“Especially now that you’re pregnant,” my friend had warned me, “you need to be careful. He might try to edge you out of your own company.”

Back then, I’d laughed it off. I thought they were just being overly suspicious.

Yet, looking back now, the memory chills me.

After all, if it weren’t guilt or something else at play, why would Xavier specifically delete my building access?

When I asked him, he paused, clearly taken aback.

“What? How is that possible? I definitely didn’t do that!” he protested. “Maybe someone deleted it by accident. Give me half an hour. I’ll look into it and have them restore it right away.”

I opened my lips to say more, but ultimately, it turned into a gentle 'mm,' and I ended the call.

Soon after, he sent me what sounded like a perfect explanation.

“Vivian, I checked,” he said briskly. “Yesterday, when HR was consolidating attendance records, they saw you’ve been on maternity leave for months and took it upon themselves to remove your access. I gave them a scolding and had them put it back. From now on, you can come to the company anytime, just like before.”

The way he said it in such a matter-of-fact tone made it sound as if the company had quietly become his.

But he seemed to forget that I’m the company’s legal representative. I’m the one who truly holds the reins.

If I hadn’t given him this company to run, even ten years of struggling would not have brought him to where he is today.

“Ma’am, where to?” the taxi driver prompted gently.

I sat dazed in the back seat.

It was the third time he’d asked.

Finally, I shook my head and passed him a thousand dollars.

“Nowhere,” I said softly. “Let’s just wait here.”

Lifting my gaze to the office building not far away, I settled in.

All afternoon, I sat restless in that cab, watching the front doors as people streamed in and out.

Sure enough, I eventually saw Xavier come out holding Yssa’s hand.

My breath hitched.

So after that feather-light apology, he hadn’t made things difficult for her at all and didn’t even mention firing her. At the time, I couldn’t understand why he’d be so lenient with an intern.

Now the answer was right in front of me.

I watched as he stopped, slipped an arm around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Go back to the apartment and wait for me,” he murmured. “I’ll come find you once I finish up.”

“I don’t want to,” Yssa pouted, clearly reluctant. “Is that old bat trying to seduce you again? Is she using that CEO title to pressure you into sleeping with her?”

“Xavier, maybe you’re scared of her, but I’m not,” she went on, chin tilted. “Worst case, I’ll report her and let her husband see what a slut she really is…”

“That’s enough, Yssa. Don’t cause me more trouble,” he said at last.

But his tone was unbearably gentle, the way you’d soothe a lover.

Then he added, low and earnest, “Vivian’s family background is formidable. Not even her husband can rein her in. I promise you, as soon as I’ve secured real control of the company in the next two years, I’ll cut ties with her completely and marry you.”

I almost burst out laughing from sheer anger. My hand moved instinctively, searching for a cigarette. Then, I remembered I’d thrown them all out months ago, when I got pregnant.

No wonder Yssa kept calling me a temptress for "seducing her husband.”

This was the root of it.

In her world, I’m the mistress.

They chatted a few more times on Instagram, soft and conspiratorial. Then, Xavier hailed a taxi and, ever considerate, opened the door for her.

“Yssa, take good care of yourself,” he said. “I’ll be home tonight.”

She looped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the lips, and they clung to each other for a long, syrupy moment before parting.

“Xavier, I’ll be waiting…” she whispered.

Only after her cab pulled away did Xavier straighten his clothes, smooth his expression, and turn to head home.

But the moment he turned and saw me, he went rigid, as if startled out of his skin, his face blanching chalk-white.

“Vivian, you… Why are you here?” he stammered.

I’d already guessed his expression would look like he’d swallowed something foul.

Even so, I didn’t spare him. I thrust the surveillance clip in his face.

“Go on,” I said, voice cold. “Explain this. What exactly is going on? You said you were massaging yourself, so why was Yssa in your office, pressed in that close? And fine, say she was massaging you, since when does a massage wind you up like that?”

The scorn on my face needed no translation.

Color drained from Xavier’s cheeks, inch by inch. His hand trembled where it gripped the phone playing the footage.

“When did you install surveillance in my office? You’ve been spying on me?” he demanded, trying for indignation.

I let out a short, cold laugh.

“Didn’t you put it in yourself back then, to prove your loyalty and even show me?” I reminded him.

His eyes darted. His face went iron-blue.

Of course, Xavier remembered.

Three years ago, when I handed him this company, he’d sworn up and down, “I’ll be a good boy from now on, just your employee for life!”

“Oh? But you won’t be just an employee,” I’d teased him then. “You’ll have your own office. What if some young little thing tosses you an olive branch?”

He had laughed and wrapped me in his arms from behind. “Even if I have my own office, it’s fine, babe. You can watch me anytime at home.”

Back then, he’d bought the cameras himself and had them installed.

He’d downloaded the monitoring app to my phone so I could see him whenever I wanted.

But three years had passed. I had never once opened it, even though he had forgotten.

“Vivian, listen to me—” Xavier started.

I turned to leave, but he lunged forward and grabbed my arm.

“Yes, she was in my office today,” he blurted in a rush. “Yssa came to give me a quick shoulder rub. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want you to misunderstand—just a man and a woman alone, it might sound bad. But she didn’t mean anything by it. After yesterday’s uproar, she was afraid I’d fire her… She’s a fresh grad, just an intern. Young girls don’t know any better and make mistakes easily. I already promised not to fire her. It won’t happen again…”

I stared at his shifty eyes and almost laughed.

“Do you take me for blind?” I asked softly. “Did you think I didn’t just watch the two of you hugging and kissing?”

Whatever scaffolding he’d built in his head collapsed in an instant.

He had never imagined that, six months pregnant, I wouldn’t be at home resting, but downstairs, watching him at the office. He had never imagined that Yssa’s little jealous tantrum would yank his office secret out by the roots.

“Xavier, let’s divorce. As for the company, complete the handover as soon as possible. I’m giving you half a month. After those two weeks, you leave with nothing.” I spoke calmly, without a hint of emotion.

Then I turned, got into the car, and shut the door.

Behind me, I could hear him shouting, his voice raw and breaking, as he dropped to his knees on the pavement.

But the engine’s roar was loud. I couldn’t make out what he said, and I didn’t want to.

That night, I waited until nine-thirty. He still didn’t come home.

I looked up at the enormous wedding photo hanging on the wall.

For a long time, I believed it was a gift to have met Xavier, a man of such talent and determination.

Now, it just felt like a bitter joke.

He said he was occupied with a big project and had been working long hours, so I shouldn't wait for him and should go to bed early with the baby.

And I’d believed him.

Every day I’d lived in the comfortable delusion that he was fighting for the three of us. I never imagined he was “working overtime” at a female employee’s home.

So, from beginning to end, he’d only ever seen me as a stepping stone.

He liked them young, promising that once he seized real power in two years, he’d bring one home as his bride.

In a rush of heat, I snatched up the ashtray on the table and hurled it at the wedding portrait.

With a deafening crack, the glass shattered; the photo split into jagged quarters.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Are you Vivian Summers?” a calm voice asked from the other side. “We’re with the police. Someone has reported you for making threats and engaging in extortion. We’ll need you to come with us.”