After the Breakup, the CEO Begs for Forgiveness Daily

Chapter 4 Chapter Four

　　Amelia stood at the apartment door, key gripped tight in her hand for what felt like forever, but she still hadn't unlocked it.

　　This fancy place in the heart of the city had been rented for her by Simon three years ago.

　　Back then, he said it was close to his office, made it easier for him to find her whenever.

　　Three years had passed, and the place was pretty much filled with her presence.

　　But now, she knew — after today, this wasn't her home anymore.

　　Taking a deep breath, Amelia pushed the door open. She didn't bother turning on the lights. The moonlight through the window was enough as she started packing.

　　Her movements were quick and decisive. She only took the essentials — clothes, documents, and a few keepsakes.

　　All the luxury gifts from Simon — the jewelry, designer bags, everything expensive — she neatly lined up on the living room table.

　　Finally, she opened the drawer beside the bed and pulled out a small velvet box. Inside was a plain silver ring, nothing fancy, given to her by her mom on her twentieth birthday.

　　She hadn't worn it even once in the past three years. Simon didn't like her wearing "cheap" things like that.

　　Amelia slid the ring onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly.

　　She dragged her suitcase to the door, giving the place she'd called home for three years one final glance.

　　Then she shut the door behind her without looking back.

　　It was already eleven at night. Amelia stood by the side of the road, her suitcase by her feet, and suddenly realized she had nowhere to go, aside from her mother's old place.

　　But ever since her mom married Richard Clarke, that place hadn't felt like home at all.

　　Still, she didn't really have any other options.

　　An hour later, Amelia stood outside the building from her memories.

　　It was an old apartment block, the walls chipped and worn. The hallway light flickered in and out like it couldn't make up its mind.

　　She hesitated for a second before pressing the doorbell.

　　There was the sound of slippers dragging on the floor, then Richard's impatient voice from inside. "Who the hell is it? It's the middle of the night!"

　　The door opened. He was in his pajamas, and when he saw her, he looked startled. "Amelia? What are you doing here?"

　　"I..." Amelia barely got the word out before a woman's voice floated out from inside the apartment. "Richard, who is it?"

　　The voice was sugary sweet, making the color instantly drain from Amelia's face.

　　She shoved Richard aside and stormed into the house. On the living room couch sat a young woman wearing her mom's pajamas, casually sipping water from her mom's favorite cup. The family photo that used to hang on the wall had mysteriously vanished.

　　"Who is she?" Amelia's voice shook as she asked.

　　Richard's expression twitched, but he quickly straightened up and said righteously, "That's my girlfriend. Your mom's stuck in the hospital, and I'm here all alone—it's just someone to talk to, what's the big deal?"

　　"Talk?" Amelia pointed at the pajamas. "You need to talk so bad you have to dress her in my mom's clothes? Let her use her cup too? Seriously? Mom's still lying in a hospital bed, and you bring another woman into her home?"

　　"Why are you yelling?" Richard snapped, clearly annoyed. "This is my house—I can bring whoever I want! And what about you? Dragging a suitcase in here so late—what, got kicked to the curb by some man?"

　　His words hit her like a slap. For a second, her head spun and she had to lean on the wall to steady herself.

　　The young woman got up, gave Amelia a once-over, and smirked. "So you're Richard's stepdaughter, huh? Heard you work at Johnson Group and had some messy thing going on with the boss. What now—he got bored of you?"

　　Amelia's anger surged like a tidal wave. She stared hard at Richard. "Do you even get what she just said?"

　　Richard looked uneasy, eyes darting away. "I... I just heard it from someone else, okay? Amelia, I'm telling you this for your own good—girls should have some self-respect. Stop trying to hook up with rich guys..."

　　"Self-respect?" Amelia let out a cold laugh, laced with bitterness. "Richard, my mom married you and took care of everything—your meals, your clothes. Even when she got sick, she had to save up for her own hospital bills. And what did you do? The minute she stepped into the hospital, you brought some girl home. And you're telling me about self-respect?"

　　"You—!" Richard raised his hand.

　　But Amelia didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped right up to him. "Go ahead, hit me! Do it! Let the neighbors see how you treat your sick wife and her daughter!"

　　His hand froze mid-air. In the hallway, doors creaked open—people were starting to peek out.

　　She looked at him, her eyes completely devoid of warmth now.

　　Dragging her suitcase behind her, she walked to the door. Just before stepping out, she paused. "Listen closely, Richard. From now on, you have nothing to do with me or my mom. We're done."

　　The door shut behind her with a loud thud, drowning out his yelling and that woman's fake, whiny voice.

　　Amelia walked down the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.

　　The night air bit into her skin, and she hugged herself tighter, but it didn't help; the chill had settled deep inside.

　　Her phone buzzed softly—Anselme's message lit up the screen: "Home safe? Let me know if you need anything."

　　She stared at the text, and tears slipped out before she could stop them. Curling up beside the old garden bed of the run-down complex, she buried her face in her knees and cried without a sound.

　　At the same time, Simon stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the apartment, staring at his phone.

　　The message from his bodyguard was still on-screen: "Miss Clarke has left the apartment with her suitcase. She's currently downstairs at a rundown block in the west side, crying."

　　His finger hovered over the screen for a long time before he finally typed out a reply. "Leave her alone."

　　She chose this path—once reality hits her hard enough, she'll realize who's truly worth relying on.