Chapter 3
The next morning, the sound of her weekday alarm jolted Cynthia awake. She glanced at the time, sat up abruptly, and rushed to get ready for work at Sterling Corp.
The very first thing she did upon arriving was submit her resignation letter.
She had worked tirelessly for three months just to land the job-ignoring everyone’s warnings-just to be near Alexander
Lowell.
She’d even chosen her desk strategically: from her seat, all she had to do was lift her head and she could see directly into
Alexander’s office.
Back then, every day at work had felt sweet and full of hope.
But now… she was leaving. That desk no longer meant anything.
Once her resignation was approved, Cynthia packed up her personal items, then left the office without so much as a backward glance.
The moment the executive assistant heard the news, he rushed to knock on Alexander’s office door, stumbling over his
words.
“Mr. Lowell… Miss Aquil just resigned. Did you know about this?”
Alexander’s hand froze mid-signature.
“Cynthia resigned?” His voice was cold as ice. “Today?”
The assistant flinched. “Y-yes, sir. Just now.”
Alexander gripped his pen a little tighter. A moment later, he grabbed his jacket and car keys and stood.
“Sir, you have an international conference scheduled-”
“Cancel it.”
He drove straight back home.
When he opened the door, Cynthia was seated at the table, head bowed, writing something.
“You resigned?” His voice was cold and clipped.
Cynthia hadn’t expected him to be back so early. She was startled for a moment but quickly composed herself. “Yes. You’ve always said I didn’t belong at Lowell family. I’ve come to accept that. What I studied doesn’t really apply here-I’ll
find something more suitable.”
He said nothing at first, simply watching her with an unreadable expression.
Finally, he murmured, “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
His response didn’t surprise her in the slightest.
From the day she joined the company, he had told her she wasn’t right for the job.
It was always her one-sided love. She had clung to the hope that she could stay close to him.
Now, she’d finally let go-and fulfilled one of his long-standing wishes.
Chapter 3
11.54%
For several days after, Alexander seemed to have time for nothing but Morinne.
They went shopping, dined at romantic restaurants, watched fireworks on the Ferris wheel at the amusement park….
Cynthia saw all of it-through the lovey-dovey photos Morinne posted across her social media. But her heart remained
calm.
Every time they were about to go out, Morinne would make a show of inviting her. “Cynthia, want to come hang out with your uncle and me?”
Cynthia would always decline, politely.
“No, thanks. You two enjoy yourselves.”
She was getting married soon, after all. She had made her decision to let go of Alexander completely.
She wouldn’t interfere in their relationship, wouldn’t intrude on their dates-and certainly wouldn’t play the third wheel.
But for some reason, Morinne refused to back down. The invitations kept coming.
That morning, just as Cynthia came downstairs, Morinne grabbed her wrist.
“Come with us today, okay?” she said, with a deceptively sweet smile.
Before Cynthia could say no, Morinne’s fingernails dug ever so slightly into her skin, her voice low and laced with
meaning.
“You’ve turned me down so many times, Cynthia… Are you mad at me or something?”
Without waiting for an answer, she let out a few pitiful tears and turned toward Alexander with a wounded look.
Alexander finally frowned, “Cynthia, Morinne is trying to be kind. We’re going to be family soon. You should try to get
along.”
Family.
Cynthia thought bitterly in her heart. She was the one leaving. The only family here would be Alexander and Morinne.
In the end, Cynthia was dragged along.
The car was already parked at the front door. She didn’t hesitate-just opened the rear door and got in.
Alexander noticed immediately, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
She used to insist on sitting in the passenger seat beside him. That seat had always held her favorite little trinkets-tiny plush cats and bobbleheads-like she was staking her claim.
But today, she didn’t even glance at it.
Alexander kept sneaking glances at her through the rearview mirror.
Morinne climbed into the front seat, toying with the little plushies on the dash, her face wrinkling in distaste.
“Alex, these are so childish. I don’t like them. Can I throw them out?”
He stared straight ahead and replied flatly, “You’re the mistress of the house. Do whatever you want.”
Cynthia spoke up just then, voice calm.
Chapter 3
11.54%
“They’re mine. Nothing important. If Morinne doesn’t like them, she can toss them.”
Alexander froze. Even the tapping of his fingers on the steering wheel came to a halt.
The girl in the mirror looked placid as ever.
It seems like Cynthia had changed.
In the past, she would’ve thrown a fit over something like this.
Now… she did nothing.
He watched her for another second before silently reaching out and gathering the plush toys and trinkets. One by one, he threw them into the dumpster outside the car.
Only then did they finally leave for the theater.
Chapter 3
11.54%
