We worked at the same company and had been secretly married for five years. Today, my husband, Alex Carter, handed out slices of his assistant Chloe Jensen’s birthday cake to everyone’s desk. The entire open-plan office was buzzing about them. When Chloe cut the cake, she made a point to walk over to me, a bright smile on her face. "Emma, you have to try this. Alex said he ordered it from the best French patisserie in town." I took the paper plate without an expression, turned around, and dropped it directly into the trash can beside my desk. Chloe’s smile froze. She quickly walked to Alex's office and shut the door. I could hear her muffled sobs through the glass. A few minutes later, Alex stormed out of his office, his face dark. He stopped at my desk and hissed, "My office. Now." The moment I was inside, he exploded. "What the hell are you doing? This is an office, not a place for your tantrums!" I looked at him calmly. "You're the one who turned the office into a birthday party." "Chloe's father is our biggest client! Can't you be mature for once? This is about the company's business, about my promotion!" "So your promotion is more important than your wife's feelings?" He froze for a second, then got even angrier. "Don't you dare start with that here. If you don't want to work here anymore, HR is on the second floor." I nodded. "Fine." He clearly didn't expect that answer. A flicker of panic crossed his face. "Emma, you…" "I'll go talk to HR about my resignation," I cut him off. "And by the way, we should also talk about a divorce." With that, I turned and walked out of his office. That night, Chloe updated her Instagram story: a selfie of her with the birthday cake, captioned, "The best boss! So lucky to have you ❤️" A few minutes later, she added a screenshot of a reply. "Someone asked if we're a thing? Hehe, my lips are sealed~ ?" I stared at the post, opened my contacts, and long-pressed Alex’s name. Block. Delete contact. Unfollow on Instagram. It was time to end this.
After the cake incident, the atmosphere in the office was tense. Alex stood in front of my desk, and I could feel our colleagues listening in. "Are you insane?" he whispered fiercely. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?" "Perfectly," I said, continuing to pack my personal belongings—a picture frame, a coffee mug, a small succulent. "Emma," he said through gritted teeth. "Don't make a scene. We'll talk about this at home." "There's nothing to talk about." I sealed the last box. "And for the record, Chloe needs to learn some professional etiquette. Bringing a cake for your boss is one thing, but that Instagram caption? Does this company not have a social media policy?" His face paled. I picked up my box to leave. As I passed the trash can, I casually picked up the slice of cake and held it out to him. "Since it's from the best patisserie, don't let it go to waste. Enjoy your work." I heard his voice behind me. "Emma! You stop right there!" "If you dare walk out that door…" I didn't stop. It had started to rain outside. After getting together with Alex, I had gotten used to him driving me to and from work. To keep our secret, I always had him drop me off at the Starbucks a block away from the office. Now, I stood in the lobby of our building, pulling out my phone to order an Uber. Just then, Alex's black Audi drove past. The passenger-side window rolled down, and Chloe leaned out. "Emma! Need a ride? I see you don't have an umbrella. Alex was going to just leave, but I made him stop." In the driver's seat, Alex stared straight ahead, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. I had told him countless times that the passenger seat was my spot. I even had a small, custom-made sign from Etsy that I'd hung there—"Emma Vance's Official Seat." He had laughed at me. "How old are you? Still doing this stuff?" Then he ripped it off and threw it in the trash. Now, I just turned my head away, ignoring Chloe’s "kindness." Her eyes immediately welled up. "Emma, I was just trying to help… Why are you always so mean to me?" That move always worked on Alex. He turned his head and said coldly, "If she wants to get soaked, let her. Let's go." As the car sped away, it sent a wave of dirty rainwater splashing onto my pants and shoes. By the time my Uber arrived and I got home, I was shivering. I changed into dry clothes and saw that it was starting to hail. On days like this, I used to always text Alex: "Be careful driving home, the roads are icy." I instinctively reached for my phone, only to see an Instagram post from Chloe, uploaded ten minutes ago. It was a picture of a restaurant, and you could clearly see Alex's profile and the dark blue shirt I bought him. The caption read: "A cozy dinner on a cold night ?" The office gossip channel on Slack immediately blew up. "@Chloe Congrats! Are you two finally making it official?" "OMG, I knew there was something between them!" "I totally ship them!" Both Alex and I were in that channel. He never once tried to shut down the rumors. I left the channel immediately. Late that night, Alex came home. "You're still up?" he asked, tossing his suit jacket onto the sofa. "Are you over it yet?" He walked to the kitchen to pour a glass of water, his voice filled with impatience. "When you're done with your drama, get some sleep. You have work tomorrow—oh, wait. I forgot you quit." I walked out of the bedroom. "I've made up my mind." He paused. "I want a divorce."
Alex stopped loosening his tie. "What did you just say?" "A divorce," I repeated. "We're over." He scoffed. "Weren't you the one who was dying to get into this company? You agreed to a secret marriage for five years just for this job. And now you're just walking away?" "Yeah, well, I was naive back then." "Emma," he said, walking toward me. "Do you even hear yourself? Is this about Chloe? She's just an intern. Her father is a major client, and I have to maintain that relationship. Can't you understand that?" "Understand what? That you let her sit in my seat? That you run out in the middle of the night to take her calls? Or that you let the entire office think you two are dating?" "That's all for work!" he yelled. Just then, his phone rang. The name "Chloe" flashed on the screen. He hesitated, glancing at me. Ever since Chloe started, calls like this had become a daily routine. We had fought about it countless times. I asked him not to take her calls at home, and he said I was being unreasonable. This time, I just turned calmly and went back into the bedroom. I heard his hushed voice from the other room. "What's wrong?… Uh-huh… Okay, I get it… Don't cry, I'll deal with it when I get to the office in the morning…" Then the sound of the front door opening and closing. He was gone again. I thought I would be up all night, but I slept surprisingly well. The next morning, I woke up with a dull ache in my lower abdomen. I tried to ignore it, but by noon, the pain was getting worse. I decided to go to the hospital. When I got the lab report from the OB/GYN, I froze. I looked up and saw Alex at the end of the hallway. He was helping Chloe walk, and the Burberry trench coat I had bought him was draped over her shoulders. Chloe saw me too. She walked over, her face pale and her voice weak. "Emma, what are you doing here?" "I had acute gastroenteritis last night, the pain was awful. Alex took care of me all night, and he was still worried this morning, so he insisted on bringing me in for a check-up," she said, managing a faint smile. I clutched the lab report in my hand. "How thoughtful of him." Alex finally noticed me and let go of Chloe. "Why are you at the hospital?" I forced a smile. "Just a check-up. Company benefits." "Didn't you quit?" "It's a routine check-up before I leave," I said, turning to walk away. "Emma," Chloe called out from behind me, a hint of triumph in her voice. "Want to grab lunch? I know a great brunch spot near here. My treat." I turned back. She was holding Alex's arm, her eyes full of provocation. "No, thanks," I said, pausing. "By the way, Chloe, acute gastroenteritis should be treated in the ER, not the OB/GYN department. If you can't even find the right department, maybe you should see a neurologist first." Without waiting for a reply, I walked straight to the doctor's office and knocked. "Doctor," I said as I walked in. "I need to ask about the procedure..."
Alex came home unusually late. "Have you eaten?" he asked as he walked in. "We could go out. Remember that taco truck from our old college town? They opened a spot near here. You used to love their tacos." He was trying to use our memories to bridge the gap between us. "I don't like them anymore." It wasn't that I didn't like them; it was that my stomach couldn't handle them anymore. Over the years, to help Alex establish himself at the company, I had worked day and night, entertaining clients and taking drinks for him. Chronic gastritis, stomach ulcers… my doctor said I was close to a perforated stomach if I wasn't careful. On the nights he was out with Chloe, I would often be curled up on the sofa in pain, relying on painkillers to get through. Alex's face immediately darkened. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Just trying to pick a fight." "I don't have time to coddle you. Look at yourself, how old are you? Still throwing tantrums like a twenty-year-old girl?" He grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of the bathroom mirror. "Take a good look, Emma. Do you really think you're still some fresh-faced college grad?!" He slammed the door on his way out. I stood in front of the mirror, looking at the tired woman staring back at me, with fine lines already forming around her eyes. He was right. We weren't kids anymore. It was time to take responsibility for our choices. Alex and I met in college. He pursued me for a whole year before we finally got together. Like all young couples, we had our romantic moments: driving to a mountaintop at 4 a.m. to watch the sunrise and kissing in the morning light; chasing each other through the first snow in our college town; comforting each other on a park bench after a failed job interview, saying, "It's okay, we still have each other." Right after graduation, we rented a tiny studio apartment, less than 200 square feet. We kept the heat on the lowest setting to save money in the winter, often huddling together to stay warm. No matter how late I worked, he would always leave a plate of food for me in the microwave. Even if it was cold by the time I got to it, I ate it happily. Nine years with Alex. There were too many memories to count. But it seemed he was much more forgetful than I was. Nine years. My entire youth was marked with his name. The next morning, Alex left for work without me. He sent a text: "You need some space to cool off. Let me know when you're ready to talk like an adult." I didn't reply. Without a car and with snow falling, both Lyft and Uber had surge pricing. It took me a long time to get a ride. By the time I reached the office, the snow on my coat had melted, and I was soaked. I pushed open the office door, and all eyes turned to me. Chloe was slumped over her desk, her shoulders shaking slightly. As I stepped inside, Jessica from marketing—one of Chloe's friends—walked over with a cup of coffee and sneered, "Some people act so proper, but behind everyone's back, they're just shameless." A colleague next to me nudged me, motioning toward the office gossip channel on Slack. Someone had posted a photo: me getting out of the back seat of Alex's Audi this morning. The angle was sneaky, like it was taken by someone following us. The caption read: "Some people really know how to take advantage, don't they? ?" The replies were a firestorm. "OMG, isn't that Alex's car?" "So that's why Emma is always picking on Chloe…" "So she's the other woman." "Disgusting. Everyone knows Alex is Chloe's boyfriend." I had become the homewrecker.
Chloe’s crying continued as other colleagues joined in. "Emma, you knew Alex and Chloe were together. How could you do something like this?" "So shameless. You should just quit and get out of here!" "HR should fire people who ruin workplace relationships…" Chloe lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen. She looked at me and said, "Please don't be like this… If Emma just apologizes to me… I… I can forgive her…" "Yeah! Apologize now!" "Beg for Chloe's forgiveness!" Just then, Alex walked out of a conference room. "Is this an office or a high school cafeteria?" his voice was cold. "Doesn't anyone have work to do?" The office fell silent instantly. But Chloe chose that moment to start sobbing again, walking over to Alex. "Alex, they're saying Emma… they're saying you two… but I know it's all a misunderstanding, right? There has to be something wrong with that photo…" Alex's expression tensed as he looked at me. Chloe pressed him. "Tell them. Tell everyone that there's nothing between you two…" Everyone stared at Alex, waiting for him to clear the air. He was silent for a few seconds before finally speaking. "She lives in my apartment building. I just gave her a ride because of the snow. That's it." A wave of understanding washed over the crowd. Chloe's tears turned into a smile. "I knew it… Alex, thank you…" I suddenly found the whole situation hilarious. Nine years of marriage, and in his words, I was just "a neighbor from the same building." I walked to the center of the office, looked around, and spoke clearly. "Alex Carter and I are legally married. We registered at City Hall and have a marriage certificate. I am not his neighbor, and I am certainly not the other woman." I paused, then added, "However, we are in the process of getting a divorce." The office was dead silent. Alex’s face was pale with fury. "Emma, what the hell are you talking about?!"
Alex grabbed my arm and dragged me into his office. The door slammed shut. "Are you out of your mind?" he hissed, his anger obvious. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?" "I do. I'm telling the truth." "The truth?" he sneered. "Do you know how this is going to affect my career? Company policy explicitly forbids office relationships! I'm about to be promoted to Vice President, and you pull this stunt now…" "So your Vice President title is more important than our marriage?" "This isn't about what's more important!" he said, angrily loosening his tie. "Emma, what has gotten into you lately? If you're not feeling well, just take the day off and go home. Get some rest." "I'm perfectly calm," I said, looking him straight in the eye. "Alex, let's get a divorce." He finally snapped. "On what grounds? Why do you get to just call it quits?" "Do you really think you're in a position to be calling the shots right now? Emma Vance, you better think this through!" "I've thought it through very clearly," I said, walking toward the door. "I'll take that as a yes." My hand had just touched the doorknob when I heard him call my name from behind, his voice laced with a threat. I pretended not to hear him, opened the door, and walked out. As expected, people had been eavesdropping outside. They scattered awkwardly when they saw me. Only Chloe stood behind the crowd, her eyes cold, but with a smug smile playing on her lips.
That night, for the first time in a long while, Alex came home early. The dull ache in my abdomen had returned, and I was already in bed. I didn't move when I heard the door open. The bed dipped beside me. His hand rested on my shoulder. "Sleeping so early? I ordered takeout for you, your favorite Thai food. It's in the kitchen." I didn't respond. He tried again. "Emma, can we please talk?" I opened my eyes. "There's nothing to talk about." He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face away. "Emma," his voice hardened. "Don't be like this." "Then stop making me sick," I said, getting out of bed. "I make you sick?" He was instantly furious. "I'm your husband!" "Oh, so now you remember you're my husband." I was about to leave the bedroom when he grabbed my arm and pushed me back onto the bed. "After all these years, now you're disgusted by me?" I tried to push him off, but he held my wrists tightly. "Let go!" I was scared he would do something worse, and even more worried about the baby... Just then, his phone rang. It was Chloe. He glanced at the caller ID and let me go. Then, he walked out of the bedroom to take the call. I sat on the edge of the bed, gasping for air. A few minutes later, Alex came back. "I have to go out. Chloe's… her father is in the hospital. She needs someone with her." He grabbed his coat. "Heat up the takeout. Use my card." And with that, he left. I never knew Alex could be so greedy. He wanted me to stay in this marriage while he played the hero outside, protecting his "career prospects." After he left, I started packing my bags.
Watch? https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619hSAkpFibEM ? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "Novelix" app ? search for "ni335913", and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix