Chapter 4
I carried my luggage back to my mother’s place, preparing to gather her belongings.
As I stood in her room, tears fell unbidden.
Her room was spacious enough to hold many things, yet somehow small enough to contain only fragments of my life with Mason.
Photos of Mason and me hung on the walls.
The inexpensive little duck plushies we’d given her sat arranged carefully on her desk.
In the corner, bottles of milk I’d brought her remained untouched–she’d saved every one for Mason and me.
The bracelet Mason had given her was stored in a box, polished to a gleam.
Beyond these mementos, the only things truly hers were countless craft supplies.
Unfinished knitting projects, half–made scarves, and a small mountain of leather scraps waiting to be transformed into bags.
All of it–every stitch, every hour of work–had been to save money for Mason’s supposed debt. All for my future happiness.
I tore the photos to shreds and smashed the plushies to pieces.
But the one photo of Mason and me holding Mom’s hands–I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it.
I buried that photo at the bottom of a box, packed everything away, and returned to the office for my final handover.
When I arrived, Piper was sitting at my desk.
My colleagues watched us in silence. In their eyes, this was probably the classic showdown between the childhood sweetheart and the new girl. Anyone caught in the crossfire would become collateral damage.
As I approached, Piper crossed her legs and flicked a check in my direction.
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Chapter 4
“Ten million. For your position.”
Facing her provocation, I calmly picked up the check.
“Fine. I’ll pack up.”
Everyone looked at me with pity, thinking I’d sold out for quick cash. I didn’t care. I just quietly gathered my things, ready to leave.
That’s when Mason walked in, his expression tightening when he saw me with my bags.
“Where are you going?”
“I-”
Piper cut me off: “I bought her position.”
Mason frowned at me. I held up the check.
“I took the money. Ten million.”
Mason froze at my words, then turned to Piper, who wore a smug, self–congratulatory expression.
His face darkened instantly, and the atmosphere grew tense.
Mason said nothing, seemingly accepting the situation.
But as I disappeared from view, he pushed away Piper’s reaching arms and, in front of everyone, slapped her across the face.
‘Don’t you ever humiliate her,” he said, his voice ice–cold. “Understand?”
After leaving the company, I received a series of texts from Mason:
[The specialists I hired have arrived. I’m sending them to your mom’s hospital room now]
[Tonight, let’s visit your mom together]
[I miss your cooking]
I smiled, a bittersweet feeling washing over me.
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Chapter 4
With a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, I turned away, gathered all my luggage, and headed
to the airport.
Just as I was boarding the plane, frantic messages from Mason flooded my phone:
[Rowan, the specialists went to the hospital. Why isn’t your mom there?]
[Rowan, where is she?!]
Run from Your Killing thes Leave You in Suffer Forever
