Chapter 3

I held my mother's dissected body tightly in my arms.

I walked out of the medical college step by step.

On the street, countless people pointed their phones at me and took photos.

When the taxi driver saw the state I was in, he was too scared to take the fare.

In the dead of night, I held my mother like this and walked slowly toward the crematorium.

A small urn held my once tall, towering mother inside.

Numbly, I returned to the rented apartment.

The moment I opened the door, I was met with a cold demand.

"Geraldine Swanson, why didn't you come tonight?!"

"How dare you block and delete me?!"

I carefully set the urn down in the entryway and turned on the living room light.

Ernest Tanner sat on the sofa, his face frighteningly cold.

He looked up, his eyes blazing with anger.

But when he saw the state I was in, he froze.

"Geraldine Swanson, what's going on with you?"

"Why is there blood?"

I looked down at the dried bloodstains on my body and didn't say a word.

As I turned to walk into the bathroom, Ernest suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist.

The familiar scent drifted around my neck.

Ernest's voice was hoarse as he took out the ring he had thrown away that morning.

He forced it onto my finger.

"Geraldine Swanson, do you regret being with me?"

Before I could speak.

He gritted his teeth, his whole body tense.

"Regret is useless!"

"For the rest of your life, you have to be with me!"

Spitting out each word, Ernest loosened his grip on my hand a little.

"There's a small problem with the project Irene's handling. Go and take responsibility for it."

"She promised me, as long as you go to the company tomorrow and admit the mistake."

"She'll find a way to get us married."

"Her parents died saving my mom and dad. If she asks, my parents will definitely agree."

When Ernest finished, his voice carried a note of excitement.

"Haven't you always wanted to go to the Maldives?"

"After we get married, we'll go there for our honeymoon..."

"Ernest, we've broken up."

I calmly cut him off.

I took the ring off and threw it in the trash can.

"Don't go picking up something you've already thrown away."

"I don't want it."

The hand around my waist suddenly tightened.

Ernest's disbelieving voice had barely left his mouth.

His phone rang.

"Ernest, I was in the shower when the power suddenly went out!"

"Can you come keep me company?"

Ernest lowered his voice to soothe Irene.

The arm holding me slowly loosened, bit by bit.

"Geraldine Swanson, I'll pretend I never heard what you said tonight."

"There's no way we're breaking up!"

"I've already arranged everything at the company for tomorrow. You just have to cooperate."

After grinding out those words through his teeth, Ernest bent down and picked the ring out of the trash can.

He carefully set it on the table, then turned and left.

The next day, I arrived at the company on time.

As soon as I reached my familiar desk, a colleague rushed over to me anxiously.

"Team Lead Swanson, why did you come in?!"

"You need to leave, quick!"

"Headquarters sent someone specifically to investigate the major accident on the project!"

"The company lost a hundred million on this project!"

"Hurry, get out through the emergency exit!"

Pale-faced, my colleague pulled me toward the door.

Then Irene suddenly walked over, pointed at me, and shouted.

"It's her!"

"Geraldine Swanson was in charge of this project!"

"The company lost a hundred million because of her mistake. Just go straight to her!"

She said it loudly, every word ringing out.

Irene looked utterly smug and unafraid.

I watched quietly, and just as I was about to speak.

Ernest stepped out of his private elevator.

"Mr. Tanner, the project's losses are too great. The board has sent us to take away the person responsible."

"Is she Geraldine Swanson?"

The man in charge raised his hand and pointed at me coldly.

Ernest's brow furrowed, his eyes churning with emotion as he looked at me.

A few seconds later, he spoke.

"It's her."