Outside the door, Sasha watched with a heart-wrenching pain. Just as they were about to kiss, she ran away, trying to convince herself it wasn’t real.
That day, for the first time, she was distracted at work.
Her palm was slashed by the machine, blood splattering everywhere and exposing a deep wound down to the bone. The pain was so intense that she almost fainted.
She went to the factory’s medical room to have the wound treated, then returned home with a pale face.
But when she arrived, she saw all her belongings carelessly thrown into the muddy yard.
Juno was holding Quinn’s hand, directing workers to rearrange the room according to Quinn’s preferences.
When he turned and saw her, the warmth in his eyes turned cold.
In a formal tone, he said, “This is Quinn, our factory’s new secretary. She’s a talented returnee from abroad and grew up in a wealthy family, so she’s not used to living in the dormitory. It’s against the rules for a worker like you to live here anyway, so move to the dorms.”
Sasha felt a sharp pain in her heart.
This was the place she had lived in for three years. Here, Juno had whispered sweet nothings to her, kissed her over and over and told her he loved her.
Now, with just a single phrase—"against the rules"—she was being cast out.
Sasha opened her mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say. After all, she was just a stand-in. Now that the real one had returned, what right did she have to continue "taking over someone else’s nest"?
With that thought, Sasha held back her sadness, lowered her head and began packing her belongings.
Quinn crouched down gently beside her and said softly, “Let me help you.”
But as she turned her back to Juno, the kindness on her face vanished.
Leaning close to Sasha’s ear, she mocked in a low voice, “I heard you’re an orphan with no family and no education? No wonder Juno used you as a stand-in to play with. Now that he’s tired of you, of course, you’re being thrown away like a rag.”
“Our families have been close for generations and Juno and I are meant to be together. Let me show you right now who Juno truly loves!”
With that, Quinn let out a sudden “Ah!” and fell backward.
“Quinn, what’s wrong?”
Juno rushed over and caught her in his arms.
Quinn looked utterly aggrieved.
“I’m fine. She’s probably just upset about moving out and pushed me out of frustration. I understand. You should comfort her instead.”