Back at the company, I no longer saw Mia Rivers. Colleagues who used to be close to her said she was not in good mental health and often lashed out at people. The nurses at the psychiatric clinic were having a tough time dealing with her.

I smiled and said nothing.

The days spent focused on work passed quickly, and before I knew it, I had been promoted again.

One evening, at dinner, Mom gave me a limited-edition handbag.

I cherished it, but thinking about its cost—over a hundred thousand—made me question its necessity.

"I know you don't care about these things, but you are still a child of the...