When Nathaniel walked into the boardroom, his expression was dark. He sat across from me, his eyes cold and fixed on mine.

Unsurprisingly, after the majority vote, I was officially elected as the new chairwoman of the company.

I immediately began announcing a series of personnel changes.

Through it all, Nathaniel said nothing.

Until I called in Veronica.

The moment she saw me sitting at the head of the board table, her face turned pale with disbelief.

I looked at her calmly and gave my first official order as chairwoman.

“You’re fired.”

She immediately turned to Nathaniel, seeking help.

He stood up.

Even when he was removed as chairman, he didn’t protest—but now, he spoke.

“I object. Veronica is talented. The company should keep her.”

If this had been in the past—seeing him defend another woman—I might’ve felt jealous.

But now, I was calmer than I’d ever been.

“If there’s an objection, we’ll put it to a vote.”

And just like that, his objection became meaningless.

I held equal shares to his. And this time, the major shareholders were all on my side.

He stood alone. His protests held no weight.

Faced with the outcome, Nathaniel showed no surprise. He said nothing and left the boardroom with Veronica.

I watched them leave, unmoved, then turned back to resume the meeting.

When it ended, several of the older shareholders came over to speak with me.

“Mrs. Sena, no matter what happens, we support you. But the tension between you and your husband, please handle it wisely. Don’t let outsiders take advantage and ruin everything.”

“Yes, Mrs. Sena,” another nodded. “I still remember when you knelt at my door begging for investment. Be careful.”

Their concern was sincere—but not just for me. It was for their own interests too.

I shook their hands and thanked them one by one.

That evening, when I returned home, the aroma of a home-cooked meal greeted me.

In the kitchen, Nathaniel was busy stir-frying.

I’d expected him to disappear for a while. I never thought he’d be here, cooking.

I couldn’t even remember the last time he made a meal at home.

Maybe two years ago. Maybe three. Maybe longer.

“You’re back?” he said casually.

“Wash your hands, dinner’s ready.”

He brought a dish to the table. The gentleness in his voice felt both familiar and unfamiliar.

I looked at him coldly. “So, what are your thoughts on the divorce?”

He visibly tensed. The plate in his hand almost slipped.

He set it down carefully and forced a smile. “Food first. Man is iron, rice is steel—you need strength to talk about things.”

“Fine.”

I washed up and sat at the table, watching him move in and out of the kitchen.

For some reason, my eyes stung.

Maybe it was the tears from last night, still lingering.

Or maybe… it was something else.

Something warm.

A feeling I hadn’t felt in years.

After dinner, he poured me a cup of tea.

“Next Wednesday’s your birthday,” he said. “Feels like it’s been forever since I last celebrated it with you.”

“How about we go on a short vacation—just the two of us?”

I looked at him silently for a long time.

Then, in a calm voice, I said again, “About the divorce…”

He took my hand and said softly, “Don’t divorce me. Please.”

I could clearly feel his hand trembling.

Nathaniel—the man who never flinched even with the sky falling—was shaken.

The last time I saw him like this was when I was being rushed into surgery, my life on the line.

Something about his panic stirred something in me.

“…Okay,” I said at last. “Next Wednesday, I’ll go with you.”

Work had been overwhelming since I took over the company.

But on Wednesday, I cleared my schedule and got into his car early.

He had dressed up—wore the first outfit I ever bought him.

Watching him drive, it felt like a piece of our youth had returned.

Thinking back, I said softly, “You should be the one running the company. It suits you more.”

He smiled faintly. “Today is about you. Just the two of us. Let’s not talk about anything else, alright?”

“Alright.”

I agreed calmly.

But deep inside, a quiet wave stirred.

It had been a long time since I felt this way.

How nice it would be, if things could stay like this forever.

As the car pulled into the Swan Lake Resort, his phone rang.

I glanced at the caller ID.

The contact’s name was “Baby.”

Once upon a time, that name had belonged to me.

Now, it didn’t.

And I already knew who it was.

Nathaniel noticed my gaze and fumbled. “I…”

“Answer it,” I said calmly. “You’re distracted. If you don’t take the call, you won’t be able to focus the whole day, right?”

After a few seconds of hesitation, he picked up.

“Nate, I’m all alone…” Veronica’s voice came through. “Will you come keep me company?”

“I… I’m busy today. I can’t come,” he said.

“But that woman fired me and pushed you out of the inner circle too. Aren’t you as miserable as I am?” she continued, then softened her voice. “Nate, please. I’m so lost without you. I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid. You know I have depression…”

Nathaniel panicked, sneaking glances at me.

My eyes were like ice.

Then Veronica spoke again—her tone low and desperate.

“I know today is her birthday. But if you don’t come… you may never see me again.”

Click.

The call ended.

Nathaniel—usually so calm, so composed—was shaking.

And just like that, the crack in my heart sealed itself shut again. Permanently.

I leaned against the passenger seat and closed my eyes.

“Go. Maybe she really will do something foolish. If you miss it, maybe it’ll be forever.”

“Thank you for understanding. I’ll be back soon,” he said with conviction.

But his words only confirmed my despair.

What I really meant was.

If this is goodbye—it could mean forever.

Forever could be Veronica. Or it could be me. And he chose Veronica.

I got out of the car.

Watched him drive away.

Then whispered to the wind, “There’s no need to come back.”

I spent the whole day alone at the resort.

He never returned.

It wasn’t until late that night that I received a message from him:

[Are you still there?]

[Not at all.]

[Don’t be so cautious. Veronica has depression. I’m just afraid she might do something irrational.]

Nathaniel sent message after message, explaining at length.

But I didn’t bother to read any of them.

He was worried that Veronica might not be able to handle it.

But was he not worried that I might be the one who couldn’t handle it?

He didn’t come back that night.

I shouldn’t have expected him to.

I was the one who couldn’t let go.

But this time was different, it was his choice.

Maybe it really was time for me to let go.

A month later, I secured a massive five-year order for the company from another district.

This deal alone could sustain our operations for half a decade, even without a single new client.

To celebrate, the company threw a party.

No one expected Veronica, who had already been fired, to show up.

Yet she stormed in, grabbed the microphone, stood center stage and glared provocatively at me.

Then she shouted. “Nathaniel! Ivy isn’t worth your love at all!”

Turning to him with desperate affection, she added,

“Promise me. You’ll break up with Ivy. Be with me instead!”

Everyone was stunned.

Some colleagues moved to throw her out, but I stopped them.

I walked up to Nathaniel and said, “Well, since the moment’s already here. Why don’t you just go with her?”

My words shocked the entire room.

Even Veronica stared at me in disbelief.

A heavy silence fell.

I locked eyes with Nathaniel.

His gaze was equally stunned, his expression flickering through disbelief, panic, confusion, fear.

So many emotions in just a few seconds.