Chapter 21
Naomi stood confidently on stage, clearly outlining the purpose behind the company’s
founding. She called on capable individuals to join the mission and help bring lasting change.
She introduced their first project: supporting the development of a village in the west. The area was rich in wild mushrooms, and she planned to pursue sustainable, eco-friendly development tailored to the region’s conditions.
It aimed to attract young people who had left for work to return home and build a future there.
Cassian stood in the corner, watching Naomi in her crisp formal attire, speaking with confidence. A flicker of awe flashed in his eyes.
It had been a long time since he’d seen her shine like this. Since the moment they became a couple, it felt like she was trapped at the bottom of a well. Her entire existence revolved around him.
She had given everything, thrown herself into loving him with no reservations. Yet, he had let her down. At that moment, Cassian seemed to understand the coldness and finality in Naomi’s
eyes.
The Naomi who once loved him had died, piece by piece, under the weight of his lies and betrayal. It was only by completely leaving him that she could reclaim her life.
Now, Naomi had a career she was passionate about and a life she truly wanted. She had finally escaped the well. Maybe it was time he stopped bothering her.
“What are you doing here again?” Naomi spotted Cassian the moment she stepped off the stage. He looked more and more disheveled these days like he was deliberately letting himself
fall apart.
“Naomi… since leaving me, have you been happier than before?” he asked hoarsely, his eyes
fixed on her with intensity.
“Yes,” Naomi replied firmly. Cassian lowered his gaze, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m sorry. I was the one who hurt you.”
“I don’t need your apology. Because I stopped hating you a long time ago. Go focus on what you should be doing.”
Her voice was distant, emotionless. And with that, she turned and walked away.
Cassian stood frozen, staring blankly at her back. His chest ached, and his vision began to blur as if a shadow had fallen over his eyes.
The next moment, he collapsed to the ground. After resting for a while, he slowly got up,
brushing it off as nothing serious. He found a floral shop and arranged for fresh flowers to be delivered daily to Naomi’s office for a year.
Then, Cassian chose to leave. He had just touched down when a group of shareholders surrounded him, pressing him to step down.
Cassian was visibly upset. Ultimately, he signed a high-stakes agreement with them.
If he failed to earn two billion dollars within six months, he would voluntarily hand over control of Hartwell Group. But if he succeeded, then from that day forward, no one would be allowed to challenge his decisions.
Cassian threw himself back into work, becoming a complete workaholic. He practically lived at the office. He personally oversaw every major deal.
He was constantly traveling, both domestically and abroad, working nonstop. At his worst, he had barely slept for four hours across three days.
Often, he felt dizzy, or his vision would go completely dark. He chalked it up to exhaustion and paid it no mind.
In the blink of an eye, six months flew by. Cassian not only fulfilled the terms of the agreement but went above and beyond, surpassing all expectations.
The shareholders were stunned, quickly shifting to flattery and praise. They thought Cassian had worked himself to the bone out of loyalty to the company.
But in truth, everything he did was for Naomi.
