Leaving home, I went straight to the office and quickly organized my belongings.


    I thought about a proper goodbye, but it seemed unnecessary.


    I put the signed divorce papers on the desk and breathed a sigh of relief.


    With my luggage in hand, I took Ivan to the airport.


    Before boarding the ne, I asked Ivan, "Are you angry that I''m taking you away?"


    He shook his head and snuggled up to me.


    "All I need is you, Mom."


    Tears finally broke free, and all the pain just washed away, leaving me feeling at peace.


    I took out my phone and blocked Antonio on every instant message app.


    "Antonio, goodbye for good," I thought.


    The next day. Antonio arrived at the office right on time.


    Ever since what happened yesterday, he had been feeling uneasy.


    He checked his inbox, and an approved message popped up.


    "Resignation application?"


    ncing at the subject line, he had a bad feeling.


    Just as he was about to open the email. Molly walked in with a swaying gait.


    "Mr. Kaufman, this is the report fromst time."


    Molly ced the document on the desk and casually walked over to Antonio, cing one hand on his shoulder.


    This was their secret little game before.


    But now. Antonio felt a bit weird about it.


    Sitting up, he flipped through the document, frowning after just one nce at a page.


    The whole page was a mess, except for the format.


    Even the department name was wrong.


    Antonio pped the document down on the desk and snapped in a cold voice. "Who made this report? Don''t they know how to do their job? "Get Trent over here. What kind of hiring is HR doing?"


    Molly visibly paled.


    "Mr. Kaufman, it was me.


    Antonio''s anger dissipated in a sh.


    He looked at Molly, who seemed frightened, and for the first time, he felt powerless


    With her eyes welling up, Molly


    Paet


    at Antonio and asked in


    voice, "Mr. Kaufman, do y think I''m stupid now?”


    She wiped away her tears, showing a stubbornness typical of a naive girl.


    "If you really think so, I might as well leave. You can find a smarter. secretary,"


    With that, she turned to walk out.


    Antonio reached out to stop Molly without thinking but was stunned by her pleading eyes.


    He thought. "Grace has never given me that kind of look.


    "She''s proud.


    "She''d handle her own problems without asking for help, unlike Molly.


    "If she were still around..."


    Antonio''s hand slowly clenched as he dropped it, and he was startled by his thought.


    Panicked, he released Molly''s arm and rubbed his temple, wearily saying. "Just go out." Molly hesitated, "Mr. Kaufman..."


    "Leave."


    Antonio lost his patience, his tone getting cold.


    Molly bit her lip but finally left with reluctance.


    After she left, Antonio returned to his desk and sat down.


    As he looked at the wed report, many scenes popped into his mind.


    was


    He thought, "Seven years ago, Grace a rookie without work, experience or an impressive


    academic background. Conovel.ne


    "She wasn''t outstanding among a bunch of excellent job seekers.


    "But she was the only one who made it through the internship.


    "Back then, she was energetic and diligent.


    "If she didn''t know how to do the report,


    weshe''d be all over the


    forenced folks at work, begging


    for tips.


    "If she couldn''t understand some work process, she''d carry a notebook everywhere to write stuff down.


    "Whenever there was a call, she''d be there in a sh, ready with the best fix.


    "She could even quickly remember everyone''s identity and characteristics. at business parties.


    "Back then, she always said, ''Mr. Kaufman, I''ll do way better next time."


    "If being a secretary were a graded assignment, she would''ve scored a perfect mark."