Chapter 4

Afraid he’d discover them, I ignored the pain in my body and frantically tried to gather my things.

“Let me help.” Jackson knelt down, frowning as he picked up the resignation letter.

I stared at the classified documents underneath, holding my breath, terrified he’d notice.

Luckily, Jackson’s attention was entirely on the resignation letter. I quickly buried the documents among my other belongings.

“You quit?” Jackson’s tone was surprised.

“Yeah.” I crammed everything into the box.

He looked displeased. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I asked you to hand over the project before, and you kept refusing. What changed your mind now?”

Perhaps my face looked too bad, because he hesitated, then softened his tone for a rare moment. “It’s fine if you quit. It saves me the trouble anyway. Grandma gave you so much money, you should be content.”

“You can just relax and be my wife from now on. Stop competing with Chloe.

“She’s kind-hearted, she doesn’t understand your manipulative games.”

I bit my lip, forcing back tears, my heart feeling as if countless needles were pricking it.

I struggled to get up, wincing from the pain. He reached out to steady me. “Victoria, can you explain the project to Chloe, so those investors don’t give her a hard time?”

“She’s not as good at charming people as you are, to the point of getting half the assets.”

Not wanting to waste any more time dealing with them, I nodded at Jackson. “Okay.”

Jackson seemed very pleased with my obedience. He even offered a rare smile. “That’s better. I haven’t had time to be with you lately, and you’ve been wronged. Once Chloe fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.”

“After Grandma’s mourning period is over, we’ll get married. That way, she can rest easy.”

I bit my lip so hard it hurt, my heart throbbing with a dull ache. That day would never come.

Over the next few days, I quietly packed my bags, wrote out the project proposal for Chloe, and found time to visit Jackson’s grandmother’s grave. I told her my decision.

She had loved me dearly when she was alive, and I knew she wouldn’t want to see me suffer Jackson’s abuse like this.

On the last day, Jackson didn’t go to work.

I felt a little anxious, trying to come up with a reason to leave smoothly.

Unexpectedly, Jackson pulled out the old telescope that hadn’t been used in ages. “Chloe wants to go stargazing, so I’m taking her camping today.”

“Okay.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was perfect. If I left early, I could avoid running into him.

He then added, “There’s also a charity gala tonight. Get Chloe’s gown ready for her.”

I thought about it. By that time, I would already be on my way to the desert research facility.

Chloe walked over, linked her arm through Jackson’s, and whined with feigned vulnerability. “How could Vicky prepare my gown? Last time, the project proposal she gave me was all wrong, and it caused me so much trouble with the investors.”

“Jackson, I can wear anything. I don’t want…”

She even shed two theatrical tears. Jackson’s brows furrowed, and he glared at me. “Victoria, if you don’t want to do something, you can just say so! How can you do something like this?! You’ve truly disappointed me!”

I was about to leave anyway, and I didn’t want any more conflict with them. I calmly apologized to Chloe. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Then I looked at Jackson. “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare the gown properly.”

A flicker of shame crossed Jackson’s face. He hesitated for a long moment before slowly speaking. “Victoria, tomorrow, I’ll take you to buy a new puppy, I promise it’ll be just like the old one.”

Before Professor Davies’s car came to pick me up, I ironed Chloe’s gown and delivered it to her. Then, I placed the ring, the one symbolizing “forever,” and the pre-nuptial agreement on the table.

I walked downstairs with my luggage. Professor Davies looked at my blank expression and sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

“Since you’ve decided to go, work hard there and strive for results as soon as possible!”

“I will!”

I got into the car, watching Jackson’s mansion grow smaller and smaller, gradually disappearing from view.

In the early hours of the morning, Jackson returned home with a slightly tipsy Chloe.

The house was quiet, the lights off. Jackson subconsciously felt annoyed.

After all, no matter how late it was, I used to always wait for him on the sofa.

“Victoria! Come out and make some hangover soup!”

But the empty house offered no reply, only silence. Jackson impatiently switched on the lights, only to suddenly see the documents and the ring on the table. He roared, “Victoria! Who gave you permission to take off the ring?!”

Chapter But the empty house offered no reply, only silence.

Jackson stood in the center of the living room, unaware that his own heart was trembling.