It was the third year of my marriage to Marcus Kane. He was thirty-five. I wasn't even twenty-one, just a senior in college. I was still debating whether I wanted to be a stay-at-home wife when I overheard him chatting with a group of his high-powered friends. "Sophie has nothing going for her but her youth," he said, his voice casual. "Compared to her, Isabel is so much more sophisticated. I’m starting to regret this marriage. Keeping a young girl on the side costs pennies compared to this. A divorce now would be a massive financial hit." The next day, I handed him the divorce papers. When he saw the clause stating I would walk away with nothing, a long sigh of relief escaped him. He even put on a show of magnanimity. "I'll give you twenty million," he said. "Consider it compensation." I smiled and refused. "I'm still young. I can afford to play." He didn't know that my brother was Alex Thorne, one of the most powerful men in the city. For years, Marcus had only managed to climb into the inner circle of the elite thanks to my brother's support. By divorcing me, his losses were only just beginning. 1 For my senior year internship, I decided to go to Marcus's company. I wanted to be able to sneak a few more glances at my handsome husband every day. As a low-level intern, I kept such a low profile that even Marcus didn't know I was there. I didn't want to be a distraction or cause him any trouble. Sometimes, I'd overhear the other interns gossiping about him. I'd listen intently, but never joined in. "Mr. Kane is so hot. Thirty-five is a man's prime." "Too bad he's married. And to some unknown young girl, apparently." "Ugh, why can't I be that lucky..." When I was eighteen, Marcus had pursued me with a singular focus. On our very first date, he told me he was looking for a wife, not a fling. He gave me the ring right then and there. I met his intensity with my own. We dated for a year and then got married. It was impulsive, intoxicating, sweet, and blissful. He gave me a fantasy romance beyond my wildest dreams. The love of a powerful CEO was direct and overwhelming, a force of nature that swept me off my feet and left me completely disoriented. If I hadn't come to intern at his company, I might never have discovered his secrets. Isabel. Marcus's executive assistant. She was stunningly beautiful, a classic, sophisticated woman. She often accompanied him on business trips and to client dinners. She had her hand in every aspect of the company; in some ways, she knew it even better than he did. Before they learned of his marriage, everyone in the company assumed Isabel was the true boss's wife. I'd even hear the veteran employees, who had been with them from the start, complaining in the cafeteria. "Mr. Kane must be blind, having a goddess like Isabel by his side and not cherishing her." "And after she quit her senior position at that publicly-traded company just to be his assistant." "Just you watch. Once the passion fades, he'll divorce that girl and end up with Isabel." The rumors were everywhere, but I never let them bother me. After all, the passion between Marcus and me was reignited every single night. That is, until a company dinner where Isabel, drunk, confessed her feelings for Marcus in front of everyone. It wasn't so much a confession as an ultimatum. She asked him if he had any feelings for her. Marcus was silent for a long time. Isabel pressed him again. "If you don't have feelings for me, why won't you approve my resignation letter?" Marcus's face was grim. He finally answered with a single word. "Yes." Then, he looked at her, his gaze full of a deep, complicated emotion. "I do have feelings for you. I can't lose you, so I can't sign your resignation. Is that okay?" Isabel smiled. She drained a glass of liquor from the table, grabbed her purse, and walked out. The air in the room was thick for two seconds. Then Marcus chased after her. The only people at that dinner were the old guard, the ones who had built the company with Marcus and Isabel. I wasn't there. But a bubbly girl I'd become friendly with, Jenna, loved gossip. She'd filmed the whole thing and sent it to me privately. Jenna texted me: 【Do you think something's going to happen between Mr. Kane and Isabel tonight?】 I replied: 【Probably not... I hope.】 【They're grown adults, they've known each other for years, they have this deep connection, they've been drinking, and she just confessed... and you think nothing will happen?】 I typed back, my fingers firm: 【Marcus is married. He should have some self-control. Besides, Isabel doesn't need to be a homewrecker!】 【You have a point. But we'll know for sure tomorrow if something happened.】 I didn't understand what she meant by "we'll know for sure tomorrow." But a moment after I closed her chat window, the answer came to me. A message from Marcus. He said he wouldn't be home tonight. A last-minute work thing. A tremor went through my heart. I immediately called him. At first, he didn't pick up. I called again, and again. Finally, he answered. "Hey, baby. My phone was on silent, I didn't hear it. What's up?" I fought to keep my voice steady, my nails digging into the flesh of my palm. "Honey, are you really not coming home tonight?" "Yeah, it's a team dinner, everyone's here. I can't get away. Please understand, baby." I bit my lip, forcing myself to ask the next question. "Are there any women there?" He paused, then chuckled. "No. When did you start checking up on me? Want me to video call and prove my innocence?" As he was speaking, I heard a soft, rustling sound. The distinct sound of a crisp dress shirt rubbing against hotel sheets. In the past, when our love was a fever, that was a sound I heard often. "Hnngh..." A low grunt escaped his lips on the other end. In that single, fleeting moment, all the turmoil in my heart vanished. After three years with Marcus, after countless nights of passion, I knew exactly what that sound meant. It was the sound of a man trying to suppress a wave of pleasure. A detail he probably wasn't even aware of himself. Perfect. I didn't even have to stop him from cheating. The deed was already done. I gave a bitter laugh. "No need for a video call..." I was afraid it would burn my eyes out. "You have fun. I'm going to sleep." My heart felt like a pile of cold ash. I was about to hang up when Marcus spoke again, his voice now a low, raspy drawl. "Baby, we just closed a huge deal tonight. Starting tomorrow, the team's going to be in overdrive. I'll probably be working very late for a while. You don't have to wait up for me for dinner." Working in overdrive. Or getting "overdrive" with Isabel. To me, it no longer mattered. 2 The phone call ended. I didn't sleep a wink. I arrived at the office with dark circles under my eyes. My brain was still a blank fog when Jenna sidled up to me, eager to continue last night's gossip. "Something definitely happened between Mr. Kane and Isabel last night." I frowned slightly. She continued, "Mr. Kane's shirt was all wrinkled this morning, and... he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. That means he didn't go home at all, right?" I nodded, not having the energy to praise her keen eye. "And Isabel was late this morning," Jenna went on, "When she came in, she was practically glowing. You know how she's usually all business? Today she was like a different person." "A different person how?" I asked. She thought for a moment. "Brighter, sexier, almost... purring. See for yourself." I looked up. I saw Isabel walk in, wearing a tight, form-fitting dress that hugged her curves. I'd seen that dress before. I had been shopping with Marcus when I spotted it. They didn't have my size, so I paid for it and asked the clerk to ship it to Marcus's office when it came in. Apparently, the shipment had arrived. But the recipient had changed. Isabel was in a great mood. She walked in and asked what everyone wanted to drink, her treat. The office erupted in cheers. I sat in my corner, a bitter cocktail of emotions churning in my stomach. I tried to lose myself in work, but it was useless. I drifted through the morning in a haze. At lunch, I was eating takeout at my desk when Isabel walked into Marcus's office carrying several bags of exquisite-looking food. She went in. And didn't come out until the afternoon. When she finally emerged, it was late, almost time to go home. Beside me, Jenna made a tsk-tsk sound. "The world these days," she sighed. "Of all the men Isabel could have, she had to go for a married one. Little Chang, whose desk is closer to the office, said that as soon as Isabel went in, she threw herself into Mr. Kane's arms. They nearly turned the office into a hotel room!" With that, Jenna sent me a photo that Chang had secretly taken. Isabel was sitting on Marcus's lap, feeding him. The look on their faces, their posture... it was painfully intimate. "I can't imagine how heartbroken Mr. Kane's wife would be if she saw this," Jenna whispered with a sigh. Across from us, our manager, Mr. Davies, frowned. "They're two consenting adults. What business is it of yours?" Jenna didn't catch his meaning and added playfully, "You're right. She's definitely the 'mistress' in this love story!" Mr. Davies was not amused. He slapped a thick binder on Jenna's desk. "Since you're so free, you can finish this. You're not leaving until it's done." Jenna's face fell. I quietly sent her a message: 【Mr. Davies and Isabel go way back. He's definitely on her side. You should probably avoid comments like that in the future.】 Jenna replied with a string of crying emojis. I tried to console her: 【Don't worry, I'll help you with it. We'll finish it quickly and I'll treat you to lobster rolls after.】 She cheered up immediately. That evening, after we had finally finished our extra work and were about to leave for dinner, Mr. Davies called out to us again. "You've worked hard. Let's all go out for a late supper." He didn't give us a chance to refuse. He led us to a restaurant near the office. After dinner, he herded us to a karaoke bar. We were reluctant, but we had no choice. As interns, we had no power. We found a dark corner and started playing a game on our phones, getting completely absorbed. We didn't even notice the private room slowly filling up with more people. Until I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and saw Marcus, holding court in the center of a group of industry bigwigs. At first, they talked about projects. Then, the conversation drifted to their personal lives. Kids, wives, in-laws... and of course, mistresses. "I saw Isabel's post on social media," one of them said. "Something about soulmates finally getting together. What's up? Did you finally wise up and claim her?" My ears perked up. Marcus's voice was calm. "You guys don't understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Isabel was forcing my hand. If I didn't keep her, she was going to quit. You know how important she is to the company. The company can't run without her. And... you could say I can't run without her." "But is Isabel willing to be the other woman? Marcus, be careful you don't play with fire and get burned." "Yeah, man, we all saw how much effort you put into marrying that little girl. Forget about whether you can keep your side piece happy, what if your main squeeze finds out? All hell would break loose." "Not necessarily," another chimed in. "If Isabel herself doesn't mind, what right does the little girl have to complain?" "She's been coddled by Marcus for years. Do you really think she could handle going back to a normal, ordinary life? Even if she found out, she wouldn't dare make a move. She'll cling to the 'Mrs. Kane' title for dear life. At least it guarantees a life of luxury." They went back and forth, but the consensus was clear: as long as Marcus could keep Isabel happy and quiet, the one at home wouldn't dare cause a scene. They even congratulated him on successfully having his cake and eating it too. Jenna's face was scrunched up in disgust. She leaned over and whispered, "So gross." Then she added, "I mean, what Mr. Kane is doing is scummy, but they're not wrong. That girl hasn't even graduated, right? No family connections, no career of her own... making a scene would only hurt her. What do you think...?" I nodded. "She won't make a scene. In this day and age, everyone wants to be civilized." Everything can be discussed calmly. Even divorce. Just then, Marcus put down his glass and spoke. "Yeah," he said, "Sophie has nothing going for her but her youth. Compared to her, she's not as sophisticated as Isabel." "But Isabel has a proud streak. I don't know how long she'll be willing to put up with this. I'm starting to regret this marriage. Keeping a young girl on the side costs pennies compared to this. A divorce now would be a massive financial hit." So, that was it. He was worried about the financial loss. After all, we were legally married. A divorce meant I would get half of his post-marital assets. Fine. I would give him what he wanted. I would walk away with nothing. But he would have to bear the consequences of my departure. 3 The party finally broke up. Isabel came and collected a very drunk Marcus. I watched from a distance as they embraced, their mouths locked together. Perhaps they had been holding back for too long. The moment they got into the car, it began to rock violently. I silently filmed the entire scene. Then, I called my brother. "Hey, little sis! What's up? What's got you calling me so late?" The sound of my brother's voice touched the softest part of my heart. I couldn't hold it in any longer. A single tear escaped, then another, until they were streaming down my face. "Kiddo, what's wrong? Are you crying?" I was sobbing too hard to speak. My brother immediately asked where I was. I mumbled an address. Half an hour later, he was there. I was huddled on a curb, shivering. He took off his jacket, draped it over my shoulders, and sat quietly beside me. "Where's Marcus?" "He's cheating on me." My brother froze, his jaw tightening. "Where is he? I'll kill him." I grabbed his hand and shook my head. "Don't. It would only dirty your hands." My brother stomped his foot on the ground in frustration, but it wasn't enough to quell his anger. He asked me, "Are you going to divorce him?" I nodded without hesitation. "Is there any chance it's a misunderstanding?" I showed him the videos and photos on my phone. I didn't have to say a word. My brother had already made his decision. He immediately took out his phone and made several calls. The first was to his lawyer friend, asking him to draft a divorce agreement for me. The second was to all the suppliers connected to Marcus's company. He instructed them to cancel any newly negotiated but unsigned contracts, not to renew any expiring ones, and to revoke all discounts on existing contracts, charging full market price from now on. After he finished his calls, my brother took my hand. "Come on, let's go home." I shook my head, tears still clinging to my eyelashes. "Before we go home, I want to move out." My brother didn't hesitate. He drove me to the house Marcus and I shared. It was a house Marcus had bought. I had no sentimental attachment to it. But I had lived there for three years, and I never thought I would leave like this. "If you want this house, I'll get you the best lawyer to make sure you get it." "No, brother. Anything that's been touched by Marcus... it just feels dirty to me now." 4 After moving out of the villa, I decided to wait for Marcus to contact me before I laid my cards on the table. Unfortunately, a week passed. He hadn't even noticed I was gone. He would just send me a daily text: 【Working late again tonight. Don't wait up.】 But in reality, I saw him and Isabel together every day. Jenna, after her "mistress" comment, was being targeted by our department manager. She was buried under a mountain of work. I couldn't bear to see her suffer alone, so I stayed late with her every night. When we were working late, we could often hear the soft, decadent sounds that drifted from the CEO’s office. Jenna couldn't help but complain. "Mr. Kane is so cheap. He won't even spring for a hotel room." I gave a wry, bitter smile. "Maybe doing it in the office... adds to the atmosphere." Passing by, I couldn't resist. I recorded a few of their more... explicit encounters on my phone. I had a feeling they might come in handy later. I spent the rest of my internship diligently working alongside Jenna. When it was finally over, she told me she wanted to stay on. "It's hard to find a job out there. And even though I can't stand Mr. Kane, a girl's gotta eat." I wished her luck. She asked me if I wanted to stay. I told her I just wanted to get my internship certificate and get as far away from this toxic place as possible. I never expected that at the last minute, I would be stabbed in the back by my own friend. I was the only intern in our group who didn't receive a passing evaluation. I was furious. I demanded an explanation from my department head. He simply said it was Isabel's decision. I thought Isabel must have found out who I was and was targeting me on purpose. I never imagined that Jenna would be the one to confess. "That day... I don't know who overheard me call Isabel a 'mistress.' The word got out, and all this overtime we've been doing... it wasn't from Mr. Davies. It was Isabel targeting us. I was a dead woman, but because you stayed with me and worked late every night, I..." Jenna was sobbing uncontrollably. "I really need this job. I'm not as pretty as you, or as smart as you. So I went to Isabel... and I told her that you were the one who called her a mistress." "I thought... I thought she would just not offer you a job. I never thought she would refuse to even give you your internship certificate. It's my fault... I'm so sorry..." I laughed. A laugh born of pure rage. Partly at my friend's betrayal. But mostly at Isabel, for abusing her power for personal revenge. "It's okay. I forgive you. Stop crying. Thank you for being my friend during this time. I wish you all the best in the future." With that, I picked up the folder I had been preparing for a long time and turned to leave. Jenna grabbed my arm, her eyes full of pleading. "The thing with Isabel..." My voice was flat. "Don't worry. I'll take the blame for this." Then, I lifted my head and shouted to the entire office. "She, Isabel Thorne, is a mistress! Why is that so unspeakable!" Instantly, everyone in the office froze, their heads swiveling towards me. Their eyes were wide with shock. And I, holding my failing internship report, marched straight into the conference room. At that moment, all the senior executives and department heads were in their morning meeting. My arrival was clearly unwelcome. The executives frowned, their faces showing their distaste for this impertinent young girl. It was true. In the three years I had been married to Marcus, not a single person in his company knew what Mrs. Kane looked like. Not even Isabel. In the entire room, only Marcus showed a flicker of surprise when he saw me. But he didn't speak. It was Isabel, the meeting's moderator, who spoke first. She tilted her head back, her beautiful, sophisticated face a mask of disdain and impatience. "What could possibly be so important that it has to be now?" I didn't hold back. "Isabel, is it because I called you Mr. Kane's mistress that you're deliberately sabotaging me and refusing to issue my internship certificate?" The others in the room looked at Isabel, their expressions shifting to surprise. Isabel froze, likely shocked that a mere intern would be so bold. She narrowed her eyes. "So you know. Then why bother coming in here to ask?" Denying it was pointless. The rumors had already spread throughout the company. To shut people up, she had to make an example of someone. And in her eyes, I was the perfect sacrificial lamb. I met her gaze, my voice rising. "I'm sorry, Isabel. I shouldn't have said you were Mr. Kane's mistress!" Isabel's face flushed with a hint of embarrassment, but she held her ground, crossing her arms and looking down her nose at me. "It's too late for apologies now!" I looked at Marcus. His face was dark, clearly displeased. But what did he have to be displeased about? He was the one who had lost face first. I sneered. "Oh, it's not too late. I'm going to set the record straight for you right now!" I pulled open the door behind me, my voice climbing higher and higher. "Of course Isabel isn't Mr. Kane's mistress! In the old days, to even be a concubine, you had to be formally brought into the family, you had to bow to me, the primary wife! A woman with no formal acknowledgement is just a side piece! She wouldn't even be allowed in the family mausoleum!" My declaration made Isabel's face turn shades of green and white. The others in the room finally realized who I was. As did Isabel. All eyes turned to Marcus. He was seething with rage. In our year of dating and three years of marriage... this was the first time I had ever seen him truly angry. "Have you made enough of a scene?!" How could it be enough? I wanted to be civilized, too. You people didn't let me! "I have only one demand. Give me my internship certificate!" Marcus's chest heaved with fury. He was still trying to defend Isabel. "Internship evaluations are determined by the department heads. You shouldn't be coming to Isabel. You should be talking to your direct supervisor." Isabel was visibly shaken, but hearing Marcus defend her gave her a sliver of courage. "Yes... that's right. I'm just Mr. Kane's assistant. I don't have the authority to make decisions about interns." What a pair of fakes. One more pathetic than the other. This was his company. Issuing an internship certificate was a matter of a single word from him. By saying this, he was making it clear that my feelings, my face, meant nothing to him. He was more concerned with protecting Isabel's image in front of his employees. The moment he spoke, I understood. Marcus had never, not for a single moment, intended to be on my side. Fine. I met his eyes, and without a shred of hesitation, I said, "What if I trade my divorce agreement for it?" I pulled out the papers and laid them on the conference table. I added, "I’ll waive all claims to my share of his assets in exchange for that piece of paper. You’re not losing a thing."
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