Chapter 4

Selena's POV

Before the lash marks on my back had even begun to heal, I was back at the office, clocking in on time every morning.

Harrison and I were co-managing the final phase of the South District Land Development Project. I had poured six months of my life into this deal—from initial geological surveys and dozens of on-site inspections to countless sleepless nights drafting the proposal. Once next week's keynote presentation was over, the project would officially break ground.

It was meant to be the closing chapter of my career here before I walked away.

That afternoon, Pearl suddenly showed up at Hayes Group headquarters.

Dressed in head-to-toe couture, she sauntered into Harrison’s corner office like a princess inspecting her realm. At that moment, I was inside reviewing the final deck of financial data with him.

"Harrison!" Ignoring my presence entirely, Pearl skipped to his desk and eyed the South District proposal. "This sounds so exciting! Dad said I should get some corporate experience. Can I join this project team?"

Harrison’s fingers froze over his keyboard. He glanced at me instinctively, his brow furrowing slightly. "Pearl, Selena has been running this for six months. The data models are extremely intricate, and you don't have any background in—"

"Are you saying I'm too stupid, Harrison?" Tears instantly welled in Pearl’s eyes. "I know I never got a proper education like Selena did. But I just wanted to learn something... I wanted to be closer to you. If you think I'm an embarrassment, I'll just leave right now..."

I knew Harrison could never stand seeing her look so broken and insecure. Her eight lost years on the streets were an open wound that bled guilt for both him and the Vances.

He sighed, his tone softening immediately. "I don't think you're an embarrassment. It's just—"

"Mr. Hayes, the figures have been verified. I'll head back to my desk." I shut the folder, my voice flat. I had zero interest in watching their melodrama unfold.

That night, I stayed late at the office, working until ten before returning to Harrison’s private residence. Because of the engagement, we had moved in together six months prior, though we slept in separate rooms.

Harrison was sitting on the living room sofa, his laptop resting on his knees. The cold blue glow of the screen illuminated his handsome, expressionless face.

I poured a glass of warm water and walked over. Taking a deep breath, I looked down at him.

It was time to tell him. About my leaving. Instead of slipping away like a ghost, it was better to lay it bare and sever this twisted tie once and for all.

"Harrison," I said quietly. "We need to talk."

Harrison didn't look up; his eyes remained glued to his phone screen. Just as the words *call off the wedding* were on the tip of my tongue, his phone buzzed sharply.

A text notification from Pearl popped up. From where I stood, the preview text was impossible to miss:

*Harrison, am I really that useless? This afternoon, Selena said I was just a leech living off men and told me to get lost from the project. It hurts so much... Maybe I never should have come home...*

As Harrison read the message, the atmosphere in the room plummeted below freezing.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes boring into mine with glacial disappointment and tightly coiled rage.