Chapter 4

“You’re quitting?” Ross’s voice was low and cold, his thin lips pressed into a hard line. “What nonsense are you up to this time?”

Before I could say anything, Zamora let out a chuckle and interjected, “Ross, don’t be so harsh on her. Maybe she’s still not feeling well and got a little emotional.”

She turned to me, her tone gentle. “Issy, don’t act on impulse. Ross’s just worried about you. You’ve been with the company for years. You can’t just walk away like that.”

“What does my resignation have to do with you?” I looked up at her, my lips curling faintly.

That gentle, considerate tone of hers—she carried herself exactly like she was his rightful wife.

Ross let out a sneer. “Don’t bother with her, Zamora. She’s just used to getting her way—trying to piss me off by threatening to quit.”

His gaze swept toward me, cold and sharp. “The only reason I let you join the company was because I felt sorry for you, Issy. Don’t start thinking you actually matter. Without me, what would you be? You’re an orphan—would you even have what you have now?”

Orphan.

That word exploded in my ears. I couldn’t even remember how many times he’d called me that.

I used to think his care came from affection and tenderness. Only now do I see—it was just pity from someone looking down on me.

It felt like something inside my chest tore open, cold pain spreading through me.

I clenched my teeth and forced my voice to stay calm. “Sir, I’m here to hand in my resignation, not to be humiliated by you. Any reason is not a justification for you to stop my resignation.”

He froze for a second when I called him “Sir” but quickly regained that familiar indifference.

He shoved my resignation letter back across the desk, his tone sharp and commanding.

“Enough. Stop making a scene. If you’re not feeling well, take a few days off at the hospital. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”

“Sir,” I met his eyes without backing down, “my decision’s final.”

The atmosphere instantly went still.

Ross finally lost patience, his voice rising. “Enough! What more do you want? I was going to promote you sooner or later; why are you in such a hurry? Zamora’s our new director now. She’s capable and well-educated—a Ph.D. from a top university abroad. What do you have to compare with that?”

My fingertips went cold. It felt like the blood in my veins had drained backwards.

Every word he said cut deep, slicing through whatever trust I’d had left.

Apparently, in his eyes, everything I’d ever done all these years meant nothing.

Even my work, to him, was not assistance, but charity!

I almost laughed, but my throat felt dry and tight. “You’re right. I can’t compare.”

“So,” I added quickly, “I quit.”

I flung the resignation paper at his face. The paper sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing sound.

I didn’t spare his ashen face another glance as I turned to leave.

I’d barely taken a few steps when the sharp click of high heels came rushing up behind me.

“Wait!” Zamora caught up and grabbed my hand.

She smiled softly, but her voice rose just enough for everyone in the office to hear. “Issy, don’t be upset. Ross can be sharp-tongued, but he really cares about you.”

“You’ve been by his side for years—at home, at work. That’s loyalty, that’s love. The way he’s treating you now, it’s his fault.”

She paused delicately, then added, “But now that I’m here, Ross doesn’t need you anymore. Don’t cling to him like this, or use resignation to guilt-trip him, alright?”

Gossiping eyes turned our way, sharp as knives.

I could practically hear the rush of blood in my ears.

“Zamora,” I snapped, “whatever’s between me and Ross has nothing to do with you.”

I tried to pull my hand free, but she cut me off again with that same soft tone.

“Don’t be like that. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Then she leaned closer, her voice laced with pity, as if she were talking to someone who’d already lost everything.

“You’ve always wanted to marry him, haven’t you? Then let me be generous—try on a ten-carat diamond for once.”

Before I could react, she actually slipped the ring off her own finger and tried to shove it onto my middle finger.

The band was too tight; my knuckle turned white under the pressure. The pain made me shove her away.

“Ahhh!” she cried, stumbling dramatically down the floor.

Every pair of eyes in the office immediately snapped toward us.

Zamora braced herself on one hand, her eyes wide and trembling, her voice shaky. “Issy… you wanted to marry Ross that badly?”

Her eyes went red, her tears welling up as she continued, “If you just wanted to try on my engagement ring, you could’ve just said so. Why push me? I’ve never blamed you for clinging to Ross all these years…”

For a moment, I was stunned. Then, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly in rage.

“Who the hell wants your ring?”