"I won't learn from her," Hailey said coldly. "Even if I fail at everything in this life, I won't accept a single ounce of her goodwill."
Some people, once you've hated them, there's no turning back.
Right or wrong, forgiveness wasn't always possible. Not for her.
She wasn't the type who could simply let bygones be bygones with a smile.
The only thing she could do was stay away—permanently.
And that's exactly how she felt about Lin Xin'er.
Ethan frowned, clearly confused. "I really don't get it. Where does all this animosity come from? I understood it back when you thought she was a threat to your marriage. But now? What's your excuse?"
He hadn't even been in close contact with Lin Xin'er lately.
And Hailey—didn't she claim she no longer loved him?
So what was this? Jealousy?
Hailey looked at him steadily, her gaze sharp.
"Some people, I just can't stand. I couldn't before, and I never will."
Ethan folded his arms across his chest, and an amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Does that include me?"
"Yes," she said bluntly, without hesitation.
Ethan didn't seem angry. He chuckled, low and mocking. "Well, too bad. You'll have to keep seeing me, whether you like it or not."
Especially him.
She could hate others and avoid them for life. But him?
She'd have to keep looking at him—every single day.
As for Lin Xin'er…
"You don't need to learn anything from her," he finally said. "She's only responsible for evaluating your work—whether you pass or fail."
That way, she wouldn't feel like she was being mentored or helped.
Only tested.
And knowing Hailey's temper, that was the only way to make her stubborn pride work for her instead of against her.
Hailey narrowed her eyes. "So you do plan on using her to irritate me."
Ethan smirked. "Funny… I always thought you were the one irritating me every single day."
"Then let's just get a divorce."
"Then work harder—make it happen faster."
Hailey's stomach churned with frustration.
"You just wait. I will divorce you. I meant what I said!"
Ethan's dark eyes glinted, intense and unreadable. "I'll be waiting."
"Ha," Hailey let out a dry, mocking laugh and turned on her heel to leave.
"Wait," Ethan called after her again.
She paused and glanced back, annoyed. "What now?"
He walked over, holding something in his hand.
Hailey frowned slightly as she saw what it was—her work ID badge.
Without a word, Ethan stepped close and slipped the lanyard over her head himself, letting the plastic card settle against her chest.
He held the badge in his hand a moment longer, staring at her ID photo.
"You're officially an employee of Dongfang now," he said flatly. "And as the CEO, it's my responsibility to tell you the core value of our company—never give up."
Hailey arched a brow. "That happens to be my core value, too. Once I set my mind to something, I don't give up."
Like… divorce.
Ethan's expression shifted. A shadow passed over his eyes.
"Big talk for someone who gave up on me just like that," he said coldly.
Hailey met his gaze without blinking. "Except you."
Then she turned and walked away, her back straight, her steps decisive.
Ethan stood still, staring at her retreating figure.
A strange emptiness settled in his chest.
Why "except him"?
Why did it have to be him?
He turned to the window and let out a quiet laugh—bitter, self-mocking.
Had she abandoned him?
Why did it feel like the entire world had turned its back on him?
Why did it feel like someone was squeezing his heart in a clenched fist… suffocating and painful?
Hailey returned to the design department as if nothing had happened.
Her face was calm, even a little indifferent, like she hadn't just stormed out of the CEO's office after a confrontation.
Zhou Hua and Jin Peng both avoided eye contact, not daring to speak to her.
They didn't want to make things more awkward than they already were.
As for Lin Xin'er?
She didn't even bother to glance in Hailey's direction.
Truthfully, the dislike was mutual.
Hailey couldn't stand Lin Xin'er.
But Lin Xin'er didn't like her either.
It wasn't just because Hailey was inexperienced or impulsive.
It wasn't just because she had that spoiled-princess attitude.
It was because she had married the one man Lin Xin'er admired most.
Ethan Yu.
Even now, Lin Xin'er couldn't accept it.
She couldn't stand the way Hailey had waltzed into Ethan's life, the way he looked at her—even if it was with annoyance, even if it was with anger—because it was still more than he ever gave to anyone else.
Especially after that car accident.
After Hailey had crashed into her, everything changed.
From that moment on, Lin Xin'er had started to despise her even more.
Something about her presence just felt offensive—like she didn't belong here.
So today, when she finally got the chance to criticize her, she didn't hold back.
She told herself it was for the sake of the project. But deep down, she knew it was personal.
She didn't regret a word.
If she could push Hailey hard enough to make her quit entirely, she would.
Let her fail. Let her give up and walk away.
That would be best for everyone.
Especially Ethan.
Especially her.
But Hailey wasn't planning to give up.
She looked down at the documents in her hands—dense architectural references, technical standards, project protocols.
To an outsider, it would be overwhelming.
To her, it felt like another kind of prison.
But she was Hailey Tang.
She didn't run away from prisons. She broke through them.
And this time, she'd walk out not just free—but stronger.
Whether it meant grinding her teeth through humiliation or dragging herself through failures, she would do it.
Because she only had one goal:
To leave Ethan Yu's world forever.
On her own terms.
And never look back.