Her Final Payment: A Noose

Gregory cleared his throat. "Hailey, could you come with me for a moment?"

The moment he called me aside, my coworkers started whispering.

"Did you see the news? Gregory is the CEO of Hudson Corporation!"

"Does that mean Hailey is about to become the CEO's wife? But look at her face…"

"You don't understand. They probably just had a fight. They'll make up soon."

Everyone assumed I was about to step into the role of a high-society wife. They had no idea I only wanted to disappear forever.

Inside the office, Gregory reached out toward me.

I took a step back. "Mr. Hudson."

He frowned. "Why didn't you come home last night? Are you still upset with me?"

I shook my head. "I went to see Mom."

I hadn't gone back because I couldn't bear for Mom to see Gregory. She could have survived if she had undergone treatment, yet she chose to give up rather than be a burden to us.

Gregory seemed to sense a shadow of my pain. After a moment of silence, he said, "Let's go pay a visit to Mrs. Jackman this evening."

After that, he appeared to remember something. Uncertainty flickered in his eyes as he carefully handed me a card. "There's a million on it. Use it to buy Mrs. Jackman some new clothes. Just think of it as a…"

I stared at the card and didn't take it. Money could never make up for what he owed us. Panic flashed in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak again, his phone rang.

He glanced at his phone, hesitated for a moment, and then walked away.

I realized this was probably his test to see if I truly cared, to see if I was tempted by money. However, I didn't care anymore.

Afterward, I submitted my resignation.

Steven Zimmerman, the vice president, didn't seem surprised. "Hailey, you're stepping down? Is this about Mr. Hudson?"

I bit my lip, feeling how absurd it all seemed. Everyone thought I was about to marry Gregory, enter high society, and be admired for my fortune. They didn't know that I had lost Mom forever along the way.

If it were up to me, I would rather never have known Gregory.

As I left the company, he was there with his childhood friend, Sophia.

Gregory's eyes met mine, and he instinctively began, "This is Sophia. She's my—"

Before the words left his mouth, Sophia slipped her arm through his. "Fiancee," she said.

I said nothing.

Then Sophia added, "Hi. Step aside, please."

Her gaze carried a subtle challenge. I stepped back silently and let them pass.

Gregory looked at me hesitantly, as if he wanted to say something, but Sophia pulled him away before he could.

…

That night, I went to the memorial hall. I placed Mom's ashes inside and stayed until the prayers ended.

Gregory didn't show up, nor did he ask.

I didn't care. It no longer mattered whether he knew about Mom's death. I imagined her spirit would never wish to see him again.

Five years of misdirected devotion concluded here, finally drawing the chapter to a close.

…

At dawn, I returned home. Gregory hadn't come back, and I didn't care.

While I packed, the news reported that Gregory had appeared at a ceremony with his fiancee, Sophia.

I glanced at them, looking every bit the perfect couple, but I felt nothing. Just as I finished packing, the door opened, and Gregory stepped inside.

The moment he saw me, he rushed forward and grabbed my hand. "Where did you go last night? Why didn't you answer my calls?"

I froze for a moment before pulling my hand away. "I was with Mom. I didn't want to disturb her rest, so I turned my phone off."

At the mention of Mom, Gregory's face tightened with guilt. "I'll see that Mrs. Jackman gets the best doctors."

He then took out a small box and placed it in my hand. "I promised to give this to Mrs. Jackman."

I opened it without thinking. Inside lay the genuine version of the bracelet Mom had held dear for so long.

I froze.

Long ago, Gregory had held Mom's hand and sworn with complete sincerity that one day he would give her the genuine, priceless version of this bracelet.

Mom had smiled then. She had never cared whether it was real or not.