Say No to Being Second Choice

Even if I hadn't seen her messages back then, Beatrice would have found some other excuse to be with Zachary.

After the two of them returned from a business trip some time ago, they still went out for dinners, drinks, and basketball games just as often as before. However, I could sense that the dynamic between them had changed.

Fortunately, I no longer cared. A five-year relationship had come to an end, and this farce had finally run its course.

…

By the time I finished the proposal, I was the only one left in the office.

I unlocked my phone, only to see that Zachary had posted several updates in a row. The pictures were taken at an upscale restaurant, and a candlelit dinner was laid out on the table before them.

In one of the photos, Beatrice held her knife and fork with elegance as she cut Zachary's steak for him. The caption read, "A steak cut by the CEO herself. Of course, it'll taste better."

The comment section quickly filled with colleagues teasing them about how sweet they looked. Zachary joked with them too, showing off the fact that Beatrice—who never drank—had even shared half a bottle of red wine with him just to celebrate his project's success.

The comment section grew more heated, filled with speculation. Yet, Beatrice didn't explain. She simply replied, "It was only right."

Some people, who were clearly out of the loop, even asked when they'd be getting married. Beatrice responded with nothing but three dots, while Zachary followed up with a cheeky emoji.

This time, I didn't get angry over their complicated relationship or call Beatrice, only to be scolded as I had before.

Instead, I sent her a message to let her know the proposal was finished, left the documents on her desk, and drove home.

…

It wasn't until I got home that I saw Beatrice's reply. The message read, "Sebastian, this is Zachary. Thanks for working on the project. I'll treat you to dinner sometime."

Beatrice never went anywhere without her phone. Even if I picked it up just to check the time, she would snap at me for invading her privacy. And now, she had handed it to Zachary, letting him read our messages and reply in her place.

I let out a scoff. It was clear that people treated you according to how much you mattered to them.

Strangely, I felt calm. The things that used to make me feel like the entire world was collapsing now seemed insignificant.

Feelings could change, but hard work never let me down.

I opened my calendar and checked the date.

Not long ago, Beatrice and Zachary had gone on a trip under the guise of a business assignment. While they were away, I took the opportunity to submit my resignation.

As expected, whenever they were together, all her attention was on him. She approved my resignation without even looking at it.

Now, all that remained was to finish the handover in three days. After that, I would be gone for good.

After a moment's thought, I called Charles Lawson, my advisor at an overseas research center.

Right after graduating, I joined the research center as a top student, enjoying excellent pay and benefits. But when Beatrice said she needed people to start her company, I quit without hesitation.

Charles tried again and again to stop me, but I still chose to return home and build something from scratch with her. Looking back now, I realized how foolish I had been.

Once we were connected, I explained the reason for my call.

I had expected a lecture. Instead, Charles sighed and told me he had known about my situation for a long time. He even said that he had long intended for me to return.

"But this time, have you really thought it through?" he asked.

I nodded. "I have. I've already taken care of the resignation."

"Resignation? What resignation?"

At that moment, a startled voice rang out. I turned around to see Beatrice stepping inside.

I glanced down and realized the call with Charles had already ended. So, I calmly locked my screen before replying, "A friend of mine is planning to resign from his company."

Beatrice frowned. Suspicion flickered across her face. "What kind of friend talks about work with you this late at night?"

I was still thinking about how to explain when her phone chimed.

It was a message from Zachary. He said he had come across a stray cat on his way home and had gone out of his way to stop at a store to buy it some food.