2.

Owen Vance and I started out as colleagues. I was his senior, and I mentored him when he first joined the company.

He was so green back then, always trailing after me and calling me "mentor."

He wasn't the brightest, but he was a hard worker who wasn't afraid of a challenge, so I taught him everything I knew.

Later, after he pursued me relentlessly, I became his girlfriend.

After two years of dating, we walked down the aisle.

His family wasn't well-off, so I didn't ask for a Bride Price. My family even paid for the wedding, and our marital home was a dowry gift from Mr. and Mrs. Thorne.

The only reason I married him, despite everyone's objections, was because I saw his willingness to learn and work hard, and because he was so gentle and considerate with me.

But after we got married, everything slowly began to change.

He demanded that I stop wearing dresses. Then, he forbade me from wearing makeup and insisted I be home before 8 PM every night.

Blinded by love, I actually thought he was just concerned about me.

So when he told me I couldn't work in sales anymore, even though I was the company's Sales Champion, I obediently quit and took a job as an Administrative Clerk.

I believed love was about mutual support and meeting each other halfway, but he gradually began to take my love for him for granted.

He stopped paying attention to me, growing more and more impatient. He was constantly finding fault with me, coming home late, and sometimes not coming home at all.

Eventually, it escalated to him yelling and screaming at me whenever he was displeased and ordering me around.

Of course, The Elder Mrs. Vance deserves a great deal of the "credit" for all this.

I once saw their chat history. She had filled Owen Vance's head with ideas like how men should have Three Wives and Four Concubines, and how a man must never spoil his woman.

Owen Vance was a quick study in corruption, but I was still deluding myself, hoping my kindness could bring back the man he once was.

Until tonight...

: A Fresh Start

3.

Late at night, I didn't go back to my parents' house. Instead, I got a hotel room for myself.

On one hand, I didn't want my parents to worry about me. On the other, after I'd calmed down, I already had a plan.

Since my goal was to completely break free from Owen Vance and build a new life for myself, my top priority was to get my finances in order.

After all, it's hard to get anything done without money.

I took out my phone, opened my contacts, and found my old boss, Ms. Sterling. Then I sent her a message.

"Ms. Sterling, I know this is out of the blue, but I was wondering if you have any job openings. I'd like to return to my old position."

I felt a little apprehensive after sending the message.

After all, I had insisted on leaving Ms. Sterling's team back then. I did it for the sake of a more harmonious marriage with Owen Vance, right after he suggested I quit my sales job.

Plus, I hadn't handled any business in years, so it was anyone's guess whether I'd be accepted back.

Unexpectedly, Ms. Sterling didn't text me back. She called me directly.

The first thing she asked was if I was in some kind of trouble.

Hearing the concern in Ms. Sterling's voice, I could tell that time hadn't created any distance between us.

I explained the whole situation to Ms. Sterling honestly.

When she heard I was splitting with Owen Vance and planning to divorce him, Ms. Sterling slapped her thigh and cheered on the other end of the line.

"You've finally come to your senses!"

After explaining everything, I asked Ms. Sterling again if she had a position I could take, telling her I was willing to start from scratch.

Ms. Sterling firmly rejected the idea.

"Dawn, you used to be our company's Sales Champion! How could I possibly let you start from scratch?"

"I'm starting my own business right now. If you can come work for me, I'll give you a new team. You can be the supervisor!"

I was stunned.

"Ms. Sterling, I haven't done this in years. I'm afraid I won't be able to adapt or do a good job."

Ms. Sterling burst out laughing.

"If it were anyone else, I might really have to test them out. But you? I have one hundred percent faith in you. Just go for it!"

When she found out I was still staying in a hotel, Ms. Sterling offered to let me stay in her vacant house.

I couldn't bring myself to refuse, so I accepted.

The very next day, I moved into the house Ms. Sterling provided and started my new job at her company.