1

Due to a cold, I returned home early.

Just as I was about to open the door, I heard Megan Fox's voice.

"Oh, don't mess with me, I just finished tidying up."

"Aren't you the one who initiate it?"

Then came the affectionate voices of two person.

For several weeks, Megan had been saying I didn't need to pick her up after overtime, so I also worked late and returned home very late.

That day, I wasn't feeling well and came home early.

Just as I was about to open the door, I heard Megan's voice.

"Oh, don't mess with me, I just finished tidying up."

"Aren't you the one who initiate it?"

Then came the affectionate voices of two person.

My hand on the door knob paused. I still felt grateful in my heart for my wife, who was willing to marry me despite the conflicts with her family.

However, at this moment, anyone would have wild thought due to that voice.

Perhaps out of fear, I deliberately made a loud noise when opening the door.

Upon my entry, Megan looked flustered.

Then, Megan straightened her hair and stood up while Leonardo Brody sat provocatively on the couch, watching.

"Why are you back early? Um, I'm feeling a bit unwell, so Leonardo came to see me."

I nodded and said, "I have a cold, so I came back early."

"Well, you go freshen up and rest early. Leonardo, Humphrey is back, so you should leave first."

Megan urged Leonardo to leave, but Leonardo seemed somewhat reluctant.

"Alright, alright, I'll leave first."

Then, Leonardo left, leaving an awkward atmosphere between us.

"Humphrey, he's just here to check on me."

I nodded, but what should I say?

Their conversation echoed in my ears. How could I believe it was just a normal visit?

"I'm going to take a shower."

I walked into the bathroom, which was damp. I remembered the clothes Megan was wearing just now was not the one she wore this morning.

I panicked. I could feel so many changes, but I still had feelings for her.

I thought, "Am I deluding myself? I seem to be really pathetic."

"Humphrey, can you come out first? I need to use the bathroom."

I composed myself, wiped my face, and said, "Can't you use the bathroom in the bedroom?"

"Um, I... I..."

I caught a glimpse of the messy tissues and a corner of a condom peeking out of the wastebasket.

I opened the door. Megan pushed past me in a panic and ran into the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower in the bedroom."

Then, I ignored Megan and went straight into the bedroom bathroom.

After a while, I heard Megan calling out, "Honey, you've been in there for a while, are you okay?"

"Oh, you go to sleep first, I have to go back to the office in a while."

When I came out, Megan was already asleep, with faint red hickeys on her neck.

The next day, I waited early at her company building for some reason, perhaps to see her early or to see her clearly.

I couldn't quite figure out my thoughts until I saw them kissing downstairs.

Somehow, I felt Leonardo's kiss was strangely passionate.

I walked over, and Megan seemed to sense it, looking back at me in a panic.

"Oh, who do we have here, Mr. Bogart came to pick you up. I, the guardian, will leave first."

He smiled and nodded at Megan before leaving.

"Humphrey, let's get a divorce."

I looked up at Megan. Her family had never been satisfied with me as her husband. Even though I earned a decent amount now, her family still felt that Megan was losing out by being with me.

Although we were married, it was not publicized.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Never mind, I'll go to my parents' for a few days. You think about it."

During the days she spent at her parents', it seemed like she was doing fine, updating her social media every day.

Feeling troubled, I started drinking with my childhood friend, Eric Dane.

"Humphrey, did you feel something off when you got married?"

I was drunk, but I looked up at him, signaling him to continue.

"At the time, her parents strongly opposed it, how did they suddenly agree?"

I lowered my head. I had thought about it, but I still couldn't figure it out.

Actually, after getting married, I had a strange feeling.

Megan spent money recklessly, coming back exhausted from the gym every day, but she didn't seem to lose a single ounce of fat.

Other than being attentive when chatting about investments, she was indifferent to me most of the time.

Someone like this couldn't be considered to love me so much that she would break ties with her family.

But Megan did do that, so what could I ask?

"Hey, buddy, I was just talking nonsense, don't overthink it."

However, the next day, I saw her at my work place.

Due to a slight hangover, I woke up a bit late in the morning.

When I rushed to the office, I was stopped by the manager.

"What's going on! Late even dressed like this!"

As I was about to apologize, I saw Leonardo.

Our CEO, Luke Evans, was smiling as he escorted Leonardo out.

"Well, Humphrey, you work here?" Leonardo greeted me as if we were old friends.

Before I could respond, Luke jumped in. "Mr. Brody, do you know each other? He's quite capable here, and..."

Leonardo's smile faded as he looked at Luke and said, "The Brody Group valued appearances. Don't you see his sloppy appearance? Are you trying to tell me I've made a wrong decision by investing in your company?"

Luke's face, which had been smiling like a flower, turned sour as if he had been crying.

The manager was quick to chime in. "Mr. Brody, you don't know, this guy is always deceitful, pretending to be diligent in front of Mr. Evans."

After the manager's words, Luke also caught on.

He pointed at me and said, "In that case, you're fired."

As soon as those words were spoken, Leonardo continued to smile and extended his hand to Luke, saying, "Wishing us a pleasant cooperation."

Seeing Luke's sycophantic behavior, I was seething with anger.

Anyway, I couldn't keep this job. With a headache from last night's hangover, I didn't want to endure this anymore.

"Mr. Evans, did you just say you're firing me?"

Luke impatiently looked at me and said, "Yes, you're fired, now get out!"

"Shouldn't we discuss compensation for unjust dismissal first?"

Luke sneered and then pointed to the manager, saying, "Don't think I don't know the law. Just an extra month's salary. That's it."

"Double compensation for unfair dismissal."

Luke retorted, "Double it is. Get the finance department, give him ten thousand dollars, if that's too much, consider the surplus is charity."

Immediately, Luke planned to escort Leonardo out.

I continued to shout, "Ten thousand dollars? Are you dismissing a beggar? My minimum monthly salary is at least 100 thousand. Double compensation means 200 thousand!"

Luke was shocked to hear this and looked at the manager.

The manager nodded, then immediately turned his head away, pretending not to see.

The company's poor performance was indeed related to Luke!

The manager not only managed the sales department, but also had control over our design department.

So, even though I held the title of Design Director, I still had to follow his orders.

This led to my salary being in an awkward position. It was not too high but not too low.

It was my complacent nature that kept me from changing jobs.

Luke was stingy, selfish, and didn't care about the company's affairs. He always found faults to deduct money when it came to paying salaries.

"Are you... are you that Humphrey?"

Luke called out my name, scrutinizing me carefully for a long time.

"Are you having second thoughts?" Leonardo asked, looking at Luke.

Luke suddenly burst into laughter.

I thought he had gone mad.

Luke laughed for a while and said to Leonardo, "Mr. Brody, rest assured, I've been wanting to dismiss this guy. Being a dog in the manger, he demands such a high salary. Don't you have somewhere else to be? You should go attend to your matters."

Leonardo waved his hand dismissively and started to leave.

"Leonardo, are you leaving or not!"

That voice was Megan!

Just as I looked up, I saw Megan standing at the door, glaring at Leonardo.

When she saw me, Megan's face briefly showed an indiscernible expression.

Upon spotting Megan, Leonardo was very enthusiastic.

Approaching her, he embraced her and introduced her to Luke, saying, "Mr. Evans, this is my girlfriend."

"Well, what a handsome couple you are..."

I couldn't hear his flattering words anymore.

The moment I saw Megan walk in with him, my mind crashed.

I didn't even know when they left, but when Luke returned, he started yelling at me.

I snapped back to reality and said, "What? Don't want to compensate?"

"You almost ruined my acquisition deal! Why are you still here? Waiting to get beaten?" Luke exclaimed.

Just as Luke finished speaking, the manager stepped forward and told him that he couldn't dismiss me, or else there would be no one left to do my job.

This only further enraged Luke, who shouted, "I told you to fire him ages ago! You say no one can do his job. I've already found designers! I've even found two, each for a monthly salary of ten thousand dollars. It's better than keeping this guy around!"

The manager, too afraid to speak up, stared at me and asked, "So, Mr. Evans, what about this salary?"

I couldn't help but want to laugh, thinking, "Serves him right, he brought this upon himself!"

"Salary? My foot!" Luke's eyes were almost popping out of his head as he yelled, "If you have the guts, go ahead and sue. I have all the time to drag this out with you!"

I hesitated for a moment, then flashed him a bright smile.

I marched straight into the common office area and shouted, "Mr. Evans is selling the company and wants to fire me but won't pay my salary or provide compensation. He's telling me to sue!

"Listen up, everyone! Is this a human behavior? Think about it, if you ever want to resign in the future, how will he treat you? And, the Brody Group isn't acquiring this company to continue operations..."

One of the main reasons Leonardo wanted to acquire this company was to get back at me.

As for the mess left behind after I left, would Leonardo even care?

Luke was about to grab me by the collar, but I immediately taunted, "Go ahead, hit me. It won't be as simple as just paying my salary!"

However, his phone suddenly rang. When he saw the caller ID, he let go of my hand.

Luke, who had been grumbling just moments ago, suddenly answered the phone with the utmost respect.

I knew that number very well, so well that I could recite it backwards.

After hanging up, Luke wore a bright smile.

Pointing at my nose, he shouted, "Get out now! Mr. Brody's girlfriend has spoken. She can hire a top lawyer just to drag this out with you!"

At that moment, my earlier arrogance turned into sheer absurdity.

I walked out of the company in a dejected manner. As I looked up, I saw Leonardo's car.

"Here comes the loser, don't you want to take a look?" Leonardo's mocking voice came.

As I looked over, I saw Megan sitting in the passenger seat, not even bothering to lift her head.

"Pointless, let's go. To the mall," Megan said to Leonardo.

The roaring car kicked up dust that made me cough.

Thinking back to their demeanor in the living room, I suddenly felt unworthy.

I looked up at the towering building where I had once strived. Now, I found myself in this predicament because of a woman of easy virtue.

Filled with resentment, I thought to myself, "Who give her the right to kick me out with just a whim of dislike?"