“Stephanie, right? You think too much. It's just thirteen sets of clothes. It's not a big deal.

“Harvey has always had people picking on him when he eats fish since he was a child. It's normal for him to not know what it means for a man to give clothes to a girl.

“But as his personal secretary, you should be more sensible than him in life, don't you know that?”

Stephanie lowered her head in panic and apologized repeatedly.

Harvey had an extremely superior appearance, background, career and outstanding abilities. He became a shining star in the first half of his life.

Absolutely, there were countless women who adore him.

He had always maintained his integrity and independence over the years, so the people who tried to get close to him often only saw his cold and distant eyes.

In the past, he held me in his arms and whispered softly in my ears on countless nights.

He said that I was the most precious thing to him.

But then everything changed.

I saw in his eyes the pain he felt for another woman.

Harvey shook his head and smiled, then took out a black card from his pocket and handed it to the leading salesperson.

He strolled over to me, his movements deliberate and unhurried, before slipping an arm around my waist. 

His gaze softened as his eyes locked with mine, brimming with affection that might have fooled anyone watching.  

In a low, light-hearted tone, he murmured, “It’s just a dress. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously. Sure, it’s fine to scare a little girl, but I’d hate for you to fall ill over something so trivial.”  

His casual humor brushed the incident aside effortlessly, steering attention away from Stephanie with practiced ease. 

A smirk played on my lips as I looped my slender fingers around his tie, tugging him closer, inch by inch, until our breaths mingled. 

“Stephanie is interested in you,” I whispered, my voice calm but laced with steel. “You’re a smart man; I’m sure you’ve noticed. I know thirty thousand means nothing to you, but let me make this clear, what happened today is the first time and it better be the last.”

The onlookers, oblivious to the tension, mistook our exchange for a romantic moment and erupted in cheers. 

Under the weight of my gaze and the nearness of my breath, Harvey’s usually composed demeanor faltered. A flush crept up his cheeks and cracks formed in his steady facade. 

He frowned awkwardly, murmuring, “Claudine, don’t do this. What will our subordinates think if they see us? Stephanie and I are strictly superior and subordinate, nothing more. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

I snorted softly, loosening my grip on his tie. 

It would have been easy to humiliate him further, but doing so would tarnish my own reputation. 

Satisfied with having made my point, I decided to let the matter rest, at least for that moment. 

After all, I had no hard evidence of their ambiguity.

Then, I took his arm and walked to the stage to give an annual summary of that year's brilliant achievements.

The other branch secretaries, ever perceptive and quick-witted, paraded their newly acquired dresses in front of Stephanie with a purposeful flair.  

“Thank you, Stephanie! If it weren’t for you, I’d probably never have the chance to wear such an expensive dress in my lifetime,” one remarked, her tone sweet but dripping with mockery.  

“In Mr. Collins’s world, gifting a dress is no more significant than handing out candy to a child. Surely, you wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about him, would you?” another added, her words a thinly veiled jab.  

“Stephanie, those eyes and dimples of yours, they’re so strikingly similar to Mrs. Collins. No wonder President Collins holds you in such high regard,” someone chimed in, her smile sharp and deliberate.  

One by one, their sneers deepened, their seemingly lighthearted comments carrying unmistakable warnings, leaving no doubt about their true intentions.

Stephanie was afraid since she had never been humiliated like that in her life. As a result, she lowered her head lower and lower, feeling ashamed.

As tears fell to the ground, she ran out with red eyes when the crowd dispersed.

Finally, the annual meeting was over.

After dinner, we tactfully left early, allowing the young employees to truly relax and enjoy their evening.

But, as soon as I got into the car, I discovered that my passenger seat had been moved.

There were also some cute anime beauties pasted on the four corners of the sun visor cover.

Except for me, no one dared to use Harvey as a driver and no one dared to sit in the passenger seat.

But, it was so easy to guess who did it.

A sudden, inexplicable fire surged within me, its intensity catching me off guard. 

Though I did not want to admit it, at that moment, I was utterly consumed. Even my scalp prickled and my thoughts spiraled into chaos.  

I had turned a blind eye when Harvey gave a Chanel dress to Stephanie, choosing to let it slide for the sake of peace. 

But then, she had dared to leave her mark in my private space, a blatant act of provocation.  

In five years of marriage, I had never felt anger as raw as that. Every nerve in my body screamed for retribution. 

I wanted to raise my hand and slap Harvey across the face, shove him out of the car and drive straight to Stephanie to deliver two hard slaps of her own.  

But, when I opened my mouth, ready to confront him, the sharp ring of his phone interrupted me.

Harvey did not notice my angry face at all and answered Stephanie's call slowly.

As I started to adjust my seat irritably and then I heard him say, “Okay, don't worry, I'll be there soon.”

My hand paused and I slowly looked up at him.

Harvey frowned slightly, “Stephanie is returning the dress at the counter, but she doesn't have the receipt. I have to go there.”

Then, he continued, “Claudine, I'll call the driver to pick you up. You go home first.”

I said in disbelief, “You're going to leave me behind just for this little thing?”

“Claudine, please don't make it difficult for me. Stephanie has a strong sense of self-esteem. You made her cry until her voice became hoarse. Now she wants to return the dress.”

“Is she being spoiled, or is she deliberately provoking me in front of you? Can’t she come and get it herself?” I asked sharply, my voice tight with barely suppressed anger.  

Harvey sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if I were the one being unreasonable. 

“Claudine, is it really necessary to make things hard for a newcomer? When did you start bullying others? You weren’t like this before.”  

His words hit me harder than I expected, extinguishing my anger in an instant and replacing it with a wave of crushing disappointment.  

And then, as if caught in the absurdity of it all, I suddenly found it funny. How effortlessly he turned the blame onto me, shielding her while leaving me out in the cold.

“I am bullying others by taking advantage of my power? Harvey, you have never defended other women in front of me, including your mother. This is the first time.”

A hint of incomprehension appeared on Harvey's stern face.

“We already agreed when we got married that for the sake of the reputation of the Rodrigo and Collins families, you wouldn't flirt with other women and I wouldn't hang out in nightclubs. Are you going to break the rules for that woman?”

Harvey's eyes were deep and cold when he heard that. 

After thinking for a long time and finally called the family driver.

Finally, he leaned over to unbuckle my seat belt, his tone calm and measured. 

“Claudine, you’ve always been so dominant. But we’re husband and wife, not just strategic partners. Can’t you, for once, put work aside and be like other wives, rely on me, trust me and maybe even obey me a little?”

Then, as if delivering a judgment, he added, “After dealing with Stephanie’s matter, I’ll go back to the Collins Family manor for the night. We both need some time to calm down.”

Oh, how convenient, a retreat masked as resolution. So that was his way of showcasing his masculine charm to other women.  

It was laughable, really. 

It was the same man who once claimed to admire my sharp, decisive nature, praising my independence as if it were his greatest treasure.  

But then, he was tired of it. Bored, even.  

And instead of owning up to his own failings, he cloaked them in noble excuses and shifted the blame squarely onto me. As if I were the problem all along.

I got out of the car tactfully and watched the black Maybach drive out of my sight.

I gave him a chance, but he did not know how to cherish it.

I picked up my phone and called my best friend.  

“Claire, help me draft a divorce agreement,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside me.  

I did not truly want to take that step. After all, the Collins and Rodrigo families had a bond that spanned generations, their elders being old friends. 

Harvey and I had been childhood sweethearts once, our lives intertwined from the start.  

But things changed when he went abroad to study. For nearly a decade, we drifted apart, losing all contact. 

The next time we met was at a banquet where the two families were preparing for a marriage.

He was polite and handled questions raised by his elders with ease.

Over the years, in addition to dealing with the affairs of the group, I had often hung out in nightclubs looking for male models to relieve stress.

I had assumed that after so many years apart, our reunion would be marked by awkwardness and unfamiliarity.  

To my surprise, when we were alone, I discovered that beneath Harvey’s calm demeanor lay a witty, humorous soul. 

It was as though the years melted away, instantly rekindling the warmth and connection of our youth.  

We admired each other deeply, both of us flourishing in the early stages of our careers. 

It was not long before admiration blossomed into something more, leading to our engagement and, eventually, our marriage.  

After tying the knot, our bond extended beyond the personal, each of us held shares in the other’s company, forging an unprecedented alliance between the Collins Group and the Rodrigo Group.  

But then, as I contemplated divorce, the reality of untangling such deeply intertwined assets loomed over me. The division of property would be anything but simple. 

After returning home, I washed up, drank a glass of hot milk and prepared to go to sleep.

The phone received a good night message from Harvey, plus a cute kiss expression.

Even in a cold war, he would do what he should do thoroughly.

The next morning when I went to work, I was almost knocked down by a yellow-haired young man downstairs of the company.

My Hermès Himalaya slammed to the ground and a piece of skin was scraped off.

The breakfast coffee in the young man's hand drew an arc and spilled onto the hem of my cashmere coat.

Seeing that, the two security guards at the door immediately trotted over. They also were scolding the young man for being blind.

The young man, clearly startled, hastily picked up my bag and handed it to me, his hands trembling with panic. 

He then fumbled to pull out a tissue, trying to wipe the stain off the hem of my clothes. 

When it became clear the stain would no't come off, his anxiety deepened and he knelt in front of me, bowing his head and begging for forgiveness.

It was winter and he was dressed only in a thin coat and sunglasses, but even so, they could not mask the bruises beneath his eyes.

I frowned, trying to push aside my own discomfort.

After that, I looked at the stained hem of my coat but felt no anger. My focus shifted to the bag, wiping it carefully with concern.  

It happened to be seen by Harvey, who was used to going to work at the same time as me.

The Collins Group and the Rodrigo Group were separated by only one street.

So I could see he stood opposite, watching quietly on the scene. His face was cold and serious.

For the first time, I saw disgust in his eyes. Perhaps in his eyes, my condescending attitude was also a form of bullying.

I ignored his misunderstanding, took two steps back, reached out to stop the security guard who was coming, grabbed the young man's arm and pulled him up from the ground.

“I don't know what difficulties you've encountered, but you should be cautious. Not everyone will show you the same patience that I have.”

The young man kept apologizing and thanking me while picking up the garbage on the ground.

In the end, he ran away in a panic.

At the corner of the office building, he turned around suddenly, with an ambiguous smile on his lips.

I then returned to my office, sat at my desk and examined the damaged bag.

In fact, the abrasion area was not large and it could not even be seen if you did not look carefully.

But once the flaw appeared, it was destined to no longer be perfect.

Because it was precious enough, even such a minor flaw would be extremely difficult to repair.

Even though, in fact, what was more difficult to repair was the relationship between Harvey and me.

The way he looked at me in the morning was still like a thorn in my heart. What was more, I always had our lunch prepared by Collins and he came over to eat with me.

So, I just expect nothing about that day.

Later in the afternoon, when it was finally one o'clock, I believed he would not come.

But just as I opened the lunch box I ordered before, he came. Stephanie followed behind him.

Her eyes were red and swollen and she kept her head down, looking respectful and weak.

I put down my spoon and just watched them quietly.

As Harvey sat down next to me, he sighed.