Look at how he phrased it, as if I were being unreasonable, like I was tearing apart a pair of lovebirds.

I said casually, "You are Keenan Sommers, right? You're overthinking it. It's just thirteen sets of clothes, it's hardly making things difficult."

I continued, "Sonya was pampered since childhood. Someone even deboned her chicken for her. It's understandable that she doesn't realize what it means for a woman to give a man clothing. But as her personal assistant, you should be more sensible about these things than she is. Don't you know?"

Keenan panicked, lowering his head and apologizing repeatedly.

Sonya had always been exceptional, her looks, family background, career and capabilities made her shine like a brilliant star in the first half of her life. Countless men admired her, yet, she always maintained her pride and independence.

Those who tried to get close to her were met with nothing but her cold and distant gaze.

There were countless nights when she leaned against me, whispering softly. She told me I was the one she treasured most.

But now, everything had changed. In her eyes, I saw her tenderness for another man.

Sonya shook her head and smiled faintly. She took out a black card from her pocket and handed it to the lead salesperson.

Then, she walked to my side unhurriedly, wrapped her arm around my waist and gazed deeply into my eyes.

Under the cover of the music, her soft, pleasant voice sounded in my ear, "It's just a piece of clothing. I didn't expect you to care so much. You've scared the poor newcomer. If you get upset, it'll hurt my heart."

Her tone was light and playful, as if she were talking about something trivial. She easily shifted the topic away from Keenan.

The corners of my mouth curled into a cold smile. My fingers, defined and strong, gently cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer, inch by inch and whispered, "Keenan likes you. Someone as smart as you can't possibly not see it. I know you don't care about this two million, but let today be the first and last time this happens."

The surrounding employees thought we were flirting and started cheering and teasing us loudly.

At such a close distance, Sonya's face turned red. For the first time, her usual calm and composed expression showed a slight crack.

She frowned awkwardly, "Cole, don't do this. What will the subordinates think if they see us like this? Keenan and I will always just be in a boss-assistant relationship. Don't overthink it."

I scoffed lightly and released my fingers. Humiliating her was easy, but it wouldn't look good on me either.

Getting jealous over some plain and boring boy would only lower my worth. Satisfied with venting my frustration, I decided to let them off for now. After all, I didn't have concrete evidence of their ambiguous relationship.

Taking her hand, I led her to the stage to deliver the annual summary of our impressive achievements this year.

The branch CEOs' assistants, all sharp and observant, were elated as they flaunted their new suits. They even made sure to parade in front of Keenan.

"Thanks to Keenan, we all get to wear such expensive suits, something we might never have done in this lifetime!"

"In Mrs. Phoenix's eyes, gifting someone a suit is as casual as giving a child a piece of candy. Surely, Keenan, you wouldn't dare develop improper thoughts toward her over this?"

"Those eyes of yours and that tear mole … no wonder Mrs. Phoenix gives you special attention."

One by one, their faces were full of ridicule and their words carried warnings. Keenan had probably never been humiliated like this in his entire life.

His head sank lower and lower and he was utterly mortified. When the crowd finally dispersed, he fled with red-rimmed eyes. He didn't return for the rest of the gala.

After dinner, we tactfully left early, letting the younger employees truly relax and enjoy the night that belonged to them.

I had been drinking, so Sonya drove us home. Sonya was a person with a strong need for control and no one else was allowed to drive her car.

The moment I got in, I noticed that the passenger seat, which was mine, had been adjusted. The sun visor even had a few bold childish stickers on its corners.

Other than me, no one dared treat Sonya like a chauffeur, let alone have the audacity to sit in the passenger seat.

There was no need to guess who did it. An inexplicable fury surged in my chest.

Though I didn't want to admit it, I was utterly provoked, to the point that my scalp tingled and I lost my rationality.

Even knowing that Sonya gave my suit to Keenan, I had only regretted losing a piece of clothing. But now, he had left traces of himself in my personal space, this was outright provocation.

In five years of marriage, this was the angriest I had ever been. I wanted to slap Sonya, kick her out of the car and race over to Keenan to punch him twice.

Just as I was about to question her, her phone rang. Sonya seemed completely unaware of my flushed face as she calmly answered Keenan's call.

Annoyed, I began adjusting the seat, but I overheard her say, "Alright, don't worry, I'll be right there."

I paused, slowly raising my head to look at her.

She frowned slightly, "Keenan is at the Dior boutique trying to return that suit. He doesn't have the receipt, so I need to go. Cole, I'll call the driver to pick you up. You should head home first."

I spoke in disbelief, "You're ditching me for something so trivial? And I'm drunk, no less."

She replied, "Cole, don't make this difficult for me, okay? The boy has a strong sense of pride. After what you pulled, he cried so much his voice is hoarse. He just wants to return the suit now."

"Does he have a strong sense of pride, or is he deliberately provoking me in front of you? Can't he come and get the receipt himself?" I asked again.

Sonya closed her eyes in exasperation, sighed, then reopened them. Her gaze was icy while said, "Cole, is making things hard for a newcomer really meaningful? When did you learn to bully others with your power? You weren't like this before."

My earlier rage instantly extinguished, replaced by a profound sense of disappointment.

Suddenly, I found the situation laughable and said, "I bully others with my power? Sonya, you've never defended another man in front of me, not even your father. This is the first time." Her cold face showed a trace of confusion.

I said again, "When we got married, we agreed to uphold the reputations of the Cage and Phoenix families. I wouldn't frequent nightclubs and you wouldn't flirt around. Are you breaking the rules for this boy?"

Sonya's gaze remained calm and resolute. After a long silence, she finally dialed the family driver.

Then, she leaned over to unbuckle my seatbelt, speaking in an even tone, "Cole, you're always so sharp and overbearing. We're a married couple, not just strategic partners. Stop trying to control me like you do your work, it suffocates me."

"Once I'm done handling Keenan's matter, I'll stay at the Cage Family house for the night. We both need some time to cool down," she said.

So that's how it was. She couldn't wait to find ease and pleasure in another man.

Yet, she used to say she admired my decisiveness and boldness in the face of challenges. Now she was tired of it, disgusted by it.

Why bother finding such high-sounding excuses and pinning the blame on me? I sensibly got out of the car and watched as the red Porsche disappeared from view.

I had given her a chance, but she didn't cherish it.

Taking out my phone, I called my closest friend, "Hector, draft me a divorce agreement."

Unless absolutely necessary, I didn't want to bring up divorce with Sonya. The Cage and Phoenix families had been close for generations and Sonya and I had grown up as childhood friends.

However, she later went abroad to study and for about ten years, we had no contact. We reunited at a banquet where our families were planning a marriage alliance.

She was just as poised and beautiful as in her youth, handling questions from the elders effortlessly. Over the years, while I managed the family business, I also frequented nightclubs to relieve stress.

I had assumed that after so long apart, things between us would feel awkward and distant. Yet, when we were alone, beneath her graceful and composed exterior, I discovered a witty and charming side of her.

That youthful sense of familiarity resurfaced instantly. We were both in the prime of our careers and admired each other.

Before long, we were engaged and soon entered the institution of marriage. After our marriage, we became mutual shareholders, resulting in an unprecedented merger between the Cage and Phoenix Groups. Dividing assets after a divorce would be an incredibly complicated matter.

When I got home, my head was spinning. After washing up, I drank a cup of warm milk and prepared to sleep.

A goodnight message from Sonya popped up on my phone, complete with a cute kissing emoji. Even during a cold war, she never neglected her responsibilities.

The next morning, on my way to work, I was nearly knocked over by a girl with dyed blue hair in front of the office building.

My Stefano Ricci briefcase hit the ground, scraping off a piece of its leather. The girl's breakfast coffee arced through the air, splashing onto the hem of my coat.

The two security guards at the door immediately ran over, shouting at the girl for being careless. The girl, startled, panicked as she picked up my briefcase and handed it back to me.

She pulled out tissues to wipe the stain off my coat. Seeing the stain wouldn't come off, she grew desperate and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

It was the dead of winter, yet she was wearing only a thin jacket. She wore sunglasses, but they didn't fully cover the dark bruises under her eyes.

Ignoring the stain on my coat, I frowned and focused on the damaged leather of my briefcase. Just then, I noticed Sonya standing across the street.

Her office building was just a block away from mine. She stood there quietly, her expression cold and severe.

For the first time, I saw disgust in her eyes. Perhaps, in her view, my aloof demeanor was another example of abusing power.

I didn't bother to correct her misunderstanding. Stepping back, I stopped the approaching guards and pulled the girl up by her arm and said, "I don't know what hardships you're facing, but as a girl, you must take care of yourself. No matter what you lose, don't lose your dignity, it's the one thing that belongs only to you."

The girl hastily gathered the garbage on the ground, apologizing and thanking me repeatedly. Then, flustered, she ran off. At the corner of the office building, she suddenly turned back, a subtle and enigmatic smile tugging at her lips.

Back at my office, I sat at my desk, staring at the damaged briefcase. The scuff wasn't significant, barely noticeable unless you looked closely. But once a flaw appears, perfection is gone forever.

Because the bag was valuable, even such a tiny imperfection would make repair nearly impossible. What was even harder to repair, though, was my relationship with Sonya. Her gaze that morning felt like a thorn lodged in my chest.

Lunch at my office had always been delivered from the Cage Family's private kitchen. To assert her status as Mrs. Phoenix and keep the women at my company at bay, Sonya had suggested joining me for lunch at the office.