Fine. If she was backing down, I didn't mind giving her a way out.

After I returned to the office, things in the technical team went back to running like clockwork.

That afternoon, Hailey surprisingly invited me out for lunch. I agreed and figured that it would be a good time to talk about the divorce. I wanted to end things peacefully, as long as she stopped causing trouble.

Still, I never thought she would show up with Jaxon in tow, even after inviting me out for lunch. She looked brisk and business-like, so I assumed it was a business lunch.

After we settled down at the restaurant, Hailey handed me a bouquet of lilies. "Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, but I got tied up, so I'm making it up to you today."

Instead of accepting the bouquet, I turned my head away and covered my nose as I sneezed. "Get those away from me! Don't you know I'm allergic to lilies?"

Her expression immediately darkened. "When are you going to stop, Landon? You're making up excuses just to put on airs. I bought you flowers. What more do you want?"

I was totally speechless. We had been married for three years. It was pathetic that she had no idea I was allergic to lilies.

Jaxon sat next to her, fussing over a beautifully wrapped bouquet of roses. There was a glint of triumph in his eyes, but when he spoke, his voice was full of hurt.

"This is all my fault, Ms. Miller. Is Mr. Chase upset that you gave me roses? To be honest, I'm fine with either roses or lilies. Shall I give him these roses instead?"

As he spoke, he shoved the roses toward me.

Hailey snatched them back and stuffed them into his arms. "I hand-picked these roses as a reward for your excellent work today."

Jaxon blushed shyly. "You're so kind, Ms. Miller. I'll work even harder, but I hate to make things tough for you. I like the lilies too, even if they came as a freebie for the buy-one-get-one-free promo."

Then, he shot me a provocative look. "I wouldn't mind swapping with Mr. Chase."

I let out a cold laugh. "So they were a freebie, huh? That's so thoughtful of you, Hailey."

Furious, she hurled the bouquet of nearly wilted lilies at me and snapped, "A useless slacker with a terrible attitude doesn't have the right to be picky! You should be grateful that I gave you lilies. Take it or leave it!"

The lilies hit me right in the nose, and the overpowering smell of pollen triggered a violent sneezing fit. My nose started running uncontrollably, and my skin began to itch. Even my breathing turned ragged.

I quickly dumped the flowers into the trash can and dialed 911, gasping out my situation to the operator.

Hailey was stunned and doubtfully asked, "Are you really allergic to lilies?"

I slumped back in my chair, gasping for air, too weak to even say a word.

Jaxon sarcastically chimed in from the side, "That doesn't look like an allergy. I have a friend who's allergic to pollen, and they just get a little rash."

She grabbed my hand, inspected it, and all her concern vanished. "There isn't a single hive on you. Enough, Landon! Are you seriously putting on a show out of jealousy? You've probably been watching too much TV, haven't you?"

I could barely say a word. All that mattered to me right now was staying alive.

Luckily, the ambulance arrived quickly. The paramedics gave me anti-allergy medication in time and saved my life, but I ended up hospitalized for a week.

When Hailey visited me in the hospital, she didn't bother to apologize. Instead, she contemptuously said, "It's pathetic how weak a grown man like you is. You delayed a whole week of work and cost us millions of dollars in losses."

I couldn't take it anymore and slapped her hard across the face. "My life is that worthless to you, isn't it?"

She clutched her cheek and angrily shrieked, "How dare you hit me! This is domestic abuse! I'll sue you!"

I couldn't care less and told Hailey to go ahead and sue me.

If that slap was domestic abuse, what she and Jaxon had done could easily pass as attempted murder. I clearly told them that I was allergic to lilies, yet they forced me into contact with the allergen anyway.

That was pure, malicious intent.

After I was discharged, I stayed home on medical leave to recover. Hailey started getting restless and ordered me back to work, threatening to mark it as absenteeism if I didn't show up.

I had never responded well to threats or being pushed around, so I just ignored her.

She eventually softened her attitude again, just to get me back to work and cut the company's losses.

One day, she got off work early and cooked a meal for me. The table was full of my favorite hot, spicy dishes, and they tasted pretty decent.

I decided to show her some grace and enjoy the meal. Just as I was about to lay things out and talk about ending our relationship on good terms, Jaxon called.

Hailey picked it up right in front of me and accidentally put it on speaker. His voice came through the phone.

"Ms. Miller, did Mr. Chase enjoy the pre-made meals I bought? If he's still upset, I can come over and apologize to him. I'll do anything for work."

She shot me a guilty look and lowered her voice, stammering a reply, "H-he thinks they're okay, and don't worry about it. You shouldn't have to suffer for him."

I let out a cold laugh. Did she think I was dead?

Then, I called her out on the spot. "Wow, talk about zero sincerity. I can't believe you're feeding me pre-made meals."

Hailey froze and looked at me, flustered. "You know I can't cook. Pre-made meals can still taste good, right?"

I set my utensils down, having lost my appetite in an instant.

Couldn't she have told me the truth? It was such a waste of time.

"I can go back to work, only if you and Jaxon both apologize to me."

Hailey's expression immediately darkened, and she flipped the table over in a rage. "Don't push your luck, Landon. Don't think I can't survive without you!"

I just gave her a cold smile. It wasn't that she couldn't survive without me, but rather that the company couldn't—not unless she was willing to walk away from the project I had developed.

She had poured too much money into it that the sunk costs were staggering. That gave me all the leverage I needed to set my own terms.

"I'm not the one pushing my luck. If anything, I'm the one doing you a favor. You and Jaxon nearly killed me, and an apology is the least you owe me. You could both end up in prison if I decide to press charges."

Hailey was at a loss for words, and her expression was grim.

Meanwhile, shareholders and executives started piling on the pressure in the office group chat again. The project was stalled, yet the technical team's staffing and equipment maintenance were draining the accounts.

Some shareholders decided to pull out their investments to cut their losses, while core executives were handing in their resignations.

Hailey panicked and shot me a look of bitter resentment. "You want an apology, don't you? Fine! I apologize, and I'm sorry. Is that enough for you to come back to work?"

I couldn't accept such a hollow apology, so I marched into my room, locked the door, and shut her out. While she agitatedly pounded on the door, I put on my headphones and listened to music, acting like I couldn't hear anything.

Half an hour later, she sent me a long message.

"I'm so sorry, Landon. I sincerely apologize. I've called Jaxon over, too. Open the door so he can apologize to you."

I opened the door to find Jaxon on his knees. It seemed like he was really going all out.

"It was all my fault, Mr. Chase. I had no idea you were allergic to lilies, and I shouldn't have accepted Ms. Miller's gift. I'll return it. If you still can't stand the sight of me, I'll resign."

His eyes were red-rimmed, as if he had suffered great injustice.

Hailey looked like her heart ached for him, but she didn't stop him from kneeling either.

I agreed to return to work since they looked sincere right now.

But Jaxon only managed to behave for one day. The next day, he cornered me in the office restroom and started provoking me.

"You're just a tech geek. Do you honestly think the company can't run without you? Ms. Miller is interviewing new candidates, and Michael just got his hands on all your technical blueprints, so pack your bags and leave!

"The company and Hailey will only be mine!"