Echoes of a Vanished Love

Lina sat me down and started gossiping with me at our workstation. "You saw her, right, Michelle? That woman just now is Mr. Sherman's fiancée!

"You know the diamond necklace she's wearing on her neck? Mr. Sherman gave it to her yesterday. It's apparently worth hundreds of thousands of dollars!

"Still, Mr. Sherman's being way too obvious with his nepotism! You've been with the company for five years, and your work capabilities are obvious to everyone. Despite this, he actually gave the position that should've belonged to you to someone else just like that!"

I nodded absentmindedly. I'd been planning to resign anyway, so Vivi's sudden promotion today simply made me even more aware of just where I stood in Liam's eyes.

...

I knocked on Liam's office door with some documents and my resignation letter in hand.

"Enter," Liam said coldly.

I placed everything down on his desk, including the documents I would need to hand over after my resignation.

As Liam flipped through those documents, his expression grew darker and darker. Eventually, he lifted his head and stared at me with a contemptuous smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

He said, "Yesterday, I thought you'd mended your ways and would no longer throw tantrums willy-nilly, Michelle. But you're showing your true colors today, aren't you?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he threw the documents at me, harshly and without warning.

I dodged, then lowered my head and picked up the documents on the floor one by one.

He continued, "She just robbed you of your promotion, that's all! Vivi majored in the same field as me. I gave her the position of technical director because I believed in her capabilities. What right do you have to lose your temper?"

I neatly stacked up the documents, placed them in front of him, then replied calmly, "I'm not throwing a tantrum. I simply want to resign."

So, Liam understood Vivi's capabilities because she'd majored in the same field of study as him. What about me then?

I majored in jewelry design back in university, but chose to double-major in another field for Liam's sake. For so many years, I worked day and night to catch up to him. Yet, it turned out that my efforts were completely worthless in his eyes.

Liam glared condescendingly at me. "Shouldn't you be aware of your own capabilities? I've already assigned you under Vivi, so you can watch and learn from her in the future."

I smiled. "My time is incredibly valuable too. I won't learn about something I won't enjoy ever again."

"Fine! Go ahead and leave! Let's see what company will hire you in the future!" Liam snapped.

As he spoke, he rose from his office chair and glared at me like a vengeful demon. I simply turned and left his office.

I'd considered the six years I'd spent with him as an act of compassion toward a stray I'd picked up off the streets. However, I would never let my world revolve around him again, especially not when he wanted me to let Vivi into that orbit.