Maybe because he was still upset about yesterday’s matter, Lucian went to the company earlier that morning without waiting for me.
When I reached the company, I happened to see him inside the office with Stella, talking happily.
Stella sat halfway on the office table, while most of her body almost rested against him, yet Lucian showed no intention of moving away from her.
My steps stopped for a moment. I waited outside for quite some time, but in the end, I still knocked on the door.
After hearing the knock, Stella softly cried out and quickly tried climbing down from the office table. However, because she could not keep her balance, she stumbled and fell into Lucian’s arms.
Lucian quietly calmed her down a few times. When her cheeks became red because of what he said, he finally gently let her go.
Watching that close scene made me suddenly think about the beginning years of the company.
At that time, although everyone already knew I was the girlfriend who helped him build everything from the ground up,
Lucian still did not want to publicly reveal our relationship. To avoid suspicion, he even announced that I was no longer allowed to casually enter and leave his office.
If there was a work report, I even had to book an appointment and send an application a day before.
Even after going in, I still could not remain there for over ten minutes.
But now, as I looked at Lucian with a smile on his face, I finally understood.
So from the start until the end, the thing he wanted to avoid was not suspicion, but me.
I smiled bitterly at myself, then placed the resignation form I was holding onto the desk and waited for his signature.
Still, Lucian did not even glance at it. Instead, he frowned and asked, “Didn’t I tell you to file it early? Why didn’t you submit it this time?”
I parted my lips, wanting to tell him that after today, I would be leaving.
I came today to hand in my resignation and pack my belongings as well.
But before I managed to speak, he suddenly looked like he felt sorry for me. He lifted his hand and pushed my resignation paper aside.
“Okay, I’ll review the documents later. Go outside first.”
I hesitated again and again, wanting to tell him that it was not a work file, but my resignation document.
But after seeing Stella weakly rest against Lucian once more, I held the words back.
Soon after, I stepped out of the office, returned to my workspace, and began arranging my things.
I did not have many personal belongings. A single bag could fit all of them.
During these eight years, I had kept giving everything to him and the company.
I had turned into someone completely different from who I used to be.
Still, it was good that I would leave soon.
Right after I finished packing, Lucian walked out of the office.
The moment he saw me, he walked straight toward me, his voice sounding heavy.
“Ciara, let’s talk.”
He probably already noticed my resignation application.
I smiled lightly, my voice distant. “President Lucero, there is nothing for us to say anymore.”
“Nothing to say anymore?” Lucian nearly bit out the words. “Ciara, do you still think you are that outstanding graduate everybody wanted back then?”
“Once you leave Syntra Technology, where do you think you can go?”
“This field is very small. Everyone already knows you belong to me. Without me agreeing, let’s see who has the courage to employ you!”
I stared at him while pain slowly passed through my heart.
After the eight years I spent beside him, this was the way he looked at me.
At least I should thank him for finally showing his true feelings before I walked away.
I ignored his angry shouting, held the box in my arms, and walked out of the company.
Behind me, I could still hear Lucian’s furious yelling and Stella’s soft voice pretending to calm him down.
But none of those things mattered to me anymore.
That night, after arriving at the rival company, I remembered there was still one file left at Syntra Technology.
So I took a taxi back.
Inside the company, only Lucian’s office still had the lights turned on.
I walked near the door and was about to knock, but voices speaking inside suddenly reached my ears.
They were Lucian’s other business partners.
“Lucian, are you really going to ignore Ciara now? What if she truly leaves for another company?”
My hand holding the doorknob suddenly stopped.
Right after that, Lucian’s careless voice came from inside.
“You still can’t see how she is? She’s mad because I gave Stella the general manager role. She’s purposely making a scene and acting difficult!”
“Let her quit. I’d like to see what company dares hire her without me agreeing to it. In the end, won’t she still return and obediently work her way up from the bottom?”
Stella laughed sweetly. “Oh, this really is my fault. A lot of people at the company are asking if Ciara left because of me.”
“But the pointer stopped on me first. How could anyone know that would happen?”
Lucian’s other partners quickly agreed. “Stella knows how to think about the whole company. Ciara’s different. Even after following you for eight years, she still only knows how to create problems without reason.”
My hand slowly let go of the doorknob.
Maybe because Lucian believed I wouldn’t really leave, he signed the resignation paper very fast.
That actually made it easier for me to start at the new company.
On only my second day at the new company, I signed an important client.
During the next few days, I stayed busy with work the whole time.
Of course, I also didn’t know that, on the other side, Lucian was quietly staring at my chat window.
