At the company’s celebration banquet, bonuses were being distributed. My wife and father-in-law publicly called me useless, saying I was a failure who only dragged everyone down. Violet They even forcibly gave my nearly completed Dubai royal family project to her first love. I didn’t get angry, but laughed instead, directly handing over my CEO position to him as well. “Staring at these damn drones all day is exhausting. I’ll just let you be CEO!” Everyone in the company thought I had gone mad with anger. But what they didn’t know was that the core algorithm for drone swarm control was in my hands. Without me, their golden goose drone fleet would turn into a swarm of man-eating locusts. The company would face a billion-dollar liability from the Dubai royal family, going bankrupt overnight! “Adam, your contributions to Thompson Robotics have been invaluable. This year’s bonus is all yours,” Violet said sweetly, handing Quentin a $5 million check. The applause was deafening. Mr. Thompson nodded approvingly while my colleagues crowded around them, cheering. “With Quentin overseeing operations, our company will soon be a global leader!” “Mrs. Thompson and the board really have an eye for talent. She and Quentin make such a great team, even better than most married couples!” I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching this joyous scene with a crumpled technical proposal in my hand. Today was supposed to be the company’s annual bonus distribution party. But just as I arrived at the conference hall, Violet received a phone call. She said there was a malfunction in the drone system that required my immediate attention at the test flight base. After years of marriage, I naturally trusted her without question. Before I could even grab a bite to eat, I rushed to the base. Under the scorching heat of nearly 104°F, I led the team in troubleshooting for an entire day. But when I saw Violet give all the bonuses to Quentin, an intern who had been here for less than a month, everything became clear. The system malfunction was just an excuse to get me out of the way. She just wanted to hand over the fruits of my three years of hard work to her unforgotten first love. Quentin seemed to notice me casually, feigning surprise: “Oh, Mr. Brown, you’re finally here?” “We thought you had other business and couldn’t make it, so we started early. You don’t mind, do you?” His words were polite, but his eyes were full of mockery. He even deliberately waved the check in front of me. Violet glanced at me impatiently: “Adam, what’s with that expression? Did you expect the board and everyone else to wait just for you?” “No wonder you dragged your feet on bidding for that project before. You’re useless, always holding everyone back.” “Since you’re here, you might as well hand over the Dubai project directly to Quentin. Save us from any more of your slip-ups.” Hearing her high-handed commands, I clenched my fists, feeling utterly disappointed. The Dubai project she mentioned was a big contract I had spent three years preparing and bidding for, practically my life’s work. The Dubai prince had been generous, giving a $5 million deposit upfront. But to ensure the stability of ten thousand drones operating simultaneously in the desert environment, I had pulled countless all-nighters. I had traveled back and forth to Dubai countless times, jet-lagged and suffering from stomach bleeds several times. Just as the project was in its final stages, Violet casually decided to take away my achievements and hand them to her first love with a few careless words. I couldn’t help but laugh at my own dedication. Ten years ago, Thompson Robotics was on the brink of bankruptcy, unable even to pay workers’ wages. When Violet took over, she was determined to transform the company, saying she wanted to get into drones. I didn’t hesitate to quit my job at a big tech firm, investing all my savings to start from scratch with her. But with her background in fashion design, she couldn’t even understand basic control codes, let alone develop drones. Over the years, I had been the sole support for the company’s core technology. Every algorithm patent was my invention. All technical problems had to be solved by me personally. During the early stages when funds were tight, Mr. Thompson refused to help because he looked down on me. It was my parents who sold our old family house and their hard-earned savings for my wedding to keep the company afloat. Only after that did my marriage to Violet get put on the agenda. My father-in-law, Mr. Thompson, had always looked down on my background. He thought letting me marry into their family was already a great favor. Every time we met, he would make snide remarks about how I relied on his daughter, and that a son-in-law should know his place. At the time, I didn’t care because I loved Violet too much. I loved her enough to sacrifice everything for her. But I never imagined that after Quentin accompanied Violet on just a few overseas business trips, he could effortlessly take credit for all my hard work. I had been married to Violet for ten years. In the end, I still couldn’t compare to her first love who had once abandoned her. Today, she had finally worn away the last shred of affection between us. After a long silence, I spoke calmly: “Fine, do as you please.” Quentin couldn’t hide his smug smile, still pretending to be modest: “Mr. Brown, I’m just an amateur in this field. How could I dare to take over such an international billion-dollar project from you?” “I heard you’ve been working on it for almost three years without success. I just wanted to lend a hand.” Violet gently put her hand on his shoulder: “Quentin, you’re an Ivy League graduate. If you can’t handle it, no one in the company can!” Mr. Thompson chimed in authoritatively: “Exactly. Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re far better than that good-for-nothing son-in-law.” I almost laughed out loud. Quentin’s degree was just an empty shell. During his interview, he couldn’t even grasp basic control theory. The Thompsons were just obsessed with propping him up, paying him an exorbitant salary. After comforting Quentin, Violet turned to mock me: “Adam, if it weren’t for me, could you have reached your current position?” “You’ve had it too good for too long. You don’t even know your own limitations anymore, do you?” “I ask you to hand over a project and you’re being petty about it. If it weren’t for Quentin putting in a good word for you, Dad and I would have fired you long ago!” I laughed coldly to myself. Violet seemed to have completely forgotten that when the company couldn’t even handle basic drone models, I was the one solving every technical problem. Not only did I contribute patents, but I also trained the technical team from scratch. Now that the Thompsons had made it big, they not only turned their backs on me but also saw me as a burden. They kept rambling on, as if I had become the Thompson family’s greatest shame. I took a deep breath and walked towards Quentin under Violet’s contemptuous gaze. Everyone’s eyes darted between us, thinking this spineless son-in-law was finally going to explode. But I just smiled calmly. I took out a CEO transfer document from my bag and threw it at Quentin’s feet. “Staring at a few thousand drones all day is exhausting. I’ll just let you be CEO!” For a moment, everyone in the hall stared at me with wide eyes, unable to believe what they had just heard. The executives of Thompson Robotics whispered among themselves, all thinking I must have gone mad from the pressure. After all, everyone in the company knew that it was my ten years of selfless dedication that had brought us to where we were today. “Mr. Brown, you’re the second-in-command of our company. It’s just one project, don’t ruin your career over a moment of anger!” Hearing this, Violet seemed to think I was trying to blackmail her. She immediately flew into a rage: “Adam, have you lost your mind?” “I criticize you a little and you dare to throw a tantrum? You’ve really crossed the line!” “Let me remind you, you’re just a figurehead CEO. I’m the real controller of this company!” I laughed inwardly. She should be happy that I was handing over the CEO position. Isn’t letting her precious first love rise to the top exactly what Violet had always dreamed of? Quentin clutched the CEO transfer document tightly, his eyes flashing with greed. But he put on an act of selflessness: “Mr. Brown, are you just saying this because you’re angry about giving up the CEO position?” “Please don’t misunderstand. Violet just wanted me to give you a hand to speed things up. It’s all for the good of Thompson Robotics.” “Besides, how could I dare to replace you? You’re a company veteran. The CEO position belongs to no one but you.” “Everyone knows how much you’ve devoted to the company over the years. The CEO role is rightfully yours.” As he spoke, Quentin made a show of trying to return the document to me. But his hand pressed firmly on the paper, as if afraid I might really take it back. Seeing his act, I smiled faintly: “What’s there to be angry about?” “You’re the Ivy League graduate. With fresh blood in the company, I couldn’t be happier.” “You as CEO? I couldn’t be more relieved.” Violet looked at me suspiciously, then snorted coldly: “Quentin, since he’s voluntarily stepping down, just accept it.” “With your abilities, the CEO position would be yours sooner or later anyway. There’s nothing unsuitable about it.” “Everyone’s here to witness it.” As soon as she finished speaking, Quentin stopped pretending to refuse. He hugged the transfer document tightly, his eyes almost overflowing with greed. Seeing his behavior, I laughed coldly to myself. Violet was always making eyes at Quentin, completely unaware of how technically challenging the Dubai project really was. I had researched for a whole year before finally breaking through the swarm control algorithm for the desert environment. But they didn’t know that this core program was still in my encrypted hard drive, not yet handed over. Even if they tried to steal it, without even the basic annotations, it would take them half a year just to crack it. Without me, how could they complete the aerial performance with tens of thousands of drones? Their golden goose drone fleet would turn into a swarm of man-eating locusts! Moreover, Quentin probably didn’t know that the CEO position wasn’t so easy to sit in. Controlling core technology also meant bearing all responsibilities. For this Dubai project, we had already received a $5 million deposit. If the performance failed, not only would we have to refund in full, but we’d also face the wrath of the royal family. Not to mention how fierce the competition is in this industry. One misstep and the company would be completely crushed by rivals. Since they already saw me as useless, I naturally had no obligation to kindly remind them. When the project fails, it will be the day the Thompson family falls into ruin. Seeing how readily I gave up my position, Violet seemed to feel a bit guilty. She coughed awkwardly, then said arrogantly: “Alright, Adam, you don’t need to stand here anymore.” “Since the program needs to be handed over anyway, and we’re having a celebration for Quentin tonight, seeing as you’re being so sensible, why don’t you come along?” Her condescending tone almost made me laugh out loud. If the Dubai project succeeded, the profit share would be at least tens of millions of dollars. Yet they excluded me from the bonus distribution, and now they want to appease me with just a dinner. What a brilliant calculation! The thought of having to dine at the same table as a scoundrel like Quentin made me nauseous. I was about to refuse when Quentin chimed in with false modesty: “Oh dear, when I booked the private room earlier, Mr. Brown wasn’t around. I completely forgot to save a seat for you.” “It’s all my fault for not considering thoroughly. Although I twisted my ankle earlier today, I should still take responsibility.” “You sit first, Mr. Brown. I’ll go outside to grab a chair and some drinks in a bit.” I knew he was deliberately playing weak, trying to score points with the Thompsons. Sure enough, as soon as Violet heard he was injured, she immediately stopped him with concern, helping him to a chair. “Quentin, you’ve done more than enough for the company.” “Such a big project is relying on you. How can we let you run errands like this?” As she spoke, she glared at me with disgust: “What are you standing there for? No sense of propriety at all. What a waste of all these years in the company.” “Either go buy drinks or don’t come at all!” Seeing her blatant double standards, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Violet had always taken me for granted. In the past, I would work overtime day and night at the company, but was never included in team dinners. As if I was begging for a meal. Quentin pushed his luck further, smiling and saying: “Mr. Brown, I’m really sorry to trouble you like this.” “I’ll definitely toast to you later…” Before he could finish, I laughed coldly and kicked over the leather executive chair he was sitting on. In the next instant, Quentin hurriedly tried to dodge, but tripped over the chair. He hit his head on the million-dollar holographic projection equipment, the sound of shattering glass piercing the air. I watched as he struggled to get up, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his forehead, and couldn’t help but sneer: “What’s this? Has the Ivy League graduate’s ankle injury miraculously healed?” “Not bad reflexes. Were you a tap dancer in a past life?” Violet stood frozen, as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her head. She quickly rushed to support Quentin, then turned to yell at me: “Adam, have you gone fucking insane?” “What if Quentin’s head is injured? What about the Dubai project?” “I finally understand what’s going on with you today.” “You’re just jealous that Quentin is more capable than you, deliberately trying to sabotage this project, aren’t you?” I scoffed, my face full of disdain: “Me? Jealous of an idiot?” “And…” “I’ve already resigned. Don’t put on airs in front of me anymore. This young master won’t play along!” Violet trembled with anger, her eyes reddening as she was about to say something more. I turned and strode out of the conference room without looking back. Leaving the noise and Mr. Thompson’s angry shouts fading behind me. I packed up my things in the office, my gaze falling on a velvet gift box on the desk, lost in thought for a moment. It was a custom-made bracelet I had ordered from abroad in advance. Originally intended as an anniversary gift for Violet. Now it just seemed ridiculous. Looking at the bracelet, I couldn’t help but recall the past. In college, I had always seen Violet as a goddess. I knew that with my humble background, I wasn’t worthy of her, the rich heiress. I could only silently protect her, running errands, buying her meals, and helping with her homework. She naturally took me for granted as her backup plan. That day when I found her discarded silver bracelet and wanted to return it. She threw it into a gutter and directly promoted me from backup to boyfriend. My classmates all said it was because her first love had dumped her, and she was just taking revenge. But I refused to believe it, treating her even better, believing that one day she would be moved by my sincerity. I was like a loyal puppy, revolving around her 24/7. Finding new ways to give her gifts, unchanged even after ten years of marriage. Our wedding anniversary was always marked in my planner. Even though Violet never remembered or celebrated it. I knew she had always been lukewarm towards me. But I always believed that she loved me. Perhaps that was just her way of expressing love. So I willingly accepted being a figurehead CEO at the company and a son-in-law in the Thompson family. I thought our life would always be this blissfully happy. But I underestimated the weight of first love in her heart. It wasn’t until I saw her attitude towards Quentin and her undisguised affection that I realized. Perhaps from the very beginning, Quentin had always lived in Violet’s heart. I was just a dispensable substitute. Just as I was about to throw away the gift, Violet and the others happened to return. “Well, well, Adam. Weren’t you quite capable just now?” “Can’t a grown man be less petty? Using such underhanded methods against me?” At the door, Violet was arm in arm with Quentin, with several executives following behind. Huh, these two cheaters were really brazen. Quentin gently tugged at Violet’s sleeve, pretending to be considerate: “Violet, Mr. Brown must want to apologize to you.” “Look at the bracelet in his hand. He probably prepared it specially to beg for your forgiveness!” Violet was stunned for a moment, then sneered: “Huh, you think buying a cheap bracelet can win me over?” “If it weren’t for Quentin stopping me, I would have called security long ago…” As she spoke, she reached out to take the bracelet from my hand. I frowned and quickly threw the bracelet into the trash can. “You’re sick. Even wanting garbage.” “You should get treatment for your habit of wishful thinking.”
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