4: 4
Lawrence had finally seen my message.
The silence on the other end of the line stretched out again.
"So instead of just saying you're angry, you've learned to twist the knife, is that it?"
He hung up in a rage.
"Fine! You want out, I'll give it to you!"
A moment later, he posted in the company-wide group chat.
【@everyone, @Susannah Henson. From now on, at the company, you can all call her the boss's woman.】
【As for Cecily Gilbert, she gave up the position of her own free will.】
I'd founded the company with Lawrence, so of course I was in the group.
It was just that all these years, ruled by my own emotions, I'd never had the energy to put into running it.
The group chat exploded, message after message of congratulations pouring in.
【Honestly, I've had it up to here with that sensitive old woman!】
【If you ask me, a woman should be independent. All that daily whining about who loves who—it's just pathetic.】
【It's a joke, really. A clingy little parasite jerking Mr. Landon around every single day. I couldn't stand watching it.】
【It's women like Susannah, independent women, who really earn everyone's respect!】
I read through all of it.
And found myself, strangely, agreeing.
The words were ugly.
But objectively speaking, they made a lot of sense.
Then Lawrence posted again: 【Tomorrow night's industry charity gala. Susannah will be attending with me as the company's boss's woman. The rest of you had better be prepared too.】
At last a faint, peculiar anger stirred in me.
Not anger that my place had been taken.
Anger that Lawrence kept ignoring my request to break up.
I had to think of a way to make him face it.
Better if everyone in the industry knew we were already finished.
The next evening, the charity gala.
I arrived early, dressed in a formal gown.
Under the glittering lights, Susannah stood at the center of the stage with her arm looped through Lawrence's.
The two of them clasping hands and holding each other, gazes locked, looked for all the world like a real couple.
The crowd below clapped and cheered without thinking.
Then, catching sight of me, they went silent as the grave, not daring to make a sound.
"Was my temper really so terrible before?"
Not a challenge. Just curiosity.
Ever since the amygdala was removed, I'd begun looking at my former self in a whole new light.
In the end it was me who led the applause, loud and fierce, breaking the hush over the ballroom.
"Oh my God? What on earth is going on?"
"Looks like there's going to be a show tonight."
"Miss Gilbert is famous in this circle for being jealous and starting scenes! Fight! Fight!"
I watched Lawrence up on the stage.
His face was frighteningly dark, with a trace of timid dread in it, but mostly a deep, deep anger.
I turned and looked at the people gossiping about me.
And forced out a proper smile.
"Everyone, I'm not angry. Really."
But no one seemed to believe me.
The murmuring only grew louder.
"What exactly do I have to do to make you believe I'm truly not angry?"
I thought it over.
Then I walked straight up onto the stage.
Lawrence instinctively planted himself in front of Susannah.
"Cecily! I'm begging you, stop causing a scene!"
"I'm the one who dragged Susannah into this to spite you! In front of all these people, you'd better not bully Susannah!"
I raised my hand high.
And only pushed the two of them slowly apart.
All I wanted was to cast the photo of my medical report from my phone onto the big screen.
The enormous hospital diagnosis was laid out in front of them all.
【The patient's amygdala has been removed.】
"I'm sorry, everyone. I came here to sincerely wish Mr. Landon and Miss Susannah Henson well."
"And, of course, to get Mr. Lawrence Landon to agree to my request for a breakup."
"I really, truly, will never be angry over Lawrence again."
"Why won't you believe me?"
