Byebye Scumbag Ex, Hello Mr. Ceo

Chapter 1 Mocking Her Foolishness

"Terrance, are you crazy? You're really putting your own life on the line for Yasmine?"

"Back when Gianna's mom's surgery failed, you gave her kidney to Yasmine without even asking Gianna. Now, you're giving her GoldenAge's project, and you even broke your ribs trying to protect her. Do you even realize your broken ribs nearly pierced your heart?"

"Aren't you afraid Gianna will find out everything you've done for Yasmine behind her back and divorce you?"

When Gianna Henderson heard about her husband Terrance Henderson's car accident, she rushed to the hospital, only to hear someone yelling furiously inside the ward.

Gianna's mind went blank, her blood running cold in an instant.

A cold chill ran down her spine as she gripped the doorknob, frozen in place.

''Wait, Terrance gave my mom's kidney to Yasmine?' Gianna thought, her mind spinning. 'Terrance knew just how much I despised Yasmine.'

Terrance's voice came through the door, hoarse and weak. "As long as Yasmine is safe, nothing else matters to me.

"You have no idea how sick I've felt having to be around Gianna all these years.

"Every time I think of how those debt collectors took turns with her, I just wanna throw up.

"If I weren't worried she'd go after Wyatt again after the divorce, I would've divorced her a long time ago."

His tone was cold and indifferent, every word slamming into Gianna's heart like a hammer.

Back then, Gianna's father, Bruce Greene, set Gianna and her mother up and threw them out of the house. Her mother was gravely ill, and they were saddled with a crushing debt of 25 million dollars.

The debt collectors showed up and took Gianna away as collateral.

Gianna tried to call her fiancé, Wyatt Wheeler, for help, only to find out he dumped her and married Yasmine.

When things were at their worst, Terrance was the one who saved Gianna.

He paid off her debts and married her, never caring about the gossip swirling around them.

When Gianna's mother suddenly had a brain hemorrhage, Terrance called in top doctors right away for the surgery.

Even though her mother didn't survive, Gianna never stopped being grateful to Terrance.

Terrance had always been good to her over the years.

Everyone believed that Gianna had been sexually assaulted by those debt collectors.

But Terrance never cared about any of that. He still loved and cherished her.

He didn't want her to feel ashamed, so he chose not to hold a wedding at all.

Worried she'd be haunted by emotional scars, he kept his distance, never having sex with her.

For the longest time, Gianna believed Terrance was her salvation.

But now, she finally understood that everything he'd done was for Yasmine, not her.

Gianna's face went ghostly pale. She couldn't bear to stay another second and bolted from the hospital.

She stumbled back to their marital home with Terrance, her mind numb and empty.

Every corner of this place was packed with memories of her and Terrance.

The wall art they picked out together, the fresh flowers Terrance gave her on the coffee table, and the matching slippers by the door...

All of them used to mean happiness and love to Gianna.

But now, every little thing felt like a stinging slap to her face.

They were mocking her for how naive she'd been.

Gianna curled up on the couch, crying until she had no tears left. Then started sobbing all over again.

After a long, silent night, the quiet of the villa was finally broken by the sound of the front door unlocking.

Terrance pushed the door open and stepped inside.

When he saw Gianna sitting on the couch, he froze for a second, then hurried over to her.

His good looks were clouded with concern. He asked, "Gigi, why are your eyes so swollen? Have you been crying? Is it because I didn't come back for your birthday?

"I'm really sorry. Something came up out of nowhere yesterday. I just couldn't get back in time. I swear, it won't happen again.

"Look, this is your birthday present. Tomorrow, let me make it up to you, okay?"

He took out an elegant blue velvet box and popped it open. Inside was an extravagant pink diamond necklace sparkling under the light.

It suddenly hit Gianna that yesterday was her birthday.

She'd been looking forward to Terrance coming home so they could celebrate together, but instead, the only thing she got was a call from the hospital. They told her Terrance had a car accident.

She'd rushed over, only to overhear that cruel conversation.

Gianna's heart clenched, and tears began to fall once more.

Terrance gently wiped her tears away without hesitation.

"Don't cry, honey. I'm really sorry. Let me help you put it on, alright?" he said softly.

Terrance took out the necklace, moved behind Gianna, and gently fastened it around her neck.

But as Gianna replayed those words she'd overheard at the hospital and saw Terrance putting on that affectionate act, her stomach turned.

She couldn't hold it back anymore. She clapped a hand over her mouth and threw up right there.

Terrance froze, worry etched all over his face as he rushed to rub her back. "Gigi, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? I'm so sorry. I really should've come back earlier."

Gianna tried to pull away from his touch, but the moment she moved, her stomach twisted even worse.

"I'm taking you to the hospital right now," Terrance said, his voice urgent.

Without another word, he bent down and scooped Gianna up into his arms.

Gianna still felt nauseous, but she managed to hold it together and didn't throw up again.

She glanced at Terrance, and his handsome face was etched with heartfelt worry.

If this had been before, her eyes would've been brimming with tears.

But now, all she felt was a coldness that cut straight to her bones.

''He despises me so much, yet he can act like he really cares about me. His facade is downright scary,' Gianna thought.

Terrance stormed into the hospital and yelled for help, with Gianna cradled in his arms.

He was so frantic that people would think Gianna was at death's door.

During the examination, Terrance never left her side, holding her hand tight and comforting, "Gigi, relax. I'm right here. You'll be alright."

Gianna stayed silent, not saying a word.

She just couldn't connect the caring guy in front of her, the one acting like she was his whole world, with that cold-hearted man who said he would've dumped her long ago if he weren't afraid she'd go after Wyatt and mess up Yasmine's life.

''He's such a fake,' Gianna thought, her heart sinking.

Terrance could tell Gianna was weirdly quiet, but he figured she was just giving him the cold shoulder because he missed her birthday. He just brushed it off and didn't think much of it.

After the check-up, Terrance stayed by Gianna's side on the hallway bench, waiting for the results.

"Gigi, are you feeling any better? Want some water?" Terrance asked.

He glanced at Gianna's ghostly pale face, concern etched deep in his eyes.

After puking, Gianna still had that nasty taste lingering in her mouth. She really needed some water to wash it away.

Just as she was about to nod, Terrance's phone started ringing out of nowhere.

He glanced at the caller ID, and a strange look flashed in his eyes.

"Gigi, I need to take this call," he said.

With that, he got up and stepped aside to answer.

Gianna kept her eyes down, her fingers clenched tightly in her palm.

She saw the caller ID when Terrance pulled out his phone—it was Yasmine.

Terrance deliberately stepped away, making sure Gianna couldn't hear a single word Yasmine was saying.

Terrance's face suddenly turned anxious, and Gianna was sure Yasmine had said something that made him worry.

Gianna thought wryly, 'Honestly, as long as it's about Yasmine, Terrance will always get worked up, no matter what it is.'

Soon, Terrance came back from his call, looking apologetic and uneasy. "I'm really sorry, Gigi. There's an emergency at work. I need to head back right away.

"Will you be okay by yourself? I promise, as soon as I handle things, I'll come straight back to you."

Gianna shot him a long, searching look.

Suddenly, she remembered that so many times before, Terrance had used the same excuse, saying there was some emergency at work and he had to rush out.

''Was it ever really about work, or was it always Yasmine calling him away?' she wondered.

Yet she didn't dare let herself keep thinking. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt.

Terrance got a little nervous under her stare, and he subconsciously pursed his lips.

Just as he was about to say something, Gianna casually replied, "Go ahead. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

Chapter 2 Terrrance's Two Roles

Gianna thought it was good without him around. She had something she wanted to check out anyway. If he were still here, it would just get in the way.

"Thanks, Gigi. Marrying you is honestly the best thing that ever happened to me," Terrance smiled.

He didn't pick up on the change in her tone, just gave her a half-hearted compliment, and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Gianna turned her head away, dodging his kiss.

Terrance paused for a second, but didn't think much of it. He just figured she was still sulking.

"Gigi, once you get the report, snap a pic and send it to me right away, okay? Don't make me worry," Terrance said, giving her head a quick rub before hurrying off.

As soon as he was gone, Gianna scrubbed at the spot he'd touched, unable to hold back another wave of disgust.

Forcing herself to push through the nausea, she made her way to the hospital records room, claiming to be a family member so she could get her hands on the consent form her mother had signed for the kidney donation.

The records room was overflowing with files, making it a real challenge to find what she was looking for.

Luckily, Gianna still remembered the exact date of her mom's surgery. The clerk dug through the files from that year and quickly found the consent form.

Gianna's hands shook as she took the organ donation agreement. When she spotted Terrance's name written in the section for the donor's family, it was like her whole world came crashing down.

She staggered, her face turning as white as a sheet, startling the clerk.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" the clerk asked with concern, quickly reaching out to steady her and help her sit down.

Gianna waved her hand, trying to assure them she was okay.

But when she tried to speak, all that came out was a painful rasp from her throat.

Gianna felt like someone had carved a hole right through her heart.

The icy wind rushed in, shredding her heart into bloody, aching pieces.

''I was so stupid. How could I have been so blind?' she berated herself inwardly.

Terrance had given her mother's kidney to the daughter of the woman who killed her mother, and all these years, she'd been living in the dark, married to him, clueless about the truth.

She'd even leaned on him for everything—her savior, her hero, the only one she ever relied on.

Right then and there, Gianna decided she would divorce Terrance.

She grabbed her phone and called a number she knew by heart. "I accept your offer. I'll join you in two weeks."

Two weeks was plenty of time for her to end things with Terrance.

Gianna wandered out of the records room, still in a daze. As she was about to leave the hospital, she bumped into two nurses.

"Oh my, is that woman in the VIP suite Mr. Henderson's wife? She's absolutely stunning. She and Mr. Henderson look amazing together. And he's totally head over heels for her, just like everyone says," one nurse gushed.

"Yeah. I heard they got into a car accident, and Mr. Henderson nearly died trying to protect her. Even with those serious injuries, he wouldn't stay in bed. He rushed straight to her room to look after her. I'm so touched," the other nurse chimed in.

"Ugh, same people, different fates. Why is my luck so bad? Why can't I get a guy like that?" the first nurse sighed.

"Forget it, girl. Did you see that pink diamond ring on Mrs. Henderson's finger? Seven carats! Mr. Henderson dropped 30 million at an auction just to get it for her," the second nurse said.

The nurses's gossip drilled into Gianna's ears like venom-tipped needles, each one stabbing straight into her heart.

Her heart felt like it was bleeding out. The agony made her wish she were dead.

Turned out that while she was kept in the dark, Terrance had been bending over backwards for Yasmine all along.

Gianna stared at the ring on her right ring finger, the one Terrance had slipped on when he proposed to her.

It was too loose, always sliding around on her delicate finger, never quite fitting.

But since they never had a wedding, Terrance seemed to forget about getting her a proper wedding ring.

''If he really cared about me, how could he forget something so important?' Gianna thought bitterly. 'Of course, the real wedding ring was meant for someone else.'

Gianna clutched her chest, feeling like her heart was about to shatter into pieces.

Inside the ward, Terrance tried to sound tough. "You know you're injured, and it's hard for you to get around, but you still insist on doing everything yourself. What if you fall again? Do you want to end up crippled?

"Where the hell is Wyatt? You got into a car accident and ended up in the hospital, but he can't even bother to show up? Does that even make sense?"

Terrance frowned, "Just tell me straight. Is Wyatt ignoring your feelings?"

Yasmine smiled, trying to reassure him, "Terry, Wyatt's really good to me. He was overseas for work, but the moment he heard about my accident, he wanted to fly back right away.

"I told him I was fine and said he should finish up his business before coming back.

"You know how much GoldenAge's project means to him. If he can land it, life will get a whole lot easier for both of us in the Wheeler family."

Terrance immediately replied, "Didn't I tell you I'll get you the project?"

Gianna's heart hit rock bottom upon hearing that.

She had led her team through more than a month of sweat and tears just to win GoldenAge Enterprise's project.

Terrance just decided to give it to Yasmine without a second thought for her team, not giving a damn about all the effort they'd poured into it.

"Forget it. If Gigi finds out we've been keeping in touch and you're giving me the project, she'll totally get pissed," Yasmine said, shooting a subtle glance at the doorway.

"If it ends up causing a fight between you two, I'd honestly feel so guilty," she added.

Terrance shot back, "Why does it matter if she gets pissed? You're always stressing over everything. Why don't you put more energy into yourself for once?

"Gianna's already been kicked out by his father, and her mother is gone. If she tries to stand up to me, she's got nowhere left to stay. So don't sweat it. She won't be against it."

Yasmine started to say something else, her voice hesitant. "But..."

Terrance cut her off. "Forget about those people. They don't matter.

"Does your stomach still hurt? I'll go get a nurse to bring you a fresh hot water bottle."

Without waiting for her reply, he grabbed the still-warm hot water bottle from her stomach and headed out to find a nurse.

As he walked out, Terrance pulled out his phone and shot a message to Gigi.

Terrance: [Gigi, did the test results come in yet? Let me know as soon as you hear anything, okay? Don't keep me in suspense.]

Hearing footsteps approaching, Gianna instinctively darted into the nearest corner.

She was so numb from heartbreak that even the tears had run dry; all that was left inside her was a cold, hollow emptiness.

Gianna thought bitterly, 'So Terrance knew everything all along.

''He knew I had nowhere else to turn, and that he was the only one I could rely on, so he was convinced I would never walk away.

''That was why he could lie, hurt, and betray me so shamelessly, without a trace of remorse.'

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Gianna pulled it out and saw a message from Terrance.

She looked up, watching Terrance's back as he headed toward the nurse's station, her eyes filled with disbelief and bitter sarcasm.

''How does he manage to switch between those two roles so effortlessly?' Gianna scoffed inwardly.

He could fuss over his lover, all sweet and caring, while putting on a show of devotion for his wife, who was nothing but a burden to him.

"You saw it all, didn't you?" Yasmine's voice rang out, taunting and smug.

Gianna looked up and met her triumphant gaze.

"Whether it's Dad, Wyatt, or Terrance, the one they all love is me," Yasmine declared, her voice dripping with arrogance.

"And you? You're just the one they tossed aside like trash," she sneered.

Yasmine lifted her hand, showing off the huge pink diamond ring on her finger.

The diamond was plump and brilliant, sparkling beautifully under the lights.

"See this? Terry bought this diamond just for me, and he personally designed and had this ring cut and made," Yasmine gloated.

"And that necklace around your neck? It's just the leftover bits from the diamond Terry used for my ring," she sneered.

Yasmine's eyes were dripping with sarcasm, each glance like a needle driving deep into Gianna's chest.

Her humiliation of being scorned, dismissed, and suffocated for being the illegitimate child was finally released.

Yasmine watched Gianna with smug satisfaction, almost as if she were eagerly waiting for Gianna to completely lose control.

Chapter 3 I Quit

Yasmine thought, 'So what if she acts all high and mighty, pretending to be the socialite role model? She still can't beat me at anything. All she can do is pick up the scraps I leave behind.'

Gianna looked at Yasmine's face, which was a spitting image of her homewrecker mother, and couldn't help but remember how that woman had ruined their happy life, flaunting her victory in front of her mother.

It was they who drove her mother into depression and even took her mother's kidney.

Just thinking about her mother's kidney now being inside Yasmine made Gianna want to grab a knife and cut her open to take it back.

However, her reason held her back, forcing her to keep it together.

''No, not now. At least, not yet,' she told herself.

''Losing it won't fix anything. I'm not here to crash and perish with the two bastards. I'm going to make them pay, every last bit,' Gianna thought.

She took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

She lifted her gaze, eyes dripping with sarcasm as she stared at Yasmine's smug face. "Figures, trashy blood really does get passed down. Your mother was nothing but a homewrecker.

"And you? Snatching one wasn't enough for you, huh? Had to go for seconds. What, are you that desperate for men?"

Gianna's pale face was nothing but sarcasm and ridicule.

Every word she said was laced with poison, hitting Yasmine right where it hurt the most.

What Yasmine hated most was people calling her mother a homewrecker and calling her an illegitimate child who should never have existed.

Yasmine was shaking with rage. "Gianna, say that again. I dare you!"

Gianna shot her a sideways glance, her presence overwhelming. "Sure. You're nothing but a shameless illegitimate brat, a homewrecker who snatches my fiancé and wrecks my marriage."

"Ah..." Yasmine snapped and reached out to slap Gianna.

Gianna surely wouldn't just stand there and take it. She instinctively raised her arm to block.

But before Yasmine's hand could even touch Gianna, Yasmine suddenly fell back, her head slamming into the wall with a heavy thud.

"Minnie!" A worried voice called out from behind Gianna.

Gianna was just about to turn around when, out of nowhere, a powerful force slammed into her, sending her flying and knocking over a nearby medical waste bin.

Her hand landed right in a pile of shattered glass, and blood started pouring out instantly.

Terrance acted like Gianna didn't even exist. He rushed to help Yasmine, his face full of worry. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Yasmine's face was pale, but she shook her head, looking fragile and determined.

"I'm fine," she said, looking at Gianna with red eyes.

Forcing back tears, she said, "Gigi, I just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding from back then. I didn't mean anything by it. Why did you push me?"

"Gianna!" Terrance whipped around, staring at Gianna. "Yasmine was just trying to clear things up with you. Even if you didn't want to listen, you can't push her.

"Say you're sorry. Right now."

Even though Gianna already knew Terrance only cared about Yasmine, seeing him take her side so obviously still cut Gianna to the core.

After all those years together, there wasn't even a shred of trust left for her.

He didn't bother to ask and just pinned it all on her without a second thought.

Gianna closed her eyes, sneering, "Apologize? For what? Why should I apologize to her?"

She forced herself up from the floor, watching Yasmine play the helpless victim, snuggling up to Terrance. The sarcasm in Gianna's gaze was practically dripping.

Gianna scoffed, "You say you want to explain some misunderstanding? What are you gonna say?

"Was it when you crawled into Wyatt's bed and tried to seduce him? Or was it when you stole my mother's..."

Gianna hadn't even finished speaking when a stinging slap landed, cutting her off.

She covered her cheek, staring in shock and disbelief at the person who'd just hit her.

Terrance paused, frustration flickering across his face as his hand clenched tightly.

Terrance tried to explain, "Gigi, I didn't mean to..."

But Gianna just shot him a look that cut right through him, then ripped the necklace he'd just given her and hurled it straight at his face.

"You gave me the crap she doesn't want to disgust me, huh? Terrance, I don't give it a damn," Gianna sneered.

With that, she spun around and strode off without a second glance.

Terrance started to go after her, but Yasmine suddenly grabbed his arm. "Terry, my head hurts so much. I feel so dizzy."

Terrance immediately forgot about everything else and focused on Yasmine. He quickly scooped her up and carried her back to her room.

Yasmine nestled in his arms and watched Gianna walk away, her eyes cold and calculating.

Yasmine wondered, 'What was Gianna about to say earlier? What did she know? Does she actually know about the surgery?'

Gianna left the hospital, ready to hail a cab and head back to the villa to pack up her things.

She was done with Terrance. She was getting a divorce and moving out of the house they once called home.

The moment she walked in, Terrance rushed over and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Gigi, where have you been? What took you so long to get back?" Terrance blurted out. "I called you a bunch of times, and you never answered. Do you even know how freaked out I was?"

Gianna winced at the pain from his grip, her brows knitting together as she pried his hands off. "It's none of your concern."

She walked right past him, heading upstairs to pack her things.

As Gianna brushed past Terrance, she was caught off guard to find Yasmine standing there too.

Gianna's face went stone cold in an instant.

"Gigi..." Terrance saw her face darken and tried to say something, wanting to explain himself.

But before he could finish, Yasmine jumped in. "Terry, see? You worry too much. I told you she'd be fine.

"She was probably just giving us the silent treatment because of what happened at the hospital.

"But Gigi, Terry only acted out because he was so worried about me. Please, don't take it to heart.

"I already explained to Terry. I was just slipping. You didn't push me.

"Come on, Gigi, don't make a fuss with Terry. There's really nothing going on between us."

She spoke in that pitiful voice, pretending she was just worried about Gianna and Terrance, acting like she didn't want to be the reason they fought.

But actually, she was just rubbing it in Gianna's face.

She was showing off how Terrance was totally wrapped around her finger, always jumping to do whatever she wanted.

Gianna felt nothing but disgust. She gave Yasmine a frosty stare. "We both know the truth, don't we?

"Drop the act, Yasmine. Whatever happens between you and him has nothing to do with me."

Gianna's voice was cold and sharp, leaving no room for argument.

Her attitude hit so hard that Terrance suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, like everything was starting to spiral out of his control.

Seeing Gianna about to walk away, Terrance grabbed her arm in a hurry. "Seriously, there's nothing between me and Yasmine. I only take care of her because she's your sister, that's all.

"You don't have to move out just to prove a point. Let's just let it go, alright? I'm not going to hold it against you or make you apologize to Yasmine.

"But to make it up to you, I'm letting Minnie take charge of GoldenAge's project."

"On what grounds?" Gianna shot Terrance a frosty glare. "My team and I pulled more than a dozen all-nighters, grinding away for over a month just to win GoldenAge's project.

"What makes you think you can just hand it over to her easily?"

Terrance's brows furrowed at her response.

He thought he'd been more than generous—cutting her some slack, not making her apologize, just handing her an easy way out. He figured she'd play along and let him smooth things over.

He'd already set it up for her to take the easy route, but she just refused to go along with it.

Terrance was starting to lose his cool. He snapped, "I'm your boss. It's my call who gets the project.

"If you've got a problem with that, I can just take you off everything."

Gianna snorted, her gaze dripping with sarcasm as she stared at Terrance.

She'd busted her ass for him, doing everything she could to help him get a foothold at Henderson Group, including making plans, closing deals, and always having his back.

And now, just because she wouldn't hand over the project she'd poured her heart and soul into to Yasmine, he wanted to kick her out.

Gianna shot him a disappointed look, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

She spoke through gritted teeth, "Save yourself the trouble. I quit."

Chapter 4 No Turning Back

Terrance was furious that his voice came out through clenched teeth. "Gianna!"

He couldn't believe Gianna would repeatedly defy his orders.

"Terrance, I'm not stupid. If you pay attention, the truth isn't hard to spot," Gianna said with a mocking smile. "You are not worth trusting from the start."

Terrance frowned, thinking, 'What the hell is up with Gianna today? She's acting so out of character and even ignoring everything I say.'

Seeing the situation heading south, Yasmine quickly hatched a plan. She spoke up in a hesitant voice, "Terry, if Gigi doesn't want to give me the project, it's okay. I really don't want to make things difficult for her.

"Besides, it seems like this project is super important to Gigi. I'm totally fine with that."

Yasmine tugged gently at Terrance's sleeve, her delicate face looking up at him with a pitiful, almost tearful expression.

"Please don't fight with Gigi," she pleaded.

Terrance's anger flared even more after Yasmine spoke. "Gianna, did you hear Minnie? She's so sweet, and yet she has a sister as vicious as you."

"Why bother acting all innocent and helpless? I don't want any of it. Terrance, from now on, we're done," Gianna shot back, her icy gaze sweeping over them.

She almost laughed out of sheer anger and disbelief. "You're a drama king, and she is a born actress. Seriously, you two are perfect for each other."

"Gianna," Terrance snarled through gritted teeth. "Don't go too far."

"You guys went too far, okay?" Gianna fired back, her voice shaking. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she forced herself to hold it together. "Terrance, you know exactly who you're trying to protect, don't you?

"I don't want the GoldenAge Enterprise project anymore, and I'm done with you too."

Terrance had never seen Gianna so emotional before. Her eyes blazed with nothing but hatred.

As memories of his past actions flashed through his mind, guilt gnawed at Terrance. He tried to speak, but the words just wouldn't come.

Yasmine opened her mouth, about to say something.

Yet Gianna's voice rang out. "Yasmine, every man you go after seems to be leftovers from me. Well, best wishes to you guys."

Yasmine looked like she'd just been slapped. She wiped away her tears and blurted out, "There's nothing going on between Terry and me, I swear."

Terrance's face flushed with anger.

"Don't act clueless. You both know exactly what's up," Gianna remarked with a cold sneer.

She had never felt so helpless. The person she thought would save her was actually the one who shoved her straight into the abyss.

The love she thought she had with her husband was just another move in someone else's game, all for their own benefit.

Yasmine's face crumpled with pain. "Gigi, even if you hate me, you can't insult me. If your mom knew that we fought, she'd be devastated."

Gianna snapped, her voice shaking with fury, "You really have the nerve to bring up my mom? You're the reason she's dead. Yasmine, you're just as shameless as your mother."

With a loud smack, a slap landed hard across Gianna's face. The force sent her stumbling sideways, slamming her forehead against the banister. A nasty bump rose instantly, her cheek already red and puffy.

"If you insult Yasmine again, don't blame me for what happens next," Terrance growled, his voice dripping with menace.

He yanked Gianna up from the floor, his fingers digging into her jaw with a bruising grip.

"Fine, Terrance. Heaven sees everything. You'll get what's coming to you," Gianna said, her voice icy and calm.

"Nice slap. You completely cut off our ties," she added. "Let go of me."

Gianna gave a bitter smile and jerked his hand off her chin. She stood up, turning her back on Terrance.

"Terrance, you're the one who let me down. I just came back to pack my things," Gianna said firmly. With that, she headed upstairs, slammed the door, and locked it with a loud click.

Terrance's anger finally faded as he watched her familiar silhouette burn into his mind. A wave of complicated emotions washed over him. He couldn't even put a name to what he was feeling.

He never meant to lay a hand on her, but he just couldn't hold it together. He regretted that slap the moment it landed.

When Gianna said the slap cut off their ties, it felt like a sharp pain stabbed right through his chest.

Instinctively, Terrance moved to go after Gianna.

But Yasmine grabbed his hand from behind. Her face was deathly pale. She pressed one hand to her stomach, while her forehead was slick with cold sweat.

"Yasmine, you okay?" Terrance's heart lurched with worry. The moment he saw her in pain, everything else vanished from his mind. Yasmine was all that mattered now.

Yasmine's voice was barely audible, her hand feebly pushing Terry away. "Terry, go comfort Gigi now. I'm fine, really. My stomach just hurts a little, probably because I haven't eaten."

"Really, I'm okay," she insisted.

Terrance gently took her hand and picked her up in his arms, his touch soft but full of guilt.

"I'm sorry. I wanted you here to keep me company, but you ended up caught in all this drama because of me. That's on me. Come on, let's eat something now," he said softly, regret heavy in his voice.

Yasmine instinctively buried her face in Terry's chest and pretended to complain, "Terry, I can walk on my own. Put me down. Don't let anyone else see."

Terry realized he'd crossed the line, his face turning red as he gently set Yasmine back on her feet.

The faint trace of Yasmine's perfume lingering on his clothes weirdly calmed him down.

Terry muttered under his breath, "Yasmine, I'll keep you safe."

Yasmine didn't quite hear him and turned with a puzzled look. She asked, her voice soft and a little lost, "Huh? What did you say?"

"Nothing. How about we grab some steak today? I know it's your favorite," Terry said.

Yasmine's face broke into a bright smile. "You really do know me best, Terry. But shouldn't we check on Gigi first? Is it okay to just leave her like that?"

"Don't worry about her. She's always like that. She'll calm down once she's had some time for herself," Terry replied, sounding unconcerned.

"Okay." Yasmine nodded.

Yasmine glanced up at the second floor, a hint of malice flickering in her eyes.

She scoffed to herself, 'Gianna, with just a little scheming, I can take anything you have. You think you're even in my league?'

*****Upstairs, a shiver ran through Gianna as she packed. She stuffed her things into her suitcase as fast as she could. She couldn't wait to get out of there.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with a new message.

The message was from Terrance. [Gianna, don't go anywhere. Just stay home and wait for me, okay? There's been a misunderstanding between us. Wait for me to get back. We need to talk face to face.]

Gianna stared at Terrance's message with a sneer. It was just another empty promise, no sincerity at all. She shut off her phone in silence, feeling completely drained. Her face was still stinging from that slap.

''Misunderstanding? Seriously, what's left to talk about between us?' Gianna scoffed inwardly, her heart sinking.

Terrance hadn't bothered to chase after her or tried to explain or apologize. Their chance to fix things was gone, and there was no going back.

Chapter 5 Burn Their Photos

The room was cluttered with all those cute little things they'd bought when they were supposedly in love, and now, to Gianna, every single one just screamed irony.

''Was any of his love ever real?' Gianna asked herself, her heart heavy with doubt. 'Everything was just his performance, a lie he staged to trick me.'

"Terrance, we had so many good times, but it was all just an act. Terrance, you are really despicable," Gianna muttered, clutching a photo of the two of them.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away.

She wasn't crying for Terrance. She was mourning all the feelings she'd poured out for nothing. She cursed herself for being so blind to the people around her.

Terrance was never her lover. He was one of the enemies responsible for her mother's death.

Gianna stuffed all their photos into a bag, along with a few of the gifts Terrance had given her.

She wanted to burn everything that belonged to their past, to put a final end to everything between them.

Once Gianna had packed everything away, the room that used to feel warm and inviting was now empty. She stood in the doorway, staring at the empty room, then turned off the lights.

She hauled the bags downstairs and out into the yard, dropped them on the ground, then went to the basement to grab some gasoline and doused everything with it.

She flicked her lighter, and flames instantly roared to life, lighting up the yard as the acrid scent of burning filled the air.

Terrance dropped Yasmine off at her place and then headed home.

As he got close to his house, he saw something burning in the yard from afar, and his heart skipped a beat.

He pulled up right at the gate, yanked out the keys, and rushed straight for the backyard.

Gianna was poking at the burning mess with a stick, holding a bunch of photos in her left hand.

Seeing Terrance return, Gianna threw the photos into the fire and asked in a calm voice, "You're back?"

"Gianna, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Terrance lunged forward, hauled Gianna to her feet, and gripped her shoulders tightly. He demanded, his voice shaking with emotion, "Gianna, what's gotten into you?"

Gianna's eyes were hollow as she replied in a frosty tone, "Isn't it Yasmine you're always so worried about? I burned all our photos. Bet she'll be over the moon when she finds out, right?"

"Gianna, what is wrong with you? You seriously burned all our photos?" Terrance shouted.

Seeing her lose it like that, Terrance was getting more and more worked up. Still, he knew it wasn't the time to blow up at her. He needed Gianna if he wanted to hold onto his position at work.

He let go of Gianna's shoulders and hurried over to the fire. Some photos were already ashes, while others were just scorched around the edges.

Terrance's heart was pounding with anxiety. He could tell Gianna was serious this time.

He knew just how much those photos meant to Gianna. Every time he joked about tossing them out, she'd stay mad at him for days.

Panic clawed at his chest as he frantically looked around for water, but there was none to be found.

The flames kept growing. Terrance glanced at the two empty bags beside him and realized these were the very last photos being burned.

On impulse, Terrance desperately reached into the fire and snatched out the final photo.

"Gianna, there's still one left. Your favorite one," Terrance said.

Gianna glanced at the photo Terrance held up, surprise flickering in her eyes before she let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Terrance, you really go all out with your act, don't you?"

Terrance's hand was scorched, but he didn't even flinch. He hurried over to Gianna, holding out the photo with a gentle smile. "Dear, please don't be mad. You're the one I care about most. I swear I'm not acting."

Gianna stared at him, her face blank and unreadable.

Back then, those words would've made her heart skip a beat. Now, every time Terrance said stuff like that, all she felt was pure revulsion.

She even wondered what cringey sweet talk Terrance would come up with next to try and fool her.

Seeing Gianna remain silent, Terrance moved in and wrapped her in a hug. He comforted, "Gianna, I swear I'll never leave you. Please, don't stay mad at me, okay?"

Gianna caught a whiff of his scent. It was the same perfume Yasmine loved to wear.

Gianna asked in an icy tone, "Was dinner with her as delicious as you hoped?"

Terrance looked startled, but he quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone. Yasmine was in pain because of me, and I just felt guilty. That's the only reason I..."

"Terrance, do you know why I burned all those photos?" Gianna asked, resting her head on his shoulder and leaning in close to his ear.

Her voice was thick with sadness, and Terrance felt a pang in his chest.

"Is it because I wasn't there for you? Are you upset with me?" Terrance blurted out, pulling her into his arms without thinking. "I'm sorry."

"That's not the reason," Gianna sneered. "It's because trash deserves to be burned and thrown out."

Terrance was hit with a wave of panic. He let go of her, standing face-to-face with Gianna, gripping that photo for dear life with his burned hand. He begged, "Gianna..."

This was the first time things had ever blown up like this between them. Terrance finally got it that Gianna wasn't just causing a scene. She was really ready to leave him for good.

Terrance spoke up, "Dear, I indeed had dinner with Yasmine tonight. You know I was feeling down, and she just wanted to cheer me up.

"It's just what friends do, okay? Nothing happened, I promise. Gianna, please trust me."

Gianna said firmly, "Terrance, what's the point in explaining now?" Gianna shot him a distant look. "You had plenty of chances to explain to me, but you only chose to do it now.

"It's too late, Terrance. We missed our window. There's no going back now."

The smell of burnt things was fading from the air, and Gianna stared at the photo Terrance was clutching, her heart feeling unbearably empty.

Terrance met her gaze, letting out a bitter laugh. "Gianna, you burned every memory we had. Did it ever cross your mind how I feel? Don't think you're the only one hurting here.

"You keep saying you love me, but the second I turn my back, you burn every single photo of us.

"Gianna, I'm a real person too. I hurt just like you do."

Gianna let out a bitter laugh, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Wow, Terrance, you're unbelievable. I never thought you could stoop this low. You act like you're head over heels for me, but you never really cared."

"Fine. If you don't like it, I'll keep my distance from Yasmine. Is that what you want?" Terrance snapped back.

Gianna replied coldly, "I don't care."

If Terrance had talked to her like this before, she would've forgiven him in a heartbeat.

But now that she knew the whole truth, all Gianna felt for him was pure hatred.

Every attempt Terrance made to win her back or threaten her was meaningless. She just saw him as a pathetic clown, putting on a show for no one but himself.

Chapter 6 Give Yasmine The Project

Gianna's icy attitude pushed Terrance over the edge. He snapped, "What exactly do you want?"

"Whatever you do, it's your problem. I don't care, and what you think doesn't matter to me," Gianna replied.

She had no intention of talking to him any further. She glanced at his injured wrist, then turned and walked away.

Terrance never thought Gianna could be so indifferent to him.

The last time he got a tiny scratch, Gianna was practically beside herself with worry.

But now, after he burned his hand rescuing those photos from the flames, she didn't spare him a single word of concern.

Terrance watched her back as she disappeared through the living room doorway, his chest burning with anger and a bitter sense of loss.

"Gianna," Terrance yelled, his voice echoing after her.

Not bothering to respond, Gianna headed straight upstairs, let herself into the master bedroom, and locked the door.

Terrance lingered downstairs for a while, hoping Gianna would come back and comfort him. When she didn't, he scratched his nose in frustration.

There was still some ointment at home, so he awkwardly searched through the living room cabinets. He'd never had to do this himself before, because Gianna was always the one to handle this stuff for him.

However, he was now clumsily trying to apply the ointment, and the sting made him suck in a sharp breath.

Five minutes later, after putting on the ointment, Terrance hoped Gianna had calmed down.

He carried a plate of freshly sliced fruit upstairs and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Gianna, you haven't had dinner yet, right? I saw you didn't cook anything tonight, so I cut up some fruit for you. Do you want some?" he spoke up.

His voice was soft, but Gianna just sat by the window, staring out at the bright moonlight, refusing to answer him.

Gianna didn't even want to answer him. She just felt exhausted, her chest weighed down like someone had stuffed it full of heavy stones.

Terrance felt like everything was slipping out of his control.

He stood outside the door, his voice soft and pleading. "Gianna, I know you're hurting, but Yasmine is your sister. I'm your husband. There's nothing going on between us. Don't you see how I feel about you after all this time?

"You're the only one in my heart. You've always been there for me, and you're the one I treasure above everyone else. Why would I ever betray you?"

Gianna sat in silence, listening to Terrance's gentle voice through the door, and all she could think was how scary this man was.

"If I did something wrong, or if there's anything about me you can't stand, just say it. I'll fix it, whatever it is," Terrance said.

Gianna reached out, trying to catch the moonlight, but no matter how hard she tried, it always slipped right through her fingers.

Listening to his whole "heartfelt" speech, she just felt drained to the bone.

Gianna murmured under her breath, "Terrance, you really deserve an Oscar nomination."

She was done listening to Terrance pretend. Clearing her throat, Gianna spoke, her exhaustion obvious in her voice, "Terrance, can you just stop? I'm really tired. Can you let me rest for a while?"

Terrance paused for a moment, then pleaded, "Gianna, can I hold you while you sleep tonight? I'm afraid you'll have nightmares."

Gianna scoffed under her breath, her voice icy. "Terrance, you're the worst nightmare I've ever had."

Terrance stood frozen outside the door, his grip on the plate faltering. It nearly crashed to the floor.

"Gianna..." Terrance called out softly, his voice shaky.

He tried to say something else, but Gianna cut him off. "Do you really want to give that project to Yasmine?"

He could tell there wasn't a hint of bitterness in her tone.

Terrance lingered at the doorway and stayed silent for ages. He knew just how much this project mattered to Gianna. He understood better than anyone how much effort she'd poured into it.

But he was even clearer on how much it meant to Yasmine.

All these years, Terrance had gotten used to putting Yasmine first. Looking out for her was just what he did.

"You know what I think. Yasmine needs this project way more than you do. She needs it to prove herself at the company," Terrance said.

As soon as he said that, Gianna felt utterly exhausted. She leaned her head back, covering her eyes with one hand, but the tears still slipped through her fingers. She wiped her nose, trying to hold herself together.

"I can give the project to Yasmine," she said, her voice flat and hollow.

When Terrance heard that, it was like a huge weight had finally been lifted off his chest.

He lit up with excitement. "You finally figure it out. I knew you'd look out for Yasmine. If she pulls this project off, it'll be great for the company and for us too."

Gianna grabbed a few tissues and wiped away her tears.

"I'll pull out of the project and let Yasmine take over, but I have two conditions," she said.

Terrance frowned, "What conditions?"

Gianna said firmly, "First, you can't fire anyone from the project team, especially anyone in tech."

Terrance breathed a huge sigh of relief; he didn't even think twice before agreeing.

"What's your second condition?" he asked.

"Second, you need to sign off on my resignation letter," Gianna replied.

She pulled the resignation letter out of the printer.

She always kept a computer and printer in her bedroom. She'd poured her heart and soul into the company's projects, never imagining she'd end up doing all the work just to let someone else take the credit.

So just now, she used the computer and printer one last time. She wrote up her resignation letter and printed it out.

"Fine, I agree with that," Terrance finally relaxed. "Just write your resignation letter tomorrow. I'll sign it," he said.

"I've already written it," Gianna replied.

She walked up to the door and slipped her hefty four-page resignation letter under it.

Terrance set the plate down on the floor and picked up the resignation letter.

It laid out clearly what Gianna wanted for compensation and exactly why she was quitting.

Terrance skimmed through it. Gianna wasn't asking for the moon, but he'd still have to pay up big time.

"That's a lot of money you're asking for," Terrance commented.

Gianna's voice came through the door, calm and unyielding. "Everything I'm asking for is what I deserve. I've put in way more for this company than you ever have."

Terrance clenched the agreement in his hand and said right away, "I'll go get a pen and sign it now."

He still thought Gianna was just sulking. He figured she'd get it out of her system tonight. After he buttered her up, and by tomorrow, she'd be all smiles with him again.

"Come on, don't stay mad at me. It's not good for you. Dear, I really love you. Can you forgive me this time?" Terrance pleaded.

"You can go shopping tomorrow. If you see anything you like, just get it. Use my card," he added.

He kept trying to sweet-talk her, hoping that if he just played the nice guy long enough, Gianna would let it slide and forgive him.

But Terrance had no idea that this time, Gianna really meant it.

Gianna's eyes were red, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. "Terrance, I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep. Can we talk tomorrow?"

Seeing her finally soften, Terrance said, "Alright, we'll talk tomorrow. Goodnight."

Chapter 7 The Trip

Gianna barely slept a wink last night. She sat up in bed, glancing out the window at the gloomy, overcast sky.

She got dressed, freshened up, and headed downstairs.

Terrance was working on his tablet in the living room. When he heard her coming down, he turned to look at her and smiled, "Morning."

"Morning," Gianna replied.

"I asked the housekeeper to cook all your favorite food today. Come join me," Terrance said, setting down his tablet and stretching lazily.

"Okay. Gianna nodded.

The housekeeper had prepared a spread of mouthwatering dishes. Terrance took Gianna's hand and led her to the table.

"I've already signed your resignation letter," Terrance said with a grin. "I've agreed to everything you wanted. Can we call a truce now?"

Gianna picked up the resignation letter from the table, folded it carefully, and tucked it away in her backpack.

"If we ever argue again, you can't threaten me with quitting," Terrance said, tapping her nose playfully. "You hear me?"

"How could I do that?" Gianna replied with a playful smile.

Terrance's goal was simple. He just wanted to keep Gianna from causing any trouble.

Yesterday, he wondered if she'd figured things out, but seeing her reaction this morning, he didn't think she knew the truth.

Terrance thought, 'No doubt, Gianna's just jealous of Yasmine and getting all worked up.'

Terrance complained, sounding a bit helpless, "What happened yesterday? Why did you burn all our photos?"

Gianna glanced at him coolly as she picked up some food. "I wasn't happy seeing you with Yasmine."

"It was my fault. I'm sorry," Terrance admitted.

He went on, "I really feel bad about those photos. They were our memories."

Gianna couldn't help but wonder if Terrance actually cared about those memories, or if he was just pretending to love her all along.

Gianna shook her head. "They're all burnt. Can't bring them back."

Terrance said with an innocent grin, "We've got all the time in the world to take new photos together. Remember your last birthday? I was so swamped with work, and I didn't get to celebrate with you. How about I make it up to you this time?"

''How are you supposed to make up for that?' Gianna wondered, confused.

She honestly couldn't figure out how to make up for a birthday that was already over.

Finally, Gianna replied, "As you wish."

Terrance was ready with a plan to make it up to her. "It's been forever since we traveled anywhere. Do you want to get away for a bit? Maldives or Hendia, your pick."

Sometimes, Gianna just had to admit she was amazed by Terrance's ability to fake it and keep his true feelings hidden.

He was obviously in love with Yasmine, yet he could still shower her with concern and play the doting boyfriend.

When Terrance mentioned going on a trip, Gianna hesitated. She didn't want Terrance to pick up on anything, especially with her own plans to leave soon.

Terrance noticed and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something else bothering you?"

Gianna said, "It's nothing. Just planning trips always stresses me out."

"Let me handle the planning this time," Terrance said, sounding sure of himself. "You always take care of the details, so let me do it for once."

"Okay," Gianna replied.

"I knew you'd say yes." Terrance shot her a smile. "I've already got the car sorted, and I booked us into your favorite hotel."

Terrance never forgot what Gianna loved and what she hated.

There were things he definitely knew, but he just played dumb about them.

Like how Gianna couldn't stand Yasmine, but Terrance always turned a blind eye to it.

This time, they were heading to Hendia, a city with great weather all year round, just right for a chill getaway.

Terrance couldn't wait to get things moving, so he kept nudging Gianna to pack her bags. Since she'd already agreed to go, Gianna just went upstairs to get her stuff together.

She slipped her resignation letter into her backpack, packed her clothes, and dragged her suitcase downstairs.

Terrance loaded the luggage into the trunk, then hopped into the driver's seat. He leaned over and buckled Gianna's seatbelt for her.

They were so close that they could feel each other's heartbeat.

Just as Terrance was about to kiss her, Gianna dodged slightly and peeked at herself in the mirror.

"I just did my makeup. I don't want to get it smeared," she said.

Terrance didn't think much of it and quickly switched topics. "The cherries in Hendia are ripe now. We could go cherry picking at one of those local orchards."

Neither of them brought up that little awkward moment. They just moved on like nothing happened.

Terrance started the car and headed for the airport.

They left just in time to miss the morning rush, so the drive was smooth sailing all the way to the airport. They still had about an hour before boarding.

"I'll grab the luggage from the trunk. Don't forget your backpack," Terrance said to Gianna as he parked in the airport lot. He got out, popped the trunk, and pulled out their luggage.

"Okay," Gianna replied, doing as she was told.

While they waited for boarding, Terrance was glued to his phone, texting away.

Gianna happened to catch a glimpse of his screen. He was messaging Yasmine. Gianna didn't say a word or even sigh, just turned away and started scrolling through videos.

She honestly couldn't care less anymore.

Seeing she was getting restless, Terrance said, "We've still got some time before boarding. I'll grab us something to eat. Will you be okay here watching the bags?"

"Alright." Gianna looked up at him, tugging at his sleeve. "Don't take too long. I don't like being by myself."

He could totally see how much she depended on him and how nervous she was.

He gave her a gentle, reassuring pat on the head and replied, "I'll be right back."

Gianna nodded and finally let go of his sleeve.

Terrance had barely walked away when his phone rang.

It was the caregiver, her voice frantic. "Mr. Henderson, something's wrong. Ms. Wheeler just collapsed. I don't know what happened."

"What?" Terrance was at the airport, and the noise around him made it hard to hear.

"Ms. Wheeler just collapsed," the caregiver shouted again.

Terrance's voice tightened with worry. "What happened?"

The caregiver's voice was trembling, almost breaking. "I really don't know. She was perfectly fine when she got back last night.

"Mr. Henderson, please come over as soon as possible. Ms. Wheeler... She... I..."

Terrance was so worried about Yasmine that Gianna barely crossed his mind. Still, he didn't want to just bail on Gianna without a word, so he quickly sent her a text.

Terrance: [Gianna, something urgent came up at work. I've got to head back and deal with it. The tickets are booked, so enjoy yourself, okay? Don't let them go to waste.]

Gianna didn't even bother to ask anything after seeing the message. She was very sure that Yasmine must be pulling some drama again.

Chapter 8 Quitting For Good

Gianna's phone screen lit up with a text from Yasmine. She tapped it open, her brow furrowing slightly.

Yasmine: [Gianna, I'm sorry for taking up your and Terry's time again. My caregiver saw me faint and called Terry. It's all her fault. I've already scolded her. I'm really sorry.]

The whole message was dripping with that fake innocence. Gianna didn't bother replying. She just quietly locked her phone.

Yasmine's words were full of provocation; every line meant to get under Gianna's skin.

Everything Terrance said yesterday was just him stalling for time.

To him, Yasmine was the only one who truly mattered.

Gianna got up from her seat a little too quickly, and for a split second, her head spun.

She almost lost her balance and nearly dropped back into the chair.

Once the dizziness faded, Gianna dragged her suitcase toward the exit.

She hailed a cab at the airport entrance and gave the driver the address for Henderson Group.

She held a resignation letter signed by Terrance in her hand.

Terrance thought she was just being moody, but he had no clue that Gianna meant business this time.

*****Gianna left her suitcase at the front desk and headed to the HR office with her backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Gianna, you're back? Haven't seen you around these days. The whole team has been missing you," a colleague said with a smile.

Gianna gave a small smile. "Actually, I'm here to hand in my resignation."

Sophie Larson, the HR manager, froze for a moment, thinking she'd misheard. She asked uncertainly, "What?"

"I'm resigning. I came to process the paperwork," Gianna explained.

Sophie was well aware of the situation between Gianna and Terrance, and she said, "Gianna, you know your position here is pretty special. Let me check with Mr. Henderson before proceeding."

Sophie felt like Gianna was a hot potato no one wanted to deal with right now.

She wondered, 'Are they fighting again? What's going on? Did it really get to the point of quitting?'

"No need to call him. He's already signed my resignation letter," Gianna said.

She pulled the signed resignation letter out of her backpack and handed it to Sophie.

Sophie took it with both hands, double-checking the signature, just to be sure she wasn't mistaken.

She saw Terrance had really signed it himself.

"So, can you handle my resignation now?" Gianna asked.

"Of course," Sophie replied.

Still stunned, Sophie hurried to process Gianna's resignation.

After everything was finalized, Gianna grabbed a packing box and headed back to her desk.

One of her colleagues spotted her and teased, "Gianna, what's up? Why are you packing up out of the blue? Planning to switch teams or something?"

Another colleague came over, saying, "Gianna, we've come up with a new idea while you were gone."

"Gianna..." someone else called out.

Everyone in the project team lit up when they saw Gianna walk in.

The team hadn't heard yet that Gianna was leaving.

"I've already quit. From now on, I'm not working with you guys," Gianna said.

They never thought Gianna would be the one to leave.

"Wait, what's going on, Gianna?" someone blurted out.

"Seriously, we've always joked about people quitting, but we never imagined you'd be the one to leave us," another added.

"Yeah, Gianna, you were the one coordinating everything for this project. You put your heart into it. I just can't believe you'd leave it behind. There must be a reason," another colleague said.

"Seriously, tell us what happened," someone else pressed.

The whole team started firing questions at Gianna, and she was at a loss for words. She felt guilty for letting everyone down.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I couldn't hold onto the project," Gianna said, her voice full of regret.

"Gianna, does that mean you tried but couldn't make it happen?" someone asked.

"Who was it? Who tried to snatch the project from you?" another chimed in.

Everyone was talking over each other, not giving Gianna a chance to explain.

"We don't want you to go," someone said.

"Management decided to give the GoldenAge project to Yasmine. Starting today, she's the new project lead," Gianna said, her voice steady.

She didn't hold anything back. She told them the truth, plain and simple.

"Why?" someone blurted out.

"Yasmine's ability is not even close to Gianna's," someone spat.

"So why did the company put her in charge?" someone else asked.

"The GoldenAge project's basically wrapping up. It's a juicy piece of work, and Yasmine probably just wants a slice of the pie," someone muttered.

"Yasmine really knows how to play the game," another said, rolling their eyes.

"Poor Gianna, you're getting pushed around. That's so messed up," someone else chimed in, sounding genuinely upset.

The team had been with Gianna for so long that they were more like family now.

"This is so unfair," someone grumbled.

Gianna decided to stir the pot. "Guys, make sure you see this project through to the end. Even if the lead changes, it won't take away from everything we've accomplished."

Her words only made everyone even more frustrated with the department.

Gianna was just trying to spark some talk around the office and put some pressure on Terrance.

Back then, she hated the idea of using her team. They trusted her, and she always thought it was wrong to take advantage of that.

Now, Gianna didn't care about using them anymore.

Terrance had spent years treating her like a fool, ordering her around whenever he wanted. Now that she was leaving, she was determined to leave him with a real headache.

At least it could vent her anger a bit.

Someone in the crowd complained, "Yasmine is so awful."

"Seriously, how can she even show her face?" another added.

A lot of people on the team were upset, and a few even said they were going to take it up with management.

Gianna set the packing box on her desk and started gathering her things. Just then, someone noticed her resignation letter.

"Hey, the resignation letter has to be signed by a manager," someone said.

Everyone's eyes landed on Gianna's resignation letter, and someone with sharp eyes immediately spotted the signature.

"Terrance Henderson," someone blurted out.

The project team instantly erupted. One asked, "What's Mr. Henderson's deal?"

"I don't get it either," someone else chimed in.

Gianna quickly tucked the resignation letter away. "Mr. Henderson has his plan. We're just the staff. We gotta roll with it."

"Gianna is the brain behind this whole project. If she leaves and the new boss comes in and starts making big changes, we'll be pulling all-nighters again," someone grumbled.

"Exactly, new bosses always want to shake things up," another added.

Everyone was gossiping, voices overlapping all around.

A girl who was pretty close to Gianna looked disappointed. "Guess we won't be having lunch together anymore."

"Honestly, it's a real loss for the company if she left," someone else sighed.

"Gianna's done so much for this project. Don't they even see that?" another chimed in.

Gianna chuckled. "What if Yasmine turns out to be even more capable than I am?"

Chapter 9 Talk To Corey

"Doesn't matter how capable she is, just parroting other people's ideas doesn't make her a good person," one of the employees muttered.

One after another, the team members started speaking up for Gianna.

In a quiet corner, Peter Parker, assistant to Corey Henderson—the man in charge of Henderson Group—watched the drama unfold.

Without a word, he slipped away, found a quiet office, and dialed a number.

Peter reported, "Corey, Terrance just approved Gianna's resignation letter. The GoldenAge Enterprise project team is a mess right now, and plenty of employees are upset about it."

After Peter finished explaining, a deep, calm voice came from the other end of the line. "Alright, I see. Keep her for now."

Corey's chiseled features radiated an icy authority. Dressed in a sharp, low-key black suit, he strode toward the elevator, with a file in his hand.

He'd barely finished signing the contract when the news hit him. Now, irritation was bubbling up in his heart. If he could, he'd kick his idiot nephew straight out of the company.

''Completely useless. Never gets anything done, always finds a way to mess things up,' Corey cursed inwardly, his jaw tight.

Corey headed downstairs and got into the private car waiting to take him back to the office.

His face was a blank slate, without a hint of emotion showing in his eyes.

The air inside the car was thick with tension. Corey's fingers tapped rhythmically on the file, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Take me back to the office," Corey said coldly to the driver.

"Yes, sir," the driver replied, starting the car immediately.

Just as the car pulled away, Corey's phone lit up. He tapped a contact and pressed call.

Terrance answered almost instantly, "Hi, Uncle Corey."

Terrance was clearly just woken up. He cleared his throat, sounding nervous. "Do you need me to do anything?"

Terrance had always been afraid of Corey since he was a kid. Corey was the most relentless workaholic in the Henderson family, and to Terrance, he was scarier than the devil himself.

What made Corey even more intimidating was that, despite his age, his skills were legendary. Even those sly old board members would give him a wide berth.

"What do you think I'm calling about?" Corey's voice was icy, laced with impatience.

Terrance had no idea what he'd done to piss off this devil, so he just kept quiet, too scared to say a word.

"Cat got your tongue?" Corey's tone was sharp.

"No, Uncle Corey, I really don't know what I did wrong." Terrance's voice was shaky.

"Are you an idiot? I don't care what you're doing. Be at the office in half an hour. No excuses," Corey snapped.

Not wanting to waste another second on this useless fool, Corey hung up without another word.

The driver understood there was trouble at the office and pressed harder on the accelerator.

*****As soon as Corey arrived at the office, he saw Peter trying to talk Gianna out of leaving.

Peter said, "Ms. Greene, please think it over one more time. There must be some kind of misunderstanding."

Clutching her box of belongings, Gianna stopped in front of the company entrance and looked at Peter seriously. "Peter, you saw the resignation letter yourself. The higher-ups have already signed it."

"Are you really willing to walk away from the GoldenAge project?" Peter asked, his voice full of concern.

"What does it matter if I want to stay? The higher-ups have already fired me, and they've already got someone lined up to replace me, haven't they?" Gianna replied.

Seeing Peter just standing there, speechless, Gianna turned away, her disappointment obvious.

Peter hurried after her, sweat beading on his forehead as he tried to stop her. "Ms. Greene, we haven't received any official notice from the company about replacing the project head or any transfer orders. There must be some kind of misunderstanding."

Corey stepped right in front of Gianna, blocking her way before she could leave.

Gianna wobbled, caught off guard when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

She almost ended up in Corey's arms.

Luckily, Corey reached out and steadied her by the arm, saving her from an embarrassing fall.

"Mr. Henderson," Gianna said, recognizing him as one of the big bosses. She'd heard all the rumors about his ruthless style and how he always got things done fast.

But honestly, to Gianna, he and Terrance were just Hendersons—trouble in a fancy suit, all the same to her.

They'd crossed paths on a project before, but he hadn't exactly stuck in her mind.

Corey's deep, commanding voice sounded above her. "Gianna, I know about your situation. Can we talk in my office?"

Gianna nodded, though she was clearly nervous.

She never imagined she'd run into Corey. All she wanted was to stir up some drama in the GoldenAge Enterprise project team and catch Terrance and Yasmine off guard.

She never expected her actions would end up alerting Corey himself.

"Let's go," Corey said, giving her a curt nod. He motioned for Gianna to follow him.

Gianna dragged her feet into the elevator, not saying a word the whole way.

The mirrored walls threw their reflections back at her, and Gianna couldn't help but think her luck had seriously run out.

''Is Corey going to force me to say I quit on my own just to protect the company's image? What's he going to offer or threaten me with?' Gianna wondered, her mind spinning.

The elevator soon arrived at the top floor. Peter stepped out first and held the CEO's office door open.

"Come in," Corey said, his lips barely parted, his voice cool and detached.

Gianna straightened up and walked into the CEO's office.

Gianna had never set foot in this office before, and the sheer luxury of it nearly knocked her off her feet.

Right by the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, a couple of medieval-looking chairs were parked like thrones. One whole wall was taken up by a giant oil painting, and even the desk trinkets looked like collector's items.

Everything here screamed money. Some of it was so exclusive that no amount of cash could buy it.

Corey caught every bit of her reaction, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. He didn't call her out on her momentary slip, just kept things polite and professional. "Gianna?"

Gianna snapped back to reality, feeling a little embarrassed. She quickly looked away.

She wasn't some country bumpkin, but this level of luxury was on a whole other level.

Terrance's so-called villa was nothing but a hut compared to this office. It was like comparing a shack to a royal palace. There was just no contest.

''Being rich is super good,' Gianna thought, a little envious.

"Come on, take a seat," Corey said, motioning to the chair.

"I'm okay. I'll just stand here," Gianna replied.

She refused to sit because standing gave her the confidence to stand her ground and fight for herself.

"Mr. Henderson, since you called me in, I'm not here to waste time. Let's cut to the chase," Gianna spoke up.

Corey arched his eyebrows. "Go ahead."

Gianna drew a steady breath. "If you're planning to have me sign something saying I left on my own, just to keep the company's image clean, don't bother.

"I won't lie for you, no matter what you put on the table."

Corey's eyes darkened. "So you think I called you here just to threaten or bribe you into lying?"

Gianna stared at him, stunned. "Aren't you worried this could ruin the company's reputation and tank your business?"