I spent three years in prison—all for my wife, Vivian Frost. When I finally got out, all I received was a symbolic one-dollar welcome-back bonus. I figured there must’ve been a mistake, but then I saw Leo Green, a young guy standing next to me, also holding just a single bill. Pushing my doubts aside, I forced a smile and stood by Vivian as she celebrated her company’s grand opening. That same night, though, I scrolled through Leo Green’s social media. He’d posted a photo of a check: [Huge congrats to Vivian Frost on the grand opening! My boss is so generous—she gave me a hundred million!] Vivian didn’t even bother explaining. Instead, she hurried to distance herself from me: “You just got out, and with your record, being seen together publicly isn’t good for my company’s image. Let’s keep our marriage under wraps for a while.” Then she turned around and liked Leo Green’s post. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and called her long-time rival, Cameron Reed. “From now on, I’m working for you.”
“You willingly went to prison for three years for Vivian’s career. Why the sudden change of heart to work for me?” “I remember she swore up and down that the department manager position would be yours once you got out. Are you sure you don’t want it?” Cameron’s voice came through the phone, a hint of amusement in her tone. I rubbed the one-dollar bill between my fingers repeatedly, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Yeah, I don’t want it.” The words had barely left my mouth when Vivian suddenly appeared in front of me, her eyes filled with suspicion: “Don’t want what?” I calmly hung up the phone and told her the truth: “The department manager position.” At that, a flicker of relief crossed her complicated expression; she seemed to let out a quiet sigh. “Perfect. I was planning to give it to Leo anyway. You can start as an admin assistant first.” My brows furrowed at her words. I’d served three years in prison for Vivian’s company. She’d promised me—sworn on it—that once I got out, that department manager spot would be mine. But who would’ve thought that in the end, I’d be stuck doing menial work? In that moment, Vivian herself shattered the promise she’d made three years ago. Yet I couldn’t detect even a hint of guilt in her eyes. My chest tightened, and a sharp, stinging pain flared in my heart. Seeing my silence, Vivian pulled a confidential marriage agreement from her designer handbag and tossed it onto the glass table. She said, her voice annoyingly calm, “This is a secret marriage agreement—just for the sake of the company.” The words “Secret Marriage Agreement” burned into my eyes. Three years ago, the day before I went to prison, Vivian and I got married. The only thing that kept me going, that helped me survive, was the thought of a happy married life after my release. But now, I was someone she was ashamed to acknowledge—a secret. She even wanted me to just disappear. I mocked myself silently, then grabbed the pen beside me without hesitation. Vivian turned around, her perfectly arched brows furrowing as she saw my hand move to sign. Why was I—the man who once wanted to shout our marriage from the rooftops—suddenly so decisive? She instinctively pressed down on my wrist, her words vague: “You’re not even going to think about it?” I didn’t lift my gaze, shook off her hand, and signed immediately. She got what she wanted, but then fell into a strange silence for a moment. After a beat, she cleared her throat, her voice deliberately softening: “Don’t worry, once the company is stable, I’ll definitely make it up to you.” I mumbled a noncommittal “Mhm,” just as a message popped up in the company Slack group. Leo Green had been announced as the company’s first department manager, and employees flooded the chat with congratulations. [Leo’s been with Vivian through thick and thin for the past three years, we’ve all seen it. This position is well-deserved!] [I think, you know, Leo’s department manager today, tomorrow he’ll probably be Vivian’s husband, right? We should really butter him up!] Leo then sent a shy emoji, tacitly confirming everything. [I still think Alex has it made, three years in prison and still gets an admin job at the company. Vivian’s so good to him!] He knew the truth, and he was clearly mocking me. I struggled to tear my gaze from the screen, only to inadvertently catch Vivian staring at her phone. The smile playing on her lips was one I’d never seen – so gentle. It made me wonder. Was she keeping our marriage a secret for the company, or for Leo Green?
To uphold our secret marriage agreement, Vivian moved from the master bedroom to the guest room. She’d also made it perfectly clear: I wasn’t allowed to ride in the same car as her. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her at work. And her relationship with Leo was just for show; I wasn’t to make a fuss about it. After laying down the rules, Vivian disappeared for three days. It wasn’t until I called in sick with a fever that she bothered to FaceTime me: “Been working only a few days and already taking time off? Aren’t you being a bit dramatic?” “You’ll have to go to the hospital by yourself, I’m still on a business trip and can’t take you.” The expected outcome. I mumbled a groggy “Mhm.” But no sooner had I spoken than a clear male voice echoed from her phone: “Vivian, I forgot my towel! Come help me!” Though Vivian quickly hung up, I still heard the hurried footsteps of her rushing away. I don’t know what her game was, but she started frantically texting and calling me. I only replied with one message: [This is my time off. Please respect that.] After getting my IV drip, I returned to the office. My colleagues, as usual, were cold towards me, piling my desk high with work. They probably thought I was just a lucky ex-con Vivian had taken in, so I should just suck it up. I composed myself, then gathered all the couple’s items from my storage cabinet and dumped them into a black trash bag. If I’d known they’d never see the light of day, I wouldn’t have bothered bringing them to the office. Just as I was about to go throw them out, Vivian returned. Before I could react, she angrily grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the stairwell. When she saw the trash bag in my hand, her face darkened: “You have time to clean out trash, but no time to answer my calls?” Her strong perfume made me unconsciously step back. I replied calmly: “I already texted you back.” At that, Vivian snapped, letting out a cold laugh: “You know I don’t like demanding men. You’d better not become someone I hate.” With that, she snatched the bag from my hand and furiously slammed it to the ground. Amidst the echoing crash in the stairwell, she stalked off, the crisp, decisive click of her heels fading away. Looking at the shattered photo frame and matching mugs, my heart ached. It was as if our years of shared feelings were destined to shatter just the same. I collected the broken pieces, then called my lawyer to draft divorce papers. Once the documents were ready, I printed a copy in the office. Just as I steeled myself to knock on her door, Vivian opened it herself. Meeting her icy gaze, I calmly handed her the papers: “Sign this when you have a moment.” Vivian didn’t even glance at it, flipping directly to the last page and signing. Then, with an air of indifference, she handed it back and instructed: “Come with me to a client dinner later. Be sharp—you’ll need to help me handle the clients.” I was confused. Vivian usually had an amazing alcohol tolerance, why would she need my help? Before I could ask, Leo Green emerged from behind her, a gentle smile on his face: “Vivian, you’re so thoughtful! You remembered my sensitive stomach can’t handle alcohol, didn’t you?”
Leo sat beside Vivian, his head tilted slightly toward her. Seeing me, he complained: “Vivian’s such a worrywart. It’s just a stomach issue, but she won’t let me drink or work late. If I hadn’t begged her, she wouldn’t even have brought me to this dinner.” Hearing him, Vivian affectionately patted his shoulder. “If I don’t look out for you, don’t come crying to me when you’re feeling sick.” The two of them clearly looked like a couple deeply in love. Her tender, charming demeanor was completely unfamiliar to me. Clutching the divorce papers in my hand, a strange sense of relief washed over me. Upon arriving at the restaurant, Vivian exchanged pleasantries with our business partners. Then she stepped back, beginning her introductions. “This is Leo Green, our company’s department manager.” When she introduced me, the head of the partnering company frowned slightly. “I distinctly recall this gentleman was imprisoned for corporate fraud. Vivian, you certainly are loyal.” Vivian tensed, glanced at me, then offered a forced smile and nodded in silent agreement. Throughout the project discussion, Vivian and Leo sat closely together. She shot me an annoyed look, signaling me to take care of Leo. During dinner, someone noticed their intimate gestures and jokingly remarked: “Vivian and Leo look so good together—I wonder if Vivian is married?” The words had barely left their lips when Vivian looked at me, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. The next second, we almost spoke in unison: “No.” Even though we said the exact same thing, she sharply turned her head, looking at me with shock. It wasn’t until the client excused himself to the restroom that she texted me: “It’s all an act, don’t take it seriously.” Vivian said it was an act, but I was telling the truth. After all, she had already signed the divorce papers. I glanced at the message, then flipped my phone face down. Seeing this, Vivian—who was sitting across from me—started to get up, but I turned and headed to the restroom. Emerging from a stall, I bumped into Leo. He stood with his arms crossed, clearly in a triumphant posture. “Alex, you’re truly pathetic as a man—to be despised by your wife like this. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to show my face anywhere.” I ignored him, lowered my head to wash my hands, and said flatly: “That’s none of your concern.” Drying my hands, I prepared to leave. But Leo suddenly stepped in front of me, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “Why are you still wearing that old suit?” “Oh, I forgot. Vivian probably used all her money to buy me high-end custom clothes. My bad.” The platinum diamond watch on his wrist seemed to constantly remind me— the difference between one dollar and a hundred million. Instantly, the bitterness suppressed within me erupted, and I fled in a hurry. Back in the private dining room, I grabbed my bag, ready to leave. Vivian quickly stepped forward to stop me, her tone deliberately soft: “Don’t go yet, I’ll drive you home later.” I was about to refuse when Leo burst in frantically. He instantly drew everyone’s attention. Vivian immediately let go of me and rushed to ask what had happened. Leo fumbled through his bag, then checked all his pockets. Then, with a horrified cry, he yelled: “My diamond watch is gone! The birthday gift Vivian gave me!”
The words had barely left his lips when everyone in the private dining room started looking for Leo’s watch. As he searched, he kept muttering: “This was Vivian’s birthday gift to me, over thirty million dollars! I really don’t want to lose it!” Though I had no idea what game he was playing, I just wanted to leave immediately. But as I reached the door, Leo reached out and blocked my way. “Alex, why don’t you let me check your bag? Otherwise, you can’t be cleared of suspicion.” Whether I’d stolen his watch or not, I knew the truth. “I’m tired. Leo, you can find it yourself.” Seeing my insistence on leaving, Leo actually grabbed my bag. In the struggle, the contents of my bag spilled onto the floor. And amidst the scattered items, there truly was a dazzling diamond watch. I stared at the watch in shock, then met Leo’s provocative gaze. “Why are you trying to frame me?” Turning around, I saw everyone behind me looking at me with contempt. Especially Vivian. Her delicate brows were furrowed, her eyes filled with disgust for me. I instinctively tried to explain to her: “I didn’t take this!” But my explanation seemed so weak and pale in the face of such clear “evidence.” Next, Leo picked up the diamond watch. “This watch means so much to me. How could Alex steal it?” “I thought Alex had changed after prison, but I guess not. I don’t think I can work with you anymore…” Leo’s few words made everyone’s faces turn sour. The client manager broke the silence, his voice stern: “Vivian, I think we’ll have to call off this partnership!” With that, he stormed out of the private room with his team. I was about to chase after them to explain, but Vivian shoved me hard. I stumbled backward, hitting the wall. Meeting my incredulous gaze, there was no regret in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!” “I brought you out tonight, not for you to steal things!” Vivian’s single sentence completely condemned me. Didn’t she know what kind of person I was? Had she forgotten why I went to prison in the first place? Seeing the fury in her eyes, I knew she wouldn’t believe me. I just gave a bitter smile and held out my phone. “Then call the police.” She glanced down at the phone, then looked at me with furrowed brows again, still not moving. The long stare seemed to make me see the woman before me clearly. After a moment, Vivian scoffed, “You’re impossible!” She turned around, carefully put the diamond watch back on Leo’s wrist, and gently coaxed him to leave. In the private room, I was left alone with the messy aftermath. I squatted down, picked up my scattered belongings, and headed straight for the airport without hesitation. Late night at the departure lounge. I had planned to draft my resignation, but I received Vivian’s termination notice first. Her message was laced with anger: [Don’t bother coming to the office anymore. Go home and reflect on yourself!] Seeing her absurd demand, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Without a second thought, I took a photo of the signed divorce agreement and sent it to her. Along with the text: [Vivian, I wish you and Leo a lifetime of happiness together!] [But first, let’s finalize our divorce, or I’ll sue you for bigamy.] After that message, Vivian started calling me like crazy, as if her life depended on it.
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