She Stole My Career, I’ll Send Her To Jail

Chapter 3

Brian blocked my view with his cold figure, his voice dripping with impatience.

"Ashley, what are you freaking out about? It's you who didn't take care of yourself, who didn't protect the child properly."

And then he turned to Melissa, "Melissa, you did nothing wrong."

Seeing Melissa crying pitifully, he pulled her into a tight embrace to comfort her.

Melissa looked up at him through tearful eyes. "Brian, why isn't it me whose life is falling apart?

"Ashley is way more professional than I am. I don't deserve this…"

The man gently wiped the tears from her face.

"The investigation is clear. It was her jealousy that made her ignore your data report and insist on going out to save people without properly checking the safety equipment."

I heard this and my head shot up in protest. "I didn't!"

But he just scoffed.

"If you really care about Melissa, then why have you been holding back her field training application all this time? It's perfectly normal to do something rash under those circumstances."

Melissa sighed softly, her hand resting on my leg. "But what about Ashley's life now? What's left for her?"

It could be seen that a flicker of guilt crossed Brian's face.

"Ashley, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. But you have to promise me, no more extreme stunts like this. And, this is my responsibility."

'Responsibility?' The word hit me like a slap in the face.

It crushed the last shred of hope I had for him.

After seven years of marriage, that's all that's left, ‘Responsibility'.

I fiddled with my wedding ring, the one Brian had nervously slipped onto my finger when he was 24.

Back then, his eyes glittered like stars.

"Ashley, getting to marry you is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me.

"You want to be the best rescuer, then I will be your strongest support, following your lead."

But that was then. All those fiery words, those heartfelt promises.

Now, standing here in front of another woman, they've turned into some burden he has to shoulder.

His affection has long been given to someone else.

A guy who never cared about scents has even swapped out the office tissues for Melissa's favorite camellia fragrance.

Melissa's face lit up with a smile, like she was genuinely happy for me. But when her eyes dropped to meet mine, they sparked with challenge.

"Ashley. You're literally so lucky. By thirty, you've already lived the life every woman envies.

"You've spent years chasing what you wanted, and even now, you still have someone like Brian to catch you when you fall."

Brian seemed oblivious, entirely missing the bite beneath her words.

His gaze was fixed on her, tinged with indulgence.

"You're Ashley's discipline. I know you'll become the best rescuer. She was stronger than you once, but from now on, the rescue team will be your stage."

Only after Melissa nodded did he allow his attention to drift back to me. But his next words came laced with warning.

"Ashley, are you really that jealous of your own discipline's success?

"It's hard for a girl with no connections to make it this far. The pressure on her is enormous, practicing in secret after work, crying alone. You of all people should understand.

"Since you have already stepped back, So step back fully. Let the younger ones have their chance. I'll be fully responsible for taking care of your future."

I turned my head away from his hand as it reached for my hair.

"Fine. I wish you both the best. As partners."

He had long since forgotten how, seven years ago, he had looked at me with those same devoted eyes. How he had promised me his whole life.

He promised me his whole life.

Yet the life he'd built for himself didn't even make it past the seven-year mark.