?


    "Alright, I''ll just—"


    "Never mind, I''ll do it myself."


    ...


    Rose stood next to her assistant''s desk, not far from the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.


    She walked to the window, paused, and gazed down at the bustling traffic below.


    Ahead was the bustling main street, nked by sleek office buildings, and further in the distance, the river view was visible.


    Truly, a prime slice of real estate.


    When thepany was just starting,cking funds and connections, their office was just above the basement apartment they rented—a modest two- bedroom ce.


    Though humble, it had windows that let in light and even a small kitchen.


    The startup was small, with just five techies besides Murray.


    Forget about having a receptionist, ountant, cashier, finance, or HR-there simply wasn''t the budget to hire for those positions.


    What to do?


    Rose took it all upon herself.


    Running up and down the stairs every day, choosing public transport over taxis, and cooking meals to save on takeout costs.


    Those days were hard, yet her heart was full of warmth.


    Everyone pitied her for giving up her Ph.D. program, so she was determined to prove that her choice was right.


    She might not have conquered the academic peaks, but she had a loving partner and a thriving business.


    And a future with a happy family and adorable kids was in sight.


    Murray was doing his part too.


    For two years, he threw himself into work, up before dawn and to bed after dusk. On his rare days off, he''d take her out on dates.


    He was always in tune with her emotions, ready to respond to any change.


    When did things start to change?


    By the third year, thepany hit a growth spurt, business expanded wildly, and the money started rolling in.


    From the initial apartment, they


    moved to a quaint three-story house


    in the suburbs, then to a vintage office building within months, until finally settling in this tower two months before going public.


    After that, Rose hardly visited his workce.


    Murray seemed to prefer it that way.


    He found her presence distracting, a hindrance to meetings and partnerships.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Bringing lunch?"


    "What lunch?"


    "We have a cafeteria."


    "And there''s always delivery!"


    "You''re just too fussy, you know. With all this spare time, why not go shopping? Buy some fancy bags and jewelry? Or join those high-societydies for afternoon tea, have a chat, do some gardening?"


    Hearing this, Rose was stunned.


    For the first time, she realized that the life she envisioned for herself was different from the role Murray had in mind for her.


    In fact, they werepletely opposite.


    She wanted to be a tree standing beside him, facing the storms together, he wanted her to be a flower, delicate and sheltered under his shade, forever obedient and dependent.


    After that realization, Rosepletely withdrew from thepany''s affairs.


    Thepany didn''t need her anymore, anyway.


    There was enough money to hire professionals for reception, finance, ounting...


    Murray became busier, jet-setting around the world, gone for weeks at a time.


    On his rare breaks, it was either hosting golf tournaments,working, or hanging out with Corley, Cliff, and York for drinks and poker.


    During the countless nights waiting for him alone, Rose couldn''t help but reminisce about the early days of their startup.


    It seemed to her that the man she knew now was bing more and more distant from the one she remembered... Lost in thought, Rose stared into the distance until—


    "Anne!"