Chloe's POV:

I stepped out of the elevator on the twenty-first floor, the familiar hum of the Research & Development and Public Relations departments greeting me. I draped my coat over my arm, adjusting my attire. My suit was crisp and tailored—a reflection of the professional wall I had built around myself over the years.

To many, my style was repetitive, perhaps even uninteresting. I wore the same efficient silhouettes and kept my hair in the same practical style day after day. But in this environment, my appearance wasn't meant to entertain; it was a suit of armor. Beauty could be a distraction, and I had long ago decided that my work should be the only thing people focused on.

As the rhythmic tap of my heels echoed down the hallway, the atmosphere in the spacious office shifted. The pace quickened instantly. Phones rang in a dozen different languages, and employees scrambled to organize their reports. From procurement logs to production timelines and partnership appointments, the machinery of the company moved according to the pace I set.

I walked through the office area, my expression calm and my chin raised. I answered a series of rapid-fire questions with crisp, decisive instructions—a habit ingrained in my soul after years of leadership. By the time I reached my private office, I realized I was carrying a stack of urgent documents handed to me during my brief walk.

I sighed, tossing the files onto my desk. A wave of helplessness washed over me. I wasn't here to manage a product launch today. I was here to resign.

What am I doing? I thought, looking at the mountain of work I had naturally gravitated toward.

I pulled out my chair and turned on my computer. The screen’s glow reflected in my eyes as I drafted the resignation letter. I knew that if I processed this directly through the Human Resources Department, I could avoid another draining confrontation with Lance. I needed a clean break—a way to leave without the shadows of the past pulling me back.

I printed the letter, sealed it in a plain envelope, and headed straight for the HR manager’s office. I didn't want to give myself time to second-guess the decision.

I knocked on the door. The manager’s voice, sounding uncharacteristically urgent, called out from inside. I pushed the door open, ready to end this chapter of my life once and for all.