Chapter 3

I let out a bitter chuckle, picking up my moving box. As I headed for the exit, one of the late-night developers spotted me.

"Ethan? What are you doing back? Aren't you supposed to be at the gala accepting the award?"

The others looked up from their monitors and gathered around, excitement buzzing in their voices.

"Game of the Year is definitely ours! We were just debating what victory pose you'd make holding that trophy!"

"Seriously! Ethan spent five years leading us through the trenches to make this happen. We're definitely getting bonuses after this win, right?"

"Without Ethan, this studio wouldn't even exist! The boss should give him equity at this point!"

Every single person on the team saw my sweat and blood. The only one who treated it like trash was Chloe Miller.

We were supposed to be partners in life and work, yet she showed me less respect than a random coworker.

Under their eager gazes, I offered a weary, bitter shake of my head.

"We won the award. But I resigned."

The room went dead silent, followed by an immediate uproar as everyone asked what happened.

Without saying a word, I brought up the live stream recording on a workstation monitor.

As the playback finished, shock turned into raw, boiling outrage across their faces.

"If you're out, Ethan, I'm out too!"

"Count me in! We walk together!"

"Chloe went too far! Kicking out the main architect of the entire game to prop up her pet intern? Is she out of her mind?!"

I sighed softly, raising a hand to calm them down.

"Most of you have rent to pay, families to feed. What are you going to do, starve with me?"

Seeing their stubborn determination, I smiled faintly.

"Take your year-end bonuses first."

"I’m starting my own indie studio. If you still want to work with me when the time comes, I’ll have a desk waiting for every single one of you."

Cheers and promises echoed through the bullpen.

Over the past five years, I had earned their loyalty with every line of code we debugged together.

Chloe assumed that my position was just a gift from her, that anyone could replace me. She had no idea that I was the glue holding the entire studio together.

Before the noise died down, the office doors clicked open. Chloe and Lucas walked in.

Her arm was looped intimately around Lucas's, a triumphant smile lighting up her face. She hadn't even noticed her lipstick was smudged.

"Game of the Year is officially ours! Dinner’s on me tonight, everyone!"

Her announcement fell into an icy, suffocating silence.

Instead of the cheering she expected, the developers offered polite, muttered excuses, their eyes fixed with open contempt on Lucas, who stood awkwardly holding the trophy.

"Chloe... do they not like me?" Lucas whispered, his voice trembling with practiced innocence. "It’s my fault. I shouldn't have stolen Ethan's spotlight."

He looked at Chloe like a wounded puppy, playing the victim to perfection.

Predictably, Chloe spun around and glared at me, her voice turning razor-sharp.

"Ethan Vance, in my office. Now!"

Once the door clicked shut, Chloe stared at me for a long moment, her expression softening into patronizing exasperation.

"Ethan, why are you acting like such a child?"

"Lucas has massive potential. Giving him the spotlight helps us retain young talent, which benefits our studio in the long run! You’re still young. You'll have plenty of chances to win awards in the future."

Chloe walked around her mahogany desk and reached out to hold my hand, trying to appease me.

"You're my boyfriend. If I gave the award to you, people would say I'm biased and playing favorites!"