Chapter 4Go Bankrupt for Your First Love

A flash of guilt crossed his eyes before he abruptly raised his voice.

"What else would you think? It's just a ring. Why would I lie to you about something like that?

"I forgot a birthday present. What's the big deal? We're not teenagers anymore. Why do you always need a whole production over romance? I literally waited in line for those pastries. I was just trying to do something nice, and you're acting totally ungrateful.

"Weren't you the one who went out with another man and stayed out late? What right do you have to give me that attitude?"

With that, he shoved me hard, turned around, and stormed out of the neighborhood.

In the past, I would have frantically chased after him and apologized. Even if I had to kneel, I would have done it to earn his forgiveness.

But now, I couldn't even be bothered to look back.

If he wanted to leave, I would set him free.

I went home, ate my birthday cake alone, and went to bed.

The next morning, when I woke up, I discovered that Timothy had returned at some point. He was staring at his laptop on the couch.

There was a research authorization document next to him.

With this authorization document, the holder could directly access and allocate any resources in the lab even without going through the usual chain of approval.

I had mentioned to Timothy before that if I could obtain this authorization document, the efficiency of my work would improve tremendously.

But he had always brushed me off and dragged his feet.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, he placed the laptop over the authorization document and said casually, "Karina just got here. I'm worried that everyone at the institute won't accept her, so I specifically applied for this on her behalf.

"Besides, you've never needed something like this. It would only give everyone an excuse to say I'm pulling strings for you."

I nodded as if I had already grown accustomed to his double standards.

I went back into the bedroom, retrieved my resignation letter, and handed it to him.

"Since Karina is so capable, I'm sure she'll do a great job. I've already handed everything over to her. I won't be involved in the research from now on."

I watched Timothy frown, but after only a moment, he signed the resignation letter.

I then retrieved the divorce agreement.

"Also, let's get divorced."

He froze completely.

"You want a divorce just because I gave your position to Karina? Stacey, are you really that petty?"

He shot to his feet and violently flung the divorce agreement against my face.

"Listen up. I absolutely refuse to get a divorce. If you don't like Karina, then I'll send her somewhere else once this project is over. Is that good enough for you?

"Marriage isn't a game. I'll pretend I never heard what you just said. Go and calm yourself down."

With that, he stormed out in anger before slamming the door behind him as if trying to vent his frustration.

I picked the agreement up from the floor with a blank expression and called my lawyer.

"Prepare to file for divorce."

When I walked out, I saw Timothy's car running downstairs.

I knew he was waiting for me to chase after him, grab his hand, apologize, and promise that I would never bring up getting a divorce again, but I didn't.

I simply hailed a cab and went straight to the research institute.

Since I had already resigned, it was time to retrieve my belongings.

But the moment I arrived at the institute, I saw that the entrance was completely surrounded by police officers and reporters.

After finally squeezing my way inside, a colleague I knew well spotted me and looked at me like I was their last hope.

Only then did I learn what had happened.

The major overseas investor Karina had introduced was actually a fraud. Not only had they swindled the institute out of all its funding, they had also leaked and sold the institute's blueprints.

But the blueprints Karina had drawn were completely unusable for actual research and even involved serious copyright infringement.

Now both the buyers and the original patent holders had come looking for them. They were threatening to sue the institute for fraud and demanding that all the money be returned.