“This afternoon, in the company group chat, I saw his post on social media. Said he was sick and craving the loaded congee from that place on the south side of town.”
Serena's face darkened the instant she was caught. Her voice climbed a full register.
“Stuart, are you seriously addicted to checking up on me now?”
“Roger had a rough day at the office. He didn't even eat dinner. I picked up a bowl on my way past. How does that make me a monster?”
“I bought an extra one and brought it home for you. You're a grown man. Do you really have to be this petty and jealous?”
She was completely righteous about it. In her mind, I was the one being unreasonable.
I didn't argue.
“I'm not hungry. Go ahead and eat.”
I turned back to packing my clothes.
Before, something like this would have sent me straight into a fight. I would have demanded to know who she actually put first.
But now all I felt was tired.
The specific kind of tired that comes from fighting over someone who was never yours to begin with.
Serena stared at my calm back. Something about it didn't sit right with her.
“What are you doing? Packing in the middle of the night?”
“Heading back to my hometown in a few days.” I didn't turn around.
“You're still throwing a fit?” She let out a cold laugh. “Fine. You want to go sulk at home for a few days, go ahead.”
“The company's swamped right now anyway. Roger can barely keep up on his own.”
“Whenever you're done with this little tantrum, buy yourself a ticket back.”
She tossed off her coat, slammed the bedroom door behind her, and went to shower.
I folded my last coat and set it in the suitcase.
Through the rush of water from the bathroom, I took out my phone.
Opened the chat with the real estate agent.
“Mr. Wang, the condo under my name. Your floor price works. I can sign the transfer contract tomorrow.”
That was the apartment I'd bought back when Serena was just starting the company. Down payment from my parents' retirement savings.
I was getting rid of it overnight.
Every last thread tying me to her. I wanted none of it.
The next day, I went to the office as usual for the handover.
The entire planning department already knew I'd had a blowout with Ms. Vance the day before. The atmosphere was strange.
I had just finished organizing the files for my key client accounts.
That was when Roger walked in with Serena's secretary.
“Hey, Stu. Serena said you should transfer the Grandview Corp deal to me.”
He was wearing a brand-new designer shirt today. And there on his wrist, bright as ever, was my gold watch.
I looked up at him.
“I've been on the Grandview deal for almost a year. We're about to sign. You just came off probation. You can't handle it.”
“Is it that you don't trust my abilities, Stu, or that you just can't let go of the commission?” The corner of Roger's mouth twitched upward, smugness he didn't bother hiding.
“Ms. Vance approved this personally.” The secretary placed a document in front of me.
Serena's bold, sweeping signature across the bottom：Approved for transfer.
I stared at that signature and almost laughed.
It wasn't enough for Serena to take my feelings. She had to take my work, too, and lay it at Roger's feet like a stepping stone to prop him up.
I said nothing. Signed the handover sheet, clean and quick.
“Take it.”
Roger scooped up the files, grinning.
“Thanks, Stu. Serena was right about you. Bit of a temper, sure, but when push comes to shove, you know when to fall in line.”
“Oh, one more thing. Serena wants me to take over your private office. Says I'll be handling the major clients now, so I need a better setup.”
He pointed at the personal items on my desk.
“Stu, be a pal and have all this cleared out today, yeah?”
A murmur of whispers rippled through the colleagues gathered outside the door.
