My girlfriend made me hand over everything I’d accomplished to her first love. I even gave him the CEO title. Not because I was foolish, but because I knew one thing for sure— he couldn’t handle it. Without me, they couldn’t even get the drones off the ground. And the royal drone show contract came with a penalty clause she could never pay. Later, when she got on her knees and begged me to come back, I only said one thing: “We’re already divorced.” Chapter 1 Chloe Sterling, my wife, stood on stage, holding Ethan Moore’s hand. “Ethan, the Sterling Group’s success is thanks to you,” she announced. “This year’s entire bonus is yours.” She handed him a five-million-dollar check. The room erupted in applause. Chloe’s father, Richard Sterling, nodded in approval while our colleagues crowded around, cheering them on. “With Mr. Moore leading, our global expansion is guaranteed!” “Mr. Sterling and Chloe have a real eye for talent. And Chloe and Ethan? They work better together than most married couples!” I stood at the back of the crowd, watching the celebration, my technical proposal crumpled in my fist. Today was supposed to be the company’s annual bonus ceremony. But just as I entered the conference hall, Chloe got a call. There was a reported malfunction in the drone system—I was needed at the testing site immediately. After years together, I trusted her without question. I didn’t even grab lunch before rushing over. My team and I spent all day troubleshooting under the blazing sun, over 100 degrees. But seeing Chloe hand the entire bonus to Ethan, an intern who’d been here less than a month, it all became clear. The system glitch was just an excuse to get me out of the way. She was ready to hand my three years of work—my life’s achievement—straight to her first love. Ethan pretended to notice me then, feigning surprise. “Mr. Carter, you made it! We thought you might not show, so we started without you. Hope you don’t mind.” His words were polite, but his eyes held a clear challenge as he waved the check in my direction. Chloe shot me an impatient look. “Liam, what’s with the attitude? Did you expect the chairman and everyone to just wait for you? No wonder you drag your feet on every project bid. You’re deadweight. Since you’re here, hand over the Aldonia project to Ethan now. At least then we won’t have to worry about you messing it up.” I clenched my fists at her tone, my heart turning cold. The Aldonia project was a massive deal I’d spent three years securing. It was my life’s work. The Aldonian Crown Prince had provided a five-million-dollar advance. But to ensure thousands of drones could operate flawlessly in the desert, I’d pulled endless all-nighters. The constant travel, the jet lag, the stress-induced health issues—I’d pushed through it all. Now, just as the project was nearing completion, Chloe wanted to snatch it away with a few words and hand it to her ex. I almost laughed at how pathetic my dedication had been. Ten years ago, the Sterling Group was nearly bankrupt, unable to pay its staff. Chloe took over, announcing plans to pivot to drone technology. Without hesitation, I left my well-paying tech job and poured all my savings into building her dream from scratch. But with a background in fashion, she couldn’t even read basic code, let alone handle R&D. For years, I was the backbone of the company’s tech. Every patent bore my name. Every crisis required my attention. When we were struggling for funding, Richard refused to help, looking down on me. My parents sold their home and life savings to keep us afloat. That was what saved the Sterling Group. Only then did marrying Chloe even become an option. But I wasn’t just a husband—I was the “married-in” husband, taking her family name. Richard never missed a chance to mock my humble roots, acting as though the Sterling family was doing me a favor by letting me in. I didn’t care back then, because I was in love with Chloe. I would have done anything for her. But I never expected that after a few business trips abroad with Ethan… he’d effortlessly take credit for my work. Chloe and I had been married for ten years. Yet somehow, I still ranked below her ex, who’d treated her poorly. Today, she finally burned away the last bit of feeling I had left. After a long silence, I spoke calmly. “Fine. Do what you want.” Ethan couldn’t hide his smug grin, though he played humble. “Ms. Sterling, I’m just a beginner. How could I take over your billion-dollar international project? I heard you’ve struggled with it for three years. I only want to help.” Chloe placed a hand on his shoulder. “Ethan, you’re an Ivy League graduate! If you can’t handle this, no one here can.” Richard added firmly, “Exactly. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re better than that loser anyway.” I almost laughed out loud. Ethan’s degree was just a piece of paper. During his interview, he couldn’t explain basic control theory. But the Sterlings were determined to back him, paying him a fortune. After soothing Ethan, Chloe turned to mock me. “Liam, do you really think you’d be anywhere without me? You’ve had it too easy. You’ve forgotten your place. Making a fuss over handing over one project? If Ethan hadn’t put in a good word for you, Dad and I would’ve kicked you out long ago.” I laughed inwardly. Had she already forgotten that without me, the company’s drones wouldn’t even function? I built the tech team from scratch. Now that the Sterlings were on top, they saw me as a burden. They kept talking, painting me as the family’s biggest embarrassment. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to Ethan under Chloe’s scornful gaze. Everyone watched, probably thinking this pushover was finally about to snap. But I just smiled calmly. I pulled the CEO transfer papers from my bag and dropped them at Ethan’s feet. “Managing thousands of drones must be exhausting. How about I just make you CEO instead?” Chapter 2 The room fell silent, everyone staring in disbelief. The Sterling Group executives whispered, thinking I’d lost my mind. After all, everyone knew I’d worked tirelessly for a decade, asking for nothing in return. “Mr. Carter, you’re the company’s second-in-command! It’s just one project. Don’t throw away your future over a rash decision!” Hearing this, Chloe seemed to think I was threatening her. Her face flushed with anger. “Liam, have you lost it?” she snapped. “How dare you act up after a little criticism? Let me remind you—you’re only the CEO on paper. I’m the one who really runs this group.” I laughed inside. She should’ve been thrilled I was stepping down. Wasn’t this her dream? To see her beloved ex take the top spot? Ethan clutched the transfer document, greed flashing in his eyes. But he played the humble hero. “Mr. Carter, are you offering this in anger? Please don’t misunderstand. Chloe was just trying to help me catch up. It’s for the good of the Sterling Group. Besides, how could I replace you? You’re a veteran here. The CEO role isn’t for someone like me.” He made a show of handing the document back, but his grip stayed tight, as if afraid I’d take it. Seeing his act, I smiled faintly. “Why would I be angry? You’re an Ivy League returnee. I’m thrilled to bring in fresh talent. I have every confidence in you as CEO.” Chloe gave me a suspicious look, then snorted. “Ethan, since he’s offering, just take it. With your skills, you’d have gotten there anyway. Everyone here is a witness.” The moment she finished, Ethan stopped pretending and hugged the document, his eyes gleaming. Watching him, I sneered inwardly. Chloe, busy flirting with Ethan, had no idea how technically demanding the Aldonia project was. I’d spent a year perfecting the desert formation algorithm. But they didn’t know the core program was still on my encrypted drive, not yet handed over. Even if they stole it, without my notes, it would take months to crack. Without me, how could they possibly pull off a show with tens of thousands of drones? What they saw as a goldmine would become a swarm of locusts. Plus, Ethan probably didn’t realize that being CEO meant taking on all the responsibility. If the Aldonia show failed, they’d not only owe millions in penalties—they’d face the royal family’s wrath. Not to mention the competitors waiting to pounce. Since they thought I was useless, I saw no need to warn them. The day the project failed would be the day the Sterlings fell. Chloe seemed almost embarrassed by my easy surrender. She cleared her throat haughtily. “Alright, Liam, stop standing there. You’ll need to hand over your work. We’re celebrating Ethan’s success tonight. Since you’re being reasonable, you can join us.” Her condescending tone was almost funny. If the Aldonia project succeeded, the bonus would be tens of millions. They cut me out of the profits, and now a dinner was supposed to make it okay? The thought of eating with a weasel like Ethan made me sick. I was about to decline when he chimed in, fake concern plastered on his face. “Oh dear, Mr. Carter, I booked the private room before you arrived, so I didn’t save you a seat. My apologies. I might’ve sprained my ankle today, but I should make it right. Please, have a seat. I’ll fetch a chair and some drinks.” I knew he was playing the victim to score points. Sure enough, Chloe fretted over him, guiding him to a chair. “Ethan, you’ve done more than enough for the company. This huge project rests on you. We can’t have you running errands.” She shot me a disgusted look. “What are you waiting for? After all your years here, don’t you have any sense? Either go get the drinks, or don’t bother coming!” Her double standards made me scoff. Chloe always took me for granted. I’d worked day and night but was never included in team dinners. Now they acted like they were doing me a favor. Ethan, pushing his luck, smirked. “Mr. Carter, so sorry to trouble you. I’ll make sure to toast you properly later…” Before he could finish, I let out a cold laugh and kicked the leather executive chair out from under him. Chapter 3 Ethan stumbled back, tripping over a chair. He crashed headfirst into the million-dollar holographic projector. Glass shattered. I watched him scramble up, blood trickling down his forehead, and sneered. “What, did the star student’s ankle heal miraculously? That was some agility. Were you a tap dancer in a past life?” Chloe froze as if doused in ice water. Then she rushed to Ethan’s side, whirling on me with a roar. “Liam, have you lost your mind? What if Ethan’s hurt? I get it now! You can’t stand seeing him succeed, so you’re sabotaging the project!” I scoffed. “Jealous of an idiot? Please.” “And,” I added, “I’ve already resigned. So drop the boss act. I’m done playing your games.” Chloe trembled, eyes red, about to retort. I strode out of the conference room without looking back. The sounds of chaos and Richard’s shouts faded behind me. I packed my things from my office, my gaze lingering on the velvet box on my desk. It was a custom bracelet I’d ordered from overseas. An anniversary gift for Chloe. How ironic now. Staring at it, I drifted back. In college, Chloe was my goddess. I knew I was just an ordinary guy, not worthy of an heiress like her. So I silently adored her—running errands, buying lunch, even doing her homework. And yes, she took me for granted, treating me like a backup. One day, I found a silver bracelet she’d lost and tried to return it. But she threw it into a dirty ditch and told me to “step up” and be her boyfriend. Everyone said she was just lashing out after her first love dumped her, taking revenge on me. But I refused to believe it. I doubled down, convinced my love would win her over. Like a loyal puppy, I revolved around her 24/7. I showered her with gifts, always planning surprises. Even after ten years of marriage, nothing changed. Our anniversary was always marked in my calendar, though Chloe never remembered. I knew she was never truly passionate about me, but I believed she loved me in her way. Maybe that was just how she showed love. So, I accepted being a powerless CEO and the Sterling family’s live-in husband. I thought our life would stay happy. But I underestimated the pull of her first love. It wasn’t until I saw her with Ethan—the unconcealed affection in her eyes—that I realized my ten years of devotion were self-deception. Maybe Ethan had always had a place in her heart. And I was just a disposable stand-in. Just as I was about to toss the gift, I bumped into Chloe and her entourage returning to the office. “Well, well, Liam, weren’t you the tough guy earlier?” she sneered. “Can’t you be less petty? Resorting to cheap tricks?” Chloe stood in the doorway, arm in arm with Ethan, executives trailing behind. I sneered inwardly. This shameless pair wasn’t even hiding it. Ethan tugged Chloe’s sleeve, feigning concern. “Chloe, Mr. Carter must want to apologize. Look at the bracelet in his hand. He probably got it to beg your forgiveness!” Chloe paused, then scoffed. “Hah! Does he think a cheap bracelet will win me over? If Ethan hadn’t stopped me, I’d have called security…” She reached for the bracelet. I frowned and tossed it straight into the trash. “You’re sick,” I said. “Even trash looks good to you. Get that delusion checked.” Chapter 4 Without waiting for her reaction, I grabbed my briefcase and left. I headed home to pack. It was time to end this charade. But I’d barely started when the door slammed open. Chloe stormed in, fuming. “Liam, have you lost it today? Humiliating me in front of everyone? Have you forgotten you’re just my live-in husband?” Ethan trailed behind, pretending to be concerned. “Mr. Carter, I wanted to speak up for you, but you went too far. Is it because Chloe and I are close that you feel threatened? We’re just colleagues. If you misunderstand, there’s nothing I can do. I don’t want to be the ‘other man.’ I should leave.” He made a show of leaving, but his steps were slow. Chloe grabbed his arm, soothing. “Ethan, you’re right. He’s just a live-in husband. Who is he to tell you to leave?” She turned to me, teeth gritted. “Liam, you’ve disappointed me. You’ve changed. You’re disgusting! Apologize to Ethan, or I’ll kick you out!” I clenched my fists. It wasn’t the first time she’d threatened me with divorce. Every time we argued over Ethan, she’d dangle expulsion over my head. Back then, like a fool, I gave in, thinking she’d one day see me as her real husband. Now, I realized I’d been blind. I didn’t need a woman like this. Seeing my silence, Chloe assumed I’d back down. She tossed her hair triumphantly. “Actually, I don’t have to kick you out. As long as you and Ethan…” I cut her off. “Enough. I’ll leave. Let’s get a divorce.” Chloe was thunderstruck, mouth agape. Ethan jumped in. “Mr. Carter, even if you’re angry, you can’t joke about divorce!” I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and slapped them on the table. “I’m not joking. Sign it. Let’s end this.” Chloe finally realized I was serious. She pointed a trembling finger at me. “Fine! Get out! Go ahead and regret it!” A gleam of triumph flashed in Ethan’s eyes, but he feigned concern. “Mr. Carter, think this through. You’re part of the Sterling family. Once you leave, you lose that status. Without them, what will you have?” His meaning was clear: I was nothing without the Sterlings. Chloe, emboldened, added, “Exactly! Who’d want a nobody like you without the chances we gave you? You couldn’t handle this project, but Ethan managed it effortlessly. Once Aldonia’s show is done, our company will soar!” I scoffed. Soar? They were headed for bankruptcy! Without my core program, Ethan’s amateur skills couldn’t synchronize ten drones, let alone ten thousand. The Aldonian royal family wasn’t to be trifled with. When the project failed, the company would be ruined. Just then, Chloe’s phone rang. She shot me a smug look. “Look, it’s Prince Malik’s secretary. Once this payment comes through, I’m taking Ethan on vacation! And you? You can cry in your crappy rental!” She put the phone on speaker, eager to flaunt her triumph. A second later, a furious roar erupted from the phone. “You useless idiots! This is the billion-dollar show you bragged about? It can’t even fly in a test run! How dare you scam me! I’ll destroy your company!”
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