When the Heart Dies

I wanted to laugh, but the pain made me grimace. "Ms. Hayes, well said. Consider this my formal notice. I quit."

The moment those words left my mouth, Scarlett's expression turned ugly.

Chase was a master of manipulation. "Ron, this is such a small matter. There's no need to quit.

"Ms. Hayes has your best interests at heart. She wants harmony among the company's employees.

"Listen to me. Just do your job and we'll forget this ever happened.

"You've been here for seven years. Even if you haven't achieved much, you've put in the effort. The company won't mistreat you."

As he spoke, he even reached out as if to pull me up. I felt sick to my stomach and shoved him away.

I barely used any force, but he performed like an award-winning actor, rolling on the ground and lightly bumping his head against the edge of a desk.

Chase hit his head, and Scarlett looked more heartbroken than if she had been the one injured. She rushed forward, cradled his head, and stroked it gently.

"Chase, are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

"I'm fine. Just a little dizzy." Chase pretended to be in pain while clearly enjoying himself. He even shot me a provocative look.

"Ron, that was too much. I was just trying to give you some advice. We're colleagues. How could you bring yourself to push me?"

Scarlett looked like someone had broken her favorite toy. Her brow furrowed in anger as she pointed at me.

"Ron, apologize right now!"

In seven years of marriage, she had never been this furious. Her anger erupted like a volcano.

I stood up, dusted myself off, gave them both a cold look, and headed for the exit while clutching my old injury.

Apologize to that hypocrite? In his dreams.

Derek saw his opportunity and immediately blocked my path, shouting angrily. "Ron, you think you can just hit someone and walk away without apologizing? You're not going anywhere.

"Someone call security. Don't let him leave."

Soon, a group of security guards rushed in. The lead guard was named Seth Hayes, Scarlett's cousin.

However, like all the Hayes family members, he had never looked at me properly since I married Scarlett.

After hearing Derek's loud voice, Seth did not bother asking what happened. He just had his men restrain me.

Many colleagues came to watch the spectacle. The entire hallway was packed with people.

Scarlett's expression looked terrible. Her tone was cold and unfamiliar.

"Ron, you're not leaving this company until you apologize to Chase."

Chase was still committed to his performance. He waved his hands repeatedly. "Oh, Ms. Hayes, it's just a small matter. Ron didn't mean it. Just let him go."

I couldn't take his pathetic performance anymore. My anger turned to bitter laughter.

"Keep performing. Keep putting on this show in front of everyone! You're just a hypocrite pretending to be a saint."

I was actually talking about Chase, but Scarlett's frown deepened.

Before she could say anything, a massive fist slammed hard into my back.

"You little punk. I've been wanting to teach you a lesson. You think you can act tough in front of me?"

Punch after punch landed right on my old injury.

I felt like countless needles were stabbing me madly. The stitches were coming undone.

The intense pain made me see stars. I could not catch my breath. My whole body doubled over.

"Stop pretending already."

Seth wanted to continue.

Scarlett seemed to remember something and immediately told them to let me go.

Seth pointed at me in frustration. "Scarlett, don't let Ron fool you. He's the one who's acting.

"I barely tapped him three times and he's acting like he's dying. Who's he trying to fool?"

The moment he finished speaking, I collapsed to the ground, unable to support myself. Blood seeped through my white shirt, spreading across my back in a dark red stain.

The onlookers gasped in shock.

"Ron, are you okay?"