Chapter 3

Kyle grinned slyly. "Hey, we're all friends here. Your girlfriend is basically my... friend. Just apologize to her, man."

My face darkened. He had deliberately paused before saying 'friend,' clearly hinting at something far more intimate to get under my skin.

Right then, Scarlett’s slurred voice cut in from beside him.

"Why are you even talking to him, Kyle? I told you, until he begs for my forgiveness, I'm completely done with him."

"Give him twelve hours. He’ll come crawling back like an obedient puppy, begging on his knees."

Hearing her delusion, I let out a low laugh. "Well, you're going to be terribly disappointed this time. I'm already home in bed."

With that, I ended the call, switched the phone to airplane mode, and pulled the covers over my head.

Sometime in the middle of the night, the front door slammed open with a deafening bang.

"You're actually home?!"

Scarlett stormed into the bedroom, reeking of alcohol.

"Tell me! Where did you get the money?! Have you been stashing away secret cash behind my back?! Ha! If you hadn't gotten into a car wreck, I would've never found out!"

I looked at her hysterical expression and scoffed. "I used my own money to pay my own medical bill. Since when do I need your permission for that?"

Scarlett gave me fifty bucks a week for groceries and demanded a three-course gourmet meal every night. I had never once kept her money; in fact, I quietly subsidized our entire household expenses out of my own private portfolio.

Noticing the utter lack of warmth in my voice, Scarlett hesitated. Her tone softened slightly, shifting into classic manipulation.

"Kyle and I are just colleagues, okay? You know he's an executive. If I don't stay on his good side, I could lose this high-paying, cushy job! Fine, I'll keep my distance from him from now on, happy?"

I sneered inwardly. That high-paying, cushy job was something I handed to her on a silver platter. Kyle had nothing to do with it.

Not only did he steal credit for my actions, but he also had the nerve to provoke me. Tomorrow, his career was over.

Actually, firing him was too easy. I had far better plans for him.

"You're an adult," I said tonelessly. "Who you sleep with or spend time with is your choice. We’ll discuss everything tomorrow."

"I need to rest. Please get out and close the door behind you."

Instead of leaving, Scarlett climbed onto the edge of the mattress, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Ethan, I already made a concession! Why are you still treating me like this?"

"Can't you just compromise for once and consider what I'm going through? You were never like this before!"

Beneath the blanket, my hands balled into tight fists. "Scarlett, I just had major surgery. Can't this wait until morning?"

Scarlett burst into dramatic sobs.

"Why are you being so immature?! You're still throwing a tantrum over that beach trip? What do you want, for me to quit my job?!"

"If you had any real ambition or talent, would I have to swallow my pride and kiss ass in the corporate world?!"

Her words struck a familiar, sickening chord.

Every time we argued, she used this exact weapon—blaming my 'lack of ambition' for every hardship she faced at work.

And every time, I would feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, secretly having Claire boost her salary, bonuses, and title to ease her burden.

I sighed, completely emotionally detached. "Right. You're completely right. I'm a useless deadbeat holding you back. Are we done?"

Scarlett froze, shocked by my apathy, before screaming in frustration.

"Fine! Ethan! You brought this on yourself! Don't you dare say I didn't give you a chance!"

She slammed the bedroom door shut behind her.

I stared at the empty room, unclenched my fists, and closed my eyes in silence.

The next morning, I arrived outside the corporate headquarters of Vanguard Group, still pale and slightly unsteady on my feet.

Right at the revolving doors, I ran into Scarlett and Kyle walking in side-by-side.

"Well, well, look who it is! Ethan?" Kyle smirked, looking down his nose at me. "Come to apologize to Scarlett, have we?"

"Honestly, man, you really hurt her feelings. I had to stay up half the night consoling her."

Kyle's smug voice dripped with condescension. Scarlett folded her arms and sneered.

"I gave you an out last night, Ethan. You're too late for a simple apology now."

"Of course, if you really want my forgiveness, it's not impossible. Get down on your knees right here in front of everyone, say 'I was wrong' three times, and maybe I'll let it slide. Otherwise..."

To emphasize her threat, she looped her arm tightly around Kyle’s bicep and planted a loud kiss on his cheek, staring at me with pure defiance.

I stood there, my fists clenching slowly.

It was morning rush hour. Dozens of corporate employees were passing through the lobby, and a crowd had already stopped to watch, whispering and throwing mocking glances my way.

"Is that her deadbeat boyfriend everyone talks about?"

"Yikes. Getting humiliated publicly like that... rough."

"Rough? He's a freeloader living off a woman! He deserves every bit of it!"

Seeing the crowd swell, Kyle’s smile tightened slightly.

"Scarlett, let’s wrap this up. Rumor has it our mysterious billionaire chairman is doing a surprise inspection today. A scene like this won't look good."

Scarlett glared at me, her voice venomous. "You heard him, Ethan. Get the hell out of here before I have security throw you out. I'll deal with you after work!"

I let out a cold chuckle. "Throw me out? You don't have the authority, Scarlett."

"She doesn't have the authority?"

Kyle stepped forward, laughing arrogantly as he adjusted his designer tie. "What about me? Are you going to tell me a Senior Operations Director doesn't have the authority either?"

The moment Kyle spoke, brown-nosing employees immediately jumped in to back him up.

"Director Song is high-level corporate management! Against a pathetic mooch like you, forget kicking you out—if he tells you to crawl, you crawl!"

"Exactly! You pissed off Director Song! Get on your knees, apologize, and get the hell out!"

Kyle smirked smugly, reveling in the flattery.

I stared directly into his eyes. "Kyle Song isn't worthy to breathe the same air as me."

"What did you just say?!"

Several junior managers looking to score points with Kyle lunged forward, grabbing my arms and shoving me violently toward the floor.

"You think you can insult Director Song in his own building?! You're dead meat!"

They forced me down, and Kyle loomed over me, his grin sickeningly triumphant.

"How about it, Ethan? Get on your knees and beg for my mercy, and maybe I won't have the guards break your legs! Otherwise—"

"Otherwise, what?!"

A sharp, furious voice rang across the marble lobby.

The sharp clack of designer high heels echoed through the silence.

Everyone turned to look.

Claire, the acting CEO, was marching toward us, flanked by senior security staff.

She stopped directly in front of me, her eyes wide with shock.

"Mr. Vance!"

In an instant, the entire lobby fell dead silent.