Chapter 1

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.”