hapter 3 Spiraling, Unraveling, Lost in Her Wake
“Lily…”
Wayne Hunter hade to the CEO’s office to give his report.
? ?? ? ?
Most employees at Jones Corp had no idea about Lily and John’s rtionship.
But Wayne, trusted by John for years, knew everything.
Seeing Lily, he instinctively greeted her–only to catch sight of what was happening inside the office.
He froze, horrified.
Then quickly pped a hand over his mouth.
He looked at Lily, his eyes full of awkwardness and sympathy.
“Elsa, I’m sorry.”
John had been momentarily distracted, stunned for a good ten seconds before he quickly pulled away from Elsa.
“I’m not ming you,” Elsa said coyly, cheeks flushed. “My shoce came undone.”
Hearing that, Lily’s dull gaze dropped to Elsa’s shoes.
Elsa was stunning.
Bright, bold, beautiful in an almost aggressive way.
Today, she wore crisp designer white sneakers, paired with a white blouse and a pleated pink skirt. Youthful and radiant, she looked exactly like a campus sweetheart.
John didn’t say anything.
But his actions spoke louder.
He gently lifted Elsa onto the desk, then knelt to tie her shoce. His movements were so careful, they almost looked reverent.
Watching his long, elegant fingers slowly and intently tie thece, Lily couldn’t help but remember something.
Back then, when their love was still new, he had once said to her, “Lily, meeting you is the happiest thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ll protect you, treasure you, never let you suffer. Never betray you.”
She had believed him with all her heart, like a fool, thinking she was the luckiest girl in the world.
One day, while they were walking hand in hand, they saw a guy bending to tie his girlfriend’s shoce. She’d snuggled into John’s arms and teased, “Would you tie mine if it came undone?”
He <b>had </b>answered that it was pointless topare things like that too childish.
<b>It </b>was obvious what he meant: no, he wouldn’t.
John was like a cold, distant mountain capped with snow. She thought his aloofness made sense–it wasn’t in his nature to stoop for something <b>so </b>small.
As long as she had a ce in his heart, it was enough.
But now, seeing him so tenderly kneeling for Elsa, Lily finally understood. Love could win anyone over if their love was with the right person.
All his so–called principles, all his “can’ts,” were never about principle.
<i>He </i><i>just </i>didn’t <i>love </i><i>her</i><i>. </i>
And that was fine. They would both start new lives.
It was fine.
She stood outside the door, quietly watching as he tied Elsa’sces, then began to massage her ankle.
Watching the way they looked at each other, the unspoken affection sparking between them….
She watched as the boy she had once loved so deeply blurred into a vague, unfamiliar shadow.
When Elsa threw herself into John’s arms again, Lily didn’t linger.
She turned and walked quickly toward the stairwell.
“Ms. Lily!”
Wayne had seen everything Lily had done for John over the years.
The moment she turned to leave, he ran after her, worried.
Normally quick with words, he found himself at a loss. That scene just now had been too damning. He didn’t know what to say tofort her.
Pushing his gold–rimmed sses up his nose, he finally spoke awkwardly. “Don’t… don’t read into it. Honestly, the boss still really loves you. Thest time you two fought, he got drunk and kept calling your name. He-”
“Wayne, I’ve already broken up with John.”
Lily knew Wayne meant well, but she didn’t let him finish.
Ignoring the shock in his eyes, she continued, “He loves me? He loves me, so he married Elsa on my birthday? He loves me, so he’s tangled up with her like that, unable to let go? That kind of love–I don’t want it. Wayne, I’ve already written my resignation. Please sign it when you have a moment.”
Wayne was the head of uit
<b>need </b>his.
<b>?</b>?<b>??? </b>
“You’re really sure about this? Does the boss know<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Wayne had always been loyal to John.
He didn’t want John getting back together with Elsa, not after she abandoned him when he was at his lowest.
But after Elsa came back, he saw how John had treated her, and he knew it wasn’t fair to Lily.
Deep down, Wayne understood–leaving John might actually be the best thing for her.
That night, John got drunk after arguing with Lily; he hadn’t just called her name. He’d insisted she was his wife. When Elsa came in, John had pushed her away.
Wayne knew John felt guilty that Elsa was dying.
But somewhere along the way, he’d fallen for Lily too.
Still, not wanting to make a move without permission, Wayne decided to speak with John before signing anything.
“Ms. Lily, you’re giving this directly to the boss? I’ll bring it to him. I’ll talk to him first. If he agrees, I’ll sign it.”
Lily had wanted to finalize her resignation as soon as possible.
But she didn’t want to make things difficult for Wayne. She handed over the file and returned to her office to wait.
Even if John didn’t approve it, she wouldn’t being in tomorrow.
She liked finishing what she started, but there was no point dragging out something that no longer mattered.
That afternoon, after confirming Elsa had left, Wayne went to John’s office.
As soon as he stepped in, he saw John’s face was thunderous.
“Boss…”
“Who made this coffee?<b>” </b>
John red at the cup on his desk like it had personally offended him.
Wayne instantly understood what was going on.
He hadn’t signed Lily’s resignation yet–but she’d already given up and stopped working.
The coffee John used to drink was always brewed by Lily herself.
Wayne had tasted it before–so good that even top baristas would struggle to replicate it.
Compared to hers, anyone else’s brew might as well have been sewage. Of course John hated it.
Wayne swallowed hard and said honestly, “Boss, it wasn’t Ms. Lily. She just… she submitted her resignation. Should I sign it?”
<i>Resign</i><i>? </i>
John’s expression darkened even further.