My CEO boyfriend just gave the promotion he promised me to someone else. And demoted me to a satellite office. He casually told his friends, “Chloe needs this platform more. Evelyn is stronger anyway; she can go to the New York branch and open up the new market.” “It’s her own fault for refusing to hand over the design drafts for the Starlight Collection to Chloe. A little reality check will teach her how to make the right choice. Don’t worry, I know Evelyn better than anyone. Where else could she possibly go without me?” My mind went completely blank. Among my luggage scattered on the floor was the anniversary gift I had specially bought for Liam. I left the group chat, blocked his number, and threw the gift in the trash. Then, I accepted the job offer a rival company’s partner had sent me. He had no idea. He could throw away our future for Chloe. But I could throw him away, too, and choose my own path. Liam’s words cut through my heart like a knife. He used to say his partner had to be a capable, independent woman, not someone relying on family connections. So I started from the very bottom. The Creative Director position was a promise he made to me five years ago. He promised that once I secured that role, we’d get married. But now, he handed it to someone else on a silver platter. Without even having the decency to tell me to my face. In the group chat, someone asked him, “What if Evelyn actually accepts the relocation?” Liam laughed it off. “Are you kidding? She worked harder than anyone for this promotion, pulling all-nighters just to be closer to me. There’s no way she’d agree to move that far away from me… You guys just don’t get it.” The guys in the chat started hyping him up, calling him a boss. Then someone else chimed in. “But what if she really does? She’s incredibly protective of her projects. She’d never just let someone else take them.” Liam paused for a few seconds before typing back, his tone turning cold. “Cut the crap.” “Evelyn can’t live without me. Last time I went to New York for a merger, she found an excuse to fly out to see me within three days. This relocation is miles away. There’s no way she’d agree to it.” “To her, I’m way more important than any job title or project. She’ll back down. Just watch.” After that, the chat went dead silent. After a long pause, someone finally ventured, “Liam, isn’t that a bit harsh on Evelyn? I mean, she built the Starlight Project from scratch. Everyone knows that. You should at least talk to her.” Liam let out an annoyed sigh. “Ugh, I don’t want to deal with it.” “You know how dramatic Evelyn can get. If she finds out I gave the director position to Chloe, she’ll blow up. It’s easier this way. Less drama.” The group chat buzzed again. “True, Chloe’s family has way more influence anyway.” “Liam really is the man.” … Those casual jokes crushed what was left of my spirit. I wanted so badly to call him, to scream and demand answers. But my thumb hovered over the screen, unable to press dial. In the end, I just stared blankly at the ceiling, completely numb, and buried myself under the covers.
Staring at the ceiling, my mind drifted. How could someone change so fast? The Creative Director position was his promise to me five years ago. He told me it wasn’t just a job—it was the throne he saved for me, the starting point where we could stand side by side and receive everyone’s blessings. He had said, “Once you’re in that seat, we’ll get married. I want the whole world to see that the woman I chose deserves the absolute best.” But just when our future was finally within reach, he let go of my hand and ran toward someone else. If he wanted to give the position to Chloe, I wouldn’t even have hated him if he had just been honest. But why keep me in the dark? Did he really think so little of me? If I was such a nuisance, what was that late-night proposal, when he slipped a ring on my finger and promised me forever? Was the night too dark, the lights too dim, for him to see who he was actually promising his life to? I curled into a ball, hiding in the dark, and finally let the tears fall. The irony was, I wasn’t the one who couldn’t survive without him. He was the codependent one. Every time I took on a major project and we had to be apart, he would get incredibly anxious. He only calmed down when he dragged me back to the core decision-making table by his side. So while I steadily built my career, I constantly pulled him along with me. Liam was right about one thing—I had always written him into my future. I was willing to compromise for love, as long as it didn’t compromise my integrity. But that didn’t mean I would let him walk all over me. I closed the company portal I had accidentally opened, wiped my tears, and logged out of my work email for the last time. He had his schemes, but I had my backup plan. From now on, our paths diverged. I had just finished washing my face when my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Liam. “Babe, pick up! I need to see you!” When I didn’t answer, he sent several more FaceTime requests before finally texting: “We’re all at our usual spot. Everyone’s waiting for you. Come over, I’ll send my driver to pick you up.” But I was done. “Tired. Staying in,” I replied. The reply came instantly. “Are you sick? I’m coming over.” “No. Don’t come,” I texted back, frowning. Just as I hit send, a text from Chloe popped up. “Evelyn, I’m so sorry. I practically begged Liam to let me tag along. I didn’t know it would upset you. I can leave right now. As long as you come, I don’t mind going home.” The text reeked of fake sweetness. Before I could reply, my phone started blowing up with notifications from the group chat, tagging me repeatedly. “Evelyn, what is your problem? Can you not stand Liam having other friends? Your jealousy is getting out of hand.” “Are you seriously throwing a tantrum just because Chloe is prettier and more popular than you? Get over yourself.” I froze, my instinct to explain myself dying instantly when a direct text from Liam arrived. “Evelyn, I invited Chloe. If you’re mad, take it out on me. Why are you targeting her?” “Whatever. Come or don’t. We actually get things done faster without you here anyway.” Right after, someone posted photos of them at a high-end restaurant in the group chat, with a passive-aggressive caption: “Dinner tastes so much better without certain people bringing down the vibe.” Unbelievable. I left the group chat, blocked every single one of them, and then blocked Liam on Snapchat, FaceTime, and my contacts. He used to be my pinned contact. Now, he was just trash in my blocked list.
To be honest, when Chloe first joined us as a representative for our partner company, I actually considered her a friend. Back then, Liam even warned me, saying she wasn’t as innocent as she seemed and told me to keep my distance. I spent so much energy trying to smooth things over between them to make the partnership work. But that changed at the annual charity gala. Chloe traded her clunky glasses for a stunning red silk gown, and overnight, Liam’s tune changed completely. He never told me to stay away from her again. Instead, they grew closer and closer. He started introducing her to our most important clients and investors. By the time I realized what was happening, my hard-earned professional network had been handed over to her. Liam treated Chloe with a strange, delicate tenderness. Once, after Liam and I had a massive blowout over a major investment decision, we didn’t speak for three months. I told him, “If you think Chloe aligns better with your vision, I’ll step down from the executive team.” But Liam actually cried. He held me and said, “You’re the only one I care about, Evelyn. Chloe’s family is going through a rough patch and her company is sinking. I’m just helping her out of pity while integrating their assets.” And I, like a fool, believed him. He treated me like an idiot. Their “strategic partnership” became a convenient shield for their constant flirting. And now, he had officially kicked me out of the game just to clear a path for her. I felt like the biggest joke in the world. By the time I snapped out of my thoughts, the sun had set. My mom came home and noticed my sour expression. She smiled softly. “Fight with Liam again? He called me saying you blocked him. He wants you to unblock him.” I muttered a vague excuse and headed out. HR had scheduled my final transition meeting. When I entered the conference room, the prime seat to Liam’s right—which had always been mine—was empty. Without hesitating, Chloe slid right into it. Liam didn’t object. He casually accepted the cup of coffee she handed him, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. He was waiting for me to bow my head and apologize. Too bad for him. I walked past them and sat at the far end of the long conference table. “Alright, everyone,” Liam announced, his voice professional. “Starting today, Chloe will be taking over as Creative Director. She will also head our partnership with Vanguard Group. Evelyn will be relocating to our New York branch to oversee the expansion.” Ethan, the senior executive from Vanguard Group, suddenly looked at me and smiled. “What a coincidence. Our headquarters in Paris is actually looking for a Creative Director with exactly your caliber, Evelyn.” I ignored the VP’s question and opened my mouth to speak to Ethan, but Liam stood up, grabbed my arm, and pulled me out of the conference room. “Evelyn, when are you going to stop this?” Liam hissed the moment the door shut. “First the silent treatment, and now you block my number?” “I’m warning you, unblock me right now, or don’t even think about stepping foot in my office again.” I stared at his angry face for a second. “Good. I wasn’t planning on it anyway.” Liam’s face flushed with anger. “Fine! Don’t come crawling back begging for my attention later!” I turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist again, his eyes softening slightly with a strange urgency. “The transfer deadline is tonight. Review the relocation package and benefits again. Make sure you didn’t miss anything…” Before he could finish, Chloe stepped out of the room with a folder. “Liam, babe, I’m a bit confused about this European market budget draft. Do you have a few minutes?” “Sure, let’s take a look,” Liam said instantly, focusing his attention on her papers. I let out a cold laugh and walked away. By the time Liam looked up to say something else, I was already at the door. “Evelyn, make sure you double-check those contract details! Double-check them!”
Please. He really thought his word was law. He probably thought the threat of being shipped off to New York would scare me into giving up my projects and begging him to let me stay. Keep dreaming. Since he didn’t have the guts to tell me the truth, I played along. He thought dealing with my feelings was too much work, and honestly, explaining myself to him was exhausting. Thank God my brain finally started working again. Back in the room, Ethan noticed my tense expression. After the meeting adjourned, he invited me to a small private cocktail party to take my mind off things. As I was leaving the venue later that evening, I ran into Liam standing near the entrance, his face dark. He glared at Ethan, his expression murderous. I knew he was jumping to conclusions, but I couldn’t care less. I walked right past him, treating him like a ghost. Near the entrance of the parking garage, I bumped into him again, this time talking to one of our VPs. “Liam, seriously, you need to talk to Evelyn,” the VP was saying. “Are you really okay with sending her to New York alone to start from scratch?” Liam scoffed. “She’s expanding our market. Why wouldn’t I be okay with it? Besides, she’s definitely signed the relocation agreement by now. She’s just throwing a tantrum to get my attention.” I paused, stepping right into their line of sight. Liam quickly dismissed the VP. Ethan gave me a polite nod and walked ahead to give us space. Liam cornered me against my car. “Going to parties behind my back and hanging out with our rivals? You’re getting pretty bold, aren’t you, Evelyn?” “Did you think this would actually make me jealous?” He grabbed my wrist, his voice dropping into that familiar, casual tone. “Fine, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you the other day. We’re good now, right? Did you sign the transfer papers?” Then, he hesitated before adding, “Also… do you mind taking a quick look at Chloe’s budget draft? She’s struggling with the numbers.” I stared at him in dead silence. The tension became thick enough to cut with a knife. Right on cue, the click of high heels echoed through the garage. Chloe sauntered over, pouting. “Liam, the legal team is being so mean to me. Can you come help me look at this contract?” Then, pretending to notice me for the first time, her eyes widened in fake surprise. “Oh! Evelyn! You’re here too? Don’t tell me you saw the industry press release about me being here and decided to follow us?” “Please don’t get the wrong idea. I just wanted to learn, so I begged Liam to bring me. I’m still so new to this and need all the exposure I can get.” Ugh. There it was again—that grating, manipulative tone. I had zero energy to play along with her little drama. Taking advantage of Liam’s momentary distraction, I yanked my hand free and went to open my car door. But Chloe stepped right in front of my car, blocking my way.
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