Chapter 3

Ethan took a step forward, his tall frame blocking my way.

"Hazel, are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for Chloe today? It's just a pot of grass. Do you have to be this petty?"

I held the pot tightly, my fingers digging into the rough ceramic edge.

"To you, it's just grass. To me, this is my ticket to the final interview at the Botanical Research Institute. Ethan, do you even know the meaning of the word respect?"

Ethan stunned for a moment, then let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"The Botanical Research Institute? Are you still dreaming about going to that dead-end place?"

He took a deep breath, his tone turning condescending, dripping with patronizing charity.

"Let me tell you the truth. I pulled some strings with the HR manager at my architecture firm. I secured a receptionist position for you. It’s a stable, nine-to-five job, and most importantly, you’ll be close to me and Chloe."

"With your awkward personality, you aren't cut out to deal with the real world. Staying under my wing is the best way for me to keep my promise of taking care of you. “

“You start tomorrow. Stop wasting your time with those dead leaves."

My brain went numb.

I had been waiting for my interview notification from the National Botanical Research Institute for an entire week.

It was the top research institution in the country, the sole goal I had worked toward by living in the lab for four years.

Suddenly, I remembered that before we left yesterday, Ethan had borrowed my laptop to look up some files.

I set the flowerpot on the table, marched into my bedroom, and flipped open my laptop.

I logged into my email.

The inbox was empty.

I clicked on the trash folder. There lay an unread email.

The sender was the HR Department of the National Botanical Research Institute.

I clicked it open. It was an invitation to the final interview scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

But at the bottom of the email, someone had clicked the decline button, sending an automated response: "I wish to withdraw my application and decline the interview."

The timestamp was yesterday morning.

I stared at the words on the screen, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

Ethan followed me into the room. Seeing the email on the screen, he didn't show a hint of remorse. Instead, he squared his shoulders.

"You saw it? Yes, I declined it for you."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking at me with absolute self-righteousness.

"If you go to that institute, you'll be running off into the mountains with research teams for weeks. Who is going to take care of our apartment?"

"Besides, you’re so naive and slow. Without me, you’d get eaten alive out there. I did this for your own good to protect you. You should be thanking me."

For my own good.

Those words felt like a dull knife hacking at my nerves.

He did it so I could always be home to cook him hot meals.

He did it so he and Chloe could work side-by-side at their prestigious design firm while I sat at the front desk downstairs, sorting their mail like a servant.

I turned around to face the man I had loved for five years.

My voice shook with cold rage.

"Who gave you the right to make decisions for my life?"

Ethan frowned, reaching out to grab my wrist.

"Hazel, calm down. I’m your boyfriend. What’s wrong with me planning your future?"

I dodged his touch and took a big step back.

Right then, Chloe, who had been eavesdropping outside, chose the perfect moment to walk in.