Annabelle Winters’s reaction was completely beyond Mrs. Gu’s expectations.

If she really wanted to cling onto the Gu family, this was the perfect moment to swear loyalty to Grace Gordon and refuse the money, only wanting Grace Gordon himself.

With him, never mind five million—even fifty million, five hundred million would be nothing.

Is she shortsighted, or does she really not like Grace Gordon?

Whatever the reason, Annabelle Winters choosing to leave Grace Gordon was a good thing for her.

Mrs. Gu quickly called the lawyer.

While the lawyer drew up the agreement, Annabelle Winters wrote her resignation letter. This time, she was really quitting.

Mrs. Gu was efficient. Annabelle Winters received her severance in a lump sum.

There was a recording, a agreement, a lawyer, and the HR department’s official stamp. Everything was in order.

Grace Gordon, goodbye.

You can keep your memories.

I wish you happiness.

Beaming, Annabelle Winters returned to the office to pack up her things.

Her colleagues crowded around.

“Wanwan, you’re leaving?”

“Did Mrs. Gu fire you?”

“The high-society world is tough. Those fairytale stories where a rich heir falls for a penniless girl only happen in movies.”

“It happens in real life too… just a lot less often!”

“Don’t go, Wanwan, we’ll miss you so much.”

“Does the boss know? Maybe you should talk to him?”

Annabelle Winters didn’t have much to pack—a small box was enough.

“I’ll miss you all too. I’m off! Bye!”

She’d worked here for a year. It was tough, but she genuinely liked the job.

For ordinary people, liking your work feels like a luxury, but life doesn’t leave you many choices.

At least now, she wouldn’t have to work so hard, or be on call 24/7.

Downstairs, Mrs. Gu only left after watching Annabelle Winters get into a cab.

Barely had Annabelle Winters left when Grace Gordon’s assistant, Freddie Young, called to report.

“Five million? She really left for five million? Let her go—she can do whatever she wants!”

Assistant Ford: “……”

Boss, you’ve never said you particularly liked Assistant An.

Wasn’t she just a stand-in?

He kept his mouth shut—better not to comment.

Grace Gordon sat in the car, wondering: would Annabelle Winters really leave and never appear before him again?

He didn’t believe it.

Just like last time, some invisible force always brought them back together.

How long could it last this time?

He was kind of curious.

——

Lakeview Villa.

Frederick Fairfax got home from work, changed clothes, and immediately started flaunting their adorable baby girl in front of Olivia Young.

“Wifey~”

“Wifey, how about coming to work at my company?”

The baby was born, the postpartum confinement was done.

He’d heard Annabelle Winters had left the Gu Corporation a month ago, actually kicked out by Mrs. Gu.

Perfect.

Without her, the plot could follow its original course.

The main couple would meet again soon.

They… weren’t her concern.

The real trouble was Frederick Fairfax, this clingy man!

This afternoon, she’d met with an old friend from her university days abroad, planning to work at her law firm.

The jerk found out and immediately started using their daughter to act cute in front of her.

“You were dead set against it before. Now you want me to go? Is everything supposed to go your way?” Olivia Young waggled a finger. "No, no. I was joking last time. Even if you’d agreed then, I still wouldn’t have gone.”

Frederick Fairfax bent down and kissed her finger.

Olivia Young froze, her long lashes fluttering. She could only glare at him helplessly and with amusement. “Kisses won’t work, either. I just prefer working with other women, not with you.”

“The legal department isn’t even on the same floor as me,” Frederick Fairfax argued.

While he acted now and then, his real job was running the Fairfax Corp..

He’d show up at galas, walk a red carpet, film a movie, or do some voice acting once in a while—but most of his time was all about the company.

He’d just finished filming now; there wouldn’t be any shoots for a while. If Olivia Young joined, they’d see each other every day.

And every day at lunch, Frederick Fairfax would drag her upstairs—lunch together, naps together in the break room.

Everyone knew: in these romance CEO novels, the boss’s office always has a rest area.

But she was a self-aware "evil supporting female lead"—in the original story Grace Gordon and Annabelle Winters had lots of escapades in the office.

With Frederick Fairfax’s "shooting accuracy”, who knows how many kids she’d end up with if they worked together.

Even if Frederick Fairfax got a vasectomy, it wouldn’t be enough!

Tie his tubes! Tie them!

That’s for pets!

“Wifey~”

“Being cute won’t help. I already promised my friend,” Olivia Young smiled. "I can’t go back on my word, can I?"

Go back on her word.

That’s exactly what she was doing!

Was she even capable of being trustworthy?

Frederick Fairfax gently patted their daughter. “That night abroad, I asked you if I could wake up and see your face in the morning. You said yes, but when I woke up you were already gone! All you left was a few pink strands of hair—and it was fake! A wig! I still have it in my drawer…”

“Not my fault you slept later than me,” Olivia Young countered.

It’s not totally his fault, either.

In stories for female readers, it’s always: one night stand, gone by morning.

If the character’s not gone, she gets caught.

“So it’s all my fault now?”

Doubt flickered in Frederick Fairfax’s deep eyes—he’d never thought he’d be in the wrong.

“That night I put in so much effort, and we ended up with a beautiful daughter. But you’re still mad I woke up late? You could’ve pushed me, or kissed me, or pinched me awake, but you didn’t—you just ran, and you did the textbook runner act!”

He still couldn’t believe it really happened to him.

Olivia Young looked at his almost-pouting face and couldn’t help but find it adorable. “You just looked so comfortable sleeping—I couldn’t bear to wake you. Was that… wrong of me?”

Nothing rendered Frederick Fairfax speechless like a soft question, coupled with glistening eyes and faint tears that played up her delicate charm. It never failed to leave him reeling, making him rethink everything.

Frederick Fairfax sat down beside her. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to show, you’ve already broken your word once—so you can do it again! Ghost your friend and come to my company with me!”

He was so shameless it could be heard at the South Pole.

“Not going. You’re the one who turned me down!”

“Babe, I’ve said I didn’t want you, didn’t like you, wouldn’t kiss or hug you. Promises are made to be broken!” Frederick Fairfax rubbed his cheek against hers. “Let’s have ten kids together.”

All he wants is ten kids, huh?

Sure, ten kids!

If anyone wanted kids, it was her.

With a daughter this cute, how could she not?

And her husband’s genes were fantastic.

“You have ten kids.”

“What about you?”

“Husband’s job is to have ten babies and make lots of money. Wife’s job is to be stunning every day.” Olivia Young lovingly touched his face. “Here’s a saying for you: a wife’s beauty is her husband’s pride.”

Frederick Fairfax stared blankly, eyes shining with confusion.

“…I don’t get it.”

He nodded honestly.

Olivia Young’s smile was gentle and dazzling. “Having ten kids would exhaust me—I’d lose my good looks.”

So, if he wanted her on staff just to pop out babies during work hours…dream on!

Olivia Young was vain, always loving beauty. She remembered once seeing him in a tailored suit, immediately locking both him and their daughter outside so she could go change into a gorgeous new dress.

“Baby, when you grow up, never let anyone treat you like a baby-making machine, okay?”

Olivia Young scooped their daughter from Frederick Fairfax’s arms. “Mom and Dad will give you all the money you need. Even if you never have children, as long as you stay out of trouble, you can live any life you want.”

She was determined to break out of the original plot.

She wasn’t going to die.

…Right?

Suddenly, she felt an odd chill run down her back.