Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Whispers erupted among my coworkers, all praising how well-matched they seemed.

Curious, furtive glances soon shifted in my direction.

People compared me to Vivian under their breath, concluding that she was far more striking.

Hearing their chatter stung, but a wave of relief quickly washed over me.

Seeing Chase and Vivian flaunting their intimacy, colleagues pretended to work while secretly tracking every interaction between the three of us.

Everyone at the company knew Chase and I were engaged and that I was utterly obsessed with him.

Yet Chase was openly escorting Vivian without a shred of discretion. The looks they gave me were a mix of pity and mockery.

They probably expected me to break down in tears and beg Chase to stay.

A close coworker gave me an anxious look.

Instead of making a scene, I quietly continued boxing up my personal items.

Chase marched over, his face darkening with displeasure. "Who are you putting on that miserable face for? What the hell are you doing?"

I looked up with a calm smile, gesturing to the cardboard box. "I resigned. I'm packing my things so I won't be an eyesore to you or ruin Vivian's mood."

Vivian swayed over gracefully on her heels, setting a slice of mango cheesecake on my desk.

She flashed a sweet, gentle smile. "Miss Hayes, Chase baked this cake especially for me. I bet you've never tasted his baking before. It's absolutely divine, so you simply must try it!"

"Please don't hold a grudge against Chase. Good jobs are hard to come by. Even if you come from a wealthy family, throwing away your career over a mood is so wasteful."

I didn't reach for the plate.

The smile on Vivian's face stiffened, and she turned to Chase with a wounded look.

Chase's expression soured completely. "Vivian went out of her way to share it with you. Take it! Where are your manners?"

Share?

A hollow laugh escaped my lips. I looked up into Chase's eyes. "Chase, I'm severely allergic to mangoes."

Chase froze. "Since when…"

Noticing his hesitation, Vivian chimed in quickly, "Chase told me you buy mangoes all the time… Oh, Miss Hayes, if you hate me, just say it. You don't have to make up lies."

I laughed again, shaking my head.

The only reason I bought mangoes was that Chase loved them. I had never touched a single bite.

Looking at his clueless, indifferent face, a surge of heartbreak hit me.

We had grown up together since childhood, yet he didn't even know about my deadly allergy.

Before I could say another word, Chase lost his temper.

He grabbed the slice of cake and shoved the fresh mango chunks straight into my face.

Seeing me stand there in shock, his eyes turned frosty. "Maya, since when did you turn into such a pathetic liar?"

I lowered my head as my skin began to burn like fire. Angry red hives erupted across my cheeks and neck within seconds.

A nearby coworker gasped in horror at the sight of my rapidly swelling face.

My throat tightened, cutting off my airway, and everything went black.