When the company’s funding came through, I wanted to surprise my wife. Instead, I walked in on her and her assistant whispering to each other. The assistant, half giddy and half nervous, said, “Boss, when you make the big announcement later, how about I joke that I’m your partner instead? Jackson won’t get mad, right?” My wife smiled indulgently, ruffling his hair like he was a spoiled child. “He wouldn’t dare. And don’t worry—I’ll make sure you’re added to his project. Once you’ve gotten enough credit, I’ll promote you to department head.” Hearing this, I didn’t hesitate. I kicked open the office door, startling everyone. My colleagues gathered around, eager to see the drama unfold. Calmly, I walked up and hung the project manager’s badge around the assistant’s neck. Smiling faintly, I said: “No need to wait for tonight. The project is yours. Good luck.” Bang! I kicked the office door open. Heads turned. Employees stopped working, peeking over their desks. Their eyes gleamed with curiosity, hungry for gossip. Inside the office, Veronica froze mid-motion, still ruffling Ethan’s hair. A second later, she stepped in front of him protectively and glared at me. “Jackson, are you out of your mind?” she snapped. “Breaking company property like that? Forget about getting paid this month!” Ethan put on his best “helpless puppy” act, clutching her arm for support. “Jackson,” he said pitifully, “did you overhear Veronica joking about announcing us at the dinner tonight? She was just teasing me! And she didn’t mean it when she said she’d add me to your project…” The office buzzed with whispers. “So Veronica and Ethan are… like that?” “No wonder Jackson looks so pissed. He’s totally in love with her and couldn’t take it anymore.” I’d heard these rumors for years. I was used to it by now. They didn’t bother me anymore. If Veronica wanted Ethan to climb the ladder so badly, why shouldn’t I help them along? I stepped forward, unhooked the project manager’s badge from my neck, and hung it around Ethan’s. Patting him on the shoulder, I said evenly, “No need to wait for tonight. The project is yours now. Work hard and make us proud. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be VP someday.” The room fell silent. Everyone stared at me in shock. After all, they knew how much I’d poured into this project: sleepless nights, endless experiments, even hospital visits from overworking myself. I wasn’t the type to hand over something so important, especially not to someone who hadn’t earned it. But the moment hung awkwardly in the air, and the employees quickly scrambled to cover for their boss. “Wow, Jackson’s so generous!” someone called. “No wonder Veronica’s kept him around for so long!” Veronica’s face darkened, her eyes narrowing like I’d just committed some terrible crime. I didn’t care. Calmly, I packed up my things and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out. The partners want to meet with me.” Without waiting for a response, I walked out of the office. I carried the project’s core patent in my bag as I left. It had taken months of grueling work, but the results were promising. The partners were thrilled and had just approved additional funding. The company was finally gearing up to go public. Originally, I’d planned to share this good news with Veronica. Now, there was no reason to. As I walked down the same dimly lit path I’d taken to work for the past seven years, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Veronica and I had been secretly married for seven years. To avoid suspicion, she’d always refused to carpool or walk to work with me, insisting that we take separate routes. She even made me park my car far from the office and take the long way home. But now? I didn’t have to pretend anymore. I could drive wherever I wanted. As I reached the parking lot, my phone buzzed. A message popped up from the florist. “The bouquet has been delivered to the front desk. Here’s a photo!” I stared at the picture for a moment, remembering why I’d ordered the flowers. Veronica had once said that once the company stabilized, we could finally make our marriage public. I’d believed her. I’d wanted to make the announcement special—complete with her favorite roses and a private movie night. But instead of gratitude, all I got was her blatant favoritism toward Ethan. It didn’t matter anymore. I’d just have to chalk it up as a loss. As I turned to leave, someone stepped in my way. It was Ethan. Ethan fiddled with the badge around his neck, smirking. “Jackson,” he said mockingly, “you know Veronica was going to announce your relationship tonight, right? But you just had to ruin it by throwing a tantrum.” He adjusted the badge and added smugly, “Oh well. She told me once this project is done, I’ll be promoted to supervisor. She’s even giving me company shares. You’re not jealous, are you?” His expression screamed petty villain. In the past, his taunts would’ve gotten under my skin. I’d have snapped back, and Veronica would’ve blamed me for “picking on him.” But now? I couldn’t even muster the energy to care. Sure enough, I heard the sound of high heels clicking against the pavement behind me. Ethan’s smirk widened as he suddenly staggered backward, falling onto the ground with a dramatic thud. “Jackson!” he gasped, clutching his chest theatrically. “I know you’re upset, but don’t take it out on me. If you’re mad, blame me, not Veronica!” He even pulled off the badge and held it out to me with trembling hands. “You’re right,” he said, his voice quivering. “Someone like me doesn’t deserve to handle such an important project. Only you can do it.” Veronica rushed forward, her face twisted with anger. She raised her hand to slap me, but I was ready this time. I caught her wrist before it could connect, though the impact still left my arm numb. “Jackson,” she snarled, grabbing my collar. “I’ve ignored your bullying before, but this? Hitting Ethan? Do you even know what workplace harassment is?” I smirked. Ethan’s fake collapse was painfully obvious, but Veronica was too blinded by her concern for him to see it. I stepped around her and reached for the badge, intending to shove it back into Ethan’s hands. But when he saw me reaching, his expression shifted to panic. He clutched the badge tightly, pulling it away. Suddenly, he let out a low groan, clutching his chest again. “My heart,” he whispered. “It hurts…” His acting was laughable, but Veronica ate it up. She immediately fumbled through her bag, pulling out heart medication and forcing it into Ethan’s hand. “Jackson!” she shouted, her voice shaking. “Help me get him to the hospital!” I rolled my eyes. What a waste of time. I turned toward the curb, raising my hand to hail a cab. But Veronica stepped in front of me, her expression cold and determined. “You scared him into this,” she said firmly. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I let out a cold laugh. I thought back to the time when I drank so much at a business dinner that I ended up vomiting blood into the toilet. Veronica had barely glanced at me, casually suggesting I take some antacids and get over it. Now, Ethan was clearly faking an illness, but the ever-composed Veronica—the same woman who could negotiate multi-million-dollar deals without breaking a sweat—was panicking like a street brawler ready to defend her precious assistant. I sighed and reluctantly called for an ambulance. When the doctor finally confirmed that Ethan was fine, Veronica practically sagged with relief, her eyes filled with gratitude. I couldn’t stand to watch their little performance, so I turned and headed for the exit. But just as I reached the hallway, Veronica rushed after me and grabbed my arm. I frowned, fully expecting her to yell at me, to blame me for “stressing Ethan out” and causing his so-called episode. Instinctively, I tried to pull away. To my surprise, she didn’t lash out. Instead, she slipped the project manager’s badge back around my neck and lightly touched the arm she’d slapped earlier. Her voice softened, almost coaxing: “Jackson, you know how Ethan is—he loves to joke around. You shouldn’t take him so seriously. There’ll be plenty of chances to make an announcement later. Just wait a little longer, okay?” She paused, her tone turning slightly stern. “This project is too important for you to mess around with. Let’s not be impulsive. I’m willing to let this slide for now.” I gave a noncommittal hum, not bothering to argue. Veronica studied me for a moment, as if trying to gauge my reaction. Then, almost as if she were offering an olive branch, she held out a crumpled gift box. “By the way, I saw the roses you sent me earlier. They’re beautiful—I appreciate it. When you get home, why don’t you put them in a vase? Oh, and I have something for you too.” I couldn’t help but smirk internally. This was classic Veronica—her usual “carrot and stick” routine. The gift box looked oddly familiar, though. Then I remembered: about two weeks ago, Ethan had posted on social media about accidentally staining a tie Veronica had given him. He’d thrown the whole thing—box and all—into the trash, lamenting the loss in a way that was more brag than complaint. Veronica had commented under the post, promising to buy him ten more. I opened the box. Inside was a cheap knockoff tie. Just running my finger along the edge made the dye rub off. The receipt was still tucked inside, confirming its bargain-bin status. She hadn’t blinked when buying Ethan a luxury-brand tie, but for me? A counterfeit piece of junk. I didn’t say anything, though. I simply nodded and replied, “Got it. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out.” As I rounded the corner and passed by a trash can, I didn’t hesitate. I tossed the box inside without a second thought. Pulling out my phone, I dialed the number of a tech company that had been trying to recruit me for years. “About your offer,” I said. “I’ve decided to accept.” This was no ordinary company—it was a Fortune 500 giant, one of the best in the industry. They’d been relentless in courting me, but I’d turned them down every time. Why? Because I’d wanted to stay by Veronica’s side, to help her build the company we’d dreamed of together. On the other end of the line, the HR representative enthusiastically listed off the company’s benefits and competitive salary package. As they spoke, I realized I’d driven all the way home without noticing. I tightened my grip on the phone as I stared out the windshield. Years ago, I’d given up a promising executive role to support Veronica. Together, we’d built her company from the ground up. I’d sacrificed my health, working myself to exhaustion. Every ounce of my energy had gone into helping us succeed. Now that we’d finally “made it,” Veronica’s heart was no longer with me. Maybe it never had been. From now on, I’d live for myself. I sent a message to our project partners, informing them that I was stepping down as project manager. Since they’d invested based on my reputation and work, they deserved to know. Afterward, I booked a flight for the next day and started packing my things. As I pulled a coat from the back of the closet, an old photo album slipped out and fell open on the floor. The picture staring back at me was from eight years ago, back when Veronica and I had first started dating. We were both so young, leaning into each other shyly. I picked up the album and flipped through the pages. Veronica had insisted on taking these photos, saying they were a way to document our struggles so we could look back and appreciate how far we’d come. We’d gone through so much together—sharing a tiny apartment, watching pirated movies on an old laptop, splitting a single piece of meat on New Year’s Eve. Those moments had been hard, but they’d also been filled with happiness. They were what had driven me to work harder, to build a better life for us. But as I flipped further, I noticed a pattern. The people in the photos grew more polished, the backgrounds more luxurious. But the photos themselves became fewer and farther between. From one every few days to one a month. Then one a year. And after Ethan showed up? Nothing. Veronica and I no longer had a relationship outside of work. She didn’t care if I skipped meals, if I worked myself sick, or if I injured myself in the lab. But she doted on Ethan. She canceled business dinners to take him out to eat, claiming his mild stomach issues needed attention. She indulged him, excused his behavior, and protected him like he was some precious treasure. Once, I’d asked her why. Her response had been cold and dismissive: “We’ve been through tough times. I didn’t expect you to be so whiny at your age. Ethan’s different—he’s pure and kind. I don’t want him to suffer like we did.” I closed the album, suddenly disgusted by the memories it held. Without hesitation, I dropped it into the trash. As I continued packing, my phone rang. It was the movie theater. “Ethan, your private screening is about to begin. If you don’t arrive within ten minutes, we’ll have to release the tickets to other customers.” Back when Veronica and I were struggling, she’d always dreamed of watching a movie in an actual theater. She said it was her idea of luxury. I’d proposed to her in a theater, promising to give her the life she deserved. Tonight, I’d planned to recreate that moment—to finally announce our relationship publicly. I’d rented out the largest theater in the city, thinking it would be a romantic gesture. But she hadn’t shown up. I hung up and told the manager, “Give it to someone else.” A moment later, Veronica sent me a text: “I have a business dinner tonight. Can’t make it to the movie.” For once, I wasn’t angry. Just tired. Then Ethan posted on social media. The photo showed Veronica feeding him popcorn and holding a soda for him to drink. His caption read: “I like quiet nights. The boss rented out a whole theater just for us. The soda she fed me tasted so sweet.” So this was her “business dinner.” I didn’t confront her. I didn’t care anymore. That night, I slept better than I had in years. In the middle of the night, I was jolted awake by the sudden glare of the bedroom light. Blinking against the brightness, I saw Veronica standing by the bed, her face pale and filled with disbelief. “Jackson,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You’re… actually sleeping?”
I squinted at my phone screen, still groggy. It was 3 a.m. Veronica was home this late? That was a surprise. In the past, whenever Ethan had one of his so-called “stomach episodes,” Veronica would drop everything to stay by his side all night, fussing over him like he couldn’t survive without her. Now, standing at the foot of my bed, Veronica didn’t look pleased. Her face was dark with frustration as she complained: “Jackson, I come home this late, and you don’t even text to check on me? You don’t wait up? Don’t you think you’re being a little too cold?” I’m the one being cold? I rolled my eyes internally. I used to call her late at night to check on her, worried about her safety. She’d accuse me of being controlling, of not trusting her. I used to wait up for her, preparing midnight snacks, giving her foot massages, doing everything to make her feel cared for. Her response? “You must have too much time on your hands. Maybe I should give you more work to do.” Now that I’d stopped catering to her every whim, she was still unhappy. Women’s hearts—truly impossible to understand. I grunted a half-hearted acknowledgment and reached for the lamp, ready to go back to sleep. But Veronica wasn’t done. She nudged me, then leaned against me like a rag doll, her voice turning soft and whiny. “Jackson, I’m so tired today. Aren’t you going to get up and run me a foot bath?” The faint scent of Ethan’s cologne clung to her clothes. It was nauseating. Once, I would’ve jumped at the chance to pamper her without being asked. I’d have stayed up all night if it meant she’d sleep soundly. Now, I couldn’t be bothered. I pushed her off me, my tone sharper than usual, thanks to my interrupted sleep. “I’m tired. Handle it yourself.” Veronica froze, clearly shocked that I’d actually pushed her away. For a few moments, she just stared at me, her fingers gripping the strap of her purse so tightly they turned white. Then, her face twisted with anger. “Jackson, all this because I missed one dinner with you? You’re seriously treating me like this? Unbelievable!” She scoffed, her voice dripping with venom. “You think I wanted to come home?!” With that, she stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. I heard the jingle of keys as she left the house. In the past, I’d have chased after her, begging her to stay, apologizing for upsetting her. But now? I calmly turned off the light and went back to sleep. When I woke up, sunlight filled the room, and I felt more refreshed than I had in years. I’d planned to make myself breakfast, but as I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised to find Veronica still at home. Usually, if I didn’t grovel to make up after a fight, she’d give me the silent treatment and leave for work early. But today, she was sitting on the living room couch, carefully tying a ribbon around a sleek, expensive-looking gift box resting on her lap. Hearing me approach, she glanced up and stood, walking toward me with the box in hand. Before I could say anything, she grabbed my wrist and snapped the clasp of a watch around it. The cold metal against my skin made me flinch. Veronica held my wrist up, inspecting it from different angles like she was admiring a piece of fine art. “Perfect fit,” she murmured, smiling in satisfaction. “Subtle, classy—suits you perfectly.” I recognized the watch immediately. It was a new release from a luxury brand, worth well over a million dollars. But before I could even process what was happening, Veronica unfastened the watch and wiped it meticulously with a handkerchief, as if my touch had tainted it. Placing it back in the gift box, she muttered to herself, “Good thing your wrist size is the same as Ethan’s. If it fits you this well, it’ll look amazing on him.” I looked at her, my lips curling into a bitter smile. Of course. Ethan was the one who loved flashy watches. This wasn’t for me—it never was. Veronica threw on her coat and grabbed the box, her steps light and cheerful as she headed for the door. Before she could leave, I stepped in front of her, blocking her path. I pulled a folder from my bag and handed it to her. “Veronica,” I said calmly, “I need you to sign this.” She frowned, not even glancing at the document. “Can’t it wait until I get to the office? I’m in a hurry.” I held the folder out to her again. “It’s not work-related. It’s important. It’ll only take a minute.” Veronica let out an exasperated sigh, snatching the file from my hands. “You’re always making things difficult,” she grumbled, flipping it open. The moment her eyes landed on the first page, her fingers froze. Her expression shifted, disbelief flashing across her face. Because staring back at her was a divorce agreement.
Veronica froze for a moment before slamming the divorce papers onto the shoe cabinet. She let out a mocking laugh. “Jackson, I thought you had something new to say, but it turns out you’re just pulling the divorce card.” “Fine. What is it? You got a taste of success with one big project, and now you think you’re untouchable?” “I’m busy. I don’t have time for your tantrums.” I calmly picked up the crumpled divorce papers and held them out to her again. “I’m not throwing a tantrum, Veronica. I’m setting you free. Now you can give Ethan the title you seem so eager to.” Her face darkened as her brows furrowed. She snatched the papers from my hand, crumpling them further and tearing them into pieces. The shredded paper fluttered to the floor like snow. She jabbed a finger toward me, her eyes cold and sharp. “Don’t even try to deny it, Jackson. You’re just jealous! Let me warn you—don’t bring up divorce again.” “My care for Ethan isn’t what you think it is. He reminds me of us back in the day. It’s admiration, not whatever filthy nonsense is in your head.” “I was even planning to announce our relationship soon, but you’ve completely disappointed me!” With that, she stormed out, her heels clicking furiously against the floor as the door slammed shut behind her. I wasn’t surprised. I had anticipated this reaction and didn’t let it bother me. If she refused to end things amicably, so be it. I called my lawyer to draft a formal divorce lawsuit. After that, I submitted my resignation to HR. The HR manager called shortly after, asking me to bring my credentials to finalize the paperwork in person. When I arrived, I was greeted by the sound of enthusiastic coworkers flattering someone. “Ethan, is that the latest Patek Philippe on your wrist? Veronica must really care about you!” “Honestly, Veronica and Ethan are such a perfect match. With the two of you leading us, this company is only going to get bigger and better!” I looked over to see Ethan smugly showing off his new watch, his hand casually brushing his hair as though he were embarrassed by the attention. When he noticed me, his face lit up, and he hurried over, grabbing my hand as if we were old friends. “Jackson! Finally, you’re here!” he said warmly. “Veronica told me the project is going to be tough, so she wants me to treat everyone to milk tea to keep morale up. What do you want? Just say the word!” I yanked my hand out of his grip. Before I could respond, Veronica stepped forward, positioning herself between us like a shield. “Jackson,” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain, “you’re late. Do you really think you deserve milk tea?” She crossed her arms and continued, her tone sharp: “I’ll make sure HR deducts your attendance bonus. And someone as unpunctual as you clearly isn’t fit to handle an important project. From now on, stay out of it.” “Maybe you should go back to the basics and start over as an intern. Learn the company policies properly this time.” Ethan, playing the role of the humble underdog, tugged at Veronica’s sleeve and whispered, “Veronica, don’t you think that’s a bit harsh? The project’s almost done, and Jackson’s put in so much effort. Even if there’s no credit, there’s at least hard work…” Veronica shot me a condescending look, her chin tilted high like a proud peacock. “Effort?” she scoffed. “Effort isn’t enough. If everyone worked like him, this company would’ve folded years ago.” Turning to Ethan, she added with a smile, “You’ll take over Jackson’s project from now on. You’re the real project manager.” Ethan’s eyes gleamed with greed, though he feigned modesty. “Veronica, I don’t know… I’m still young, and my experience is limited…” The older employees, sensing Veronica’s disdain for me, quickly chimed in to curry favor. “Veronica’s absolutely right! Jackson’s been getting a little full of himself lately. Didn’t work overtime yesterday, and now he’s late today. He needs stricter management!” “Exactly. Ethan is such a natural talent. Jackson might have seniority, but he just can’t compare.” Veronica raised her brows, pretending to hesitate before finally nodding. “Well, if you can shape up, Jackson, maybe I’ll consider keeping you around. But you’ll have to prove yourself.” I couldn’t stand their synchronized performance any longer and cut her off mid-sentence. “I’m sorry, Veronica,” I said coolly. “I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not here to work. I’m here to finalize my resignation.” The room fell silent. Veronica blinked, visibly stunned. “What?” she asked, her voice rising. The HR manager stepped forward and whispered something into her ear. Her expression darkened. The lines on her forehead deepened as her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. “Jackson, are you serious? Throwing tantrums about divorce one day and resigning the next? Have you forgotten the company’s about to go public?” She scoffed, her tone dripping with disbelief. “You’re walking away from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When we go public, every employee will get bonuses and stock options. People would kill to work here!” I met her gaze with calm indifference. “I know. That’s why I’d appreciate it if you could approve my resignation quickly. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to file a complaint with the labor board.” The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain how to react. Veronica’s knuckles turned white as she tightened her fists, but she refused to back down. “Fine. Go ahead and leave,” she snapped, grabbing the resignation forms from HR. “I’ll sign it myself! And once you’re gone, I’ll promote Ethan to project manager immediately!” She scribbled her name onto the form with exaggerated force, her eyes locked onto mine as if daring me to react. Seeing that I remained unfazed, she added with a sneer: “When the company goes public, I’ll give Ethan a raise, a new car, and a house. That’s the kind of reward true talent deserves!” I couldn’t help but chuckle. She thought she could provoke me into backing down with her petty theatrics. What she didn’t know was that the project partners had already contacted me. They were downstairs, preparing to file a lawsuit against the company for breach of contract. Veronica’s eyes narrowed as she noticed my smirk. “What’s so funny?” she demanded. I stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. “Why don’t you ask him?” I said, my voice laced with irony. As I spoke, the door opened, and the lead representative from the project partners walked in, his expression grim. “Veronica,” he said coldly, “we’re here to terminate all cooperation with your company and file a lawsuit for breach of contract.”
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