I thought to myself, "Even though we're divorced and have no ties, hiding a pregnancy for long is just not sustainable.

Jaxton is not just sharp but eagle-eyed.

I don't think I can stick around in this company anymore."

Without returning to the meeting room, I swiftly typed a resignation letter.

After a hasty pack-up of my belongings in the office, I made a beeline for the company's entrance.

With a honk, a sleek black car pulled up beside me.

I quickly stepped aside to make way.

The window rolled down, revealing Jaxton's face.

I was taken aback, thinking, "Is the meeting already over?

Or did my resignation not go through? What new twist is this?"

"Get in," Jaxton stated bluntly.

"No need, Mr. Munoz, I..."

I started to refuse, but he swiftly clicked the door open.

I hesitated, but with his car arrogantly blocking the traffic, I gritted my teeth and hopped into the passenger seat.

His flawlessly chiseled face entered my line of sight, the familiar scent of his cologne lingering around me.

My face started to flush, memories of that fiery night post-divorce flooding my mind.

I turned my head to look out the window, trying to distract myself.

His charm was overpowering.

It had been three months since our divorce, yet here I was, entertaining foolish thoughts.

As the car pulled into the parking lot, I caught sight of the gleaming sign of Central Hospital.

My breath caught in my throat.

I wondered, "Jaxton's capabilities are not to be underestimated, but could he really have found out about my pregnancy so quickly? I myself just knew!"

Seizing the moment as he parked, I dashed towards the back door, taking a taxi to my residence.

When we divorced, I left with just a piece of paper, moving so swiftly that he had no time to react, resulting in no significant property division.

In a third-tier city like Olivano, my savings were only enough to buy a modest apartment in the suburbs.

I had initially planned to work hard to afford a bigger house, but now it seemed unnecessary.

Regardless of Jaxton's intentions, I knew I had to cut ties swiftly and leave.

I enlisted a real estate agent to sell the apartment at a low price, booked a flight and hotel for the evening, and began tidying up the room.

But it was more like a massive purge.

As I held the glass dome with dried roses, my heart skipped a beat.

I had promised myself to let go after three months of divorce, but when the time came to leave, I still hesitated.

This rose was given to me by Jaxton at a birthday ball hosted for him, where he was the center of attention.

The event was grand, with Jaxton dressed simply in white and black, exuding a nonchalant air as he unwrapped exquisitely packaged gifts.

Even in his simplicity, he remained the most striking figure in the room.

When the music stopped, the room fell silent.

The person whose gift Jaxton opened first would be his dance partner for the opening dance.

My gaze fell on the bottommost black gift box.

I had gifted him a deep blue wristwatch, barely meeting the standards of the other gifts but representing half a year's worth of odd jobs for me.

This was the stark contrast between us.

This unrequited love was destined to remain unfulfilled, a feeling I never harbored expectations for.

Liking him was my own business.

I reached for the champagne, downing several glasses in an attempt to drown my sorrows.

Suddenly, the room erupted in whispers.

Dazed, I turned back to see the deep blue wristwatch in Jaxton's hands, which was gleaming under the lights.

My eyelid twitched abruptly, my heart racing in tandem.

Jaxton rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Perhaps the alcohol had gotten to me, as I instinctively stood up when his eyes landed on me.

"It's my gift," I boldly declared, causing a sudden uproar in the room.

At the door, a slender figure in white stood gracefully.

It was Louisa

Louisa sauntered in my direction, the tassels of her earrings swaying elegantly as she walked.

She positioned herself in front of me, an air of arrogance about her.

"Taylor, really? A watch worth a hundred grand? You dare to stand up?"

"If Louisa hadn't shown up, Taylor would've had a chance with Jaxton!"

"Can you believe it? An orphan with such lofty aspirations!"

The mocking voices around me engulfed me.

For a moment, I contemplated sitting back down. After all, this clandestine crush wasn't meant to be brought into the limelight.

But sitting down would imply that I lied.

Louisa flicked her slightly curled locks, smirking. "Ms. Dempsey, I know the chance to dance with Jaxton is enticing, but your behavior is quite low."

"It truly is my purchase."

"Oh?" Louisa's smile deepened. "Taylor, if you want to dance with Jaxton, just say it. Fabricating such a lie. Do you think anyone would believe it?"

Her taunt ignited a stubborn streak in me. I met her gaze squarely. "I worked hard for half a year to afford this. Any issues? I can provide proof."

I raised my phone, but a large hand quickly pressed it down.

"I believe you."

Jaxton's words reverberated in my ears, his handsome face blurring in my swaying vision.

"Can you still dance?"

His breath brushed against my ear, leaving me dizzy. He steadied my waist, leading me onto the dance floor.

"You like me."

His husky voice thundered into my ear, causing me to misstep and inadvertently stomp on his foot.

I gazed, transfixed, into his eyes, which were vast like the universe, as the world fell silent around me.

As the music ended, I walked to a secluded corner in a daze, absentmindedly picking at a dessert.

Louisa joined me, saying, "It took you half a year of thrift to buy a watch, Taylor. You and Jaxton are worlds apart. Is liking him a joke or not?"

I found it quite absurd as well.

I swallowed a spoonful of pudding, the sweetness turning bitter in my mouth.

"He could never like you, he..."

Before Louisa could finish, a commotion erupted nearby.

Jaxton held a rose, lazily twirling it in his hand.

Suddenly, the rose sprung from his hand, flipping gracefully in the air before landing perfectly in a vase.

Cheers mingled with screams.

"Jaxton is about to confess!"

"Oh my, oh my, who's that lucky girl?"

"No need to ask, it must be Louisa!"

The bitterness in my mouth intensified, my mind growing more blank.

I reached for an elegant glass nearby.

"Don't drink."

In my tipsy haze, I belatedly realized the room had eerily quieted down.

I turned, Jaxton's face bursting into view, his beauty undiminished despite the overlapping images.

He took my glass from me, the hand that held the rose.

I stared at my empty palm, dumbfounded.

"Taylor, move aside, blocking the way!"

It dawned on me that Louisa was right beside me.

I quickly got up to give Jaxton space.

But his large hand pressed on my shoulder. I gazed blankly as Jaxton crouched down to meet my eyes.

"Taylor, be my girlfriend, date me, hmm?"

His magnetic voice surprised me as I lifted my gaze.

His lips touched my forehead, cool and soft.

It felt like my mind exploded into a blank slate.

The ringing of my phone snapped me back to reality.

The ride-hailing driver was waiting downstairs.

I hurriedly packed my bags, carefully placing the dried rose in the suitcase.

It was 9 p.m. when I reached the airport.

With an hour left before boarding, I found a dessert shop and ordered a cup of hot milk.

The warm sensation eased my stomach a bit.

As I left the dessert shop, the boarding gate was within reach.

I hurried forward but bumped into someone.

When I looked up, my throat tightened, the apologies stuck in my throat.

I took a few steps back almost involuntarily.

Jaxton was dressed in a white shirt and black pants, his gaze fixed on my face.

It was a look demanding an explanation.

My slow reaction brought back the fact that we were divorced, and I had already resigned.

So, straightening my back, I said, "Excuse me, Mr. Munoz, I am boarding now."

But before I could move, Jaxton stopped me.

"Where to?" He advanced towards the corner, his towering figure casting a powerful presence.

"Jaxton." I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze with a deliberate calmness. "Privately, we are divorced; publicly, I have resigned. So, I don't need to report my whereabouts to you."

"Oh?" He lowered his head further, his scent enveloping me. "Even as your ex-husband, I have the right to know why you keep disappearing without a word."

I was speechless.

He softly nibbled on my ear, whispering, "Taylor, selling the apartment overnight, resigning, and buying a flight ticket. What are you fleeing from?"

Like a cat with its tail stepped on, I pushed him away forcefully. "What do you mean by fleeing? I am free, I can go wherever I want. Move, I am boarding!"

"You might not be able to leave."

He didn't budge, his deep gaze locked on me. With a gesture from him, Roger walked over.

"Mrs. Munoz. You still owe the company a billion dollars in breach of contract, you cannot resign."

I looked at the glistening gold card in his hand and almost burst out laughing in anger. "Roger, are you kidding? Am I some kind of high-end talent? Sign such a contract with the company? A billion? That can buy this rotten company!"

"If you can't make up that money, Mrs. Munoz, you can't leave Olivano.

"This is a contract, with your signature."

"Are you stupid, signing such a slave contract?" Jaxton's fingers grazed over the signature on the contract. "Taylor, be careful with the contracts in the future, lest you get sold and have to count coins for the seller."

"You!" I took a deep breath, thinking, "Those are just excuses! Contracts or no contracts, Jaxton could toy with me with one finger!"

"I don't like unclear situations." Jaxton squinted at me as if searching for something on my face. "Tell me the answer. If the answer satisfies me, I'll tear up this contract."