Zachary had been talking andughing while he ate lunch with his colleagues, but he immediately looked pained when he heard the news.


    His colleagues all looked at him sympathetically.


    "That''s terrible! He hasn''t even been at work for half a month and he''s already got half a year''s pay deducted!"


    "Some people are born into money while others are born to be ves. That''s fate, I guess!"


    "Capitalism is the ultimate evil!"


    Zachary''s workload was reduced that day because of the reduction in his pay.


    Before he got off work, Charles, who was his direct superior as the manager of the business department, called him over to his office.


    He looked sympathetic as he saidfortingly, "Zachary, everyone makes mistakes at work. Just be careful in future! Don''t take it to heart."


    "I''m alright, Mr. Wright!" Zacharyughed dryly.


    Charles nodded and said, "I''m d to hear it. If things get difficult for you, just tell me! We''re all colleagues, so I''ll help you in any way I can."


    "Thank you, Mr. Wright! I''m alright for now." Zachary felt a warm feeling in his heart, but he refused Charles'' offer politely.


    After returning to his seat, Zachary couldn''t help feeling aggrieved. He got up to go to the restrooms andined to Ellen about getting his pay cut.


    Although he didn''t care about money, it was still unpleasant to suddenly get half a year''s pay docked.


    He thought that Ellen wouldfort him. However, it waspletely the opposite of what he had thought.


    "I''m about to die ofughter! How could you get half a year''s pay when you''ve only been at work for less than half a month? What are you going to do in future? Will you live on air?" Ellen wasughing uproariously.


    Although they were not together at the moment, Zachary could imagine Ellen falling about inughter.


    Zacharyined, "You''re a little too happy at my misfortune!"


    "No, no! I''m not! I just can''t help myself!" Ellen was stillughing.


    Zachary could not ept her reaction, so he hung up abruptly.


    Ellen sent a message very soon after that. "Don''t be angry, babe. Isn''t it just half a year''s pay? Just let her dock it. You can live off me!"


    Zachary''s mood was improved greatly when he saw the message.


    His fingers tapped quickly on the keyboard. "Wouldn''t that make me a boy toy?


    Will you get sick of me and throw me aside one day?"


    "That depends on how you do from now on."


    After messaging Ellen for a while on WhatsApp, it was time for Zachary to get off work.


    When he got back to his rental home, he made dinner. He was nning to invite Ellen over to eat with him, but when he called her, it was engaged.


    Zachary had no choice but to give up on the idea. He could call her over some other day.


    After dinner, he went for a stroll in the neighborhood to aid with digestion. Meanwhile, Ellen and Anya arrived at a Westnian restaurant.


    The two of them sat face to face at a dining table near the floor to ceiling windows. All they had to do was turn to see the night view outside.


    "Anya, aren''t you happy to hear that I''m no longer single? Why do you look so annoyed? Have I taken the man you like?" Ellen held her ss of red wine and swirled it gently. There was a provocative look in her eyes.


    Anya looked menacing as she said coldly, "You gave up your innocence just to get revenge on me. Was it worth it?"


    Ellen did not seem to care. She continued to smile smugly as she said, "It doesn''t matter whether or not it''s worth it. What''s important is it''s that I''ve slept with the man that you like, and he''s now my boyfriend!"


    Anya looked intently into Ellen''s eyes and said seriously, "You can''t force feelings. You obviously don''t love him, but you''re forcing yourself to be with him. You are going to regret


    this sooner orter."


    "That''s my business, and it has nothing to do with you!" Ellen''s fingers tightened


    around her ss of red wine.


    "I advise you to remember that we''re from different worlds. If you don''t want to get


    trapped, you''d better cut ties with him as soon as possible!"


    When she saw that Ellen remained obstinate, Anya got up to leave.


    The ss of red wine shattered.


    Anya stopped in her tracks, but she did not turn back. She strode off after a while.


    Ellen gritted her teeth and pulled out her phone. After she came up with a message, she sent it.


    It read, "Don''t sleep yet, babe. Get cleaned up and wait for me in bed!"