Chapter 3

Sophie had never been qualified to join the company in the first place.

She had simply been lucky enough to run into Marcus when he was heading out.

They had not seen each other in years, yet after one meal, Marcus arranged everything for her.

Just like that, she became a member of the senior design team.

At first, I thought she was honest and hardworking, only a little weak in technical skill.

Then I asked her to help organize a draft and discovered she did not even understand basic color correction.

From that day on, I realized Sophie's problem was not that her design ability was weak.

She had no design ability at all.

I told Marcus many times that she could not pass the monthly review and that keeping her there would only hurt her.

Every time, Marcus agreed. Every time, he did nothing.

Then I caught him secretly giving my drafts to Sophie.

Only then did I understand. It was not that he refused to listen. He simply had no intention of removing Sophie.

Even after I caught him, he did not stop. Instead, he asked if I had any better preliminary designs.

After all the years we had been together, the first time he begged me for anything was for Sophie, a useless opportunist who could not design.

When I refused, he pleaded.

"Sophie can't leave the company yet. Her younger brother is seriously ill and in the hospital. He needs a huge amount of money every month for treatment.

"I'm her mentor. I can't abandon her.

"You understand, right?"

I softened when I heard that and handed over a design I had just finished.

Only later did I learn there was no sick brother. It was just another lie Marcus had used to manipulate me.

The elevator reached the first floor.

I walked outside and hailed a cab to the hospital.

At my request, the driver opened my contacts and dialed a number that had been buried for years.

As the phone rang, my heart tightened.

The next second, a familiar teasing male voice came through.

"Well, if it isn't our little star. What made you remember your old mentor today?"

Hearing that familiar tone, the tension in my chest finally loosened.

"Dean, does the offer you made me back then still stand?"

He fell silent for several seconds.

Just when I thought that was the end of it and was about to hang up, his excited voice burst through the receiver.

"Julia, do you have any idea how many years I've been waiting for you to ask that?

"I'll book the ticket right now. Pack your things. When you land, Carla will pick you up."

Hearing long-lost concern, my nose stung and my vision blurred.

But I could not leave yet. My resignation process was not complete, and there were things I still had to settle with Marcus.

I interrupted Dean's rapid-fire instructions.

"I'll come in a few days. I still have handover work to finish."

After agreeing on a deadline, I hung up.

Dean was now a well-known figure in the design world. He had opened a thriving design firm with several other former classmates and mentors.

Back then, they all told me not to leave, that I should stay with them and grow steadily.

Design required focus and energy. I had known that.

But I touched the plain ring Marcus had given me, and my decision hardened.

I could not let Marcus struggle alone in a strange city while I enjoyed stability.