My company was on the verge of going public. As the man quietly orchestrated everything, I went to inspect the final details.

But just as I reached the entrance, I caught sight of my wife kissing the new intern.

When I demanded an explanation, she jabbed her finger against my chest and said, “Killian Bernard, Mateo is a young man with ideals. I was only encouraging him.”

“He’s diligent, unlike you, sitting at home all day like a second-rate cripple.”

The intern turned to me with open disdain. “An old man ought to recognize his limits. At your age, having achieved nothing, don’t you feel ashamed? A woman like Sister Ember is out of your league.”

Hearing his arrogance, I let out a cold laugh.

——

Watching them stand there hand in hand, my face darkened like a storm.

Yet, my wife, Ember Madison, didn’t seem the least bit concerned.

“Killian, the company assigned Mateo to me. I’ve watched him work these past few days. I was simply offering encouragement. Stop making a scene over nothing.”

At the side, Mateo deliberately leaned closer to her, the corners of his mouth curling in provocation. “Sister Ember, this must be your husband. He looks older than my father.”

His voice rang out loud enough for half the office to hear, drawing curious stares and hushed whispers.

“No way, that’s Director Ember’s husband? She’s so beautiful. How could her husband look so shabby?”

“Or maybe she likes the older, rugged type?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Didn’t you see how close she is to the new intern? You don’t know, I actually saw them taking their clothes off in the office, and then…”

“Shh…”

Hearing that, an image I never wanted to see forced itself into my mind: Ember tangled up with that intern on her desk.

At that moment, I finally understood why career-obsessed Ember had been dressing up so carefully lately. It was all for this man, Mateo de Silva.

And the last person hadn’t bothered to lower their voice. Ember clearly heard every word, but she didn’t defend herself. Instead, the disgust in her eyes only deepened.

“Killian, you look sloppy at home every single day, and that’s one thing. But this is my workplace. I’m the company’s design director. If people see my husband looking like a beggar, what will they think of me?”

“I’ve told you before, don’t come to pick me up. Just go home. Stop humiliating me here.”

I lowered my gaze to my shirt, its sleeves marked by smudges of cream from the cake I had made earlier.

Besides the company preparing to go public, today was also our third wedding anniversary. I had baked the cake myself, and in my hurry to leave, I hadn’t noticed the stains.

But I never imagined I would walk straight into a scene like this.

I lifted my eyes, cold and steady, fixing them on Ember.

“Is it that you don’t want me to pick you up or that sneaking around with him is simply more convenient?”

“Killian, I already told you Mateo is under my supervision. Of course, I have to help him find his footing. If you insist on being so petty, then you can sleep on the couch from now on!”

I had always catered to Ember in every possible way. Whatever she desired, I gave without hesitation. Even the position of design director had been something I quietly arranged for her.

Before marrying Ember, I had already built this company from the ground up. Later, I shifted my focus to investment, leaving the company in the hands of my most trusted aide.

Ember was ambitious and longed to carve out her own success, so I never told her the truth about who truly owned the company.

To give her the best work environment, I prepared sweet treats for her every single day.

She had a fierce temper, but I had always thought it was simply exhaustion from her workload.

I wished I could hold her in my palm and protect her from every hardship, but all of that devotion had rested on one condition: that she remained faithful.

Now that she had been unfaithful, all my protection lost its meaning.

Ordinarily, I never meddled in the company’s affairs. But when Mateo entered the company and was assigned under Ember, the subordinate who managed everything on my behalf had informed me.

Still, Ember was a workaholic, so I hadn’t thought much of it. She had even brought it up to me herself.

At the time, she laughed and said that although Mateo was tall and handsome, he was nothing but an empty shell, not worth a second glance.

I had believed her without the slightest suspicion.

But not long after, I began to notice the changes.

She, who rarely wore much makeup, started spending more time carefully doing her face.

The loose clothes she once favored were replaced by fitted blouses and sheer stockings.

I had teased her, asking if she’d developed a soft spot for the fresh-faced intern. I thought she would respond like always, but instead, I caught her turning away, a faint blush creeping up her cheek.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve been going to more business functions. It’s for work.”

Later, she started coming home later and later.

One evening, while she was in the shower, I found a used contraceptive package stuffed inside her handbag.

In that instant, a cold realization settled over me: she was probably cheating.

Her phone, which she always left by the bathroom door, lit up at that moment.

With my heart pounding, I picked it up.

The message was from that intern, and the name she saved him under was Baby Mateo.

I couldn’t see everything, but the beginning alone was enough to crush me.

“Sis, you’re amazing at that…”

Those few simple words felt like a hammer shattering my chest.

When I asked Ember what the message meant, she didn’t even bother to explain. She exploded.

“Mateo and I were only discussing work. Do you really have to blow everything out of proportion?!”

“And how dare you look through my phone?!”

“You already sit at home all day fiddling with your computers, and now you’re acting like this? I’m sick of it! Keep this up, and we’ll just get a divorce!”

In the past, whenever we argued, Ember had thrown out threats like that, and every time, for the sake of our hard-won marriage, I always chose to compromise.

But at that moment, watching her scramble to hide her guilt, I, unlike before, felt no fear of her anger.

Still, I respected the three years we’d spent together and didn’t lash out. I only told her that if she ever cheated, it would mean divorce.

All she gave me in return was a single word. “Crazy.”

And now, after being humiliated in front of everyone, the last trace of hope I had for her finally died.

I looked at her coldly and said, “Ember, I told you, if you ever stepped out of line, I’d take everything back.”

But before I could finish, she scoffed, her face twisting in irritation.

“Are you done yet? Who do you think you are?”

“You used to brag all the time, and I didn’t bother exposing you. Now you really think you’re somebody.”

I grinned, a slow, chilling smile spreading across my lips.

“You’ll find out soon enough who I am.”

With that, I turned and walked away, unwilling to waste another breath on the two of them.

As I settled into the driver’s seat, I heard Mateo putting on a pathetic act behind me.

“Sister Ember, did what I said upset your husband? Maybe I shouldn’t stay by your side. Maybe you shouldn’t help me anymore.”

But Ember’s voice drifted over. “Mateo, don’t worry. He’s just the jealous type. Give it a little time. He’ll come crawling back to beg for my forgiveness.”

Through the rearview mirror, I watched them embracing again, and the last trace of warmth in my heart turned to ice.

Not long after I arrived home, my phone buzzed with a message from my subordinate.

“Boss, as you requested, I’ve compiled a list of the employees who’ve made significant contributions. Tomorrow, I’ll be promoting and giving raises to these people. Madam is currently the finance director. I was planning to promote her to vice president. What do you think?”

“By the way, are you sure you’re not coming to tomorrow’s company listing ceremony?”

In the beginning, to let Ember believe every achievement was earned by her own hands, I had planned to stay away once the company passed the IPO review.

But now, everything had changed.

“I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll officially reclaim control of the company. Also, there’s something I need you to handle first thing in the morning.”

My subordinate replied almost instantly. “That’s great! I’ve been hoping you’d return to lead us again!”

As soon as I ended the chat, the door flew open.

Ember charged in, her face twisted with rage.

“Killian, what is wrong with you today? I already told you I was just helping Mateo get established. I don’t understand why you’re making such a scene over a mere intern!”

“I’m furious about what happened. You owe me a proper apology!”

She marched up to me, glaring down as if I were beneath her.

I didn’t even bother to lift my eyes.

“Move. I’m going to sleep. I have more important things tomorrow.”

Ember let out a cold laugh and yanked the blanket off me.

“I have something important tomorrow, too, you know? I’m about to be promoted to Vice President. The distance between us is only going to grow wider.”

“If you don’t apologize to me today, don’t blame me for being rude.”

She still thought she was getting promoted?

I laughed.

I sat up and fixed a cold stare on her.

“Ember, I’ll say this only once: if you betray me, you lose everything.”

Facing my unprecedented cold gaze, Ember actually stepped back.

But the next second, she sneered. “Killian, who do you think you are? You’re just jealous over what happened today, aren’t you?”

“You’re jealous of an intern. This is your limit in life. You’re not even worthy of me anymore.”

“But since Mateo pleaded for you, I’ll be generous. The company is going public tomorrow, the general manager will be there, and plenty of executives from other firms will attend. You’ll come with me.”

“At least you know a little about web programming. Once I’m promoted, I’ll ask around and see if anyone wants to hire you. That’s better than you sitting at home useless every day.”

By rights, I should have refused.

But since I was going to be there anyway, I agreed to go with Ember.

Seeing me comply, she assumed I had calmed down like always and smiled. She even handed me a watch, her tone softening noticeably.

In the past, she would always offer a sweet treat after a fight. That was her way. But this was the first time she had ever given me a gift.

“Killian, I bought this watch, especially for you. Don’t get jealous over anything anymore. It affects my work.”

Even though I was already utterly disappointed in her, I didn’t want any more conflict, so I accepted it casually.

That night, when Ember reached for my waist, I turned away and rejected her touch.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of her voice in the bathroom.

“Good boy, Mateo. Don’t worry, I didn’t let him touch me last night.”

“Just like you expected, the moment I mentioned introducing him to a job, he agreed right away. He has nothing better to do all day, so he acts out just to get my attention. Once I bring him to the venue, I’ll have someone humiliate him in public for you.”

“The VP position comes with a lot of power. I’ll gradually get you promoted and raise your salary, paving the way for your bright future.”

“By the way, did you take those pairs of black stockings from my office? Make sure no one sees them.”

“That’s good. I’m hanging up now. I just settled him down last night, so don’t let him overhear. Be patient. I’ll be with you every day soon.”

After hanging up and stepping out, she was startled to see I was already awake.