Petals Shed in the Night

Anna Stark spent ten years finally winning Neil Irons's heart—an anonymous admirer bearing unrequited love, now at last Neil's fiancée whom he personally acknowledged. And yet, just two weeks before the wedding, she gave up. "Hey, chief," she said calmly, putting the filled form on the supervisor's desk. "I'm volunteering to transfer to the northwestern research center—just add me to the list." The supervisor looked up in shock behind his computer. "Wait, I thought you were marrying Neil next month!" Chapter 1 Anna Stark spent ten years finally winning Neil Irons's heart—an anonymous admirer bearing unrequited love, now at last Neil's fiancée whom he personally acknowledged. And yet, just two weeks before the wedding, she gave up. "Hey, chief," she said calmly, putting the filled form on the supervisor's desk. "I'm volunteering to transfer to the northwestern research center—just add me to the list." The supervisor looked up in shock behind his computer. "Wait, I thought you were marrying Neil next month! And we all know you're here for him in the first place, but you're saying you're heading northwest now?" Anna felt the lump in her throat but spoke up before the supervisor could continue further, "Just approve it, chief." Those around her knew how hard she clung to Neil over the years, giving up on promotions just to stay with him as his assistant. He always kept people at arm's reach, but she possessed extraordinary patience. It took him ten years to get used to her hovering around him constantly, handling all the menial stuff while sparing him from all unnecessary social occasions. And from the perspective of everyone else, Neil had offered her plenty of special treatment. After all, the genius who was born aloof remembered her birthday, and would make an exception to let her stay in the anteroom of his lab when she wasn't feeling well. However, only Anna knew that he celebrated her birthday by sending her a generous wire transfer, since he wasn't bothered to spend time picking a gift. And he worked all night, leaving her alone in the anteroom coughing and feverish, without showing concern in any form. Naturally, none of them would know that Neil only proposed to her because of the kidnapping case two months prior, and not because she had finally won his heart. She had stormed into the abandoned factory alone and unarmed, volunteering to take Neil's place as a hostage. They kicked her to the ground, their clubs bludgeoning her back with audible thumps. It infuriated them that she didn't utter a sound of pain, and one grabbed her hair, slamming her head against the cold concrete floor. Nonetheless, she bought enough time until the police arrived, but she herself was severely injured and nearly died. When she finally woke up, she found Neil sitting beside her bed, even though he rarely left his lab unless it was absolutely necessary. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse as he rasped, "When we both have time, we should meet each other's parents and discuss our engagement." After spending years around Neil, Anna clearly saw the guilt in Neil's eyes. So that was the reason he proposed. Even so, she accepted it brazenly even if it was moral blackmail, just to stand a chance to be with him. If Josie York never showed up, she might have been able to keep deluding herself for life. As she left her supervisor's office and left the administration building, the large LED screen outside was broadcasting an international summit live. There was a small crowd gathered below the screen, looking up and excitedly whispering among themselves. "Look! It's Neil and Josie!" "They look so good together... I heard that he personally supervised her thesis this time." "A cold man like him, instructing her personally… Her warmth really melted her cold heart!" The chatter left Anna dazed—everyone was convinced Josie was perfect for Neil, while few knew that Anna was engaged to Neil or that she had been with him for so long. In a close-up on the screen, Josie was leaning toward Neil, whispering in his ear, while he leaned toward her as well and listened intently. It was an intimate position but Neil seemed comfortable with it, even though he usually made Anna stand at least ten feet away even when she talked to him—as if afraid her breath would reach his skin. She had always thought that no one would overcome the distance he set against everyone else, only for Josie to expose a completely different side to the man. Anna certainly remembered the first time she heard him say Josie's name, when he was staring at a messy pile of files but smiling nonetheless. "Silly Josie. She messed up the order of the samples again." There was no accusation in his tone—only a sense of wry acceptance. Josie was the daughter of Neil's mentor, and with the man pulling strings, she was allowed to be on the same team as Neil. She was like the sun in summer—bright and unrestrained. She would snatch the pencil from Neil's fingers to do her own calculations, handing him a drink from a cup she used, and pat him hard on the shoulder and laugh while he was deep in thought. And Neil, initially stiffening at Josie's approach, eventually tolerated her messing up his desk. He would drink anything she handed him—even stuff he never drank before, and smiled as she told her jokes. Anna mused to herself then that she might even have let all of that slide, if not for that moment she witnessed. Josie and Neil were in Neil's lab, when she saw Josie standing on her toes to kiss Neil's cheek. The same man who would always freeze up and pull away when Anna tried to so much as touch him simply paused for one second. His ears were red, but he never pushed her away. If not for that, Anna would never have known that Neil was just like any other clumsy youth when truly in love, his heart pumping and his principles crumbling just like everyone else. Anna returned to the apartment, bought for their wedding, where Neil hadn't set foot in since she had it renovated. She calmly opened the closet and carefully took out all her clothes, folding them neatly. She stared at the furniture and other trinkets around the house, silent and taunting her for all the dreams she had of a happy life with Neil. Getting several cardboard boxes, she carefully packed anything else that was hers and scheduled a courier pickup. When she was finished, her phone screen lit up—her transfer to the northwest had been approved. Almost at the same time, Neil sent a text. [My flight is CA1837, expected to land in Jormund at 8 pm tomorrow. Pick me up.] Anna stared at the text for a long while, and eventually calmly replied: [Can't. Busy.] Chapter 2 Anna worked fast, clearing away any traces of her in that apartment within the day. No one would be able to tell that anyone had ever lived there if the real estate agent brought other clients to check the place out. It's just like how she hadn't left her mark on Neil's life after all these years. "Ms. Starka, are you sure you're selling? This feels so rushed, and you've spent a lot of money buying the place and the renovations…" "Yes, I am," Anna replied as she signed the agency agreement, her voice calm. "The sooner it's off my hands, the better." She had bought the place with high hopes, but she had no reason to keep it now that she was leaving. The research center required her to delegate all standing tasks and assignments before leaving; she had to stay at headquarters for another two weeks to finish the job. The day Neil and Josie returned, it rained heavily in Jormund. Anna was working in the lab when her phone screen lit up with a message from Neil: [Just landed.] In the past, that would have made her drop everything and rush over, no matter how late or how bad the weather was outside. Even if she was nursing a nasty cold and fever, she would persevere and drive over to pick him up, even if she passed out while waiting for him. That did happen one time, and Neil simply returned to the lab in a cab. When he found out later, he simply said, "You don't have to come if you're sick." No hint of concern—just instruction, and it broke her heart as it left her feeling like she had committed a crime. Anna turned off her phone screen and continued working. - The next day, the research crew celebrated Neil and Josie's triumphant return. Anna didn't want to attend the dinner, but the deputy chief personally asked, and she couldn't find a suitable reason to refuse. Still, she arrived late and chose a corner seat—the dinner was halfway finished, but everyone was still fawning over Neil. And beside him was naturally Josie, sitting as close to him as possible while vividly recounting amusing moments from the summit, drawing laughter from the table. Neil simply sat quietly, showing no sign of annoyance with the ruckus despite being acutely socially withdrawn. Even when Josie got excited at times and grabbed his arm, shaking it, he would only frown and not withdraw from her touch. "Oh, and don't get me started about last night," Josie suddenly said, her gaze darting straight at Anna in her quiet corner. "The flight was delayed, and then it started pouring out of nowhere! Neil and I had to wait ages to get a taxi, and our luggage was soaked. Anna, aren't you supposed to pick us up as usual? Why didn't you show up?" Everyone turned sharply to Anna right then; their eyes wide with curiosity. Anna put down her fork, picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth. Then, looking up to meet Josie's seemingly innocent questioning stare, she replied, "That's not my job." Josie's smile froze, while Neil finally turned to him. He looked expressionless, but Anna didn't miss the fleeting look of surprise in his eyes. Yeah, he was probably used to her dropping everything for him and showing up all the time. Like the air you breathe, one never notices that it is ever present, only the discomfort when it's gone. And with that, dinner ended quietly but with a distinctly tense vibe. As everyone left, Neil stopped Anna at the end of the corridor. "What's wrong?" he asked, but his tone was flat as ever. Anna stopped and looked at him, with the corridor light casting a soft shadow over his chiseled visage. She had once felt that just being able to look at him like this for the rest of her life would be a blessing. "What are you talking about?" She asked nonetheless. "Josie was just asking a question…" Neil trailed off and paused, as if organizing his thoughts. "Her expertise is helpful at the summit, while you're my personal assistant. You should be handling the trivial stuff…" Anna knew he thought she was throwing a tantrum because of Josie, which was why he didn't shy from embarrassing her publicly. "Neil Irons." Her voice was soft, but it was the first time she had called him by his full name and it made him pause again. He looked at her, seemingly surprised that she had interrupted him. And Anna met his gaze, feeling a dull ache rising in her heart. "This is not me pouting. And it's not because of whoever you went to the summit with." She then took a deep breath, and uttered the words that she had practiced in her mind countless times, "And let's call off our engagement." Chapter 3 Neil frowned. "What?" But he didn't even have time to be shocked as Josie came running down the hallway, "Neil! There's a problem with specimen number 3!" Neil promptly turned to her. "What happened?" "The threshold is shooting up! Come quick!" Josie cried, tugging on his sleeve. Neil turned back to Anna, his tone flat again, "This takes precedence. We can talk later after I'm done." Without giving Anna any time to respond, he quickly followed Josie and disappeared, while Anna stood there and watched them leave, impassive. She wasn't surprised—to Neil, anything and everything else mattered more than her. Even if he did say they could talk later, he didn't mean it—he never cared about any arrangement for their wedding, only paying up when she asked. Now that she had told him she was calling it off, she had fulfilled all her obligations. The house she bought for the wedding was being sold through an agency, and she had already vacated her previous rental, leaving her suddenly homeless. So thirty minutes later, she found herself standing in front of an old apartment. Her mother opened the door, and upon seeing her, her face instantly lit up with a warm smile. "Anna! What a surprise… Where's Neil? Why isn't he with you?" Anna squeezed her way through the door, her tone flat. "He's not coming." In the living room, her father and younger brother Yannick were glued to the couch watching TV, their feet propped up on the low glass table in front of them. Hearing Anna enter, her father turned towards her, smiling while craning his neck to look behind her. "Where's Neil? Parking his car or something?" "We broke up," Anna said flatly. There was silence as time seemed to freeze, and soon the smile on her father's face vanished as he sprang to his feet, bellowing, "What?! You broke up?! What are you talking about?!" "It means the engagement is off. We have nothing to do with each other anymore." Anna said quietly and flatly. Crash!!! Her father kicked over the glass table in front of him, shattering the fruit plate and throwing the teacups all over. Scalding tea splashed onto Anna's calf, burning her right then. "You worthless piece of shit!" Her father bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead as he pointed at her. "You know damn well how many girls would kill to marry Neil Irons, but you're saying you broke up with him?! What, so I've raised you all for nothing now?! " Yannick, legs crossed, scoffed too. "Sis, I'm not trying to be mean, but just look at Neil's connections. Is there anyone in his network who isn't rich and important? "Oh, wait—I see how it is. Heck, I've heard about it. Josie York, right? His mentor's daughter… Now that's a perfect match." Giving Anna a once-over, he kept smirking, "Well, you have nothing besides your pretty face. If you had any self-awareness, you'd be more sensible and just suck it up. Don't you know how lucky you were to be even given a chance? "He's a man, and it's normal for him to play pretend. But how are we going to be rich if you got dumped? Aren't you destroying your own baby brother's future?" Anna listened as her own family insulted her to the core, watching their faces twist and contort at the prospect of not enjoying the wealth they imagined. The burn on her calf stung, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. This was supposed to be her home, where she had once longed for a little warmth, even if they had to pretend for that. She had given them all the money she had, paying for her brother's tuition fees at a third-rate university and her parents' constant demands for 'retirement assistance funds', along with the down payment for a new house… Even so, she held out hope—faint desperate hope in them, especially since Neil proposed. Her family's attitude changed drastically since then, calling her often and asking after her with warmth and concern. She naively believed that this was belated affection, that her parents had finally recognized her worth. Now that facade had faded, and the gruesome truth was laid bare. Even their concern was offered with self-interest in mind, and not for her sake. Hence, Anna didn't say any other word, not even bothering to treat the burns on her leg as she turned to leave, dragging along her suitcase. "Where are you going?! What's with that attitude?! Leaving just because I spoke the truth?! "Fine! Leave, and don't ever come back! Let's see if there's anyone out there who would give a shit about you!" Anna slammed the door forcefully shut to cut off the ruckus. She leaned against the wall, breathing a deep sigh while the lights down the hallway flickered. The world was a big place, but here she was, with no place to go… Chapter 4 Anna dragged her suitcase and returned to the labs, heading straight to logistics to get a key for a room at the staff quarters. It was the corner room on the top floor, a corner, enough for her for about two weeks. She was carrying a bulky cardboard box filled with her possessions and books, and was just walking upstairs when she bumped into Neil and Josie, who were heading down. Josie, holding a folder, was chatting with Neil jovially and bumped into Anna. "Oof," she grunted, and caught the box as Anna nearly dropped it. Beaming, she asked as if in concern, "What's in the box? It looks so heavy, let me help you carry it upstairs." Anna instinctively tightened her arms around the box while avoiding Josie's touch. "I'm fine, thanks." "It's alright, I'm strong!" Josie insisted, reaching out. Neil, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward and took the box from Anna. Josie laughed at the sight. "Oh, Neil, you really shouldn't! Your hands are needed for precision experiments, and precious national treasures at that! We can't trouble you with such menial work!" Despite his usual cool demeanor, Neil smiled faintly at her. "You're way more precious." These words, though soft, pierced Anna's heart like a needle. Shortly after she became his assistant, she was carrying a heavy stack of documents all the time, and dropped them all over the floor. She scrambled to pick up everything when Neil approached, leaving her flustered and embarrassed as she didn't want him to think she was clumsy. But he simply stopped and stared in silence. He never tried to help, and simply brushed past her, only telling admin to provide her with a wheeled trolley for her convenience. He would never say "I'll do it" to her, much less speak that affectionately or tell her that she mattered. Meanwhile, Josie giggled and blushed. "Stop it, Neil. You're teasing me again!" Neil didn't say anything more, only asking Anna, "Which floor?" "Fourth floor." Anna could hear how dry her own voice was, watching as Josie and Neil carried the boxes upstairs, chatting and laughing as if there was nothing wrong. Josie kept rambling on about the data and specimens, while Neil occasionally responded with a word or two. It was such a calm, peaceful vibe with them, all while Anna quietly followed from a distance. This was all too common—for almost ten years now, she had been quietly following Neil around, just like this… And then she would be watching as he left, with Josie clinging to his side. Anna hence always felt like a shadow, unwanted but always trying to keep up, even though she was never truly fitting into his world. Reaching room 402, Anna took out her key and opened it. The staff quarters were simple: A clean but modest room with a bed, a table, a closet, and a bathroom. Neil casually dropped the cardboard box in front of the door, and then asked as if he finally just realized it, "Why the crew quarters, out of the blue?" Anna dragged her suitcase inside, her voice calm. "I sold the apartment." She then paused, waiting—for a question, for him to even look slightly surprised. However, there was only silence until he eventually spoke, "If you don't like the place, move to another one. Why give yourself grief staying here?" Anna slowly straightened and turned to look at him. He really didn't care—at all. That she sold their house, or why she moved out. If anything, he must have forgotten about her telling him she had called off the engagement. Josie, standing behind Neil, watched their exchange with a faint smile. "Take your time, Anna. Neil and I are needed back at the lab." Neil only nodded slightly at Anna as a farewell, and turned and left with Josie. Anna stood there, staring at the empty doorway, and then at her reddened palms, which she had clenched to restrain herself. Give herself grief? Her only grief was all her years of hard work being ignored. All her sincerity only earned monetary rewards, while dying to save him only got her a reluctant engagement. She would never measure up to the woman whom he regarded with importance, and truly made him smile. Bitterness swelled within before she knew it, drowning her heart and suffocating her. Chapter 5 The next few days were calm enough. However, Anna was just packing up and leaving for the day when the lab door swung open, and Mrs. Swan came running in, "Anna! Come, quick! Your mother and brother are freaking out at the front gates, and security can't stop them!" Anna's heart sank. She'd cut off financial support to her family after leaving the other day, but they were already here, knocking on her door. From afar, she could hear her brother cursing and ranting out loud while her mother wailed. The doorway was packed, with Gina sitting on the floor, smacking herself as she bawled, "It's an outrage! My rotten daughter doesn't even care about us just because she succeeded in life!" Nearby, Yannick was poking the security guard and snapping, "Get out of my way! I have every right to get my sister's money!" Anna was fuming even as she pushed through the crowd and snapped at them, "That's enough! What do you think you're doing here?!" "What are we doing!?" Yannick shoved the security guard aside and rushed at her, bellowing. "You really toughen up, huh?! I now owe 20 grand, you have to give it to me today!" "The monthly allowance I give is enough for the family's expenses, and you won't get more from me," Anna retorted coolly. "Bullshit!" Yannick suddenly shoved her hard. "You sure were generous when you were hooking up with Neil Irons! Now you've been dumped, you're trying to act all high and mighty, huh? You sure need a lesson on manners!" Caught off guard, Anna fell painfully, her elbows and knees slammed against the cold, hard marble floor. A deathly silence fell over the room; everyone was simply stunned. Anna tried to get up, but couldn't when she felt the sharp jolt of pain in her knees. A burning pain shot through the bleeding cuts, and it left her looking all the more pathetic being left on the floor in public by her own brother. Even so, she looked up at the family that she had made decade-long sacrifices for. Her voice was cold and defiant, "I told you, I have no money." "You shrew! Let's see how stubborn you really are!" Yannick completely snapped right then, and grabbed a metal statuette nearby and swung it at Anna. The crowd screamed, just as a figure dashed in front of Anna at the very last moment… Thud! The statuette struck the figure squarely on the back with a dull thump. It was Neil, showing up out of nowhere and firmly shielding Anna in his arms, catching the brunt of the blow. He only let out a grunt and frowned, but he was still shielding Anaa without budging. While Anna was stunned, Yannick's knees buckled and he almost fell prone to the floor. All color had drained out of Gina's cheeks too, and she was trembling like a leaf in the wind. Her son… had physically assaulted Neil! Forget getting money—her entire family was doomed! "Call the cops." That was when everyone heard Neil's voice, ringing loudly, "Report a physical assault on a crew member in a vital research facility and a threat to public safety. Make sure to make copies of security camera footage for required evidence." Soon, as sirens of patrol cars blared from outside, both Yannick and Gina were left ashen-faced. Anna simply watched coolly as her mother and brother were dragged to the police car, all while Gina was still crying, "Please, Anna! I'm your mother! You can't do this!" The crowd dispersed too, but their scornful looks still felt like daggers on her back. Anna struggled to her feet, but stumbled. Neil helped her up, noticing that she was hurt and said, "Let’s go to the infirmary." Anna looked up and found his downcast gaze, which suddenly reminded her of their high school days. Back then, he was a genius in every sense of the word, constantly winning interschool competitions and always staying on top of the honor roll. Despite his aloofness, he had countless fangirls. On the other hand, Anna's grades were mediocre and her parents didn't care about her at all, while her class treated her like she didn't exist. Their paths should never have crossed, if not for that one time when her period caught her off guard. The crimson mess left her nailed to her seat in embarrassment, even after everyone was gone. But amidst her despair, she heard footsteps returning—it was Neil, gently putting a pack of pads and a clean blazer on her desk. "They're all gone," he said flatly, politely averting his eyes from the mess. "And it's raining heavily. No one would notice." When she saw his soaked hair and shoulders and knew he had come back just for her, she could hear her own heart pounding despite the downpour. Chapter 6 Anna was the spare in the family and treated as nonexistent at school. But this boy—whom she felt worried to even admire—protected her when she was at her most vulnerable, letting her keep what little crumbling self-worth she had left. That glimmer of light that was offered became the flame. And like a moth, she was inevitably drawn to it. She hence studied with as much desperation as diligence, barely managing to get into the same university as him. He remained an overachiever, and was immediately appointed the youngest head researcher at the research center after graduation. She submitted her resume to the institute too, giving up any better prospects just to stay beside him. "Anna?" Neil's voice pulled her back to reality. The infirmary doctor was cleaning her wounds, and Neil stood nearby, his tone indifferent, "You should deal with your family quickly. Don't let it affect work." These words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the small flame that had risen in Anna's heart when he protected her. That protection was offered not for her sake, but because it affected his work. "Yeah," she murmured softly, her eyes downcast. After his wound was treated, Neil glanced at the time. "There's a gathering tonight, let's go together." - It was a lively gathering, and the conversation naturally revolved around their recent academic breakthrough. Josie was sitting next to Neil, excitedly recounting her experiences at the summit. Her father, Professor York, was grinning as he watched his most prized student with his daughter. His gaze kept darting between Neil and Josie, and he eventually smiled, "So, Neil… I heard you and Jo showed perfect teamwork. With your composure and her sense for initiatives, you both complement each other professionally and emotionally. You're not going to get younger either—you can't just focus completely on your work. I know Jo can behave like a kid at times, but her heart's always in the right place…" "Dad!" Josie pouted disapprovingly, but she was blushing and her eyes remained glued to Neil, brimming with expectation. Professor York's intention couldn't be clearer, and those around the table who knew about Neil's engagement with Anna kept quiet, only glancing at Anna subtly on occasion. But Anna simply sat there, her eyes fixed on her cup of tea. Neil was silent for a few beats until he spoke, his tone as calm as ever: "Thank you for your concern, Professor. However, my current focus is still on my project, and I don't have the time for anything else." As soon as he finished, the blush on Josie's face vanished instantly as she turned deathly pale and stared at Neil in disbelief. Soon, tears welled up in her eyes as she leaped to her feet and dashed out of the banquet room. "Jo!" Professor York called out. Neil watched her leave with a small frown, and eventually got up too. "I'll talk to her, professor." An awkward silence filled the banquet room, with Mrs. Swan eventually leaning toward Anna and whispering, "Should I tell the professor? I mean, Neil didn't mention your engagement?" Anna shook her head, "Nope." If Neil didn't care to acknowledge their engagement, only for someone else to mention it? Everyone else would just treat it like a joke. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, her stomach felt queasy too and she whispered to Mrs. Swan, "I need the ladies' room." As she left the banquet room, she didn't go to the ladies' room, instead heading to the quiet courtyard behind the hotel. The cool evening breeze blew away any cabin fever and the alcoholic fumes lingering on her, but that was when she saw them—under the tree not far away. Josie stood with her back to her, her entire body buried in Neil's arms. She was sobbing intermittently, "Why not me?! I love you, Neil! I know I look immature, and talk a lot unlike Anna, but I can change! What she can do, I can do better!" Neil didn't reciprocate the embrace, but his tolerance spoke volumes. Anna recalled the few times she tried to touch him, only for him to respond with unmistakable avoidance. Just then, Neil seemed to notice and looked up to see Anna watching them impassive and calmly meeting his gaze. As if they were just doing a soap opera routine, and she was a silent spectator. If there was a reaction, it was her own nails digging deeply into her palms at her sides. Neil's eyes twitched ever so slightly as if it were an illusion. Meanwhile, Josie was still too caught in her own sadness to look up. "I know you better than she does, and I know better how to make you smile…" Anna didn't linger any longer. She turned and walked away. When she returned to the private room, she excused herself early, saying she wasn't feeling well. Mrs. Swan looked at her with concern, but in the end, she said nothing. Anna walked back to the staff quarters alone. The ashes in her heart seemed to scatter with the wind, leaving behind nothing but an empty hollow. After she washed up and was ready to sleep, she heard the knock on her door, and answered it to see Neil standing under the dim hallway lights. Chapter 7 Despite seeing Neil standing there, Anna didn't move aside to let him in. She didn't say a word, only staring at him and waiting for him to speak. Neil himself was silent for a while, and eventually began, "I rejected Josie…" He trailed off, and eventually finished, "Don't worry about it." Anna was surprised, as she expected him to tell her that he and Josie were now together. But now he was telling her that he had rejected Josie? Even telling her not to worry about it? She calmly replied, "Doesn't matter. It's none of my business." Neil's eyes were wide with surprise at her indifference. But she really didn't care and said, "If there's nothing else, I'm going to bed." "Anna." Neil placed his hand on the door, stopping her from closing it. "You're being weird." Anna didn't speak as she averted her gaze and shut the door in his face, shutting up the person she had admired for ten years. Leaning against the cold door, she breathed a long sigh while a dull ache shot through her chest. Neil wasn't acting like himself either, what with coming to tell her about things he always labeled as 'unnecessary'. She was the one who always tiptoed around him, while he remained oblivious to her, even though she derived all her joys and sorrows from his whims. She could see he didn't look like he cared about Josie's declaration of love, and came here to talk to her after… Why? Emotions swelled in her, ranging from bemusement and faint bitterness. She didn't know how much time had passed or when she fell asleep, only that she was woken up rudely by her phone's ringtone. "Anna! Did you see the acceptance notice on Matter Frontier? The new element thesis is on it, but it's credited to Josie York! Didn't you and Mr. Irons spearhead the project?! And you were the one who spent months collecting the data!" Anna's heart sank. "What?!" "Just check the intranet—hell, Josie is the sole author, even Neil wasn't credited! What's going on?" Anna promptly turned on her computer and logged onto the research center intranet, and the latest notification in the announcement section couldn't be more prominent. [Heartfelt Congratulations to Josie York for the publication of her thesis on Matter Frontier!] Matter Frontier was the top science journal in their field, and the thesis title was identical to the one Anna and Neil worked blood and sweat into for months. She came up with it, and discussed it at length with Neil, working together for months in the lab to finally obtain the decisive data for the thesis. Considering her work, she should be credited as the author, and Neil a secondary contributor. However, it was instead credited to Josie, while Neil wasn't mentioned too if he were merely a selfless assistant. She promptly called Neil, demanding bluntly as soon as he picked up, "What is the meaning of this?!" "I just rejected her, and she's distraught, which affects her upcoming promotion evaluation," Neil calmly replied. Anna almost laughed despite her rage. "So, you're taking away all my work to comfort her? Without even asking me first?!" "The data is readily available, and she compiled the first draft," Neil replied, his tone flat but also evasive. "There's every reason to include her name, and the rights to the thesis belong to the research center. That means I have the right to decide on authorship, and as for your contribution, it will be reflected later." "Reflected? How? Like before, just a passing mention in the acknowledgments? Am I just a tool to you whom you don't even have to acknowledge and just slave away for your sake?!" Anna's voice trembled with rage and indignation—her three months of hard work had been completely erased by that man, while casually handed over to someone else as a stepping stone. It was laughable that she found some solace when Neil actually showed up at her doorstep to insist there was nothing between him and Josie, only for him to hand over all her hard work to Josie soon after… For nothing more than to comfort her! Chapter 8 Neil was silent on the other end. When he eventually spoke again, his words chilled her to the core. "Aren't you working here just to be with me?" Anna's fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white. Even so, Neil continued as if everything he spoke was clear logic, "Scholarly credits are mere vanity titles that won't matter to you. Stay in my team, and I promise you job security. But it's not the same for Josie—she needs this as a stepping stone for her career to progress further." Anna felt a ringing in her ears while her blood ran cold. So he knew—he always knew why she had passed on better prospects to work as his assistant. He was never oblivious; he simply didn't care. Now, he even used all her sacrifices and concessions as a point, just to justify why he denied her credit for all her hard work. She had spent ten years proving her unwavering loyalty, only for this dismissiveness. She wanted to argue and tell him he had no right—to ask him if he knew how many sleepless nights and failures she had endured to obtain that data. But in the end, she simply hung up the phone, exhausted. - The research center soon arranged a major press conference, and the presentation of the thesis was one of the highlights. Naturally, Josie was presenting, dressed sharply as she explained the core arguments of the thesis, with murmurs of approval swelling through the crowd. It was all going smoothly until the Q&A session, when an anonymous online participant suddenly posted a message in the public chat. [Question on authorship! The core data in this thesis was identical to data submitted previously by one Anna Stark. Can Josie York provide a source for her data? Does this not constitute plagiarism and fabrication?] A murmur of shock rippled through the conference room, even as the evidence submitted was quickly magnified clearly before their eyes. Josie, still on stage, turned deathly pale, her eyes darting nervously to Neil in the audience. The emcee tried to calm things down, but the murmurs of disapproval were too loud to drown out. Anna's heart skipped a beat as she straightened—she didn't do it. If anything, she never thought of going that far. Nonetheless, she felt a stare and looked up to see Neil's eyes, fixed upon her through the crowd. His brow was furrowed, his eyes filled with clear suspicion and disappointment—she could tell that much from his look without him saying a word. He was already convinced that she had ratted him and Josie out, because she was upset about being plagiarized. In his eyes, she was a threat who would destroy Josie's future, and at the cost of the research center's reputation. Anna's heart sank as she watched him stand up, and stride up to the lectern as the crowd watched, taking the microphone out of Josie's stiff grasp and looking around at everyone. "I am Neil Irons, head of research. I can directly answer the anonymous question submitted in no uncertain terms now. I insist that all the work on this thesis was completed under my supervision, and Josie York was the primary contributor. I can vouch for that with my personal reputation." He paused, his gaze shifting to a pale Anna. "As for Anna Stark, she is only my assistant who handles my daily schedule and documentation. She has no credentials, let alone the skill to independently complete this research. It's an achievement that should only be attributed to Josie beyond any shadow of doubt." Everyone erupted in an uproar. "Whoa! Neil Irons himself came to the rescue!" "Wait, so this Anna Stark was just a desk jockey?" "Ah, it all made sense now. Guess it's just a misunderstanding." Even as Anna stood there, feeling she was left naked in the freezing winter, Neil turned toward the tearful Josie and calmly said, "Josie, you may continue." Chapter 9 Neil's words were a knife, plunged into Anna's heart and twisting inside just for good measure, while the scornful looks from the crowd further cemented her humiliation. After all, she was just an assistant who handled Neil's daily schedule and documentation. She had no credentials, let alone the skill to independently complete this research. He hadn't just publicly denied her individual merit—he had trampled her dignity under his foot, all just for another woman's career progression. She didn't miss the brief smugness in Josie's eyes, piercing Anna's last shred of reason. Blood rushed to her head—rage and resentment all swelled into an impulsive drive, and she sprang to her feet as she strode toward the stage. However, she almost reached it when Neil strode down, grabbing her by her wrist so tightly it hurt. "Let go!" Anna struggled, her voice trembling with rage. Neil didn't even look at her, only nodding at the crowd. "Sorry, I need to run something by my assistant." With that, ignoring Anna's struggles, he almost forcibly dragged her out of the room. The door slammed shut, shutting out the noise inside. They stood in the dim hallway, and Anna forcefully shook off his hand, her wrist clearly reddened. She looked up to glare at him with bloodshot eyes, her chest heaving as she snapped, "You had to humiliate me and reduce me to your mere assistant for Josie York?! What am I to you?" Her voice cracked, but she didn't shed a single tear. Neil looked at her silently, the dim hallway hiding his face in the shadows. Just when Anna thought he would keep dismissing her outburst with his heartless logic, he strode up, pressing one hand on the wall beside her face while the other lifted her chin, he jammed his cool lips on hers. It was dry and devoid of any passion—and over before Anna knew it. Anna froze up, her mind going blank as her blood ran cold again. As Neil pulled away and stared at her stunned self, his Adam's apple bobbed as he asked, "Can you calm down now? Don't ruin the moment." Her eyes widened, incredulous. She had chased after him for ten years, fantasized countless times about intimacy, and even accepted the proposal offered out of guilt. She always so humbly longed for his touch, only for this kiss she had yearned for so long to be offered under these circumstances, and very much conditionally. To silence her. To prevent her from ruining Josie's 'moment'. The agony of humiliation overwhelmed her, a hundred times worse than when he publicly belittled her just moments ago. Smack! The slap was very loud—and Anna struck him with every bit of strength she could muster that it left her palm numb. His head was knocked to the side, the red palm print exceedingly distinct. It left him stunned—he really didn't expect that. Anna's tears finally burst as well, her voice shaking and almost unintelligible as she snarled every word through gritted teeth, "You think I did all that for you? You really make me sick." Neil stood there, his cheek scalding as he saw the utter disappointment in her eyes, unable to say a word. But she didn't look at him twice as she turned and shoved the door off on her way out. She didn't return to the conference hall either—she wouldn't fight for the truth when it was so meaningless to her. The hallway lights were blinding even as she wiped her tears away forcefully, and returned to her lab. Turning on her PC and logging into the data server, she didn't hesitate to click into her own data and permanently delete everything. Even if she had to leave, she wouldn't let Josie steal her credit! - Hours later, Anna was standing at the security checkpoint as a voice announced her flight was ready for boarding. Picking up her suitcase, she headed through the checkpoint without looking back. As the plane rushed into the skies and soared through the thick cloud layers, Anna blocked Neil on every channel, putting an end to her decade-long feelings with her own fingers.