Chapter 4

The next day, I went to the office to pack my things.

But in my private lounge, I saw Leo, wearing baggy shorts, his feet propped up on my desk.

His belongings were spread all over my lounge, while all my things had been tossed outside the door.

Chloe had specially designed this lounge for me; it was *my* private space.

Everyone in the company knew it, and no one dared to step foot in that room.

Leo was blatantly walking all over me, disrespecting me right to my face.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him and just called the police.

At the police station, Leo panicked.

"I was just helping Chloe get some materials. Did you really have to call the police?"

"That's my private space. Did I give you permission to enter it without asking?"

"Taking something without asking? Isn't that stealing?"

Leo had no rebuttal to my words. He suddenly started to cry, and I immediately knew something was off.

Sure enough, when I turned around, it was Chloe, her face thunderous.

"Chloe!"

The moment he saw Chloe, Leo practically launched himself into her arms.

"I really just wanted to help you get some documents. But Lucas doesn't seem to like me. He insists I was stealing. I have a villa with dozens of square feet full of things you've given me, why would I need his measly stuff?"

This small room was Chloe's "gift" to me.

It was her return gift for the small cabin I had built for her.

We had so many sweet memories in this room.

I always thought at least this sanctuary wouldn't be defiled; it was like the last shred of dignity for our love.

But Chloe insisted on tearing apart my last bit of fantasy with her own hands.

Chloe comforted Leo while explaining to the officers, "It's all a misunderstanding. We know each other. Sorry to bother you."

Then she turned to me, her voice dripping with disgust.

"Lucas, what's gotten into you? Why are you acting like a crazy person all the time? Do you feel great using your power to hurt innocent subordinates like Leo? You really disappoint me."

Her accusations rained down on me, but before I could retort, Leo started his act again.

"Chloe, don't blame Lucas. It's my fault for being careless."

"Worst case, I'll go to jail for a few days, and people can laugh at me. It's fine. Don't let this cause trouble between you and Lucas."

Chloe held Leo's hand, her face full of heartache.

"Leo, you're just too soft-hearted, that's why people always pick on you."

"Lucas, let me tell you, this isn't going to blow over easily. You need to apologize to Leo right now."

"Chloe, he entered my private space without my permission. And you want me to apologize to him? Do you still think *he's* the victim?"

The moment I spoke, Leo started sniffling again, looking utterly wronged.

Chloe sneered,

"Your private space? That lounge belongs to the Liu Group. Don't forget, the entire Liu Group is under *my* name. You only had temporary access. If you keep this attitude, I won't hesitate to have you charged with false accusation."

With that, she pulled Leo away to sort out the paperwork.

Her words were like a sharp dagger piercing my heart.

The heart I thought was long dead throbbed with a dull ache.

For so many years, I poured my heart and soul into propping up the Liu Group, believing I was fighting for our shared future.

Turns out, all I got in return was "you only had permission to use it."

Before Chloe left the police station with Leo, she gave me a warning.

"Just so you know, the likes have already hit 990. If you keep this attitude, I'm really going to marry Leo."

I looked at Leo's sneering gaze behind her and suddenly realized how pathetic I was.

Leo's tactics had always been clumsy; the intelligent Chloe couldn't possibly have missed it.

She just chose to ignore it. The scales of her affection had already tipped.

All of this was just her way of dumping me, her boyfriend.

Only I was foolish enough to try and reconcile again and again.

Once I saw through it, the last bit of love I had for Chloe completely died.

In the days leading up to my departure for the West Coast, a bunch of annoying colleagues kept messaging me privately, giving me updates.

"The likes are at 994! If you don't grovel now, someone else is going to steal your girl!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, 997 likes already. Looks like you're destined to be single."

"Oh, wow, you're holding out for a long time this time, aren't you? Afraid you can't measure up to Leo, so you ran away scared, huh? Hahahaha."

I just deleted and blocked all of them, ignoring their taunts.

When the likes reached 999, and I still hadn't caved, the tension around Chloe was palpable.

No one else in the company dared to press that final 'like' button.

As Chloe was pondering how to issue a second warning to me,

Someone suddenly burst into her office, yelling,

"Chloe! The 1000th like has been achieved!"