Chapter 38 Resignation Letter
I sat on the couch in Cora’s living room while she walked into her room and came back with a gray blanket. She handed it to me, and I wrapped it around my shoulders.
“This is bad. How can the landowner be that cruel to you?” Cora complained as she sank onto the couch beside me. “Why didn’t she told you she was going to do that?”
I sighed, staring at my phone screen. I had sent Layla a message about the issue and was hoping she would reply immediately, but hours had passed and there was still no response.
“I don’t know, Cora. Life is just being cruel,” I said with a sob. “What am I going to do now? Where will I stay? And on top of everything, I have to look for another job.”
Cora gave me a sympathetic look. “Don’t think about it too much, Diana. You can’t stress yourself, especially now that you’re pregnant.”
I sighed again, trying to calm myself. I had been thinking so hard that my chest had started to ache. No matter how much I tried not to think about it, the worries kept returning.
“You don’t have to worry about where to stay,” Cora said, and I looked at her, shaking my head.
“No, Cora. You’ve really tried for me. I don’t want to inconvenience you,” I said softly. “I’ll figure something out.”
She shifted closer and took my hand. “Diana, you’re my friend. I can’t let you sleep on the street when I have a house. You can stay here. And I’ve also spoken to my mate about giving you a job at the restaurant. He said yes.”
My eyes widened as tears rolled down my cheeks. “Cora… how can I thank you enough?”
She chuckled. “Don’t. I know if I were in your shoes, you would help me. Consider me your best friend and sister.”
I laughed as I wiped my tears. “Thank you so much. I owe you.”
She laughed too and placed two takeaway nylons on the table, then reached for the remote and turned on the TV. “Let’s eat dinner and watch a good movie.”
She brought out a box of French fries and placed it in front of me, then another with spaghetti and meatballs, followed by an orange juice in a plastic can.
“Thank you so much,” I said.
She opened the fries carton and took one. “So, I got gist from work. Can you imagine this?”
I looked at her while eating. “You haven’t even tendered your resignation letter, and Alpha Warren already got a replacement.”
My heart sank at her words, but I tried not to let it show. I reminded myself that it was for the best. Still, what she said next sent a sharp pain through my chest.
“At first, I was like, who is this evil witch?” Cora scoffed. “I was already starting to hate Alpha Warren’s guts. But then I heard a gossip and realized she’s the Alpha’s mate. You should see her—she was so mean. I wasn’t surprised when I found out she and Jane are best friends.”
I swallowed hard, pushing the spaghetti down my throat as tears filled my eyes. I remembered how Alpha Warren stayed close to me in the hospital, how his eyes lingered on me like I was more than just an office assistant. But it meant nothing. He would always choose his mate over me.
“I’m sorry, Diana,” Cora said gently, and I blinked, realizing I had been sniffing too much. “I shouldn’t have told you all that.”
I wiped my tears quickly and forced a smile. “It’s okay. I wanted to quit the job anyway. I’ll submit my resignation letter tomorrow.”
She lowered her gaze. “Okay. Let’s stop talking about hurtful things. Have you watched Beyond the Spotlight? It was first written by an author, Clara Joel, on Wattpad before it was adapted into a movie. You’ll love it.”
I smiled at the TV as she turned it on and let out a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The room was quiet and warm, and when I glanced at Cora, she was already asleep.
I closed my eyes but sleep refused to come. Cora’s words about Alpha Warren giving my job to his mate kept replaying in my head.
Anger rose suddenly, hot and sharp. I stood up, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin. I was foolish for ever thinking I felt something for him. It had all been an illusion.
I walked to the small study in the corner of the living room and picked up a paper and pen. My hands shook as I wrote my resignation letter. When I was done, I placed it inside an envelope I found on the desk and returned to the couch.
I closed my eyes again, and this time sleep took me.
I didn’t know how long I had been asleep until I felt a light pat on my shoulder.
“Wake up, Diana,” Cora said. I opened my eyes slowly as she stood up. “Sorry for waking you. I’m about to leave for work, and I thought you should know.”
I sat up quickly and looked around for the letter. When I saw it on the table, I picked it up.
“Let me come with you,” I said. “I need to submit this to Alpha Warren.”
She glanced at the envelope. “Is that your resignation letter?”
“Yes.”
She sighed. “I’m going to miss not having you at work to gist with.”
I smiled warmly. “You can always come home to me.”
We left the house together, the early morning air cool against my skin. As we walked, I clutched the envelope like it was the most important thing I owned.
The company building came into view, tall and familiar. The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.
Whispers.
Eyes followed me.
I could hear the workers, murmuring behind hands, lowering their voices too late. Their gazes lingered on my stomach, on my face, on the envelope in my hand. My wolf bristled, but I kept my head high and walked forward.
I ignored them.
Cora squeezed my hand. “You’ll be fine,” she whispered before turning toward her section.
I nodded and watched her leave, then faced the hallway leading to the Alpha’s office.
Each step felt heavy.
When I reached the door, I didn’t knock. I pushed it open.
And my breath caught at what I saw.