Chapter 3

While I was taping up my personal box, Chloe and Dominic barged into my office.

Both of their faces were contorted with fury, as if I had committed treason.

"No wonder you bolted out of the apartment this morning! You stole company secrets and tried to make a run for it!"

Dominic went on the offensive immediately, pointing his finger right in my face.

Chloe hesitated for a second, but then her expression hardened. "Julian, I thought you were just being petty, but I never thought you’d be a thief!"

Dominic shouted with absolute conviction, acting like he held undeniable proof.

I was completely baffled.

"What did you just say? I stole something?"

I looked at them, disgusted.

"Cut the crap! My confidential client acquisition file is missing. You're the only one who had access to my laptop!"

Dominic’s tone was absolute, sentencing me on the spot.

I glanced around. Staff members from every department were gathering around the glass partitions, whispering, staring at me with suspicion, pity, or cold amusement.

In their eyes, I was already the traitor who sold out the company.

And all of this was orchestrated by the woman I gave five years of my life to, and her darling fiancé.

Chloe stood to the side, crossing her arms.

"How else do you explain packing your boxes right now? Where do you think you're going? You’ve disappointed me, Julian. That file is critical to Dominic's upcoming pitch. Stop playing games and hand it over!"

I looked at her like she was insane, picked up my box, and moved toward the door. "Get out of my way. I don't have time for your circus."

Seeing me ignore her authority, Chloe’s face darkened. "What do you think you’re doing? Don't embarrass me in front of the entire office! Stop pushing your luck!"

Dominic yelled, "Don't let him leave! He’s getting away with the files!"

Chloe hesitated for half a second before calling security.

Two burly guards rushed in, twisted my arms behind my back, and slammed me face-down against the mahogany desk to search me.

I struggled, trying to hold on to the last shred of my dignity, but they overpowered me.

Chloe told me not to embarrass her. Yet right now, she was the one publicly stripping away every ounce of my pride, believing Dominic’s slander without a second thought.

She let them pin an imaginary crime on my head.

They tore open my shirt, searching through my pockets, exposing my bare chest to the entire floor. In that moment, the humiliation cut deeper than any blade.

The guards searched every inch of me and my box. There were no confidential files. Nothing.

They exchanged awkward looks and stepped back.

"I told you, I didn't touch your damn files!" I panted, refusing to bow my head.

Chloe still refused to believe it. "Impossible! Only the three of us were in that apartment last night!"

"Where did you stash it?! Hand it over now and I won't press charges. Don't make me lose my temper!" Chloe barked, her voice cold and threatening.

"Oh, wait! Silly me, I just remembered!" Dominic clapped his hands together with theatrical realization. "I left the folder in the backseat of my Uber."

He laughed it off casually, treating the entire ordeal like an amusing little mistake.

I stared at him, white-hot rage and sickening humiliation churning in my gut.

He had just destroyed my reputation, dragged my name through the mud in front of the entire company, while everyone watched like it was cheap daytime television.

For a second, Chloe looked stunned. Perhaps a flicker of guilt crossed her mind. But she just avoided my eyes and muttered:

"Well... as long as it's found. That's all that matters."

No apology. No accountability.

Every ounce of love and respect I had ever felt was crushed beneath her heels.