Part 2The Scallion Effect

Similar incidents had happened too many times.

Small things, like when a cashier overcharged me and I asked for a refund, Leo dragged me away because he thought it was embarrassing.

Big things, like when a project I collaborated on won an award but my name was omitted. My colleague claimed she forgot to include me during submission and said we should just leave it. I called the organizers to withdraw the work, and Leo accused me of being unforgiving and undignified.

Item by item...

I really couldn't understand.

We were supposed to be the closest people to each other, yet he always helped others hurt me.

I'd had enough.

"Sarah."

Seeing I was determined to leave, Leo finally softened his tone.

"Stop being mad, okay? We've been together for three years. Don't you know me? No one loves you more than I do. My job just requires me to maintain a certain level of dignity. I thought you were used to it. Why the big reaction today?"

That excuse again.

Leo's identity as a "university lecturer" was his go-to defense for everything.

But if he hadn't mentioned it, I almost would have forgotten—

"You say you value dignity, but I heard you spent days sucking up to the administration to get Bella hired at your school. I heard you even made things difficult for other interviewees for her sake, to the point where someone got into a fight with you. Leo, is your dignity selective?"

Leo looked surprised.

He thought he had hidden it well.

But the surprise only lasted a few seconds.

He quickly regained his composure.

His face hardened, and he looked at me coldly.

"I was wondering why you were acting so crazy today. Turns out you're just jealous and suspicious of my relationship with Bella."