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?"

The ambitious dreams of the past faded in an instant. When I got back home, I didn't feel like doing anything. I drank when awake and slept when tired.

One morning, a message from Eric woke me up.

Opening WhatsApp, I saw a picture of Megan smiling while kissing.

I quickly called Eric.

"Where did you get this?"

"The news is out. This is a photo from the engagement party of the Fox Group and the Brody Group announced yesterday."

I hung up, wanting to call Megan, but my hands were shaking.

I eventually dialed her number, only to find it busy.

Sitting on the bed, I was at a loss.

Suddenly, the phone rang, startling me. It was my mother, Sophie Bogart, calling.

"Humphrey, the Fox family doesn't take you seriously at all!"

I had planned to settle everything before informing my parents, but at that moment, I didn't know what to say.

Perhaps sensing my helplessness, my dad, Timothy Bogart, loudly reassured me.

"Don't worry. What can the Fox family do with their money? Worst case, you come back to inherit the family fortune. You have me backing you up."

"Yeah, I know, don't worry. I can handle it."

After hanging up, I couldn't help but chuckle, thinking, "Dad really knows how to brag, huh? Inherit the family business? Inherit that little house back home?"

But when I saw the photo Eric sent, I felt compelled. If I didn't act, how could I call myself a man?

I took out my phone and checked all the evidence I held. The images were unbearable but were the best evidence of her infidelity.

Then I went to the Fox Manor. Seeing me, the Fox Manor's housekeeper sneered a few words.

I refused to leave, so she told me to wait and went inside.

I waited for half an hour before someone opened the door. But it wasn't Megan I saw. It was Leonardo.

"Megan isn't up yet. Why don't you come in first?"

Expressionless, I entered the house. Everything inside was still unfamiliar.

Leonardo handed me a cup of coffee, playing the part of a gracious host.

"Humphrey, after all these years, if you had made some progress, Megan's father wouldn't have looked down on you."

I looked at this rich second-generation guy who lived off his parents' money, but I didn't argue. He felt entitled to it.

All my efforts seemed like mere excuses to him.

"I just regret not snatching Megan away from you back then, causing her to be dragged down by you..."

Megan complained as she came downstairs, "Why didn't you call me when you woke up..."

She was visibly stunned when she saw me.

Looking at Megan, I said, "Can we talk?"

Megan nodded, grabbed her bag, and we left.

In the cafe, Megan surprisingly remained silent.

I found it nauseating to even look at her more, so I went straight to the point.

"You cheated. If you want a peaceful divorce, do as I say."

Megan looked up at me in disbelief.

"What? Need me to provide evidence?"

I handed her the phone.

As a matter of fact, there had always been surveillance cameras in our living room. Before I came to have a talk with her, I endured the disgust and watched all the surveillance footage.

Their flirtatious behavior wasn't confined to the bedroom; it even happened in the living room. Well, at least I didn't have to go searching for evidence.

Megan's face turned livid as she looked at the footage. After all, it was her idea to install the surveillance cameras in the first place.

"If you agree, then my 200 thousand severances pay needs to be settled. Our savings will be split equally between us, and of course, the money from selling the house goes to me."

The apartment was purchased with the hard-earned down payment from my parents. I had been repaying the subsequent loans.

Megan didn't contribute to the household expenses at all. Every month, I had to give Megan money to cover her expenses.

Megan suddenly exploded, pointing her finger at me and shouting, "Humphrey, you have me as your wife. It's already your biggest luck. Are you really going to nitpick about this now?"

I shook my head and said, "Would you like it if I posted our marriage certificate online for everyone to see?"

Then I pointed to the cafe's surveillance cameras and continued, "And what if I release the video of today's divorce discussion and brawl? How much will your family's shares drop?"

Megan's demeanor softened instantly.

She said, "Humphrey, can't we part ways amicably?"

"How nauseating is it for you to say that, Ms. Fox? You brought your lover to cause a scene at my workplace, not only causing me to lose my job but also leaving me without compensation.

"What? Ms. Fox, are you planning to treat me like a doormat? After betraying me, you still expect me to speak nicely?"

Megan's face darkened; after all, during our time together, I had always catered to her needs.

"Ms. Fox, think it over. Give me an answer tomorrow, as it will give me time to edit the video. After all, I'm currently unemployed."

In the evening, Megan messaged to accept the terms but insisted on an immediate divorce.

So, we divorced soon.

When I received the compensation, our apartment had just been sold.

At the same time, I heard that the Brody Group had acquired Luke's company.

I blocked all of Megan's contact information.

With both work and marriage in shambles, I decided to return home.

Sophie said, "Humphrey, there are plenty of opportunities out there, even after a divorce. Take this money and buy a villa. I bet you'll find a well-behaved girl next year."

"Huh?"

What shocked me wasn't just Sophie's words but the black card she handed me.