I landed a multi-billion-dollar deal for the company, but at the celebration party, the CEO’s wife gave all the credit to a new assistant who’d only been with the company for six months. I turned to my wife for some support, but she only looked at me with frustration. “Brandon is the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. Building a good relationship with him will benefit the company’s future. You’ve been here a long time; can’t you step aside a little?” “Besides, if you were a rich heir from some big family, would I need to be so deferential to others?” Later, the assistant was promoted and received a huge bonus. My wife snuggled into his arms for a picture. They gazed into each other’s eyes sweetly, like a real couple, receiving everyone’s blessings. I sat quietly in the audience, watching it unfold. Everyone expected me to be insanely jealous. But I just smiled and called the family butler. “Mr. Fortune, let’s hold off on that multi-billion-dollar investment.” As soon as the meeting ended, the CEO’s assistant, Brandon Johnson, who’d been with the company for just under six months, became the center of attention. “Oh my goodness, Assistant Johnson is incredible, casually negotiating such a big contract.” “Yeah, no wonder he’s the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. His demeanor is unmatched; even his elegance is different from ordinary people.” “Assistant Johnson’s clothing style is also impeccable. That must be a custom-made designer piece.” Brandon just smiled silently at the flattery, but his eyes showed his pride. My wife, Sophia, stepped in to defend him. “Come on, don’t bother Brandon anymore. He just landed such a big order for the company. He needs to rest.” I was about to stand up when her words stopped me cold. Because that order was something I begged my family to help with. When did it become Brandon’s achievement? Also, I’d never heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital. In my confusion, Sophia pulled out a bank card and a Porsche key, handing them to Brandon. “Brandon, thank you for your contributions to the company.” “There’s a million on the card. Let me know if it’s not enough.” “And here’s this car. You always say your commute is too far. I’ll get you a house near the company soon…” I stared blankly at my wife. Her eyes were full of warmth I’d never seen before. Subtle laughter echoed around us, and some employees who knew about my marriage to Sophia looked at me mockingly, whispering to each other. In the past, I’d have been overwhelmed with jealousy, rushing to confront Sophia. But now, I just wanted the truth. I picked up my jacket and left, planning to call my family to get some answers. Someone suddenly noticed, “Hey, isn’t Vice President Ethan’s jacket the same as Brandon’s?” I paused and realized they were very similar. But my jacket was a custom birthday gift from an overseas designer who had since retired and vowed never to design clothing again. So my jacket was the only one of its kind in the world. As for where Brandon’s jacket came from, I had no idea. Brandon nonchalantly waved it off, “No worries, it’s just a jacket. I just bought it on a whim. If Vice President Ethan likes it, I won’t wear it tomorrow.” Everyone praised Brandon for his generosity. Brandon even had the nerve to lecture me, “Vice President Ethan, I’m glad you like my style, but I hope you find your own style instead of imitating others.” Laughter erupted. “People rely on clothes; horses rely on saddles. Even with the same clothes, it depends on who wears them. Vice President Ethan, have you heard the story of the ugly duckling?” “Wearing the same outfit isn’t scary; it’s embarrassing if you’re the ugly one!” The taunts were sharp, but I didn’t want to argue about clothes. I just wanted to sort out the investment issue. Just as I was about to leave, Sophia blocked my way, her expression cold. “Take off the jacket!” Her gaze was as sharp and cold as a knife, piercing through my shell and stabbing into my heart. I looked at her, unfamiliar. “You don’t even believe me?” Sophia was full of doubt. “The designer of this jacket is Roly from Australia, worth at least hundreds of thousands. Do you think I don’t know how much you’re worth?” “Where did you get the money to buy such an expensive jacket?” With Sophia saying this, others were even more convinced I was imitating Brandon. They urged me, “Vice President Ethan, just take it off. It’s embarrassing.” “Yeah, even if the crow is dyed white, it can’t become a swan.” Brandon kindly shook his head, “Vice President Ethan, if you really like it, I’ll give you mine.” “You keep wearing knock-offs. Even if you don’t feel embarrassed, we all feel embarrassed for Ms. Sophia!” Sophia’s expression darkened at this, and she ordered sternly, “Ethan, I command you to take off the jacket now!” I knew Sophia was genuinely angry now. In the past, I’d have taken it off immediately, begging for her forgiveness. But now, I just stubbornly looked at her, “What if I don’t?” Sophia was taken aback. I’d always been obedient to her, accepting even her most unreasonable demands without hesitation. But today, why was I defying her in public? She felt a bit embarrassed, biting her lip. Then, she pulled a box cutter from her pocket, threatening me fiercely, “If you don’t take it off, I’ll tear it apart!”
The room fell silent. Everyone stared, not daring to make a sound. I couldn’t believe Sophia was making such a fuss over a jacket. Brandon stepped forward with fake concern, breaking the silence. “We’re all family here. No need to make a scene. If Vice President Ethan likes this jacket, I’ll just give him mine.” He smiled as he took the box cutter from Sophia’s hand, then removed his jacket and handed it to me. I could tell at a glance that his jacket was a knock-off, so I pushed him away disdainfully. “Get lost!” Brandon’s eyes flashed with malice. Before I knew it, he lunged at me, the box cutter in hand. Not only did he tear my jacket, but he also slashed my arm, leaving it bloody. The pain made me gasp. But before I could speak, Brandon was on the ground, crying, “Vice President Ethan, I was just trying to help you, and I even offered my jacket. How could you push me?” His poor acting convinced some. Sophia rushed over, cradling Brandon, and shouted at me, “Ethan, are you crazy?” “Brandon even gave you his jacket, and you pushed him? Are you even human?” “Apologize to Brandon right now!” Her blatant favoritism was too obvious, stabbing at my eyes. I stood my ground, “I won’t apologize. He pushed me first. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance.” The truth was just a glance away. But Sophia’s expression was cold, “So many people saw you push Brandon. How dare you argue?” “If that’s your attitude, I don’t think you need to be vice president anymore.” She held her head high, looking down on me. Whenever she made that face, it was a sign for me to admit my mistakes. But this time, I wasn’t wrong, and I wouldn’t admit it. I coldly laughed, tore off my ID badge, and threw it on the floor. “Fine, then I quit.” My attitude froze Sophia’s expression. “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” “Come back and explain!” “Ethan!” Sophia kept calling after me, but I ignored her and walked away. I thought I’d feel upset, but as I stepped out of the company, I felt like a bird freed from its cage. My heart was calm and light. Taking a deep breath, I called the family butler, Mr. Fortune. Within seconds, he answered, “Young Master.” “Mr. Fortune, have you ever heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital?” Mr. Fortune paused, then replied calmly, “Never heard of him.” I smiled, “Good, then I know. Mr. Fortune, please investigate this Brandon Johnson’s identity.” After a pause, I added, “Oh, and hold off on that multi-billion-dollar order.” “Everything is as you command, Young Master.” The call ended, and I looked up at the darkening sky, my emotions mixed. Once, I was blinded by love, wanting to give Sophia the best of everything without reservation. But now, I’ve woken up, questioning if Sophia is worthy of handling a multi-billion-dollar order. I didn’t go home. Instead, I took a cab to a nearby bar. After three years of marriage, my world revolved around Sophia. Now, I wanted to give myself a break, to relax. I partied until late, stumbling home in a haze. But when I got there, the lights were on, and surprisingly, Sophia was waiting for me. The call ended, and I gazed up at the darkening sky, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. There was a time when I was so smitten that I wanted to give Sophia everything without hesitation. But now, clarity has set in, and I find myself questioning whether Sophia is truly capable of handling the responsibility of a billion-dollar deal. Instead of heading home, I hopped into a cab and went to a nearby bar. Three years of marriage had me revolving around Sophia, but now I needed a break, some time to unwind. I stayed out until midnight, returning home in a daze, only to find the lights on and Sophia waiting, which was quite unexpected. She was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, a chilly expression on her face. “Do you even know what time it is, coming home this late?” I didn’t answer her directly. Instead, I asked, surprised, “Isn’t tonight Brandon’s celebration party? Why are you back early?” Since Brandon showed up, Sophia seemed to cling to him every chance she got. On a night like this, I thought she’d stay out. Sophia looked disheartened. “Tonight wasn’t just Brandon’s celebration; it’s also our anniversary!” “I ended things early to bring you a gift and spend time with you, but you forgot such an important day. Do you even care about me as your wife?” In the past, I meticulously planned every anniversary, booking the best restaurants. But each time, she’d leave me alone at a table for two, watching the food go cold. This time, I didn’t plan anything and instead spent the night at a bar. Sophia pushed a gift toward me. “Try it on; I picked it out just for you.” I glanced at it. The so-called gift was just an oversized t-shirt from the supermarket, priced at $39.50, with the tag still attached. Sophia rarely gave me gifts. Once, I wanted a watch priced under $500, only to get a scolding from her. “Ethan, do you think money grows on trees?” “Since when did you become so materialistic?” “I provide for you; do I need to give up my life too to make you happy?” Yet, she didn’t hesitate to give Brandon a million-dollar bonus and a brand-new Porsche. My voice turned hoarse as I said, “Just get to the point.” Sophia’s face turned tense, and she awkwardly said, “I was wondering if you could transfer your shares to Brandon?” 3 Boom! It felt like a storm had erupted in my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These shares were something Sophia had begged me to accept. “Ethan, without you, the company wouldn’t be what it is today. These shares symbolize our love. If you don’t take them, you don’t love me.” I had no choice but to accept them, with the promise that I could return them whenever she needed. But I never imagined it would end like this. Seeing my dark expression, Sophia immediately complained, “What’s your problem?” “You know today was Brandon’s celebration, and you made a scene and left early, embarrassing him.” “I had to comfort him for ages and promised to transfer your shares to him so he’d forgive you. I did it all to cover for you…” Brandon again! Just hearing his name made my blood boil. I brushed past Sophia and headed straight for the bathroom. Sophia blocked my way, her face full of resentment. “Ethan, what’s wrong with you today? I just want you to apologize to Brandon. Is it that hard?” A lump formed in my throat. Sophia sniffed, noticing the smell of alcohol and smoke on me. Her face turned displeased, “You drank?” “You promised me that after marriage, you’d never go to such places.” “I ended the celebration early to spend our anniversary with you, but you were out partying?” “Is that fair to me?” Seeing her so aggrieved felt like a bitter irony. Back then, against my family’s wishes, I gave up everything to be with her. She wanted to start a company, and I used all my resources to help her secure funding. When she failed and lost millions, I begged my family for money to cover the loss. I gave everything silently. And she, in turn, gave my credit to Brandon. Even our wedding anniversary was just an excuse to negotiate terms to please another man! Now she had the audacity to accuse me of being irresponsible. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Yes, I do owe you. If someone else suits you better, go find them.” My words seemed to ignite a ticking time bomb. Sophia, tears in her eyes, shouted at me, “I get it. You’re just jealous of Brandon, mad that I’m too good to him, right?” “But who am I doing all this for?” “It’s for this family, for our future!” “Brandon is an heir from the Johnson family in the state capital. Being close to him helps the company’s future. You’re a veteran of the company and my husband. Instead of thinking for me, you just get jealous and argue with me all day!” “If you were an heir from a big family, would I have to lower myself like this?” Her words left me breathless. I finally understood why Sophia was drifting apart from me! Because I had no money, I wasn’t the heir of a big family! I clutched my phone tightly, my knuckles whitening. On it was the real information about Brandon, which I had planned to share with her. But now, I didn’t see the point. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if I was back three years ago. After arguing with my grandfather, I ended up on the streets, destitute, until Sophia appeared like an angel, giving me food and a temporary place to stay. Her clear eyes made me fall head over heels, willing to give up everything for her. But over time, harsh reality stained those beautiful eyes with a worldly stench. What was once pure had become murky and filled with self-interest. All I wanted was simple happiness, but Sophia drifted further away without realizing it. “Sophia, let’s get a divorce.” I croaked out the words, ignoring the stunned Sophia, dragging my exhausted body to the bedroom, and collapsing into sleep. In a half-awake state that night, Sophia climbed into bed, hugging me from behind, whispering softly in my ear, “Honey, let’s have a baby. Then you won’t always be overthinking.” The familiar tenderness made my heart skip, but the next second, I caught the unpleasant whiff of cheap men’s cologne I despised. The scent made me nauseous, and I pushed her away in disgust. Sophia was hurt, slamming the door as she left, “You’ll regret this!” 4 I thought she’d run to Brandon that night. But the next morning, as I woke, Sophia came out of the kitchen smiling. “You’re up, come have breakfast.” The table was filled with heavy, greasy foods like fried dough sticks and buns. I preferred a light breakfast, and the smell made me nauseous. I forced down the urge to gag, frowning, “I’m not hungry. You eat.” Just then, Brandon came out of the kitchen with a pot of soup, grinning, “Breakfast is served!” A wave of gamey steam wafted over, and I turned pale, covering my mouth, “What is that?” Sophia smiled slightly, “Weren’t you jealous? After finding out, Brandon offered to reconcile. He made you lamb offal soup this morning.” “Have a taste.” But she knew I never ate organ meats and that even looking at them made me sick. “Take it away!” I stifled my nausea, speaking lowly. All I wanted was to escape the house and breathe some fresh air. But Sophia, with a cold face, served me a big bowl of lamb offal soup, threateningly whispering, “Brandon gave you an out. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Drink this soup and apologize to Brandon…” Before she could finish, I couldn’t take it anymore and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Instead of being concerned, Sophia stood outside, looking disgusted, scolding loudly, “It’s just a taste, and you’re acting like this?” “You’re wasting something so good. Do you appreciate Brandon’s effort?” After scolding me, she turned to apologize to Brandon, “I’m sorry, Brandon. How embarrassing. He’s like a boar that can’t handle fine feed.” “I’ll join you for breakfast.” She then happily linked arms with Brandon, sitting at the table, chatting and eating with him, blushing at every casual touch. Completely ignoring me as I continued to vomit. By the time I managed to stop and came out of the bathroom, Brandon had already left. Seeing me, Sophia’s face turned cold. “What a way to start the day. Someone treats you to a meal out of kindness, and you just keep throwing up. It’s revolting.” “Don’t you realize that if we could connect with the Johnson family from the state capital, our future would be secured? You almost ruined such a golden opportunity!” “Thankfully, Brandon is generous enough not to hold this little mishap against you. You should call and apologize to him later.” I stood there, staring at her. This version of Sophia felt completely unfamiliar to me. Seeing my lack of response, Sophia shouted, “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?” I took a deep breath, calmly retrieved a divorce agreement from the drawer, and said, “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving everything—company, house. I don’t want a cent from you.” Sophia froze, staring at me in shock. I gently pushed an open pen toward her. “Sign it.” I expected her to quickly sign and then rush off to Brandon. Unexpectedly, Sophia looked hurt, tears welling up in her eyes. “Is it just because I gave Brandon slightly more benefits than you that you want a divorce?” “I did it all for your future, the company’s future, for this home.” “Do you think you deserve all my years of devotion?” “You promised to love me forever. You’re a liar! A liar!” I couldn’t comprehend why she accused me. Seeing her unrepentant, I shook my head and silently picked up my packed luggage, leaving this home. Some people never change, and some words are better left unsaid. After leaving, I called Uncle Felix. “Cancel the billion-dollar order for Sophia’s company and open it up to all businesses in Johnson City. I’ll lead this investment conference.”
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