At the company's IPO launch event, my husband’s gaze lingered a moment too long on his secretary. I turned away. The first thing I did was book an appointment for a termination. The next was to have my lawyer draft the divorce papers. Dean’s furious call came moments after he received the email. “What kind of joke is this? Because I looked at Harper?” “Yes. Because you looked at her.” 1 The livestream of the press conference still played on the screen. Dean, a beaming smile on his face, took the microphone from Harper, seamlessly continuing her opening remarks. “I owe so much to my secretary. For the past decade, she’s handled every project, big and small, at Davies Holdings. I’ve witnessed her tireless efforts all these years.” “Taking this opportunity, with everyone here today, I’m announcing a transfer of 20% of the company shares to Harper. From this day forward, we are not just superior and subordinate, but partners. I hope she continues her hard work in the future.” A ripple of shock swept through the room, immediately followed by thunderous applause. Amidst the congratulations, Harper shed tears, and Dean chuckled, handing her a tissue. Just that one glance. And I knew, with absolute certainty, this man was no longer mine. With two callous sentences, he wiped away a decade of my dedication, pinning my achievements onto another woman. Since he’d shown no decency, I saw no need for loyalty. I pulled out my phone, booked the abortion appointment, then dialed a number I knew by heart. “Is that partnership offer still on the table? I want in.” “Just one condition: I need full management control of the company. I want a 50% stake.” The voice on the other end agreed instantly, a hint of amusement in his tone. “So, Audrey Hayes, you’ve finally seen the light? Shares are no problem at all. To have you join us is worth any sacrifice!” “Though I confess, I’m curious. Back when you graduated, you absolutely refused to work with me. I’ve waited ten years for you. Why the sudden change of heart today?” “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. You talk too much.” I rolled my eyes, grabbed my keys, and drove straight to the clinic. After the procedure, I took a cab home, arriving just moments after Dean. His gaze immediately snagged on the crumpled shirt from yesterday, still piled on the couch, and his brow furrowed. “Why aren’t the clothes washed?” He turned to the dining table, his expression hardening further. “No dinner either. Are you feeling unwell today?” My hand instinctively went to my aching belly, the pain too sharp for words. I simply shook my head, eyes fixed on my phone, a silent dismissal. Dean carelessly handed me a small, wrapped box, his voice sharp with command. “Then go do it now. Make enough for one extra person today; I’ll take it to the office. The launch just ended; we’ll be working late tonight.” “Harper is with me. Can’t have an employee starving while they work.” Before, I would’ve seen to all the housework without him even asking. By day, I was Audrey Hayes, Marketing Director, fighting battles alongside him in the business world. By night, I was his homemaker, washing clothes, cooking meals, always catering to his entitled whims. That had been my life for ten years. But now, all I felt was an overwhelming weariness. He finished speaking, and I simply scoffed, not moving an inch. “Sorry, can’t do it.” I added, “Besides, didn’t you already eat out?” “I wasn’t just talking about dinner.” Dean’s momentarily calm face instantly darkened. “What are you even babbling about? I worked my tail off all day, only to come home to your frosty glare? Am I indebted to you? You know it’s our anniversary today, didn’t I bring you a gift? Can you stop with the passive-aggressive attitude? When are you going to start understanding my difficulties?” 2 My gaze fell on the gift box. I tore it open. Inside, a tiny, pitiful 1-gram lipstick lay nestled. My phone, by chance, flashed an ad for that very brand. This minuscule thing? It was a freebie, a bonus item from their Valentine’s Day gift set. I almost laughed at the pathetic irony of my own existence. Dean’s face was etched with discomfort, but he soldiered on. “I know you don’t usually wear makeup. I searched every brand to find this small size. Don’t be ridiculous.” I ignored his words. My alarm chimed, and I swiftly popped the pills into my mouth. Dean’s face contorted. He quickly snatched the medicine bottle away. “What are you doing? You know you can’t take medication when you’re pregnant, don’t you?” Seeing the grim set of my expression, Dean’s tone softened, a rare occurrence. He tossed the lipstick aside. “Fine, fine. Don’t like the shade, just throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one, okay? Audrey, you’re not alone now. Getting angry will affect the baby’s development.” As his words hung in the air, I laid the printed divorce papers on the table. “The agreement’s ready. Sign it when you have a moment.” “And I don’t have time to cater to your little secretary. Since you dote on her so much, why not just hire her a nanny?” Dean was swamped with work; I wouldn’t bother him with something as trivial as drafting legal documents. But at my words, his face hardened, and he abruptly stood up. “Divorce? What kind of joke is this? Just because I glanced at Harper during the launch? She’s just my secretary. You’re the one who hired her in the first place. If anything was going to happen between us, it would have happened ages ago. Why wait until now? Can you stop being so dramatic?” He finished, his gaze falling to my stomach, a resigned sigh escaping him as he bowed his head in defeat. “I know pregnant women are emotional, and I’ve tried my best to accommodate you, but don’t push it too far.” His dress shoes scuffed directly onto the rug, leaving glaring marks of dust in their wake. I almost blurted out a warning. Then, catching myself, I swallowed the words, a self-deprecating smile playing on my lips. He was always like this, uncaring of my efforts, my contributions. Now that I was leaving, whatever happened to him was no longer my concern. I met his gaze, nodding calmly. “Yes. Exactly because you looked at her. Isn’t that reason enough? Dean, I told you before we married, I can’t tolerate betrayal. But you’ve changed. So, there’s no point in us continuing.” Dean’s brow furrowed, on the verge of exploding. I spoke again. “And, the baby… it’s gone. Don’t worry, it won’t be an obstacle between you two. And it won’t compete with your little Harper for shares.” “Sign the papers when you have time. Courier them to me. The address is on there.” With that, I ignored his frozen figure, turning and walking away. Behind me, his anguished scream tore through the air: “Audrey Hayes, if you dare walk out today, don’t ever think about coming back!” A cold smile touched my lips. He had used that sentence to shackle me for ten years. I had constantly bowed my head, constantly apologized. What I got in return was not understanding, but his relentless pushing of boundaries. He thought I would turn around and beg for forgiveness, just like always. But as his words echoed, my footsteps quickened. Not coming back? That was exactly what I wanted. 3 Divorcing a husband for a single glance at his secretary sounds utterly preposterous. But only I knew how much unyielding affection was hidden in that look. That had once been a secret between Dean and me. When I first met him, I was still struggling through school. Bullied by classmates, reprimanded by teachers. Dean was a transfer student, strikingly handsome. He immediately captured everyone’s attention. Classmates warned him to stay away from me, calling me a homewrecker’s daughter, a natural temptress, a complete lowlife. Dean said nothing, but the way he looked at me grew deeper, more profound. When we switched seats, the entire class ostracized me; no one would sit with me. They even moved my desk and chair next to the trash can. Only Dean stood up, saying he wanted to sit next to me. I sensed his intentional approaches, but my own humiliation kept me from thinking too much. He advanced; I retreated; each deliberate encounter left me fleeing in embarrassment. But I never expected Dean to follow me all the way home. My father’s cruelty had left me with a broken bone, forcing me onto sick leave. Dean showed up with my homework, only to stumble upon my parents in a furious argument. In truth, my mother was the original wife. My father had drained her dowry, swindled all her money. Then he demanded a divorce, leaving her with nothing. To make my mother give up, he’d flaunted his mistress, cruelly branding my mom a hussy. The mistress lived downstairs, and whenever Dad passed her building, he would look at her deeply. Each time he did, a beating awaited me at home. To buy me medicine, Mom once ran barefoot through a rainy night, only to die beneath the wheels of a delivery truck. Dad was delighted for a long time, stayed out all night, and the next day, couldn’t wait to bring his mistress into our home. Out of deference to my presence, they could only communicate with their eyes. Every unintentional glimpse of my father’s gaze would send shivers down my spine. The night I turned eighteen, my father looked at me with that same chilling gaze. He tried to lock me in my room, and I brought him down with a wine bottle. On the run, I crashed into Dean, who had come to bring me my homework. My father, wielding a carving knife, cornered us in an alley. The second before the knife fell on my head, Dean lunged forward. Police cars and ambulances arrived simultaneously. Dean’s shoulder was shattered, bone visible. Yet, he was still smiling at me. “Audrey, you’re safe now.” With those words, he passed out. I stayed by his side all night. When he awoke, we naturally became a couple. Tears streaming, I gently touched the bandage on his shoulder. “You love me deeply, I can see it. I can read a person’s heart through their eyes. If your gaze ever changes, I’ll leave.” Eighteen-year-old Dean, with effort, lifted his other arm and playfully ruffled my hair. “Silly girl, then you’ll never see it.” I knew he didn’t believe my words. And I never imagined, one day, that very sentence would become a prophecy. After that night, the taunts targeting me at school completely vanished. All the students became exceptionally warm towards me. Dean proudly lifted his chin, like a peacock fanning its tail. “See? I told you. You’re incredibly charming. Everyone will love you. No need to be insecure. As long as I’m here, you’ll be a cherished princess.” He guided me, little by little, to shed the shadows of the past. Taught me to emerge from self-doubt and look up at the sunshine. It was only a month later that I found him in the alley outside the school, relentlessly beating a bully. “That’s for messing with Audrey! Do you get it now?” “Audrey loves strawberry cake. Understand what I mean?” “Now get lost!” The memories blurred. The look in his youthful eyes, I could no longer recall. 4 I returned alone to the apartment I’d lived in before marriage, resting for three days. Dean sent no messages. The company group chat occasionally popped up with chatter. “Then Harper is a shareholder now? She’s really shot up, huh? Must be close to becoming Mrs. Davies?” “What do you mean ‘must be’? Haven’t you seen Mr. Davies call Harper into his office every day? A man and a woman, alone, what else could they be doing?” “Don’t call her Secretary Harper anymore, call her Mrs. Davies, unless you want to lose your job!” “What about Manager Hayes? Didn’t she also like Mr. Davies—” “Please. She doesn’t even wear makeup. What man would look at a woman like that? Is unrequited love uncommon in this company?” … When I chose to keep our marriage a secret, he’d said he didn’t want employees gossiping. Now, it seemed, it was merely for his convenience when he wanted to bail. On the fourth day, I went to the office as usual. And handed in my resignation to HR. She looked at me, surprised. “Manager Hayes, you’re resigning? Does Mr. Davies know? I can’t approve your resignation without his consent.” “Who doesn’t know you’re a company veteran? Your leaving would be like cutting off Mr. Davies’s right arm!” No sooner had she spoken than I heard a scornful voice from outside the door. “What’s there not to approve? She just couldn’t face it anymore.” “After all, every project she ‘handled’ only got successfully signed after it was given to Secretary Harper. If I were her, I’d have packed my bags and left ages ago!” “Secretary Harper’s latest project single-handedly took the company public. Could Audrey Hayes do that? Calling her a trophy wife is an overstatement; she’s practically a toilet!” The projects they spoke of were plans I’d tirelessly worked on, night after night. But each time, at the final hurdle, Dean would hand them over to Harper. I swallowed the surge of indignation, smiling as I looked up. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s why I’m resigning. Please, move aside.” “I hope the company reaches new heights under Secretary Harper’s leadership. With her, everyone’s salaries are sure to soar.” “Damn, who are you being passive-aggressive for? I’ve always disliked you. Just because you’re a manager, you think you’re the boss’s wife?” A colleague, seething with anger, started to lunge at me. She was stopped by someone beside her. “Alright, why waste time with someone like her? Can’t do her job, can’t hold onto a man, still single at her age. She’ll have a bitter pill to swallow later!” Ignoring their reactions, I carried my resignation form into the elevator. As the doors slowly closed, my body gave out. I sank to the floor, hugging my knees tightly. Ten seconds later, I stood again, my usual resolute demeanor restored. I strode directly into Dean’s office. Harper was on Dean’s couch, munching loudly on potato chips. “Manager Hayes? Oh, wait, sister-in-law? What are you doing here?” Harper, as his secretary, was the only one in the company who knew my true identity. Dean’s explanation was that it made it easier for her to arrange his work. But ten years passed, and I saw no work convenience. Only her convenient provocations. My gaze swept over the chip crumbs on the sofa. The irony was biting. Before, when I entered his office, even a cup of coffee was a luxury. He’d always claimed I’d dirty the carpet, stain the couch. Said it would tarnish the company’s image. Now, with Harper, all those rules seemed to have vanished. Dean’s face instantly chilled as he saw me. “Don’t you know how to knock?” “Can’t you see I’m busy? Get out, knock again!” Harper tossed the chip bag to the floor, quickly stepping forward to mediate. “Mr. Davies, don’t be angry. Sister-in-law didn’t mean it. She was just in a hurry.” “Besides, we’re family. What would the employees outside think if you just made her leave?” I shot her a cold glance. “Since when do you have a say here?” Harper’s pretty, innocent expression froze. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made sister-in-law angry. I’ll leave right now.” She barely took two steps before Dean abruptly grabbed her wrist. “Stop right there. This is my office, and it’s not up to her to decide who stays or goes.” He looked at me, his gaze challenging. “What, realized your mistake? Coming to beg me now? Too late!” I gripped the paper in my hand. “Sorry, I’m here to pick up the divorce papers.” My last shred of pride wouldn’t allow me to show weakness in front of Harper. After instinctively lying, Harper’s face changed. She quickly walked to me, taking my hand. “Sister-in-law, please don’t be rash! Is this because of me that you’re getting divorced?” “What did I do wrong? I can apologize to you. If it comes to it, I can resign and leave. Please, don’t argue because of me!” Dean’s patience had reached its limit, his voice laced with suppressed fury. “Audrey Hayes, I told you, there’s nothing going on between me and Harper. Believe it or not!” “You want a divorce, huh? Fine. Just don’t regret it!” “Before you leave, change all project leads under your name to Harper, return any bonuses to the company, and go wherever you want. I won’t stop you!” My eyes burned, a searing disbelief etched into my gaze as I stared at him. “Those were my sleepless nights, countless hours I put in! What right do you have to just hand them over to her?” Dean didn’t even glance at me, turning his back irritably. He lit a cigarette, the tip glowing. Harper seized the moment, throwing herself against the corner of the table. Blood instantly welled on her forehead. Her face was chalk-white. “Sister-in-law... I’ve already apologized! I don’t want the projects! I don’t want anything, isn’t that enough?” “I’ll leave. I’ll leave the company right now. Don’t make it hard for Mr. Davies…” Before I could react, Dean had already scooped her up. His eyes blazed at me with fury, and he slapped me hard across the face. “Audrey Hayes, Harper has already apologized! Are you never going to let this go?!” “My patience with you all these years has made you forget your place. Fine, you want a divorce? I’ll sign right now!” The resignation form fluttered from my hand, landing on the table, overlapping with the divorce papers. Dean didn’t even glance at them, swiftly signing his name three times. He left me with only his retreating back, Harper cradled in his arms. A gust of wind blew through. I wiped the tears from my face. Then I walked downstairs, hailed a cab, and headed straight for the airport. At the hospital, after Dean finished treating Harper’s injury, a strange sense of irritation gnawed at him. Thinking of the projects Audrey had painstakingly worked on for half a year, he forced himself to calm down. He knew that for Audrey, the projects were paramount, so he had deliberately suggested changing the project lead to Harper, certain she wouldn’t agree. That way, he could legitimately refuse the divorce. But he hadn’t expected to impulsively sign the papers just now. After much deliberation, Dean tentatively sent me a message. "There's an issue with the project. Come to my office later so we can discuss it in person." A glaring red exclamation mark appeared before my eyes. The next second, a call came through to Dean Davies. “Mr. Davies, no good! All of the company’s projects have been stolen!” A frantic voice echoed through the speaker. “The other party is using the exact same proposals as us! They even know our bottom-line pricing!”
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392648", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel