My parents came to pick me up from the airport when I finally touched down.

Mom looked concerned as she took my hand. "My sweetheart, you went to college and worked so far from home. Look at you now—you've lost so much weight!"

Dad patted my shoulders and muttered, "It's good to have you back."

Standing beside them was a tall man with broad shoulders and a trim waist. He looked older than me, dressed in a three-piece suit. Despite his sharp features, his gaze was gentle with a faint smile as he looked at me.

I couldn't help but blush under his intense gaze. I could already figure out his identity by then.

Mom and Dad quickly introduced him to me, "This is Joseph Shepherd, Mira."

I reached out my hand to take his, while Joseph gently took my fingertips for a light shake.

"Welcome home, darling," he said with a smile. 

My face immediately heated up at his words.

My parents beamed 

I nodded in reply. I had noticed how thoughtful and attentive Joseph was toward me throughout the journey back.

I recalled how today was Lawrence and Ivy's engagement day. They were out there surrounded by everyone's blessings and praises, while I had been accused of stealing a necklace.

Eventually, I decided to come clean with my parents and told them everything about my past relationship.

Lawrence had pursued me during college, and we got together before we even graduated. I had heard about the childhood friend that he grew up with, but I'd never seen Ivy around him, so I never thought much of it.

He kept a crystal globe ornament on his desk. Once, I accidentally touched it while I was cleaning his study. He immediately shot up from his seat and shoved me away, saying, "Don't come into my study again! You're not allowed to touch anything in here!"

He had a dark expression when fac

"Enough of your nonsense!" Lawrence covered my mouth and dragged me out of the office. His hand was clamped tightly over my mouth and nose, as if wanting to suffocate me.

I heard Ivy's laugh as she flashed a generous smile at my colleagues. "Now that I've found the necklace and nothing's really lost, I won't press any charges on this. We're colleagues, after all. Today's afternoon tea will be on me as my appreciation to everyone!"

Lawrence seemed to be worried that I'd blurt out about our relationship to everyone. As such, he brought me over to the break room.

"Just tell me what you want. There should be a limit to your nonsense," he said while rubbing his temples like I was giving him a migraine.

I took in multiple deep breaths, the bruise he left on my face already blooming.

"When did you become like this? You're lucky Ivy is kind enough to forgive you. You'd better apologize to her now!" Lawrence said.

"I'm not apologizing for something I didn't do!" I stared at him coldly.

Lawrence wondered when I had changed, but I had the same thought too. When did he become someone so unrecognizable?

Ivy stepped into the break room and handed me some hot water in a paper cup. "Have some water, Mirabelle. I know you resent me, but you shouldn't be this rash in the future."

I didn't take the cup, but she was scalded by the hot water and spilled some onto my arm.

"Ouch, that's hot!" Ivy hissed from the burn on her finger. Lawrence quickly brought her to the sink to rinse it off.

Meanwhile, the thin chiffon blouse I was wearing was soaking up the hot water. My arm burned from the scalding heat. I went into the washroom to tend to my burn. Red blisters were already forming on my left wrist.

I suppressed the pain and went back to my work desk to pack up. Just then, Lawrence walked out and grabbed my wrist.

I hissed in pain. He was taken aback and let go of me, asking stiffly, "Are you alright?"

I scoffed. Lawrence was the one who left my cheek stinging in pain while Ivy had deliberately caused the burn on my wrist. I felt nauseous seeing his fake concern.

I shook his hand off and dumped everything that was scattered on the ground into the trash can.

Lawrence looked as if he had something to say but ended up turning to leave.

After dealing with the mess, I turned around and headed straight to the company's control room. I wasn't about to let them falsely accuse me just like that.

However, I was stuck in an impasse with the staff in the control room. I requested to review the office surveillance footage from this morning, but the staff stopped me, saying that only company employees were authorized to access the footage.

I realized this was Lawrence's doing when I saw that my employee account had been blocked and deleted. He was the only one who could have arranged for my employee account to be deleted this quickly.

He was clearly siding with Ivy, already maintaining the opinion that I was the one who stole the necklace.

However, I soon remembered that this tech company was also one of the Shepherds' family businesses. As such, I decided to hurry home to meet up with Joseph Shepherd, the heir of the Shepherd family.

…

I packed up all my belongings upon my return to the apartment where I had lived for the past six years. While I was at it, I cleared out all traces of my relationship as well, doing it as decisively as though I was taking out trash.

Another delivery man came to my door that night. In the bag was a burn ointment from the pharmacy. I tossed the ointment onto the table and took one last glance at the empty house before leaving.

The next day, I booked a flight back to Javenton. I handed over all my unfinished work and gave detailed instructions to my immediate successor.

On the third day, I took my suitcase and walked into the airport alone. Right before boarding, I sent a breakup text to Lawrence's alternate account—the one that he used strictly for work.

Just like my other colleagues, I also congratulated him and Ivy on their engagement. I then deleted all his contact information.

My parents came to pick me up from the airport when I finally touched down.

Mom looked concerned as she took my hand. "My sweetheart, you went to college and worked so far from home. Look at you now—you've lost so much weight!"

Dad patted my shoulders and muttered, "It's good to have you back."

Standing beside them was a tall man with broad shoulders and a trim waist. He looked older than me, dressed in a three-piece suit. Despite his sharp features, his gaze was gentle with a faint smile as he looked at me.

I couldn't help but blush under his intense gaze. I could already figure out his identity by then.

Mom and Dad quickly introduced him to me, "This is Joseph Shepherd, Mira."

I reached out my hand to take his, while Joseph gently took my fingertips for a light shake.

"Welcome home, darling," he said with a smile. 

My face immediately heated up at his words.

My parents beamed at us and subtly pushed me toward Joseph. He took over the suitcase I carried in my left hand. He wa

Chapter 7