? What makes you think I’d ever sign them?“}
Mr. Webb’s smile vanished in an instant, his tone turning sharp. “Why? Because of your dirty little schemes! The company has already shown you mercy by not pursuing legal action–don’t mistake kindness for weakness!“}]
I let out a mocking laugh and asked, “Dirty schemes? Do you even have proof? Or are you just talking about those out–of–context photos?“}]
“Proof?” Gwendoline strutted over in her high heels, her manicured finger jabbing toward my phone.
“Isn’t the proof right there in your phone? Who knows how many client contacts you’ve hoarded? For all we know, the moment you step out of here, you’ll start seducing them one by one to secure a new job.“}]
As soon as she finished speaking, Mr. Webb lunged for my phone. I was caught off guard and before I could react, it was snatched from my hands.
“Give it back!”
Gwendoline snatched the phone from Mr. Webb’s hand and quickly stepped back, a smug smirk playing on her lips.
“Look at how nervous you are now! There must be plenty of things that you don’t want anyone to see.“>
She turned to Nicholas, asking for my passcode, but after trying both his and my birthdays–along with our anniversary–the screen remained locked. Growing impatient, Nicholas yanked the phone from her grip and barked at security to restrain me.)
He tried to unlock it using facial recognition. But after multiple failed attempts, the phone defaulted to passcode entry.
“What’s the password?“}
Since the day we got together, my passcode had always been the date he first confessed to me. How ironic that he had forgotten. Then again, I wasn’t surprised at all.
Failing to unlock my phone in front of his employees only deepened his humiliation. His face darkened, thunderous with rage, his pride crumbling with every passing second.}
“Rose, you keep insisting those photos are a misunderstanding–then why did you secretly change your password?” His accusation was beyond tedious.
“It’s the date you first confessed to me,” I responded.
Nicholas froze, his expression shifting as he struggled to recall that day.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember. His face twisted, a chaotic blend of emotions, like a ruined painting.
I wrenched myself free from the security guards‘ grasp and snatched my phone back from his hands. Nicholas watched in silence as I effortlessly unlocked it. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something–but no words came out.