Chapter 3

3.

I didn’t sleep a wink that night. Early the next morning, I packed my bags, ready to move out.

The front door swung open, and Shannon walked in with Logan’s arm draped casually around her waist.

I chose to ignore their intimacy. Shannon walked over, kicked my suitcase, and snapped, “It’s about time you cleared out this junk. Get dressed and come meet Mr. Lee with us.”

Logan chuckled, playfully tapping her shoulder.

“Shannon, you’re so mean! You kicked his bag, so poor Jayson has to repack it. Though I guess cleaning up after you is his job anyway. But Mr. Lee didn’t invite me, so is it really okay if I tag along?”

His voice dripped with gloating, showing off how deeply Shannon favored him.

Shannon pulled him tighter against her side with an affectionate grin.

“Of course it is. I only wanted to bring you anyway, but Mr. Lee specifically insisted on dragging this eyesore along.”

I thought my heart was already numb, but that word, eyesore, still felt like a dagger to the chest.

She had probably forgotten that Mr. Lee was the pivotal client who saved her company when she first launched it, a connection I fought tooth and nail to secure.

Back then, I visited Mr. Lee’s office over a dozen times just to earn a ten-minute meeting with him.

I drank myself into gastric bleeding at a corporate dinner just to close that contract for her.

Impressed by how far I would go for the woman I loved, Mr. Lee had asked if she was worth it.

I had answered without hesitation: “She’s worth everything.”

That loyalty moved him.

He signed the deal and told me that if I ever needed a way out, his door would always be open.

I still owed Mr. Lee for that favor.

So I agreed and followed them to the restaurant.

Before Mr. Lee arrived, Logan sat down, stared at the lavish spread on the table, and clung to Shannon’s arm.

“Shannon, I skipped breakfast and I’m starving. Can I grab a few bites first?”

Shannon glanced at the table, hesitated for a split second, and then began serving food onto his plate with a warm smile.

“Go ahead, sweetheart. Eat up. I’ve never brought you to this restaurant before. You need your energy for tonight, don’t you?”

I knew exactly why she had hesitated for that one second.

Shannon grew up in a strict household where dining etiquette was non-negotiable.

Years ago at a dinner with her friends, I had rushed over without eating all day and asked if I could sip some soup while waiting for the guests.

Shannon had berated me in front of the waitstaff.

“Jayson, where are your manners?! How dare you touch the food before our guests arrive! You have zero discipline!”

Watching her debone fish and feed it to Logan now was the ultimate slap in the face.

Her strict principles could be broken after all. Just never for me.

After Logan finished snacking, Shannon instructed the staff to replace the dishes with fresh ones.

Mr. Lee arrived shortly after. His expression soured the moment he spotted Logan.

Shannon immediately offered a polished smile.

“Mr. Lee, this is my assistant, Logan Ward. I brought him along to learn the ropes.”

Mr. Lee gave a stiff nod. Logan tried to greet him with an oily smile.

Mr. Lee completely ignored him, pulling out the chair right next to me and greeting me warmly.

“Jayson, it’s been far too long, my boy!”

I quickly stood up and exchanged pleasantries with him.

Logan shot me a venomous glare, sinking back into his seat and clinging to Shannon with a pouted lip.

Shannon consoled him with hushed, gentle words, then glared at me coldly, warning me not to get cocky.

Once the meal began, Mr. Lee seemed to sense the tension in the room and suddenly turned his attention to Logan.

“As Shannon’s assistant, why haven’t you offered a toast yet? Back in the day, Jayson drank until his stomach bled for this account.”

Logan shrank back, glancing at Shannon with tearful eyes.

Shannon instantly rose to her feet, lifting her glass to take the hit for him.

“Mr. Lee, I apologize. My assistant has a sensitive stomach and can’t drink. Allow me to drink in his place!”

Without waiting for a reply, she downed the strong liquor in one gulp.

A bitter smile formed on my lips.

Shannon’s father had died of an alcohol-induced brain hemorrhage, leaving her deeply traumatized.

She had sworn in her youth that she would never touch a single drop of alcohol.

Whenever client dinners required drinking, I was the one who drank on her behalf.

Yet here she was, shattering a lifelong vow for Logan.

Mr. Lee, however, wasn’t letting Logan off the hook so easily.

“That won’t do. What good is an executive assistant who can’t handle a business toast? Either let me introduce a competent assistant to you, or let him drink five penalty shots to prove his loyalty!”

Shock washed over both Shannon and Logan. Logan threw himself into her arms, sobbing theatrically.

“Shannon, you know how fragile my stomach is! If I drink five shots of hard liquor, I’ll end up in the ICU! Maybe… maybe Jayson can drink them for me? He’s used to it!”

Shannon paused for a brief second. Then, she turned to me and ordered, “Jayson, drink them for Logan!”

I looked at her in pure disbelief.

She knew full well that after my last severe alcohol poisoning, the doctor warned me that another heavy binge could be fatal.

Mr. Lee glanced between us, his face hardening with anger.

I let out a cold laugh and reached for the glass. Mr. Lee quickly gripped my wrist to stop me.

“Jayson, stop! That wasn’t my intention!”

I knew Mr. Lee was only trying to stand up for me by putting Logan in his place.

He just never expected Shannon to throw me under the bus for her assistant.

“It’s fine,” I said calmly.

Without hesitation, I poured five consecutive shots down my throat.

Logan rested in Shannon’s embrace, shooting me a smirk filled with smug superiority.

He was reveling in the fact that Shannon had once again chosen him over me.

A fiery agony exploded in my gut. Ignoring his smirk, I stood up steadily, my face devoid of emotion.

“Mr. Lee, thank you for always believing in me. I only came today out of respect for your past kindness.”

“You don’t need to pressure Shannon’s assistant on my account. Shannon and I have officially broken up. Whatever she does with anyone else is none of my business.”

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