My Alpha CEO Forbids Me to Escape

Chapter 4

I lowered my head, keeping every trace of emotion hidden so no one could see the excitement beneath the surface.

For the first time ever, Ethan's large, warm hand rested gently on top of my head.

His voice was soft, almost like a whisper.

"Wait for me to come back."

The next morning, he left on his private jet.

I sat at my desk, tense and restless as I waited.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the sharp clicking of high heels echoed outside the office.

Serena pushed open the door to the CEO's office as if she owned the place, her chin raised arrogantly as though everyone around her was beneath her.

She walked straight toward my desk with several coworkers following behind her.

Her long, pointed nails tapped against the wood in an irritating rhythm.

"You're fired. Get out of Mr. Shaw's office immediately."

My heart pounded violently against my chest.

The wish I had held onto for so long was finally coming true.

I gripped the paper coffee cup in my hand so tightly that the coffee inside swayed dangerously close to spilling.

To be safe, I forced my voice to remain calm.

"Does Mr. Shaw know you're doing this?"

That question completely set Serena off.

She swung her arm across my desk, sending the coffee flying. The warm liquid splashed all over my skirt.

"Don't ever try to threaten me with Mr. Shaw again. There's no need to tell him anything. Eleanor has already approved this. Now go complete your exit paperwork. Don't make me repeat myself."

The coworkers who had followed her stared at me, their eyes filled with cruel satisfaction.

I grabbed the damp, coffee-stained hem of my skirt and lowered my head, letting my shoulders tremble slightly.

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I nearly drew blood, using every ounce of self-control I had to keep myself from smiling.

Finally.

I could leave.

I forced myself to look devastated, but my feet moved faster than they should have, carrying me toward the door with barely contained excitement.

Serena mistook my silence for resistance.

She followed closely behind me.

"I'm coming with you. Don't even think about trying anything."

When we entered the HR office, Nina's eyes widened the moment she saw us.

"Mr. Shaw... approved her resignation?"

Serena's face darkened.

"You're just HR. Stop asking so many questions. Process the paperwork now."

I gave Nina a subtle shake of my head.

She immediately understood and hid her surprise, turning around to print out the documents.

But just as I was about to sign, Serena pointed at the severance amount listed on the form and raised her voice.

"Why is her severance pay so high? Does she even deserve this?"

Nina adjusted her glasses and replied calmly,

"Unlawful termination requires severance compensation. That's the law."

Those words left Serena speechless.

The moment Nina handed me the completed paperwork, she lowered her voice so only I could hear.

"After you leave, be happy."

My throat tightened.

My eyes burned as tears threatened to fall.

For the past five years, I hadn't made a single new friend.

Even the friends I used to have had slowly drifted away.

It wasn't because I didn't want to get close to anyone.

I was afraid to.

Ethan hated seeing me become close with others.

He always found a way to punish me, or punish the other person instead.

Nina herself was the perfect example.

Once, Ethan caught us laughing together during lunch, and she nearly lost her job because of it.

Back then, I had pulled off Ethan's tie myself and tied it over my own eyes.

I grabbed his hand and pressed it against my neck, apologizing over and over until my voice broke.

I cried until my entire face was covered in tears before he finally sighed.

He removed the tie from my eyes and gently kissed my eyelids.

"Alright. Stop crying. I won't fire her."

After that, I never dared to say more than a few words to anyone.

I forced the tears back and swallowed hard.

The only thing I did was glance back at Nina once.

I held the paperwork tightly in my hand.

I didn't even bother collecting my belongings from the office.

All I wanted was to leave.

As quickly as possible.

But Serena suddenly called out behind me.

"Wait."

I turned around.

She stepped forward and grabbed the necklace around my neck, yanking it hard.

The chain snapped.

The pink diamond necklace landed in her palm.

She smiled smugly.

"Since you're leaving, anything Mr. Shaw gave his assistant should be returned."

The broken chain had cut a shallow wound across my neck.

Tiny beads of blood appeared and slowly slid down my skin.

I wiped them away without a care and nodded seriously.

"Thanks for reminding me."

Good thing she mentioned it.

Otherwise, I would have forgotten to leave behind this necklace with the tracking device hidden inside.

Serena froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by my reaction.

But she quickly recovered and laughed mockingly.

"Stop pretending you're calm. You're probably terrified right now, aren't you? You're just a useless omega who was fired from Shaw Group. Where do you think you can go?

"When you're begging on the streets someday, you can kneel and ask me for help. Maybe I'll throw you a few cents."

I didn't bother answering.

I walked toward the elevator, my steps light enough that I almost felt like I was floating.

I had never felt this free, this hopeful.

Five years.

The freedom I had desperately wanted was finally within reach.

Then the private elevator chimed.

The doors opened.

Ethan's tall, imposing figure stepped out.

His dark, heavy gaze landed on me first.

Then it locked onto my face with absolute coldness.

"Where do you think you're going?"