Chapter 4

Melanie's POV

Maggie couldn't hold back her tears.

"You poor child. Ever since your mother left, you haven't had a single peaceful day. I thought Damien was truly devoted to you these past few years, but who would have thought..."

I wiped her tears away. "Maggie, don't cry."

I took a property deed out of my bag and placed it into Maggie's hands.

"I had my lawyer transfer the title under your name. This apartment belongs to you now."

Maggie flipped it open and saw her own name printed on the ownership documents.

Startled, she hurriedly pushed the folder back into my hands.

"What are you doing? You personally designed and renovated this place to live with Damien after you got married!"

I gently held down her hands and patted her back.

"Maggie, I'm not marrying him anymore. Next month, I'm marrying into the Foster family."

"The Fosters are very good people, so don't worry about me. After I leave, sell this place and take the money back to your hometown to retire. You've worked hard for most of your life; it's time you rested. If I ever get the chance, I'll come visit you."

Maggie froze, her tears spilling over again. "You're really not marrying Damien?"

My phone buzzed with an incoming notification.

It was a photo from Chloe Carter.

In the picture, Damien Lawrence was fast asleep on a king-size hotel bed, his upper body bare, his neck and chest covered in hickeys.

Chloe Carter wasn't wearing a thing either, leaning against him and flashing a brazen, triumphant smirk at the camera.

I saved the image right before Chloe Carter could unsend it.

I wiped my face, brushing away the very last tear I would ever shed for Damien Lawrence.

"Yes, Maggie. I've decided I don't want him anymore."

That night, the two of us began packing up my things.

Every piece of jewelry and limited-edition handbag Damien Lawrence had gifted me over the years, along with the custom watches and cufflinks I had given him, were listed on second-hand luxury consignment platforms.

I only packed a few everyday outfits and my essential documents, leaving the rest for Maggie to deal with.

As Maggie folded my clothes, she kept sighing and dabbing her tears, unable to find any words of comfort.

The next day was a workday, and I went to the Lawrence Corporation as usual.

Father had always been guarded against me, fearing that joining Sterling Enterprises would diminish his authority, so he barred me from the company under the pretext that girls had no need to work.

When Damien Lawrence found out, he told me to come to the Lawrence Corporation instead, saying that since I'd eventually become Mrs. Lawrence anyway, the Lawrence Group would one day be mine as well.

I joined the Lawrence Corporation right after graduation, rising to the position of Investment and Development Director within three years, my performance consistently ranking among the company's best.

The bidding for the South City New District commercial complex was something my team and I had poured over six months of grueling effort into winning.

From the preliminary research and proposal design to the countless rounds of negotiations with government departments, I had overseen every single phase.

Today happened to be the day the bid results were announced.

I intended to wait until the project was officially awarded, complete a proper handover, and then tender my resignation, giving a responsible conclusion to the team that had stood by me all these years.

Just as I stepped out of the elevator, I caught the hushed gossip coming from the break room.

"That Miss Carter Mr. Lawrence brought in yesterday—her relationship with him definitely isn't simple!"

"I heard Mr. Lawrence personally accompanied her through the entire onboarding process. Have you ever seen anyone get that kind of treatment? Not even Melanie ever got that, right?"

"Exactly! Mr. Lawrence was smiling at her so gently. Mark my words, Melanie's position is on the line!"

Someone spotted me and quickly nudged their coworker's arm.

The group scattered at once, hurrying back to their desks.

I walked past with an expressionless face.

During the morning briefing, Damien Lawrence officially announced that we had won the South City project bid.

Applause filled the conference room, and my team members instinctively turned their eyes toward me.

Damien Lawrence continued, "Moving forward, Manager Carter will be leading this project, with Melanie assisting her."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, not a single person daring to make a sound.

Everyone knew I had built the South City project from the ground up, and naturally, I was the one who should see it through.

Damien Lawrence's decree was nothing less than ordering me to play assistant to a brand-new hire.

Without uttering a single word, I stood up and walked straight out of the conference room.

Returning to my office, I had barely pushed the door open when a foul, pungent stench hit me, sending me into a coughing fit.

A pile of animal droppings sat on the rug, right beside a Netherland dwarf rabbit chewing on my files.

Suppressing my temper, I leaned down to grab the rabbit and remove it.

The rabbit was vicious, sinking its teeth into the back of my hand, and blood welled up instantly.

Suddenly, the door was shoved open, and Chloe Carter rushed in in a panic.

"Coco! There you are!"

Clutching my injured hand, I spoke with a face like ice.

"Company policy forbids bringing pets to work."

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Damien Lawrence walked in behind her.

Chloe Carter's eyes rimmed with red, tears threatening to spill at any second.

"I'm sorry, Melanie. Coco hasn't been feeling well and needs constant care, which is why Damien allowed me to bring him to the office."

Damien Lawrence immediately reached out to wipe her tears, then turned a displeased glare on me.

"Melanie Sterling, you know very well this is an office. Watch your attitude!"

My assistant walked in carrying a stack of documents, gasped upon seeing the blood on the back of my hand, and cried out, "Ms. Sterling, your hand is bleeding!"

Only then did Damien Lawrence notice my wound. His expression shifted, and he took a quick stride toward me.

"Mel, I'm sorry. I didn't see that just now."

He reached out to inspect my hand, but I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

"Mr. Lawrence, this is an office. Watch your behavior."

Damien Lawrence choked on his own words, momentarily at a loss.

Refusing to give up, he reached out again to seize my wrist, but I jerked away with force.

Damien Lawrence's expression darkened completely.

"Make sure you properly support Chloe on the South City project. She just joined and has a lot to learn. Mentor her well, and hand over all your client accounts to her."

I looked straight at him. "Mr. Lawrence, I refuse."

Damien Lawrence fixed his gaze on me. "Have you thought this through?"

"Completely."

There was not a shred of hesitation in my voice.

Damien Lawrence spat out chillingly, "Then you're done here. Don't bother coming in starting tomorrow."

He summoned his assistant. "Melanie Sterling refuses to comply with work assignments. Process her suspension immediately. She can come back to work whenever she's come to her senses."

"Clear out this office and give it to Manager Carter."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Watching his silhouette disappear out the doorway, the very last shred of affection I held for him snapped completely.

I immediately began clearing my personal belongings off the desk.

Chloe Carter leaned against the doorframe cradling the rabbit, regarding me with smug satisfaction.

"Melanie Sterling, if I can kick you out of the Sterling family, I can kick you out of the Lawrence Corporation! Well? Doesn't getting thrown out feel all too familiar?"

Without even looking up, I tossed the framed photo of Damien Lawrence and me into a cardboard box.

"All you're fit for is picking up the trash I throw away. Jonathan Sterling is a father I don't want, Damien Lawrence is a man I don't want, and now even this office is something I don't want. Chloe Carter, you really are pathetic."

Footsteps approached the door as Damien Lawrence returned unexpectedly.

The moment she saw him, Chloe Carter instantly morphed into a picture of hurt and vulnerability, looking at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Damien, it really doesn't matter. I can sit at any random desk outside."

Damien Lawrence patted her head, then shot me another icy glare.

Turning to his assistant, he commanded, "Trash this office."