Chapter 3 Spiraling, Unraveling, Lost in Her Wake
“Lily…”
Wayne Hunter had come to the CEO’s office to give his report.
Most employees at Jones Corp had no idea about Lily and John’s relationship.
But Wayne, trusted by John for years, knew everything.
Seeing Lily, he instinctively greeted her–only to catch sight of what was happening inside the office.
He froze, horrified.
Then quickly slapped a hand over his mouth.
He looked at Lily, his eyes full of awkwardness and sympathy.
“Elsa. I’m sorry.”
John had been momentarily distracted, stunned for a good ten seconds before he quickly pulled away from Elsa.
“I’m not blaming you,” Elsa said coyly, cheeks flushed. “My shoelace came undone.”
Hearing that, Lily’s dull gaze dropped to Elsa’s shoes.
Elsa was stunning.
Bright, bold, beautiful in an almost aggressive way.
+8 Pearls
Today, she wore crisp designer white sneakers, paired with a white blouse and a pleated pink skirt. Youthful and radiant, she looked exactly like a campus sweetheart.
John didn’t say anything.
But his actions spoke louder.
He gently lified Elsa onto the desk, then knelt to tie her shoelace. His movements were so careful, they almost looked
reverent.
Watching his long, elegant fingers slowly and intently tie the lace, Lily couldn’t help but remember something.
Back then, when their love was still new, he had once said to her, “Lily, meeting you is the happiest thing that’s ever happened. to me. I’ll protect you treasure you, never let you suffer. Never betray you.”
She had believed him with all her heart, like a fool, thinking she was the luckiest girl in the world.
One day, while they were walking hand in hand, they saw a guy bending to tie his girlfriend’s shoelace. She’d snuggled into John’s arms and teased, “Would you tie mine if it came undone?”
He had answered that it was pointless to compare things like that too childish.
It was obvious what he meant: no, he wouldn’t.
John was like a cold, distant mountain capped with snow. She thought his aloofness made sense–it wasn’t in his nature to stoop for something so small.
As long as she had a place in his heart, it was enough.
Thut now, seeing him so tenderly kneeling for Elsa, Lily finally understood. Love could win anyone over if their love was with the right person.
All his so–called principles, all his “can’ts,” were never about principle.
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Chapter 3 Spiraling. Unraveling, Lost in Her Wake
He just didn’t love her.
And that was fine. They would both start new lives.
It was fine.
She stood outside the door, quietly watching as he tied Elsa’s laces, then began to massage her ankle.
Watching the way they looked at each other, the unspoken affection sparking between them…..
She watched as the boy she had once loved so deeply blurred into a vague, unfamiliar shadow.
When Elsa threw herself into John’s arms again, Lily didn’t linger.
She turned and walked quickly toward the stairwell.
“Ms. Lily!”
Wayne had seen everything Lily had done for John over the years.
The moment she turned to leave, he ran after her, worried.
+8 Pearls
Normally quick with words, he found himself at a loss. That scene just now had been too damning. He didn’t know what to say to comfort her.
Pushing his gold–rimmed glasses up his nose, he finally spoke awkwardly. “Don’t.. don’t read into it. Honestly, the boss still really loves you. The last time you two fought, he got drunk and kept calling your name. He-*
“Wayne, I’ve already broken up with John.”
Lily knew Wayne meant well, but she didn’t let him finish.
Ignoring the shock in his eyes, she continued, “He loves me? He loves me, so he married Elsa on my birthday? He loves me, so he’s tangled up with her like that, unable to let go? That kind of love–I don’t want it. Wayne. I’ve already written my resignation. Please sign it when you have a moment.”
Wayne was the head of the secretary department. Lily didn’t need John’s signature to quit–but she did need his.
“You’re really sure about this? Does the boss know?”
Wayne had always been loyal to John.
He didn’t want John getting back together with Elsa, not after she abandoned him when he was at his lowest
But after Elsa came back, he saw how John had treated her, and he knew it wasn’t fair to Lily.
Deep down, Wayne understood–leaving John might actually be the best thing for her.
That night, John got drunk after arguing with Lily: he hadn’t just called her name. He’d insisted she was his wife. When Elsa came in, John had pushed her away.
Wayne knew John felt guilty that Elsa was dying.
But somewhere along the way, he’d fallen for Lily too.
Still, not wanting to make a move without permission, Wayne decided to speak with John before signing anything
“Ms. Lily, you’re giving this directly to the boss? I’ll bring it to him. I’ll talk to him first. If he agrees, Il sign it.”
Lily had wanted to finalize her resignation as soon as possible.
But she didn’t want to make things difficult for Wayne. She handed over the file and returned to her office to wait
Even if John didn’t approve it, she wouldn’t be coming in tomorrow.
4:02 PM
Chapter 3 Spiraling, Unraveling, Lost in Her Wake
She liked finishing what she started, but there was no point dragging out something that no longer mattered.
That afternoon, after confirming Elsa had left. Wayne went to John’s office.
د
+ Pearls
As soon as he stepped in, he saw John’s face was thunderous.
“Boss.”
“Who made this coffee?”
John glared at the cup on his desk like it had personally offended him.
Wayne instantly understood what was going on
He hadn’t signed Lily’s resignation yet–but she’d already given up and stopped working
The coffee John used to drink was always brewed by Lily herself.
Wayne had tasted it before–so good that even top baristas would struggle to replicate it.
Compared to hers, anyone else’s brew might as well have been sewage. Of course John hated it.
Wayne swallowed hard and said honestly, “Boss, it wasn’t Ms. Lily. She just… she submitted her resignation. Should I sign it?”
Resign?
John’s expression darkened even further.
