Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 46

Silvia was about to admit she hadn’t closed the deal when she suddenly felt a heavy presence behind her.

“What did you do to make Hardy sign the contract?”

Shipley’s eyes narrowed, and though his voice was smooth and laced with a smile, the warmth never reached his gaze.

The wider his grin, the angrier he was.

Silvia took a few steps back, putting distance between them. “I hit Hardy. The deal’s off.”

A gasp swept through the group.

Someone blurted out, “Seriously? Here I thought you were some kind of miracle worker, turns out you’re just—”

Silvia turned her calm gaze on the speaker. “Want to try yourself?”

The words died in the colleague’s throat.

No one wanted to face Hardy now.

Sensing the tension, Vianne quickly tried to smooth things over. “Silvia, don’t blame yourself. With someone like Hardy, it’s understandable we couldn’t make the deal. It’s not your fault. But you really shouldn’t have hit him. It makes our company look… unprofessional. That’s not the image we want.”

Silvia caught the flicker of disappointment in Vianne’s eyes and let out a dry, mocking laugh.

She didn’t have the energy to argue. She was only here to inform them—nothing more.

Her message delivered, Silvia turned to leave.

But Shipley stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

His voice was cold. “Come with me. Now.”

Silvia lowered her gaze, biting her lip before answering, firm and unyielding. “No.”

To her, Shipley’s office was a place of humiliation.

They used to sneak away there—kissing, holding each other, stealing moments behind closed doors.

Those memories were ruined now, replaced by nothing but disgust.

“Move.”

Shipley, teeth clenched, forced out the word. He didn’t care about the audience; he grabbed Silvia’s hand and marched her away.

She had swallowed her pride for love, over and over—each time, he accepted it as if he deserved nothing less.

But now, when she wanted to let go, he had to twist the knife?

Silvia’s face turned cold as she slid off the desk. “Mr. Barlow, this is a workplace. Don’t give people the wrong idea.”

Shipley’s voice rose. “Didn’t you used to wish everyone knew about us? What are you making a scene for now?”

Her hand closed around the doorknob—the chill of the metal seeped into her bones.

Her reply was soft, almost mournful. “Then just say I’ve always been unreasonable.”

He didn’t stop her as she walked out.

Shipley stared at the empty office for a moment, then let out a short, bitter laugh.

Sweet Silvia, this time I gave in first.

Next time, if you want my forgiveness, it won’t come so easily.