At the company’s annual meeting, my husband’s assistant, Megan Clarke, secretly revealed that my husband, Timothy Reed, was about to make an official announcement about us. Dressed in a beautiful gown and holding a bouquet of flowers, I, Natalie Pearson, walked towards my husband, only for the scheming Megan to throw the flowers straight at my head, crying hysterically. “Natalie, I only told you about my relationship with Timothy. I didn’t expect you to steal him from me! Even if you are the lead on the core project, you can’t behave like this!” Instead of defending me, my husband did nothing but strip away my year-end bonus and place Megan in my project team for some extra shine. Everyone in the company quickly caught on and began clapping, congratulating my husband and Megan on their fairy-tale romance. My team members even tried to advise me. “Ms. Pearson, I know you’ve had a crush on Mr. Reed for ten years, but now that the company is going public, just hold your tongue and say something nice.” I just smiled at Megan and tossed the appointment letter for the project manager position at her. “How could I let the company’s leading lady be my subordinate? As project manager, I think only you are qualified to lead the company to even greater success.” After all, I was the only one who knew the key formula for the project. I was really curious to see how my husband came up with that ten-million-dollar penalty.
As I took out the appointment letter, everyone froze for a moment. The team members immediately started cheering me on, clapping loudly and saying. “Looks like Ms. Pearson has really realized her mistake. Mr. Reed, please forgive her!” “Yeah, I can see that Natalie is being so generous. There must be a misunderstanding. She’s genuinely wishing you well, Ms. Clarke.” The atmosphere heated up quickly. Megan tightly gripped the appointment letter, her eyes darting over my high-end evening gown. She spoke with a hint of grievance. “But Natalie, wearing such a beautiful dress, isn’t it just to steal the spotlight…” Everyone in the room was taken aback. They didn’t expect Megan to be so persistent, and they all turned to look at me. As for her provocation, my husband Timothy’s expression was unclear, and he didn’t say anything. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Ten years ago, I had an offer from a major company overseas, with a salary of several million dollars. But because of Timothy’s plea, I chose to eat humble pie with him and start from scratch. He cried and promised he wouldn’t forget my sacrifices. He said that once the company went public, we’d announce our partnership, and I’d become the vice president with shares in the company. But now, as the company is about to go public, all of his favoritism has been given to a newcomer who’s only been with the company for six months. I took a deep breath and began to put on my coat. “Sorry, it won’t happen again.” I thought, “No more expectations from Timothy.” I said this and walked out of the meeting room. Outside the company, the cold wind blew, stinging my skin. I coughed quietly. The doctor had told me that my lungs were damaged from the experiments, and I could no longer stay up late or overwork. Timothy still didn’t know that the key formula for this project was something I had worked tirelessly on without sleep. In three days, the project was due for delivery. If there were no results, Timothy would be facing a ten-million-dollar compensation bill. Maybe it was time for me to live my own life instead of continuing to pour my heart and soul into someone who didn’t love me. I was lost in thought. Something hit me hard on the back of my head. I turned around and saw Megan glaring at me with malice. The appointment letter for the project manager position was scattered on the floor. “Natalie, how stupid can you be? I pretended to tell you that Timothy was going to announce your partnership, and you actually believed it!” A chill ran through me. Because, deep down, I had always dreamed of making that announcement with Timothy. I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t help but believe it. I remained silent, but Megan pushed further. “Unfortunately, it seems Timothy likes me more. Don’t think you can keep your little project manager position. If I cry, I can have you kicked out of the company.” Megan was always two-faced. After I wasn’t happy with her during the interview, Timothy personally recruited her into the company, and since then, she has made it her mission to make my life miserable. She would provoke me, then cry in front of everyone, making Timothy and me argue and accusing me of being jealous. Now, all I felt was how childish I had been. I had actually fought for Timothy’s affection with someone like her. I turned to leave. But Megan’s eyes flashed, and she suddenly slapped herself hard, causing her thin face to turn red. Before I could even react, she picked up the appointment letter from the floor with tear-filled eyes, bent over humbly, and handed it to me with trembling hands. “Natalie, I know you don’t like me. It’s fine if you hit or scold me, just please stay in the company. If you take the appointment letter, I’ll voluntarily resign and have Timothy know.” The next moment, I heard Timothy’s furious roar. “Natalie, have you lost your mind?!” He threw his coat on the ground and raised his hand to slap me. “Megan was just joking around, and now you’re throwing a tantrum. You’re even hitting people to get your position back. When did you become so violent?!” He looked like a protective father animal guarding its cubs. I licked the broken skin inside my mouth, continuously mocking myself in my heart. Whenever Megan and I had a conflict, Timothy would jump to conclusions, stubbornly believing I was bullying her. In the past, I would argue until my lips were dry, feeling aggrieved. Now, I was simply tired. I smiled bitterly and said, “Thank you.” Timothy’s anger immediately subsided, and he froze, asking, “Thank you for what?” My tone was calm. “Thank you for making me realize that in your heart, I’m just a petty, scheming person full of jealousy.” With that, I turned and walked away. Timothy shuddered. He took a step forward, instinctively grabbing my arm, his touch cold as ice. In the harsh winter, the tip of my nose was already red from the cold. He hastily picked up the coat on the ground and shoved it into my hands. “You… It’s freezing out. Put on the coat. As for the project manager position, I’ll think about it.” When Megan heard Timothy was considering the project manager role, she immediately panicked. With a sense of indignation, she cried out, “Timothy, I know Natalie is an old member of the company, and I’ll never compare to the years of friendship you two share. Please don’t fight over me. I’ll go to HR and resign right now!” She tightly gripped her resignation letter and rushed back to the company. As she climbed the steps, her body swayed, and she clumsily pretended to trip, her knee hitting the step with a loud thud. She clutched her knee and cried out in pain. Timothy widened his eyes, looking between the pain-stricken Megan and me, who was about to leave. After hesitating for a moment, he hurriedly said to me, “Natalie, go home first. I’ll talk to you later.” Then, without a second thought, he ran toward Megan.
Outside the company building, Timothy reached out to help Megan, his movements cautious, as if handling fragile porcelain. But Megan stubbornly brushed his hand away, straightened up, and tried to walk on her own. The next second, she collapsed into Timothy’s strong arms. It was rush hour, and there were plenty of people on the streets. They started pulling at each other right there, immediately drawing a crowd of onlookers. I couldn’t help but give a bitter, sarcastic laugh. When we were outside, Timothy never let me get closer than three steps and only allowed me to call him Mr. Reed. I still remember the time after our argument when I tried to coax him. I stepped a little closer and even held his hand for a moment. He immediately jerked his hand away, like he’d been shocked, and exploded with rage. He scolded me for ruining our agreement to avoid suspicion about a secret marriage and said he wasn’t a monkey at the zoo, that he didn’t have the habit of showing affection in front of strangers. But now, the whole company was shipping their couple, and passersby stopped to watch them, yet he didn’t seem to care at all. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and signaled for a cab to go home. When I got home, and the warmth hit me, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my cheeks. In the mirror, my face was red from the rose thorns, with visible blood streaks. I thought, “How ridiculous. I looked like a pathetic clown.” My phone, resting on the sink, suddenly buzzed with a new message. [Natalie, have you considered joining our company? We’re a Fortune 500 with great benefits. You could even become the domestic representative!] The message came from an HR representative at a large overseas company who had repeatedly extended offers to me. If it weren’t for our collaboration, I would’ve blocked them long ago. In the past, I’d politely say I wasn’t considering it at the moment. This time, I replied: [Alright, I’ll book a flight for tomorrow.] Instantly, the HR rep was typing rapidly. [That’s great! Natalie, I’ll send you 50 thousand dollars for travel expenses. Please come!] Looking at the 50 thousand dollars that landed in my bank account… And the glaring balance, fifty thousand one hundred three dollars. I couldn’t help but laugh, covering my face. I thought, “Fifty thousand dollars.” Timothy, afraid I might have money in my hands and not focus on my work, only paid me a monthly salary of five thousand dollars. I couldn’t even earn that much in a year. He once said that even married couples should keep things clear. The rent was two thousand a month. I paid for utilities and handled the housework, and when I took a roll of toilet paper, he charged me a hundred. But he never mentioned the money I spent on groceries, cooking, or household supplies. After all these years, I found myself with nothing to my name. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off my mood, and walked out of the bathroom to pack for my flight. When I opened the drawer, I found an old digital camera tucked away in the corner. It was a model from ten years ago. I hadn’t used it in ages, but I was surprised it still turned on. I transferred the photos to my computer and started scrolling through them. This camera was a gift from Timothy when we first started our business. He knew I loved photography and promised me that once our company went public, he’d buy me an even better one. Those were tough times. We were both orphans with no family support, relying only on each other for warmth. The photos showed us sharing a plate of pasta, dating on the subway while trying to catch some warmth, and, on Christmas Eve, watching fireworks outside. We fought over a piece of meat that ended up on the floor, and Timothy ran to the bathroom crying in frustration. All those memories felt like they were from yesterday, yet somehow also like they belonged to another lifetime. But as the dates got more recent, the number of photos decreased. The last one was from six months ago. In that photo, Timothy, dressed in a professional suit, looked handsome and mature, frowning as he blocked the camera lens. That day, our project had unprecedented success, and Timothy was already planning to go public. As usual, I pulled out the camera to take a photo. But he mocked me, blocking the lens. “Natalie, no wonder your experiments have been progressing so slowly lately. Looks like your mind isn’t on work anymore but on taking pictures of my embarrassing moments. This garbage camera you’re using, I would’ve smashed it a long time ago.” But when Megan pulled out her phone to take a picture with Timothy, he smiled and posed without hesitation. From that day on, this camera, once a symbol of our love, was shoved to the back of the drawer. I shook off the memories and moved my fingers. I permanently deleted the entire album and tossed the camera into the trash. Some things just needed to be thrown away. After that, I printed out the divorce papers. But as I slouched on the sofa, waiting for Timothy, by 10 p.m., he still hadn’t returned. I was about to get up and go to the bedroom when I suddenly felt unbearably hot and started coughing uncontrollably. Seeing the thermometer reading 102 degrees Fahrenheit, I realized I must have pneumonia. Thinking I might need to be hospitalized, I grabbed my luggage, figuring I could avoid the trouble of going back home to pack. During the consultation, I answered the doctor’s questions in a daze. Suddenly, a concerned yet clear male voice sounded. “Doctor, she’s okay, right? Please, take a good look!”
I froze, and my mind cleared instantly. It was Timothy’s voice. I turned to look. I saw Timothy standing in the doorway of the exam room, one hand holding a CT scan, the other supporting Megan. Megan, leaning weakly against him, cooed, “Timothy, you’ve been with me all night. You’ve really been a great help. Let’s go to my place to rest, just like before…” When she saw me, Megan looked surprised. The next second, she trembled, lowering her head and hiding behind Timothy. “Natalie, did you see my Instagram and come to find me on purpose? Please, don’t take revenge on me…” Megan loved to provoke others by posting on Instagram. On a rainy day, she’d use the excuse of not having an umbrella and ask Timothy to take her home. Then, she’d post on Instagram, praising her boss for being handsome and kind. When I did something good, and Timothy wanted to reward me, she’d fake an illness or faint to interrupt, asking Timothy to take her to the hospital and stay overnight. Then, she’d post on Instagram, saying how much she loved a boss who cared so much for her employees. Again and again, it wore me down, leaving me feeling hopeless. I didn’t even need to think. Today, Megan definitely posted something on Instagram to provoke me. But now, I didn’t even want to see what she posted. Timothy frowned and gave me a long, deep look. His chest heaved, and he turned to ask the doctor. “Doctor, she says she’s having trouble breathing. Can you check on her?” The doctor frowned, clearly annoyed. “There’s a queue for medical care.” Timothy pointed at me with a look of disdain. “Doctor, you don’t know, but she’s just faking it. She’s wasting medical resources on purpose!” Before the doctor could respond, I stood up and calmly said. “It’s fine, let them go first.” Only then did Timothy seem satisfied, eagerly handing over the CT scan. The doctor helplessly reviewed it, then shook his head. “Your girlfriend is fine. Just let her rest.” Timothy asked, still doubtful. “Are you sure? But she keeps saying she can’t breathe properly and needs someone with her. Plus, she fell and hurt her knee today!” Looking at his worried face, I knew it. He was acting out of concern. In the hospital, all the family members were attentive to their loved ones. But over the years, I’d always come to the hospital alone, and Timothy often scolded me for being lazy. I felt a bit suffocated in my chest and walked out of the consultation room. Not long after, Timothy came out and said gently to Megan. “Let’s go get another X-ray of your knee.” I was about to go back and continue my check-up when Megan suddenly made a move. “Natalie, are you still pretending? You should just stop bothering the doctor, don’t you think? “I know you didn’t come just to make trouble for me. I’m sorry, whether it’s the year-end bonus or the leadership role, I’ll give it to you. Is that okay?” Her eyes turned red, looking as though she had been wronged beyond measure. Timothy immediately frowned, grabbed my shirt, and sharply said. “Natalie, you bullied Megan like this, aren’t you ashamed? Apologize to her now!” I felt dizzy, unable to pull away from his grip, and could only silently endure his scolding. Once Megan went for her check-up, I sighed in relief and coughed. “Mr. Reed, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.” But Timothy grabbed my hand. At the change in my body temperature, his fingers trembled. He stepped closer and, to my surprise, stood on tiptoe to check my temperature with his forehead. Looking at his face getting closer, I pushed him away, startled. He clenched his fingers and sneered. “Stop pretending. You came to the hospital because you were jealous. Megan’s not feeling well today, and I stayed a little longer with her. Didn’t I tell you? She’s a lot like you back when we were together. I’m just making up for what I didn’t do for you back then.” After a pause, he awkwardly added. “You even faked a fever to get my attention. Fine, I’ll secretly give you the year-end bonus. But next time, don’t cause a scene about announcing it publicly.” I shook my head. What I wanted was never the year-end bonus. Before I could speak, Megan came out, immediately grabbing Timothy’s attention. Watching the two of them walk away together, supporting each other, they looked like a couple in love. I suddenly realized that I seemed to have forgotten something important. I took out the stack of papers and called out to Timothy. “Mr. Reed, can you sign this for me?” Timothy frowned in annoyance. “With everything going on right now, you still want me to deal with work? We’ll do it tomorrow at the office!” I shook my head and handed it over again. “Just a quick signature.” Timothy looked at poor Megan, who was waiting for him, and impatiently took the paper and pen. Just as he was about to sign, he felt like something was off. He furrowed his brows, flipped to the beginning, and instantly gasped. “Divorce…”
Sensing Megan’s gaze on him, he said, getting irritated. He slapped the divorce agreement onto my chest and gritted his teeth, saying. “Natalie, you’ve caused enough trouble already. What more do you want?” I coughed harder at the slap but still insisted. “Mr. Reed, please sign it. It won’t be easy to explain if Megan asks later.” As soon as I said that, Timothy’s brows furrowed even tighter, almost in a knot, and he stamped his foot. In a lowered, harsh voice, he said. “Explain? What’s there to explain? I’m just concerned about her like a sister. Can’t you stop overreacting? Fine, go home already! You’re just annoying.” With that, he gave me one last cold glance and helped Megan leave. Megan looked at me smugly and secretly gave me a thumbs-down. I said nothing and went back to the clinic. The doctor told me I had pneumonia and needed an IV drip. The cold liquid ran through my veins, and I felt a chill throughout my body. But my mind had never been clearer. I thought, “If a normal divorce won’t work, then I’ll go for a lawsuit.” And also, I had forgotten to submit my resignation earlier today in all the rush. I pulled out my phone and directly submitted the resignation request. Technically, I was just a nominal team leader without a project on hand, so I could leave at any time. But to my surprise, my request was instantly rejected by Timothy. And he added a note. “If you want to quit, fine. Show up at the company tomorrow and make a scene.” I couldn’t help but cough again. The next morning, feeling much better, I went straight to the company. My desk was a mess. My team members were carrying Megan’s things, avoiding eye contact with me. Megan smiled innocently and said. “Sorry, Natalie, when we were moving things, I accidentally dropped your stuff. You’re not mad, are you?” Timothy was supervising and gave me a glance before saying with a fake smile. “Company property. Some people who are leaving don’t have the right to get upset.” The CEO’s attitude said it all. The people around quickly chimed in with compliments. “Mr. White, you were just promoted to vice president by Mr. Reed today. Natalie is your subordinate. She should be the one apologizing to you for getting in your way!” “That’s right! Natalie left early yesterday and is late today. Someone like her should have been fired long ago!” Megan puffed out her chest, showing off her shiny new vice president badge, scanning me from head to toe, and deliberately spreading rumors. “Hey, Natalie, your dark circles are so bad, and your face is so pale. Did you go to a hotel to party all night? Looks like you had a great time.” Timothy’s face instantly darkened, and he snorted coldly. “Some people have a lot of guts, staying out all night. Coming to work in this state, our company definitely can’t keep someone like that.” I thought, “How did he know I stayed out all night? Did he actually go home last night?” I coughed lightly, pulled out my resignation request, and said faintly. “Mr. Reed, please sign this. I’m in a bit of a rush.” Timothy’s expression grew darker. After a long pause, he sneered and signed the paper with a mocking smile. “You’re playing the game well, Natalie. But your little tricks won’t work. You think this company can’t run without you?” He slammed the pen down and signaled to Megan, arrogantly saying. “Megan is a top student in materials science. She took the time last night to improve your formula. Your team has been praising her for her talent. “What took you six months to do, she finished in a few hours and handed it over to the partners. “Natalie, if you’re smart, you’ll apologize properly, promise to work hard in the future, and I might reluctantly take you back as an intern.” Megan pretended to be shy and said. “Natalie, don’t worry. When I report back, I’ll include your contribution. We’re just waiting for the final payment from the partner, and the company will go public. If you regret it, you can always apologize.” It seemed that Megan had copied the formula I had left on my desk. But what she didn’t know was that the formula, while looking reasonable, couldn’t be mass-produced. They were digging their own grave by giving the wrong formula to the partner ahead of time. A disaster was coming their way. Just then, the secretary rushed in to report to Timothy. “Mr. Reed, the partner is here, and they look very urgent!” Timothy immediately brightened up and said smugly. “It seems they’re happy with the cooperation and want to offer more money! Natalie, I’m giving you one last chance to reconsider.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Timothy, suspicious, asked. “What are you laughing at?” Megan covered her mouth and chuckled. “Natalie is probably upset because she didn’t get the credit and is too disoriented to think straight.” I smiled and shook my head, stepping aside to make way. “Let him explain to you.” The next second, the partner stormed in, slammed the contract down on the table, and coldly said. “Mr. Reed! The formula your company provided has contaminated our production line. We demand a ten million dollar penalty and 50 million in damages!” Everyone froze, staring at the contract that had been thrown in front of them. Timothy’s eyes widened in shock. Before he could speak, the partner threw a lawyer’s letter down in front of him. “Mr. Reed, please transfer the money to our company account within seven days, or we’ll take legal action!”
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