Echoes of a Vanished Love

At noon, I returned to my workstation, ready to move everything out.

Liam was the one who'd given me the asteroid ornament on my desk. He'd even sworn sincerely that I was his entire world back then.

I smiled self-deprecatingly as I looked at the ornament. In the end, I still took it with me.

Just as I was about to leave with the box of my belongings in my arms, Vivi suddenly walked into the office, looking anxious.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I seem to have lost the necklace I was wearing today. Could I please ask all of you to cooperate for a routine inspection?" she asked.

Everyone else in the office started whispering to each other.

"I saw Ms. Johansen's necklace when I arrived today! The diamond on the necklace was huge! It was so bright and shiny too!"

"I think Ms. Johansen actually worded things too nicely. Someone definitely got greedy at the sight of that diamond necklace and stole it!"

"Oh my goodness! There's actually a thief in our office! I was wondering why the biscuits and snacks on my desk were always going missing!"

Liam was by Vivi's side. He ordered the security guards to block the door, then started searching everyone one by one.

When it was my turn, I put down the box and cooperated with his inspection.

He evidently noticed the asteroid ornament on top of the other items at a glance. After a moment's pause, he still asked someone to empty out the contents of my box.

The contents fell to the floor with a ringing clatter. The ornament was completely smashed and became little more than trash, just like our six-year relationship. The moment cracks formed in it, there was no fixing it.

As several security guards rummaged around on the floor, Vivi suddenly exclaimed in shock, "My necklace!"

Everyone in the office was attracted by the sound of her exclamation. Their gazes landed on me, and their accusations rang out unceasingly behind my back.

"Oh my goodness! Michelle actually stole the new director's necklace! If Mr. Sherman hadn't instructed people to seal off the office, she'd probably have long gotten away with the necklace!"

"I honestly didn't think Michelle was that kind of person! You really can't judge a book by its cover. It's just because the new director swooped in out of nowhere and stole her promotion, right? She's so petty!"

"Damn, Michelle's way too petty. I didn't expect her to be a thief. It's fortunate she's already resigned or I'd be a little afraid of being in the same room as her!"

I turned pale. I definitely hadn't touched Vivi's necklace. Someone must have tampered with my belongings when I was handing in my resignation.

Liam looked ashen as he picked up the diamond necklace from among the assorted items on the floor. He held the necklace with an expression that seemed to say he was extremely disappointed toward me. "Michelle Southwell!"

As he shouted my name in rage, I looked down to see that he'd trampled my belongings underfoot. He even stomped forcefully on the broken fragments of the asteroid ornament.

Just as I lifted my head, he slapped me without giving me any chance to explain. "Apologize to Vivi! Why did you have to steal the necklace I gave her?"

At that moment, I completely gave up on him.

He held in hand a necklace he'd given to Vivi, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars; crushed under his feet was a cheap ornament worth less than a fraction of the necklace's value.

For an instant, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Being misunderstood by my colleagues hurt less than that slap I'd received from Liam, the person I'd been with for six years. He actually didn't believe me.

Seeing that I wasn't saying anything, he dragged me over to Vivi as if he was taking the trash to the incinerator and said harshly, "I told you to apologize! Explain why you stole the necklace."

A hint of smugness flashed through Vivi's eyes. Soon, though, she pretended to frown and reach out to help me up from the cold floor.

I waved her away, gathered the last bit of stubbornness I could muster, and got up from the floor.

Although my eyes were blurry with tears, I kept my back straight. "I didn't take it! There are surveillance cameras in the office! I request to bring up the surveillance footage to prove my innocence!

Then, I stared into Vivi's eyes and enunciated word by word, "Also, a mere diamond necklace like that isn't even worth my attention!'