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."

My heart skipped a beat. A dull pain in my chest made it hard to breathe.

I thought, "The answer.

What is the answer?

My answer will never satisfy him."

"Dumbstruck?" Jaxton grabbed my chin, his intense gaze piercing. "Why divorce? Give me a reason."

I wanted to speak, but my throat felt blocked.

"Taylor, think clearly before you speak. You don't always get a chance."

"I've already explained. It's just that the high life is boring, the pressure is immense, and I don't love you as before. I don't want to continue. I've thought this through for a long time!"

I finished my sentence in one go, fearing I would break down in tears.

"Jaxton, I don't love you anymore. You're not so hung up to keep pestering, are you?"

Of course, Jaxton wasn't one to hold on.

He stared at me intensely for half a minute, then turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, I felt drained, leaning against a marble pillar, holding back tears.

I don't know how I made it back to my room. I just felt my shattered life collapse once more.

I stayed awake from dusk till dawn, mechanically getting ready.

I worked all day without sleep or hunger.

I felt like I was turning into a hermit.

As the workday ended, Logan clapped his hands. "Today, our team is hosting Mr. Munoz, with a lavish seafood feast and KTV..."

My temples throbbed. I was about to excuse myself for tonight's event, but team leader Logan Perez said, "Who leaves early buys the bill."

I could only shut my mouth.

The office girls buzzed like energized bees, planning beauty and clothing store visits. By the time we reached the dinner venue, it had turned into a mini banquet.

Looking down at my plain dress and flats, I felt out of place.

Rebecca Hansen, "the Company Beauty", stood in front of me. "Taylor, could you respect the Colorlight Restaurant's standards? If you can't afford a dress, you can rent one."

Glancing at her exposed bosoms, I retorted, "What? Does your nightclub outfit match this restaurant's standards?"

Rebecca, the daughter of Olivano's richest man, was always arrogant. She seethed with anger and was about to slap me. I braced for a slap, but she just smiled, moving her hand behind her back.

"Mr. Munoz."

Her cloying voice made me stiffen, the familiar scent filling the air. With a glance catching Jaxton's shiny shoes and trousers, I instinctively clenched my fists.

Jaxton sat amidst adoring gazes. Rebecca immediately sat by his side, adjusting her clothes to reveal more skin.

"Mr. Munoz, what would you like? Spicy or mild? Any allergies? Seasonings..."

"Ms. Dempsey is from Anderlin?"

Suddenly singled out, I fumbled with my fruit fork, a melon falling onto the table.

Jaxton's gaze met mine, calm but deep as the vast cosmos.

"I've read up, Ms. Dempsey and I are from the same place. Season it as per our hometown taste."