chapter 3

I set my phone aside and began packing my luggage.

Seven years of life together meant my belongings had filled this place little by little. Sorting through it all was a real hassle.

Many things were gifts from Milton.

After some thought, I picked up my phone again, snapped pictures, and listed them on a resale site.

Half-sold, half-given, they were gone quickly.

As for the gifts I had given Milton, I either sold them or threw them away.

The old had to go for the new to come in.

I doubted he would blame me.

When I was nearly finished, a message from Laura popped up.

"Hazel, Mr. Skeldon isn't coming home tonight. He asked me to let you know.

"Don't misunderstand. He just worries about me being alone and unsafe."

It was a blatant provocation. She was far too eager.

I chuckled but didn't reply. I had only added Laura on Instagram out of courtesy.

But later, she started sending me suggestive photos at all hours, completely ignoring time and place, and it infuriated me.

I had kept quiet, but now I didn't want to hold back anymore.

I finished taking care of everything, then finally lay down.

I had barely fallen asleep when a rush of cold air made me shiver violently.

Before I could even react, Milton stormed in and yanked me out of bed.

"Hazel, look at what you've done!"

I was dazed, shivering from the cold as my mind tried to catch up.

When my eyes locked with Milton's icy glare, I snapped fully awake.

He dragged me to my feet. "Go apologize to Laura!"

I steadied myself, looked him straight in the eye, and asked, "Why?"

He shouted, "What the hell were you doing liking her post? Do you know Laura cried all night because of that like? If you've got a problem, take it out on me!"

Milton's rage came out of nowhere.

I yanked my arm free and gave a bitter laugh. "Instagram posts are meant to be seen. I hit like, and that hurt her? Milton, do you even hear yourself?

"And what, you dragged me out of bed in the middle of the night just to make me apologize to her?"

Our eyes locked. Milton fell silent, finally realizing he had gone too far.

He let out a long breath. "She's a young girl, sensitive. When you like her posts like that, she thinks you're mocking her.

"There's really nothing between us, Hazel. Why are you being so petty now?"

I opened my mouth, but suddenly felt exhausted.

Before I could answer, Milton's voice cut sharply. "Hazel, you've changed. She's just an intern. She's sensitive. Why can't you be more understanding?

"Forget it. We'll drop it. Just remember to apologize to Laura tomorrow."

With that, he slammed the door and went to the guest room.

I froze in place.

He said I had changed?

When I first entered the workplace, I knew nothing. A client hinted at sleeping with me in exchange for business, and I snapped, striking him.

We lost a major deal because of it, and the company nearly went bankrupt.

At the time, I was ready to cave and apologize, but Milton pulled me back.

"Hazel, don't go. You are who you are. Sticking to your principles isn't wrong. The market needs fair competition. We don't need clients like that."

He even mortgaged his family's house, and only after more than half a year did we finally recover.

During that time, we lived in a basement apartment. When hunger kept us awake, we lay side by side imagining the future.

In those purest days, Milton slipped a plain silver band onto my finger.

I leaned against his chest, listening as he promised me, "Hazel, you're the only one I'll ever love."

Seven years later, the same man told me I should just be understanding toward Laura.

I touched my face and felt it wet. At some point, tears had begun streaming down.

Milton had once promised he'd never let me cry again.

But he broke his word.

You failed me. You’re out.