“Just handle her work as a side task from now on. It’s not much.”

I trembled when I heard this. I worked diligently for three straight months to win a unanimous vote for my promotion to department manager.

And with one careless word, he instantly turned me into her subordinate.

Now he expected me to clean up her messes and even provide her food, drinks, and entertainment!

I thought back over the past five months.

From the moment Julia Snow joined the company, Ethan Reed dumped all of her tasks on me.

She had only a junior high education and couldn’t draft a weekly report, so Ethan always asked me to write it.

She couldn’t prepare a speech for the year-end awards ceremony, so Ethan pushed me to scramble one for her. I earned first prize at that ceremony with my hard work. Yet in the end, Julia stood on stage, stumbling through my speech as she accepted the award.

I did all of Julia’s work, but in the end, I got nothing, while she reaped the rewards.

Even when she got drunk and behaved recklessly at work, Ethan blamed me for not stopping her.

Now she was my boss, and she expected me to do everything?

Why was Ethan so blind? A shiver ran down my spine.

In five years of marriage, he had never posted a single photo of us online, always saying he’d do it “next time.”

At every company annual meeting, when he mingled with executives, he pretended not to know me.

When I confronted him in private, he whispered,

“Isn’t this better for us? Why seek such attention?”

“On our fifth anniversary, I’ll make you department manager and livestream our honeymoon to the entire company!”

I still remember that promise.

But instead, he embraced Julia and handed her the manager’s role.

And the promise of posting our photos was delayed again and again—ninety-nine times—until I finally gave up hope.

At first, my colleagues privately called me the future president, President Reed’s jewel.

But as Ethan ignored me more, and his parents treated me with disdain, those gazes turned scornful. “She’s just a houseguest. He probably eats leftovers at home.”

“The CEO thinks she’s unpresentable and won’t even post a picture.”

Hearing their gossip, I pretended not to notice, though my heart grew colder each day.

I should have awakened sooner. Everything Ethan did in the past six months showed he didn’t love me.

“Alright, Vivian,” Ethan’s tone softened again over the phone.

“I won’t keep you up too long. Next year, when Julia gets promoted, I’ll make you department manager.”

At this, the corners of my mouth twitched.

“Alright, get the paperwork done. Don’t delay her appointment as manager,” he added gently.

“Julia worked so hard to get into this company. It hasn’t been easy, and she has to care for her brother with leukemia.”

“You helped her, and she’s thankful. She even gave you travel tickets.”

Hearing this, my chest tightened.

“He only sees Julia now. To him, she’s perfect.” While he and Julia surfed and sunbathed, I was drowning in work at the company.

He and Julia enjoyed a candlelit dinner on an island in the lake, while I drank myself into gastric bleeding over a single order.

I always followed his instructions and worked tirelessly for the company.

But while I labored, they had fun, and when they returned, they stole my achievements and honors.

I shook with rage.

“Ethan, has my manager done it yet?” Julia’s languid voice floated through the phone.

Ethan instantly brightened. “Alright, Julia.”

He was all smiles, chatting on the phone as he walked out, clearly discussing a trip with her.

Seeing this, I trembled all over. To my shock, he didn’t even glance at me.

The next day, at the company’s promotion meeting,

A row of employees wearing large red flowers stood up.

After they accepted their commendations, Ethan Reed slowly walked onto the stage. A photo of him and Julia Snow appeared on the big screen, their wedding pictures taken on a white sandy beach.

The audience burst into excitement, applauding and cheering.

Ethan stepped forward and took Julia’s hand.

“I announce that the new department manager is Julia Snow!” he continued. “I also have great news: we’re getting married next month!”

The employees erupted in cheers.

“I was wondering why Miss Snow was kept for last. So Ethan wanted everyone to share in the joy!” Julia’s supporters chimed in.

“I didn’t expect Julia to be so secretive.”

On stage, Julia couldn’t suppress her smug smile but pretended to cover her face.

“I told Ethan to keep it low-key, but he insisted on announcing it at the meeting.”

“Miss Snow, don’t be so modest! You’ve got the double blessing of promotion and marriage!” Veteran employees applauded.

“Ethan and Julia are a perfect match. Unlike some people reaching above their station—they can’t even get close.”

I clearly felt contemptuous, pitying glances from colleagues around me. My fists clenched as I shook with anger.

All around me, my coworkers applauded, and some stared, enjoying the scene.

I stood and tried to leave, but they clearly wouldn’t let me go easily.

As I stepped toward the exit, a colleague shouted,

“Vivian, it’s such a big day for Ethan, and everyone’s applauding. Why aren’t you clapping?”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me, mocking me.

I stayed silent, but then Julia spoke on stage.

“Everyone, don’t blame Vivian. He’s probably tired and wants to celebrate privately with Ethan and us.”

Though she said this, the sarcasm on her face lingered, only tinged with smugness.

Onstage, Ethan didn’t even look my way.

“Everyone, let’s go. Tonight we’ll celebrate at a five-star hotel—it’s Julia’s and my wedding banquet!”

I quietly slipped out, pulled up the resignation letter I had already written, and sent it with one click.

After submitting my resignation, I figured that since I was leaving Ethan anyway, I had to make things clear to his parents. Ethan drove Julia to a music festival.

She had emptied my pockets again, leaving me nearly broke, so I took the bus to his house.

When I arrived, the brightly lit gate bore the words “Reed Family.”

It was absurd; I had paid for this villa in full, planning to live there with Ethan.

But he secretly moved his parents in and replaced the lock with a digital one, registering all his family members’ faces except mine.

After work, he retreated to this villa to relax. I, meanwhile, had to stay in the company dormitory.

I rang the bell five times before Ethan’s parents reluctantly came and opened the door.

“Vivian? Why are you here?”

Ethan’s mother scowled. “Shouldn’t you be working overtime at the company? Leaving all the burden on Ethan alone?”

“Ethan’s out, so I came to check on him.” Hearing this, I only wanted to sneer.

“You come to check on him, yet arrive empty-handed?”

Ethan’s father’s voice rang out from the living room. He tossed the tea leaves from his cup, nearly splashing hot water onto my shoes.

“I don’t know who sent me this lousy tea,” he scoffed.

“Look, the oolong Julia gave me is much better.”

“Premium tea is worth ten thousand dollars a pound. Vivian, take a look!”

I walked over and saw the box of tea he had tossed aside and the box of premium tea Julia Snow had supposedly sent.

“Dad, I ordered this Yunshan Oolong from overseas for you, didn’t you know?” I asked, confused.

I had given this fine tea to Ethan Reed and asked him to pass it to his father. How could it be Julia’s gift?

At that, Ethan’s father’s face suddenly stiffened.

“Ethan said it himself—Julia sent it. How dare you claim that?”

“This is what you brought. Five dollars a pound of cheap street-stall stuff. Take it back!” He threw another tin of tea at me.

“Spending so little and pretending it’s a grand gift!”

I picked up the tin of green tea, trembling all over. This must have been what Julia had given me.

“Vivian, it’s late, and as you can see, we haven’t prepared dinner.”

Ethan’s mother opened the door, clearly intent on sending me away.

Ethan’s father didn’t even speak further.

To the Reed family, I was always an outsider.

“Mom, Dad, we’re back!”

Just then, the door opened. Ethan walked in, holding Julia’s arm.

At the sight of them, his parents beamed.

“Julia, you’re here! Come in, sit down! We’ll prepare dinner for you,” his mother said warmly.

When Julia saw me, she quickly ducked behind Ethan, her eyes red.

“No, Auntie. Someone doesn’t welcome me. I should go,” Julia said timidly. At this, Ethan’s parents’ expressions hardened.

“Vivian! Are you bullying Julia?” Ethan’s father snapped coldly. “Let me tell you—she’s more worthy of this home than you are!”

“You claim you bought this Oolong? Then take it back! I don’t want it!” He hurled the tin across the table.

Ethan’s mother chimed in.

“Vivian, Julia is just a girl from a small town. How could she manage such an expensive gift? How much thought must have gone into it!”

“You bought a few dollars’ worth of tea from a street stall and dare to claim you gave it? How shameless!”

“We didn’t prepare dinner for you tonight. Leave at once!”

With that, they moved toward me, trying to drive me out. Hearing this, Julia burst into tears and stepped forward as if to stop me.

“Sister Vivian, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be upset with me.”

“I must be in the way. I’ll leave now. Just enjoy dinner with your family. Don’t worry about me.”

Julia dabbed at her tears, preparing to go.

At that moment, Ethan embraced her, then turned and glared at me.

“Don’t mind her. She’s petty and malicious—she’s just finding excuses to bully you!”

Shaking with rage, I picked up the tin of tea.

“Ethan! Tell your parents! Who bought this Yunshan Oolong?”

But Ethan’s expression turned icy.

“Stop twisting the truth, Vivian. Julia gave this to them!”

My whole body trembled with fury.

“Take your cheap tea back to the street stall and get out!” Ethan barked.

“We’re having dinner. None of it is for you,” his parents said coldly, ordering me to leave. Looking at the four of them, I finally realized I had always been an outsider.

Seeing this, Julia’s lips curled slightly.

“That’s not right. Let Vivian stay for dinner.”

She stepped toward me, tugging at my sleeve. But Ethan’s father cut her off coldly.

“Leave now, Vivian. And let me be blunt—don’t ever come back. You’re not worthy of our Ethan.”