Chapter 2The Price of Choosing Wrong

I returned to my old bachelor apartment. I had bought and renovated it years ago but barely lived here, choosing to stay with Samantha instead.

Just as I was about to call a cleaning service, Samantha's name flashed on my phone.

I expected her to berate me, but her tone was surprisingly gentle when she spoke:

"Zachary, stop being childish. Lucas is kindhearted and won't hold what you did against him."

"Take the afternoon off to rest at home. Tomorrow, you can go to the office as Lucas's assistant and help him oversee the projects. We'll get married in three days. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Hearing the conditions for marriage, I felt only mockery.

Over the years, I had brought up getting married many times, but Samantha always found excuses to delay.

Now she was finally agreeing, but only for another man's sake.

I was about to speak when Lucas's affected, pitiful voice came through the phone:

"It's okay, Ms. Reid. If Zachary becomes my assistant, he'll just target me even more. I... I'm scared..."

"I'm no match for him. I'm too stupid..."

"Don't worry, Lucas. I won't let Zachary bully you with me around," Samantha quickly soothed him, her tone so patient it was as if he were her boyfriend.

I frowned in disgust and cut in: "Make me his assistant? Is he even qualified?"

"If you think Lucas is so capable, why does he need an assistant? Surely he can handle the projects on his own?"

Samantha paused, then snapped: "Zachary, what's your problem? I've agreed to marry you, what more do you want?"

"I'm giving you a chance and you're not taking it. Don't regret this!"

With that, she hung up.

I ignored this little episode and continued arranging for the apartment to be cleaned.

After tidying up, I was scrolling through industry news on the couch when Lucas suddenly sent me a video call request.

When I answered, Lucas was lounging in Samantha's CEO chair with a smug expression, panning the camera around the office.

"Hey Zachary, guess what? Ms. Reid asked me to work in her office and even got me water herself. Ever been treated this well?"

Samantha had always been obsessive about cleanliness and hated anyone touching things in her office.

Even I wasn't allowed in without permission.

Clearly, Lucas was the exception.

Seeing I didn't respond, Lucas continued gloating: "Ms. Reid has transferred all your projects to me. She's made me VP to fully replace you. Face it, you're yesterday's news!"

I laughed coldly: "Is that so? Well, you'd better do a good job then. Try not to bankrupt your precious CEO's company too quickly."

"You son of a—!"

Lucas was about to curse when the sound of a door opening came through.

The video cut off immediately!

I shook my head in derision. If Samantha really trusted Lucas with all the projects, the company was doomed.

The next morning, I went to Skyline for my interview and agreed to start soon.

As I was leaving, I suddenly received notifications that several accounts had been unlinked.

Samantha and I used to share logins for many apps, believing we were an inseparable couple.

It seemed Samantha had just gotten home and discovered I'd moved out.

No phone call, just silently unlinking everything. I could guess how angry she must be.

But it no longer concerned me.

Over the next two days, I was busy with the new job. Samantha didn't contact me directly.

She just kept updating her social media with photos of her and Lucas together. She even changed our couple profile pictures on some platforms to solid black.

I knew she was waiting for me to reach out and make amends, but I no longer cared.

On the third evening, I returned home to find a cardboard box outside my door labeled "For Zachary."

I brought it inside and opened it to find mementos of my relationship with Samantha.

There was the first love letter she wrote confessing her feelings in college, the matching accessories she bought for us, photos from our travels, even a lip print on paper commemorating our first kiss...

Looking at these items brought back many memories.

But in the end, we had drifted apart.

I tossed them one by one into a fire pit, lit a match, and watched the flames consume the flickering images of the past. Yet I felt strangely calm.

Just then, my front door burst open. Samantha rushed in, her eyes wide with shock.

She frantically grabbed the burning photos with her bare hands, frantically patting out the flames. Her voice was shrill with panic:

"Zachary, what are you doing burning all this?!"