In the eighth year of our marriage, my husband, Nathaniel posted an intimate photo with his first love on social media, flaunting it with pride.

[My new assistant. Good looking? Sweet?]

I commented below.

[You two look like a married couple.]

He quickly deleted the post and called to scold me for being stupid.

A few minutes later, that same photo became her assistant Instagram profile picture.

I asked her, "Is that really appropriate?"

She smirked without hesitation, replying provocatively, "Why do you care? Mr. Lewis doesn't mind. Who do you think you are?"

Everyone seemed to forget that I was the true owner of the company.

This time, I wouldn’t stay silent.

——

When Nathaniel returned home that night, it was already late. Just before sleep, he had posted again.

[With her, I finally understand how youth can be eternal.]

The picture showed the two of them gazing deeply into each other's eyes, like a couple destined for one another.

Of course, he knew I would see it.

He did it on purpose.

Seeing me eating a late-night snack, he said coldly, "Still eating this late? Trying to get fat again?"

He used to stop me from eating junk food, even going so far as to cook something healthier for me himself.

Now? He didn’t even wait for my response. He just turned and walked into the bathroom.

Maybe my answers didn’t matter anymore.

Throughout our relationship, he’s had many impressive women around him.

But this time, it felt different.

When he came out of the shower, I was washing the dishes in the kitchen.

He approached me and said, "That photo I posted? It was just for fun. You overreacted."

"Really?" I turned to him. "Then how do you explain it becoming her profile picture?"

"That’s exactly why I wanted to talk to you," he said, his eyes filled with annoyance. "She just set it as her avatar and you threatened her? Don’t you think you’re being unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable?"

I froze.

Am I the one being unreasonable?

She uses a photo with my husband as her profile picture, parades it publicly and I’m not even allowed to say a word?

Maybe in Nathaniel’s eyes, I should just keep my mouth shut and let that woman parade around.

But I couldn’t.

"Call her and apologize," he demanded, handing me his phone.

Maybe he didn’t realize, or maybe he did. That this was a blatant trample on my dignity.

Or maybe, that was his intention all along.

My heart churned with fury, but I remained calm. "She’s having an affair with my husband and you expect me to call and apologize to her?”

"What kind of nonsense is that?!" he snapped. "You act like you’re the victim here. You haven’t matured at all! I don’t want to argue. I’ll dial for you. You apologize. Now!"

He’s always been overbearing.

Back in school, no one dared cross him.

He dropped out early, hustled through fights and trades and eventually opened bars and restaurants.

He made a name for himself.

And I? I grew up alone. Bullied. Abandoned.

He was the one who protected me. The one who paid for my college tuition.

I was grateful to him.

I married him after graduation and gave everything to help build his business—even risked my life once.

Over the years, no matter what Nathaniel said, I always followed through without complaint.

In life, I put him first, always.

But this time, it’s different.

“I refuse.”

I stared at Nathaniel, my gaze firm and unwavering.

He looked at me in disbelief.

Since we’d been together, I almost never went against his wishes.

Especially when he was angry—whatever he said, I would obey without question.

“Refuse to apologize and you’ll see what happens!”

He was seething with anger.

Just then, the call went through. A woman’s voice chirped from the other end of the line.

"Hello? Mr. Lewis? I’m helping you with your laundry. I didn’t expect your underwear to still have cartoons on them—so cute..."

Nathaniel’s expression changed instantly.

That normally arrogant face of his actually showed a flicker of panic.

He scrambled to explain, “It’s not what you think. I was just drinking at her place. I spilled soup on my clothes, so I changed... I was going to throw them out afterward…”

Watching him fluster like that, I remained calm. I took the phone and said to his so-called first love, “I’m Ivy. You don’t need to come to work anymore.”

Veronica didn’t back down—instead, she sneered.

“Ivy, don’t flatter yourself.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“On paper, you’re Nathaniel’s wife. In reality? You’re just a useless ornament he keeps around.”

“You’re old and washed up. He doesn’t care about women like you anymore. You have no right to give me orders.”

“This company? Only Mr. Lewis can fire me. You? Step aside!”

Her mockery and arrogance didn’t shake me. Not even a little.

Over the years, to help Nathaniel build this company, I endured more than most. I nearly lost my life for it.

Those experiences shaped me—taught me to remain calm no matter what storm came my way.

I said calmly, “You’ll regret this.”

She scoffed.

“Please. Save those scare tactics for kids. I’m not buying your act.”

She was tough.

I wasn’t mad either.

In fact, I was almost amused.

Ever since the company had stabilized, my heart hadn’t felt this stirred in a long time.

I didn’t argue with Veronica further. Instead, I handed the phone to Nathaniel. “Fire her.”

He took the phone and replied coldly, “It took effort to hire her. I’m not going to let her go so easily.”

“Then fire me,” I said, meeting his eyes.

“All these years and you’ve made no progress at all!” he snapped. “Still so petty and narrow-minded! She’s just a secretary—what’s gotten into you?!”

His shouting only made me calmer.

And then I said, with complete composure, “Then let’s divorce.”

The word hung in the air like a thunderclap.

Silence filled the room—so deep we could hear each other’s breathing.

He hadn’t expected it. Not from me.

But this wasn’t the first time I’d said it.

Four years ago, when the company was just beginning to take shape, I warned him to sever ties with the shady characters from his past.

He didn’t listen.

And it ended in disaster.

I took the fall—literally. I was stabbed protecting him and almost died.

As they wheeled me into the emergency room, I held his hand and said,

“If I die, then so be it. But if I survive this surgery and you still refuse to cut ties with your past… then we divorce.”

He cried and promised he’d do anything—anything—if only I survived.

But things are different now.

And for the second time, I said the word “divorce”.

I turned and walked toward the bedroom. Behind me, I heard Nathaniel shout, “Fine! Whatever—you want a divorce, then divorce!”

I froze for a second, gripped the door handle tightly, then opened the bedroom door and stepped inside.

Leaning against the door, I listened to the sound of him storming out.

Bang!

The sound of the front door slamming shut echoed through the house.

It felt like a door had slammed shut inside me too.

He was gone.

I curled up in the corner and cried.

The last time I cried like this, I was still in school.

Back then, I grew up alone, constantly bullied. I had no one, so I would hide in corners and cry by myself.

Nathaniel found me one day and grinned, “Why are you such a coward? What are you crying for? If someone bullies you, fight back.”

I didn’t take him seriously, but he threw his arm around my shoulder and started talking—about Peter, Kenedict, Benjamin.

That was the first time I realized that even a school delinquent could be more cultured than me.

I believed him.

And then... I got beat up again.

When he saw me with a swollen face and a bloody nose, he laughed until he couldn’t breathe.

I laughed too, foolishly.

But after that, the bullies weren’t so brazen anymore—because they knew I had learned to fight for my dignity. I was no longer someone they could toy with.

Since then, I hadn’t cried again.

Until now.

The tears of thirteen years surged like a broken dam, uncontrollable.

The next day, I covered my swollen eyes with sunglasses and went to the company.

Nathaniel wasn’t there.

Veronica spotted me and smirked arrogantly.

“Well, well, you really showed up.”

“Planning to fire me, huh?”

“Been a decorative vase for too long, now you think you’re the boss?”

“Do you even know your place anymore?”

“Good, keep acting like this. It’ll only make Nathaniel hate you more. I can’t wait for your divorce!”

Her mocking voice reminded me of a time—years ago—when the company hit a crisis and I was at my lowest.

Back then, Nathaniel comforted me like he always did, draping an arm over my shoulder:

“Remember what Peter said? Don’t get angry at the enemy. Anger only makes you dumber. Leave the rage to your enemies—let them scream in vain while you keep your cool.”

I asked, “Did Peter really say that?”

He blinked. “Who cares? As long as you get the point.”

I never verified whether Peter said that or not.

But over the years, I truly took those words to heart.

I looked calmly at Veronica. “Call Nathaniel. The company is about to hold a board meeting.”

“A board meeting?”

She let out a scornful laugh. “You? A nobody like you? You think you can convene the board? You really think you’re someone?”

I ignored her and walked straight to the boardroom.

The company’s operations had always been steered by me from behind the scenes.

The funding? I secured it.

In fact, most of the board members invested because of me—not him.

By the afternoon, the entire company was buzzing with a bombshell update.

“Several major shareholders have formed a unified front. They’re calling a board meeting to elect a new chairman.”

“I heard it’s going to be a major shake-up. Not just a new chairman, big personnel changes are coming.”

“This meeting will define the company’s future!”