One hour before the deadline for the company's overseas assignment application.

I saw my name in the system.

The applicant was Ethan Cole.

He's my boss, and also my boyfriend.

My heart went cold, and I called him.

His nonchalant voice came through the phone:

"Oh, that? Amanda Young filled it out for fun. She said she wanted to see if you'd notice."

"Since you found out, just revoke it yourself, won't you?"

Amanda Young, a female college student who joined the company as a management trainee six months ago.

I gripped my phone, frozen in place.

So my job, my future...

In their eyes, was just a joke they could play around with.

The day I was supposed to report to the branch office.

Ethan grabbed me in a panic and asked:

"Olivia Reed! Where are you going?!"

"Just as you wished. I'm taking the assignment in Argentina."

His voice was sharp with disbelief: "Are you crazy? That's South America! That's Argentina! It's not like driving to the next state!"

I walked to the window, watching the endless stream of headlights below, my voice flat. "I know."

"What do you know! Go to HR right now, tell them it was a system error. It's not too late to change it!"

"That won't be necessary."

I cut him off. "I think working in Argentina could be good."

"Olivia!"

Ethan's tone turned heavy. "Are you just being petty? Just because of Amanda's prank?"

"A prank?"

I turned around and looked him straight in the eye.

"In your eyes, is messing with someone's future just a prank?"

For a moment, Ethan's gaze faltered, but he quickly became defiant again.

"Amanda is just being naive. It was just a joke. Do you have to take it so seriously?"

"Yes,"

I said calmly, "My life isn't something to be joked about."

He frowned, "Can you stop being so stubborn? Argentina is so chaotic and far away. A girl goes to a far and unfamiliar place alone. What if something happens?"

I let out a small laugh. "So you do know it's far and unfamiliar. Then why didn't you think about that when you let Amanda submit that application?"

"That's different! I already told you, it was just a joke!"

"A joke."

I repeated softly, a bitter smile on my lips.

"Ethan, how long have we known each other?"

"Seven years and four months."

He answered quickly.

"Yeah, seven years and four months."

I whispered, "But it seems I still don't know you at all. Ethan, let's break up."

When I first saw that overseas assignment application, I was genuinely stunned.

Ethan and I had already reached an agreement.

The goal of this internal restructuring was to get into the group's newly established Strategic Development department.

He would be the director, and I would be his deputy.

This was the career path we had planned together for two years.

But the words "Buenos Aires" on the screen made me feel like a fool.

I suppressed my emotions and called him.

His response was casual, with a touch of condescending indulgence:

"Amanda just likes to mess around. She said you're usually too tense and wanted to play a joke on you, to see if you'd notice before the deadline."

"A joke?"

My throat tightened. "Ethan, this is work, not a game.

She's just a management trainee, where did she get the authority to submit a transfer request for a senior manager?"

"I gave her temporary access to handle some basic reports. Who knew she... The girl was just playing a joke on you."

Ethan paused, a hint of impatience in his voice. "Olivia, is there any point in dwelling on this now?

It's not a big deal. You can just cancel it, right?

Amanda's just a lively girl with no ill intentions. Can you stop being so hostile towards her?"

"Me, hostile towards her?"

I almost laughed out of anger.

For the past six months, under the guise of asking him for advice, Amanda has infiltrated almost every part of Ethan's work and life.

From morning coffee to late-night WhatsApp messages asking for help with work.

From deliberate physical closeness during department team-building events.

To now, daring to mess with my work!

"Ethan."

I said out of rage, my voice turning cold. "Abusing system access and submitting a critical application without authorization is prohibited in any company.

I can, and should file a complaint against her."

"Olivia!"

Ethan's voice suddenly rose, filled with obvious anger.

"Do you really have to make such a fuss?

It was just a joke!

She already knows she was wrong!

Can't you be a little more generous?

If you file a complaint against her, are you going to against me too?

!

Are you going to be jealous forever?"

There was nothing more to say.

I hung up the phone.

I remembered when I had just started the job, how I messed up my first independent project.

Ethan stayed up with me for three nights in the office to revise the plan. His eyes were bloodshot but still shining brightly.

I remembered the company's annual party two years ago. He was being forced to drink by a difficult client.

It was me who quietly stepped in front of him, took all the drinks, and finally got him home safely.

Leaning on my shoulder in the car, he murmured in a daze, "Olivia, shall we always fight together like this in the future?"

Those memories were as clear as if they happened yesterday, but they felt like they were behind a frosted glass, out of reach.

After calming down, I tried calling again, hoping to have another talk.

As soon as the call connected, I heard Amanda's clear, coquettish voice.

"Ethan, is that Olivia?

Is she mad at me?

It's all my fault... I just wanted to play a joke on her to get closer, but I didn't expect..."

Ethan was indulgently comforting the girl, "It's fine. She'll do whatever I say.

I'll talk to her later. Don't take it to heart, sweetie."

I silently ended the call.

The last bit of desire to communicate died out.

I leaned back in my chair.

I stared for a long time at the locked gray area on the screen, representing an unknown, distant place.

I could have canceled.

But then I realized everything here was so pointless.

Work, Ethan—it all make me feel exhausted.

Maybe.

Leaving here and leaving Ethan was the only real way to freedom.

There was a soft knock on the office door.

I looked up. Amanda was standing at the door, a perfect look of apology and unease on her face.

"Olivia..."

She looked uneasy, her voice low. "I... I just finished my work report with Ethan. He seems to be in a bad mood and said he wants to go out to relax and have a drink.

I'm a little worried about him drinking alone, so... I came to ask... would it be okay if I went with him?

Would you mind?"

Her words were carefully chosen.

But I could hear the triumph in her tone.

I watched her quietly, saying nothing.

I was thinking.

Since when, exactly, did Ethan start finding this calculated innocence to be cute?

Initially, Ethan's assessment of Amanda was that she was more calculated than well-behaved.

All it changed during a critical phase of an important project.

Ethan came down with a high fever from a bad cold.

At the time, I was leading a closed-door training session elsewhere.

Apparently, Amanda was the first to notice.

She rushed him to the hospital overnight, took care of everything, and stayed by his bedside for most of the night.

That was what moved Ethan.

From then on, Ethan's attitude toward her changed completely.

Amanda took advantage of the situation and sweetly called him all the time. Gradually, rumors spread in the department that Ethan had adopted her as his younger sister.

And I, in the half-joking comments from colleagues, became 'the official girlfriend' who had to fight for his affection.

Every time I heard that kind of teasing, my face would go cold.

But Ethan would just laugh.

In private, he said to me, "What's all this about official girlfriend and side one? They're just messing around. You know you're the only one for me."

Now, looking at the innocent face of the woman in front of me, I just found it ironic.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth but didn't say anything.

Amanda grew a little uncomfortable under my gaze and forced herself to press on, "Olivia, you... please say something. I'm scared..."

"Scared of what?"

I finally spoke, my voice flat and emotionless. "Are you scared I'll hold you accountable for abusing your privileges, or are you scared your dear Ethan won't protect you anymore?"

Amanda's face changed slightly, and she was about to speak.

But Ethan was already walking over quickly.

"Amanda, didn't I tell you to wait for me downstairs?"

His tone held a subtle note of protectiveness.

Then he looked at me, his brow furrowed.

"Olivia, what did she do to upset you now?

Amanda is already being so careful, she even came to ask for your permission just to go out for a drink with me.

And you?

Are you going to keep dragging on about a harmless joke?"

A harmless joke, huh.

I suddenly laughed, a chill in my voice.

"Ethan, you're so sharp when it comes to evaluating projects. How come you're so blind when it comes to people?"

My gaze shifted to Amanda, whose face had instantly gone pale. I spoke slowly, but every word was clear:

"Over the past six months, how many times has she flirted with you? You really can't feel it?"

"Bringing you homemade breakfast in front of the whole department, whispering in your ear, insisting you give her a ride home after working late."

"These cheap, boundary-crossing tricks—you really think this is normal?"

"Or do you just especially enjoy the attention and flattery from women other than me?"

Amanda's shoulders began to tremble, and her eyes turned red in an instant. Her acting was first-rate.

Ethan's face darkened completely, as if covered in a layer of frost.

"Olivia!

Do you have to be so harsh?

!

I'm mentoring Amanda now, and I know her!

She's not a bad person, not the kind of person you thought!"

He took a deep breath, as if delivering a last warning:

"Amanda is reasonable. She won't really hold a grudge against you.

Apologize to her now, and we can put this behind us. We'll still be fine."

"Apologize?"

It was like I'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

I slowly shook my head, my eyes landing on Ethan's face with a pitying look.

"Ethan, between us, who is the one who should make an apology?"

I picked up the internal transfer confirmation letter from the corner of the desk, flicking away imaginary dust.

"Also, from now on, there is no 'us'."

After saying that, I didn't spare them another glance.

I grabbed my coat and walked straight out of the office.

The door closed behind me.

I didn't look back.