“Since I’m so unbearable to all of you, I’ll resign now and withdraw from the R&D team.”
My voice was calm, but my heart was already shattered. My family owns assets worth tens of millions—why should I waste my time competing with a group of short-sighted fools?
Ideals are important, yes. But my parents' lives are far more precious. I wanted to see how far Luther, the so-called genius, could take the project without me.
As soon as news of my resignation broke, my colleagues began to sneer.
“Now he’s running away after getting exposed. What happened to your pride, Team Leader Cole?”
“Must be nice to be rich—stealing others' work and leaving when things get tough.”
“Let’s recommend Junior Grant as the new team leader. He’s efficient, and we won’t have to work so hard anymore.”
“He’s been holding us back this whole time. If it weren’t for him, Luther would’ve completed the R&D already!”
They had made up their minds. To them, I was a fraud who clung to his position through wealth and deceit. No one considered the possibility that I was telling the truth. They humiliated me without remorse and couldn’t wait for me to disappear.
Even Claire, my girlfriend—someone who once dreamed with me of a shared future—didn’t defend me. Instead, she fanned the flames.
“Ethan, I’ve told you countless times to focus on real work and stop depending on others,” she said coldly. “But you just won’t listen.”
“Since you refuse to change and still have the nerve to act shameless, let’s break up. I, Claire, don’t need a fake boyfriend.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected. Looking into her indifferent eyes, I realized the woman I once cherished was long gone.
“Alright. I agree,” I said without hesitation.
She looked stunned. After all, I had always loved her deeply. I had even argued with my parents on her behalf. I never understood why my parents disliked her. They used to say her eyes were too calculating, her features too sharp—not the kind of woman fit to be a wife.
But I dismissed them, thinking they were being snobbish. She came from an orphanage, and I assumed they just didn’t want someone with no background. To prove them wrong, I brought her into this research project, hoping to show them that she was capable, driven, and the right woman to stand by my side.
Now, I realized they had seen something I hadn’t.
Soon after, Mr. John, the project organizer and my relative, arrived and spoke with a sigh.
“Nephew, since things have turned out this way, maybe it’s better to step back and rest for a while. You can go home and refocus.”
I chuckled inwardly. He had once begged me to join this project, but now he questioned my ability and asked me to leave without a second thought.
Just as I was about to walk out, Luther grabbed my arm.
“Team Leader Cole! The project is at a critical stage—how can you walk away now?”
“I know you blame me for not listening to you, but we’re all working toward the same goal. Even if you lack technical strength, you can still help push the project forward.”
“You can stay on as my assistant. It’s still a valuable role, and it’ll benefit us both.”
I shook him off, disgusted. “Luther, heaven is watching. I truly hope your success doesn’t come with a price.”
With that, I walked away without looking back.
As I stepped out of the building, my phone rang. It was my father.
“Ethan, what’s going on? Mr. Warren just called, saying you resigned... and that you were accused of plagiarizing your teammates?”
I softened my tone and reassured him, “It’s just a misunderstanding, Dad. I’ll explain everything when I get home.”
When I arrived at our villa, my parents were already at the door, waiting anxiously. Their worried eyes met mine, and the memory of their tragic death in my previous life returned—crushed beneath wheels, their bodies beyond recognition.
My heart cracked. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down my face.
My mother pulled me into her arms gently.
“Enough, son,” she said with a pained smile. “We have money. You don’t need to fight them anymore. Let them figure it out themselves.”
