He Left Me To Die, I Married The Tycoon

Chapter 4

The night before the wedding, the Sterling Group headquarters was still brightly lit.

I took my resignation handover form to the finance department. After checking the system, the employee there looked at me apologetically.

"Miss Parker, Mr. Sterling has put your severance payment on hold. He says you still have unfinished work."

I lowered my eyes to the remarks section: Technical Consultant for the Wedding needs to assist with the presentation of the core project and carry the ring tray onto the stage during the ceremony.

I gently folded the paper shut.

'He couldn't even let go of my final paycheck without making things difficult.'

Nathan's call came almost immediately.

"You saw the arrangement?"

I stood at the end of the hallway, my pale reflection staring back at me in the glass.

"You want me to carry your wedding rings?"

"You're just carrying a tray." His tone was matter-of-fact. "You're the one who knows the project best. We can't afford any mistakes at the wedding. Once it's over, you'll get every penny of your severance."

I said nothing.

He probably thought I was about to make a scene again, because his voice grew heavier.

"Elodie, don't be difficult at a time like this. Just offer us your blessings. It'll make things easier for everyone."

The "everyone" he talked about had never included me.

At nine that night, I drove the little electric car out of the city toward the suburban data center to revoke the final system access.

That core system contained six years of my blood, sweat, and tears. Once I handed everything over tonight, I could finally walk away from the Sterling Group for good.

A sudden downpour hit on the way there.

Rain hammered against the windshield, leaving dense trails of water as the wipers dragged sluggishly across the glass, as if they might stop at any moment.

The signal came and went along the winding mountain road, and the navigation froze at the final bend.

All my headlights could illuminate was a wall of murky rain and small rocks constantly tumbling down the mountainside.

Then the low-battery alarm suddenly went off.

The next second, the entire car lurched to a stop, and the dashboard went black.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

The car sat stranded by the roadside. Every so often, a heavy truck roared past through the rain, making the entire little car tremble.

My phone had only one bar of signal left.

I called a tow truck.

No answer.

Rainwater began seeping through the door seals, spreading across the floor mat until it soaked my shoes and clung coldly to my ankles.

I stared at the familiar name in my contacts, my fingertip hovering over it for a long time.

This would be the last time.

The phone rang three times before someone answered.

The sound of fireworks exploded through the speaker, mixed with laughter and cheers.

Nathan's voice came through, thick with alcohol and irritation.

"What is it this time?"

I stared at the pitch-black mountain road beyond the windshield, my throat tightening.

"The car broke down. I'm on a winding mountain road outside the city. The rain is too heavy, and I can't get anyone out here."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then I heard someone laughing and calling out,

"Mr. Sterling, Miss Bennett is waiting for you to cut the cake!"

Nathan lowered his voice.

"Can you stop throwing a tantrum at Cecilia's pre-wedding party? Call a tow truck yourself. You're an adult. Learn to deal with your own problems instead of bothering me."

My fingers slowly went cold.

"Nathan, there might be a landslide here."

"Elodie."

His voice turned completely cold.

"Don't threaten me with things like that."

Then Cecilia's voice suddenly came through the phone.

"Miss Parker, Nathan is busy setting off fireworks across the entire city for me. He really can't leave right now. And you thought $500,000 was too little before. I suppose young girls aren't very good at managing money and you've already spent it all. If you're really short on cash, I can have my driver bring some to you."

Her voice was soft and graceful, like she was offering me an old piece of clothing she no longer wanted.

A dull rumble came from the mountainside in the distance.

I looked up.

A torrent of muddy water suddenly burst down the slope, carrying rocks and debris with it.

Nathan snatched the phone back.

"Once the wedding is over tomorrow, I'll come to the apartment and make up for our anniversary. Be good, okay?"

Fireworks exploded above his head.

And above mine, the roof of my car suddenly shuddered as the first rock slammed into it.

I hung up.

Then I pushed open the door.

Rain immediately poured into the car.

The moment my foot touched the muddy ground, the mountainside behind me gave way with a deafening roar...

Late that night.

Reeking of alcohol, Nathan returned to the apartment.

He pushed open the door. The living room was pitch-black, so he assumed I was already asleep.

He loosened his tie and collapsed onto the sofa, then casually turned on the television.

The screen suddenly lit up.

The local news channel was broadcasting an emergency report.

"A massive mudslide has struck a winding mountain road in the outskirts of the city. Multiple vehicles have been buried..."

At first, Nathan barely paid attention.

The next second, he suddenly sat bolt upright.

From the aerial footage, the wreckage of a pink electric car, crushed beneath tons of mud and debris, came into view.

The license plate was unmistakable.

It was the very car he'd given me just days ago.

The news anchor continued in an eerily calm voice.

"Rescue workers have discovered personal belongings belonging to a woman inside the vehicle. The driver's current condition remains unknown."

The glass in Nathan's hand slipped.

It hit the floor and shattered.