Chapter 4

Anna dragged her suitcase and returned to the labs, heading straight to logistics to get a key for a room at the staff quarters.

It was the corner room on the top floor, a corner, enough for her for about two weeks.

She was carrying a bulky cardboard box filled with her possessions and books, and was just walking upstairs when she bumped into Neil and Josie, who were heading down.

Josie, holding a folder, was chatting with Neil jovially and bumped into Anna.

"Oof," she grunted, and caught the box as Anna nearly dropped it.

Beaming, she asked as if in concern, "What's in the box? It looks so heavy, let me help you carry it upstairs."

Anna instinctively tightened her arms around the box while avoiding Josie's touch. "I'm fine, thanks."

"It's alright, I'm strong!" Josie insisted, reaching out.

Neil, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward and took the box from Anna.

Josie laughed at the sight. "Oh, Neil, you really shouldn't! Your hands are needed for precision experiments, and precious national treasures at that! We can't trouble you with such menial work!"

Despite his usual cool demeanor, Neil smiled faintly at her. "You're way more precious."

These words, though soft, pierced Anna's heart like a needle.

Shortly after she became his assistant, she was carrying a heavy stack of documents all the time, and dropped them all over the floor.

She scrambled to pick up everything when Neil approached, leaving her flustered and embarrassed as she didn't want him to think she was clumsy.

But he simply stopped and stared in silence. He never tried to help, and simply brushed past her, only telling admin to provide her with a wheeled trolley for her convenience.

He would never say "I'll do it" to her, much less speak that affectionately or tell her that she mattered.

Meanwhile, Josie giggled and blushed. "Stop it, Neil. You're teasing me again!"

Neil didn't say anything more, only asking Anna, "Which floor?"

"Fourth floor."

Anna could hear how dry her own voice was, watching as Josie and Neil carried the boxes upstairs, chatting and laughing as if there was nothing wrong.

Josie kept rambling on about the data and specimens, while Neil occasionally responded with a word or two.

It was such a calm, peaceful vibe with them, all while Anna quietly followed from a distance.

This was all too common—for almost ten years now, she had been quietly following Neil around, just like this…

And then she would be watching as he left, with Josie clinging to his side.

Anna hence always felt like a shadow, unwanted but always trying to keep up, even though she was never truly fitting into his world.

Reaching room 402, Anna took out her key and opened it.

The staff quarters were simple: A clean but modest room with a bed, a table, a closet, and a bathroom.

Neil casually dropped the cardboard box in front of the door, and then asked as if he finally just realized it, "Why the crew quarters, out of the blue?"

Anna dragged her suitcase inside, her voice calm. "I sold the apartment."

She then paused, waiting—for a question, for him to even look slightly surprised.

However, there was only silence until he eventually spoke, "If you don't like the place, move to another one. Why give yourself grief staying here?"

Anna slowly straightened and turned to look at him.

He really didn't care—at all.

That she sold their house, or why she moved out.

If anything, he must have forgotten about her telling him she had called off the engagement.

Josie, standing behind Neil, watched their exchange with a faint smile. "Take your time, Anna. Neil and I are needed back at the lab."

Neil only nodded slightly at Anna as a farewell, and turned and left with Josie.

Anna stood there, staring at the empty doorway, and then at her reddened palms, which she had clenched to restrain herself.

Give herself grief?

Her only grief was all her years of hard work being ignored.

All her sincerity only earned monetary rewards, while dying to save him only got her a reluctant engagement.

She would never measure up to the woman whom he regarded with importance, and truly made him smile.

Bitterness swelled within before she knew it, drowning her heart and suffocating her.