Chapter 3

3

I underwent the minor surgery alone.

It was just some stitches, so I didn't need to be admitted overnight.

When I got back to the apartment, I hired professional organizers to pack my things.

I didn't own much, but I refused to leave a single item behind.

Within thirty minutes, everything was packed into boxes. I called a moving van and loaded it all up.

During that time, I had already found a great rental online.

The landlord was straightforward and let me move in right away.

Soon, I was sitting in my new apartment.

It wasn't huge, but it was more than enough for one person.

I took two days of medical leave.

I spent those two days resting and recovering at home. Tara didn't contact me once.

I thought our breakup was settled cleanly. But on my first day back at work, the general manager called me into his office.

"Dustin, did you offend someone upstairs?"

Hearing this first thing in the morning caught me completely off guard.

I shook my head blankly. "No, why?"

"Well, here's the thing..." The manager cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing at me before continuing. "Your promotion to director has been put on hold."

"Oh."

At that moment, everything clicked.

It seemed Tara had made her move.

Not many people in the company knew about our relationship―only my project assistant.

He had only found out after we worked late on a deal and he accidentally saw Tara and me leaving together. I didn't deny it, but I asked him to keep it a secret.

Tara had told me, "I don't want people gossiping about you or saying you're relying on me."

Back then, I thought Tara loved me so deeply that she even protected my pride.

Yet today, the second I stepped out of the manager's office, I saw Tara walking into our department with Lucas Holt.

"Everyone, this is our new Project Director. He will be leading your team from now on. Let's give him a warm welcome."

Tara introduced Lucas to everyone with a bright smile.

She wasn't hiding a single thing anymore. As the sole heiress of the Lind Group, she personally escorted him to the floor and even decorated his private office herself.

That position was supposed to be mine.

I had poured three years of blood, sweat, and tears into the Lind Group.

I had helped Tara secure so many massive corporate contracts over those three years. My promotion to director was well-earned and practically guaranteed.

Yet Tara handed it to Lucas on a silver platter.

She didn't even spare me a single glance.

I supposed she was doing the right thing. A proper ex was supposed to act like they were dead.

So, I decided to quit right then and there.

Conveniently, my parents had already offered me another path.

When my parents visited last time, it wasn't just a vacation. They were also catching up with an old family friend.

As luck would have it, that friend was Uncle Arthur, the CEO of Palmer Enterprises.

When Uncle Arthur learned I was working at the Lind Group, he expressed deep regret and even tried to recruit me on the spot.

After finding out I was the lead on several major deals, he laughed wryly. "So you're the brilliant kid who helped the Lind girl beat me to those contracts!"

Uncle Arthur was joking, but I felt pretty embarrassed.

I had politely turned down his offer back then.