Less than two hours after I left the company, the disciplinary notice was issued.

“After investigation, employee Bailey refused to comply with management instructions during work hours and disrupted normal company operations. Her actions constitute a serious violation of company policy. She will be suspended for one month, and her full project bonus of two hundred thousand dollars will be withheld.”

Right after that, another notice came out.

“Since joining the company, newly appointed director Freya has demonstrated outstanding performance. After review, the company has decided that she will take over Bailey’s former position and receive an additional performance bonus of two hundred thousand dollars for this month.”

I stared at the two notices on my screen and let out a cold laugh.

How was this any different from robbing me outright?

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from Chuck.

“You were too impulsive today. Freya is the CEO’s sister. None of us can afford to offend her.

“Stay home and reflect on yourself for a while. Don’t cause any more trouble.”

I stared at the message and suddenly felt like the man who used to say he loved me was a complete stranger.

I picked up my phone and called William.

“Hey, are you still wearing the pendant Mom and Dad gave you?”

William paused.

“The chain broke, so I had my assistant take it in to get replaced. Why?”

“Nothing.”

I leaned back against the couch, the corner of my mouth lifting slightly.

“Just don’t forget to get it back soon. It’d be bad if someone with bad intentions got their hands on it.”

“Got it. I’ll ask my assistant about it.”

After hanging up, I tossed my phone onto the coffee table.

Sure enough, Freya had stolen that pendant from William.

At first, I had wondered if maybe she knew him somehow. But after thinking about it, I knew there was no way William would casually lend something that important to anyone.

After being suspended, I suddenly had all the free time in the world.

For the past year, I had barely slept a full night because of that project.

I decided to treat it as a proper vacation.

But to my surprise, a few days later, the coworkers from my team came to my door.

“Bailey, we were all fired.”

I froze.

It turned out that after my suspension, the whole department had gone on strike to demand justice for me.

At first, Chuck tried to shut them down with threats and empty promises.

But Freya didn’t care at all. She simply told all of them to get out.

So they were really fired.

Several of them were senior employees who had fought beside me for years.

Without them, the company never could have completed any of its core projects.

I comforted them and told them not to worry.

“I’ll arrange work for all of you. If you trust me, I’ll make sure you end up somewhere good.”

After our entire department was fired, every unfinished project we had been handling landed on Freya’s desk.

At first, she was full of confidence and promised Chuck, “This little bit of work? I can handle it myself.”

A few days later, her tone changed.

“Just transfer a few people from the neighboring departments to help me.”

But people from other departments didn’t understand our work at all.

On top of that, Freya was nothing but an empty suit who only knew how to talk big. Faced with half-finished projects, she didn’t even know where to begin.

Just like that, day after day passed.

The project didn’t move forward at all.

Chuck finally started to panic.

This project had been assigned directly by headquarters, and the report was due next week.

If he couldn’t deliver, he was finished.

In desperation, he called me again.

“Bailey, the company needs you on this project. We can withdraw the suspension. Come back to work.”

I almost laughed.

“You personally approved that suspension. The notice was officially issued by the company. Now you want to take it back just because you need me? What is this, a joke?”

The line went quiet for two seconds.

“Fine. I was wrong. I’ll put out an announcement clearing your name, and I’ll return half your bonus. Happy now?”

I smiled.

“My entire team was fired because of you. What’s the point of me going back alone?”

“I’ll assign you new people. As many as you need.”

“No. I want my original team back. I trained every one of them myself, and we work well together. I won’t accept anyone else.”

Chuck finally snapped.

“Bailey, don’t push your luck.”

Just then, another voice came from his end of the phone.

“Chuck, my brother agreed to send new people to our branch. I heard some real experts are coming to help.”

It was Freya.

Chuck paused for a second. Then his confidence came right back.

“Did you hear that? You really think this company can’t survive without you?

“With the CEO’s own sister here, we can get whatever resources we want.”

He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice had turned cold.

“Bailey, let’s break up. I’ve had enough of you. You have no money, no background, and nothing but problems. Don’t bother me again.”

He thought I would beg him.

Instead, I only asked calmly, “What? Dumping me so you can chase after your precious heiress?”

“Who I chase has nothing to do with you. And you don’t need to come back to the company anymore. Take your little team and get lost.”

With that, he hung up.

Although I no longer had much feeling left for him, I still couldn’t stop my hand from tightening around the phone.

Fine.

Break up, then.

I only hoped he wouldn’t regret today’s decision later.

The truth was, I had never planned to go back to that company.

The night I was suspended, I packed up and moved out.

When William saw me walk into headquarters, he froze for a second.

“What brings you back all of a sudden?”

“I quit.”

William frowned.

“Isn’t the branch company part of our family business too? Why quit out of nowhere?”

“I just didn’t want to stay there anymore.”

I didn’t explain much.

William looked at me for a moment, but he didn’t press me.

“Fine. Your timing is actually perfect. The group meeting is next week, and every branch will have to report their project progress.

“You can come with me. It’s about time you showed your face and let everyone meet my precious sister.”

On the day of the group meeting, a heavy storm hit the city.

I arrived at the venue early, but William’s car got stuck in traffic, so he was running a little late.

When Chuck and Freya saw me, their faces filled with shock.

“Who let you come here? You were already fired. You have no right to attend this meeting.”

“Get out right now. If you embarrass us here and damage our branch’s reputation, I won’t let you off.”

I looked at them, almost amused.

“What if I said I’m from headquarters?”

Freya let out a scoff.

“So you got fired and ran to headquarters? So what?

“I’m the heiress of this group. With one word from me, I can have my brother fire you.”

Her voice was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention.

Whispers immediately broke out around us.

“So she’s the CEO’s real sister? I heard she’d never shown her face before. I didn’t expect her to be so young and pretty.”

“No wonder she’s the heiress. That confidence is different.”

“Everything she’s wearing is designer, right? That bag alone has to cost at least a hundred thousand dollars.”

A crowd quickly gathered around her, showering her with compliments.

After all, branch resources were allocated by headquarters. Everyone wanted to leave a good impression on the CEO’s sister.

Seeing everyone fawn over her, Freya lifted her chin even higher.

“I’m telling you now. As of this moment, you’re fired. Get out.”

I didn’t move.

I only smiled.

“If I remember correctly, the CEO and his real sister each wear a pendant with the family crest.”

I looked at her neck.

“Freya, where’s your pendant?”

Freya’s eyes flickered with panic.

“I… I forgot to wear it today.”

“You forgot?”

I took out a pendant from inside my jacket.

It had the same family crest engraved on it, though the design was slightly different from William’s.

“Then what do you call this?”

Everyone’s eyes landed on the pendant.

A sharp gasp went through the room.

The family crest was clearly engraved on it.

Everyone knew exactly what that meant.

Freya’s face turned white.

“You… How do you have that pendant?”

“Of course I have it.”

I put the necklace back around my neck and smiled at her.

“Because the CEO of this group is my brother.”