last chance 3

 

3 

Once my resignation was finalized, I went straight to my best friend’s company. 

In the legal world, clients follow the lawyer, not the firm. My friend was so thrilled to have a top-tier lawyer like me join her team that she practically bowed at my feet. She offered me ten times my previous salary 

and a villa. 

I finally moved out of my shabby little apartment. 

Many of my old clients had been shocked to learn that a “gold-medal lawyer” lived in such a rundown place I’d always just brushed it off, saying I wasn’t materialistic. The truth was, I’d willingly taken a junior-level sala ry for years to help Steve’s firm grow. 

At first, he was grateful. Then, he started to take it for granted. When the heat broke in my apartment one winter, and I asked for money to replace it, he called me extravagant, accused me of being a gold-digger. 

But for Mandy? He’d buy her a mansion without a second thought. Even Mandy’s dog had a heated doghou 

On the day I moved, I ran into Steve and Mandy. His parents were with them. The four of them were having happy family dinner at a high-end restaurant. 

I froze. I remembered the first time I went to Steve’s house. I came bearing gifts, but his parents served me table full of leftovers. When I awkwardly suggested we all go out to eat, they accused me of being a leech, spendthrift living off their son. 

In the end, I cooked for the whole family. After I’d prepared a feast, Steve’s mother slammed her chopstick: down and declared my food too salty. “Only peasants who do manual labor eat like this,” she sneered. “Jus what I’d expect from someone with your background.” The gifts I brought them ended up with the building’: cleaning staff. 

The contrast made me feel like a clown. 

Steve’s parents were eagerly piling food onto Mandy’s plate. 

“Mandy and our Steve are just perfect for each other,” his mother gushed. “If only you hadn’t been tricked b that other man, you two would have been together years ago. I think the time is right. You should be togeth 

er.” 

His father chimed in, “Yes! Mandy landed several big clients for Steve as soon as she joined the firm. He future is limitless. Not like that useless Merrin, who can only cook and clean.” 

Hearing this, I trembled with rage. I was the one who landed those clients. Steve just credited them to Man dy. The money I earned practically supported the entire firm, but Steve never once praised me. Instead, he constantly belittled me, saying I only got cases because of the platform his firm provided. 

Now, listening to his parents’ slander, he didn’t even try to correct them. He just sighed. “Well, we’ve beer together for so long. It’s comfortable.” 

5/6 

16.01 

Chapter 1 

My heart plummeted. All these years, to him, I was just… comfortable. 

16:01 

His mother was not satisfied. “Steve, I’m telling you, that Merrin girl is bad luck. Just look at how her parent: died so young. Marrying her will bring you nothing but trouble.” 

Steve didn’t respond, but I was already in tears. 

My parents had died giving blood to save his. After a car accident, Steve’s parents were in critical condition My parents, who had a matching blood type, donated without a second thought. But it wasn’t enough. Steve 

was a mess. 

My parents, knowing how much I loved him, secretly donated more blood than their bodies could handle. 

Steve’s parents were saved. Mine were gone. 

At first, his family felt guilty. They promised to compensate me, to take care of me. But the compensatio 

never came. Instead, I became the “bad luck” they talked about. 

I couldn’t listen anymore. I turned to leave. 

6/6 

16:01 

Chapter 2