Chapter 3

Warren gripped his wineglass a little harder. He felt a prick in his heart just then.

The day when Clara tried to end her life, it was true that Evelyn had called him many times because of her period cramps. At first, he picked up her call, but after that, he got mad at her and stopped picking up the rest.

Surely that couldn't be why Evelyn wanted to break up with him now?

Warren kept his eyes low and listened on as Chet and Ethan continued scolding that bastard of a husband and calling him all sorts of names. He didn't even realize it when the cigarette he was holding started burning his fingertips.

He remained in a bad mood the whole night.

In the past, if he returned this late at night, Evelyn would have already called him to check up on him.

However, it was past 1:00 am now, and he didn't even receive a text message from her.

He suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

Hurriedly extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray, Warren grabbed his phone and left the pub. Just as he stepped out, a little girl with a basket of roses caught his attention, walking toward him.

The girl smiled at him and asked, "Sir, would you like to buy some flowers for your girlfriend?"

Warren looked at the bright and colorful champagne roses in the girl's basket and suddenly remembered what Chet said about "coaxing his girlfriend" after a quarrel. He then told the flower girl, "Wrap them all up. I'll take everything."

The girl was overjoyed and immediately wrapped the flowers beautifully before giving them to Warren. She even wished him all the best in his relationship.

The dark look on Warren's face softened ever so slightly.

He paid the flower girl with a thick wad of cash. However, when he brought the flowers home, Evelyn wasn't the first person to come out and greet him. Instead, it was his housekeeper, Miriam Braun.

"Sir, you're back! I've made some hangover soup for you. Would you like some now?"

Warren frowned deeply and looked toward the stairs. "Is she asleep?"

Miriam was stunned for a bit. She then answered, "Ms. Jefferson has left, sir. She asked me to pass this to you."

Warren took the envelope from Miriam and opened it up. It was a list of things that Evelyn took with her.

He got so angry that the veins on his forehead popped out immediately. He then crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it in the trash.

Warren took out his phone and called Evelyn. It rang for a long time before Evelyn finally picked up. Her voice was low and hoarse.

"What is it?"

Warren gripped his phone tightly and gritted his teeth as he growled, "Are you fucking serious about this?"

"I am," Evelyn answered determinedly.

"You better not regret this, Evelyn Jefferson!"

Warren hung up after that and went upstairs with a dark expression.

Miriam called out after him. "Sir, about the flowers—"

"Throw them in the trash!"

Warren then left without looking back. He went to the bedroom door and saw that their white Samoyed, Bailey, was wearing a gold charm on its collar.

He'd seen the charm on Evelyn's social media posts. She'd said that this charm was meant to be given to the person whom she loved the most.

So, she loved the dog the most, didn't she?

Warren was so mad that he ground his teeth together and ripped the charm off Bailey's neck before putting it in his pocket. Bailey immediately started barking loudly at him.

Warren just glared at the dog and yelled, "What the fuck are you barking for? Your mom doesn't even want you anymore!"

He then slammed the door behind him.

The next morning, Warren habitually turned over in bed and reached toward his side. It wasn't until he couldn't feel anyone next to him that he opened his eyes in shock and realized that Evelyn wasn't there anymore.

He suddenly felt a numbing pain in his chest.

In the past, he and Evelyn would always give each other their "special breakfast" right after they woke up. He particularly loved it whenever he saw Evelyn being pleasured to the max while writhing underneath him.

That kind of feeling was like poison, seeping deep into his bones. It made him feel like he had to find Evelyn and get her back.

However, when he thought back at how Evelyn left without so much as a goodbye, Warren felt his temper rising again.

So, she just wanted him to come looking for her instead? Over his dead body!

Warren went downstairs and saw Charlie Crawford, his assistant, in the living room. He was talking to someone on the phone.

Warren went over to him and said, "You're that busy, huh?"

Charlie immediately ended his call and asked Warren with much concern, "Mr. Larkin, is Ms. Jefferson's illness very bad? Should we go and visit her at the hospital?"

Warren was confused. "Did she say that?"

"Yeah. She just requested a week's leave from me. I even thought she ought to just tell you as usual instead of going the proper way."

Warren's eyes darkened. "And you approved her leave?"

"I just did. Tell Ms. Jefferson to take good care of her health while she rests at home. I'll take care of everything work-related on her side."

Charlie truly thought that his boss, Warren, would certainly praise him for being so efficient.

Instead, he only heard a cold reply from him.

"Your annual bonus is canceled."

…

Evelyn had lost too much blood during the surgery. That was the reason behind her requesting a whole week off to recover.

Just as she reached the office, she heard from her colleagues that they'd just had the worst week of their lives. Aside from having to work unpaid overtime for the whole week, Charlie just had his annual bonus revoked because he'd approved her leave.

Evelyn knew that Charlie's annual bonus, amounting to at least hundreds of thousands of dollars, was supposed to be for his upcoming wedding. But because of her, it had all gone up in smoke.

After discussing some work-related stuff with her colleagues, Evelyn then went to knock on the president's office door.

She entered the room and saw Warren sitting at his desk wearing a full-black suit and blazer set.

He looked tired and a little exhausted. However, he composed himself well. Aside from the lust showing in his eyes, Warren exuded a cold yet elegant temperament.

He had a calm look on his face. His gaze landed on Evelyn for a few seconds. Then, he looked away and lowered his head, going back to work.

Evelyn would be lying to herself if she said she didn't feel sad or brokenhearted to face him again.

Seven years ago, she'd been attracted to this man's cold and aloof nature. That was the only reason why she gave up everything to be by his side.

However, she never thought that her many years of love and sacrifice would culminate in nothing more than a mere transaction of physical intimacy between them.

Evelyn did her best to conceal the sad look in her eyes as she walked over to Warren. She presented herself as professionally as she could.

"Mr. Larkin, according to the HR policy, any leaves within ten days can be taken and directly approved by the employee's immediate supervisor. Since Mr. Crawford is my immediate supervisor, was there a problem with me requesting a few days off from him? Why did you cancel his annual bonus?"

Warren lifted his brow and stared at Evelyn with his attractive eyes. It seemed as if he was seeing through her.

"Why do you think I canceled it?"

Warren asked her in a teasing tone as if he was mocking her.

Evelyn felt her heart clenching. "Is it because I told you I wanted to break up with you? If you have a bone to pick with me, then by all means, shoot me until I'm dead. But you didn't have to bring other people into this."

Warren just laughed nonchalantly. "You don't want me to involve anyone else? Sure. Move back in with me, and I'll forget everything you did."

A look of bitterness came over Evelyn's face. She then placed her letter of resignation on Warren's table and pushed it toward him.

"Mr. Larkin, I won't be moving back in with you. I'm also resigning from my position. This is my letter of resignation. I hope you can find someone to fill in my position as quickly as possible."

Warren stared at the letter Evelyn pushed toward him, his grip on the pen so tight that his fingers had turned white.

He then stared at Evelyn with his dark eyes.

"What if I don't allow you to resign?"

Evelyn smiled and said, "Mr. Larkin, you were the one who said from the start that if we ever got tired of each other, we could always go our separate ways. If you don't let me go, I'll just think that you're nothing but a sore loser for a player."

Hearing this, Warren stood up from his seat and walked over to Evelyn.

He grabbed her chin and kept stroking her face as he said in a dominant, oppressive voice, "Evelyn, it's not that I'm a sore loser. I'm just not done playing with you yet."