After landing a major project for the company, I receive a ring from my girlfriend, Kiera Ripley. I happily share a picture of it on my socials, thinking she was finally going to announce our engagement.

But Kiera's newly hired assistant, Trevor Horton, suddenly slaps me hard and overturns my entire work desk.

"You're a director, for God's sake! Don't you feel the least bit ashamed, stealing the present my wife gave me?" Trevor snaps.

Not only does Kiera not retort to Trevor's words, but she even says I am not fit for my position as director of the tech department. She then announces to all the staff that Trevor will be taking over the project I just secured for the company.

Only then do I realize that the person Kiera wants to publicly announce as her boyfriend isn't me, but Trevor instead.

All the staff immediately raise their phones to record me, enjoying the spectacle that is my misfortune.

But instead of getting angry, I shove my nametag into Trevor's hands and say, "Since Mr. Horton will be taking over the project, you can take over my position as director as well. I wish you two a long and happy life together!"

My colleague, Henry Greene, was shocked by my strange response. He pulled me aside and said, "Hold your horses, man. It's just one project. You can always get another one."

But what he didn't know was that I wasn't acting rashly at all.

When I walked past Kiera Ripley's office last night, I happened to hear Trevor Horton badgering her.

"I want to make a name for myself, Kiera. Let me handle this new project, and I promise I'll do a good job. I'll be sure to impress you!" Trevor said.

I had been secretly dating Kiera for seven years. Over the past seven years, I had turned down numerous offers from powerful companies to help Kiera build hers.

Almost all the projects Ripley Corporation had ever taken on were credited to me. Kiera knew exactly how many hardships we had faced throughout the years. She was also a principled woman and would never tamper with something as serious as company projects.

Plus, Kiera had had her projects stolen by opportunistic sycophants before, so she especially despised such individuals.

That was why I thought she had finally decided to marry me when I saw the ring she presented me earlier today.

Who knew Trevor would end up twisting the narrative by accusing me of being a thief, utterly humiliating me?

I hadn't expected Kiera to betray her own principles for him—he'd only worked here for a couple of months.

In that case, there was nothing left for me here in this stupid company.

Kiera wasn't aware that I had already seen through their childish schemes. She thought I was acting out of jealousy.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at me. "What are you being passive-aggressive for?"

Ever since Trevor joined the company, Kiera had started acting in a biased manner toward me.

I didn't waste any time explaining anything this time. All I said was, "You're overthinking it. I'm really stepping aside so Trevor can have my job."

Trevor could have both my job and my girlfriend.

I didn't plan on lingering any further. I was about to leave when Kiera dragged me to her office with a cold and steely look on her face.

Our workspace wasn't huge, and the soundproofing in the walls wasn't great either. The instant Kiera shut her office door, I watched the staff outside swarm around Trevor. They were trying to get in his good graces, asking him when he and Kiera were getting married and having kids.

"Women bear the most pain when it comes to having a child. This isn't something I have a say in," Trevor answered, a little embarrassed.

Trevor took on the role of Kiera's boyfriend so seamlessly. Now that Kiera had implicitly acquiesced to it, the staff all believed him.

Kiera's hand froze mid-air upon hearing this, water from the pitcher in her hand still pouring out into a glass.

Her typically strong-willed demeanor softened up as she said, "Trevor's still young. He doesn't know any better, which is why he said all that.

"He only means it jokingly. Don't take it to heart. He has family working in the company that started this joint venture. We owe him one for getting our company in."

I glanced wordlessly at Kiera.

How absurd!

The other company, Maelstrom Corporation, had its own professional tech and IT department. They never needed help from external parties for that reason and had refused any external collaboration from the start.

I was the one who had persistently sent them gifts and pleaded with them for a meeting. That was how I managed to meet with a representative from Maelstrom Corporation to discuss the collaboration.

He had given me a generous amount of 30 seconds, and I took the opportunity to introduce what we had to offer to him.

After seeing just how capable I was, the representative had tried to poach me by offering a high salary if I were to work for them. He only agreed to the collaboration when that failed.

I had worked hard for countless nights and traveled tirelessly just so Ripley Corporation could be part of this joint venture—all of which Kiera was blind to. Yet the moment Trevor claimed credit for getting us this project, she believed him without hesitation.

If Kiera used a bit more logic, she would easily see what was going on. If Trevor really had such powerful working connections, he wouldn't need to come and work as an assistant in a small company like Ripley Corporation.

Or maybe, Kiera already knew all this and was just pretending to be oblivious to it.

Kiera's eyes lowered briefly upon being met with my silence. She then got up to make a cup of coffee for me before saying in my ear, "Trevor and I are just putting up an act. You're the only man I'll ever marry."

Whenever we fought in the past, Kiera would always soften her tone and make me similar promises. I would then forgive her unconditionally.

That was why she thought this time would be no exception.

With a wave of her hand, she said, "Go back to work for now. I'll make the final call for the joint venture."

But what Kiera didn't know was that I no longer wanted her.

I shifted the chair aside and got up. "There's no need to make things more difficult. I'll quit."

I took out a resignation letter form and filled in the details. I left it on Kiera's desk, then left her office without hesitation.

When Trevor saw me walking out, he hurriedly blocked my way.

"I know you're really experienced in the industry, Alfred. You were right—I'm not fit to be the director of the tech department. I think you should resume your post," Trevor said in an aggrieved tone.

He frantically shoved the nametag into my hands.

I gently nudged him away, only for him to take advantage of the movement to fall onto the floor. He bumped into a chair and even knocked over a laptop, getting the attention of the surrounding employees.

Trevor then rose to his feet, waving his hands and claiming he was fine while the employees asked him if he was okay.

Kiera hurried over in her three-inch high heels after hearing the commotion. After making sure Trevor was alright, she glared at me with furrowed brows.

"Just because you've worked here for a long time doesn't mean you can do as you please, Alfred."

The surrounding employees immediately leapt to Trevor's defense as well.

"Yeah, Mr. Wickham. This replacement is for the company's benefit so it can grow. Don't push the new guy around just because you're experienced."

The employee who said the meanest things about me was Tyler Rodriguez, someone I had mentored from the very first day he started working here.

"All Alfred ever did was just bag a few projects for the company. Does he really think that makes him the boss of this place?

"He must've gotten so obsessed with creating his own little cliques in the office that he can't even acknowledge a genius like Mr. Horton."

Having worked with many of the employees here for years and having the best performance, my colleagues here used to call me "Mr. Wickham" with a deep sense of respect.

Yet now all of them were gazing at me with malicious glee, praying that I leave right away.

It didn't matter. My ex-colleagues could say whatever they wanted about me. I no longer wished to deal with them.

I walked out of Ripley Corporation without a word.

Kiera hurried out after me. When she saw that we were alone, she massaged her temples in irritation and said, "You must be overworked. I'll approve some leave days for you so you can take a break for some time.

"Today's our seventh anniversary. Wait for me at home. I have a surprise for you."

The elevator happened to arrive at the floor I was on when Kiera finished speaking. I walked inside, still saying nothing to her.

I went back home and cooked my own dinner, not waiting for her whatsoever.

Kiera never returned home, even when night fell.

I put on my shoes and cleaned up properly before heading out to meet Maelstrom Corporation's representative from before. On the way there, I happened to bump into Henry Reed.

Henry was always a bit of a slow learner, so he didn't ostracize me like my other ex-colleagues. He still greeted me warmly when he saw me.

"You must be heading to the celebration dinner Ms. Ripley is throwing for Mr. Horton now that he's been promoted to director. Let's go together. We can split the taxi fare," Henry said.

As Henry happily went on about not needing to take the subway, I shook my head. "I'm not going."

Henry gave me an awkward look in response. "Didn't Ms. Ripley invite you?"

I shook my head expressionlessly and walked ahead.

I could hear Henry mumbling to himself from a short distance away, saying, "Kiera Ripley is such a biased boss."

I didn't turn back.

Kiera had never been biased—she was just especially protective of Trevor. She was capable of doing anything when it came to Trevor. She had even stood me up because of him many times before.

When I was previously hospitalized for pneumonia, Kiera had said she would visit me in the hospital after her meeting.

However, she only arrived the very next morning. Her excuse had been that she had been working overtime. But in truth, she had been watching a movie with Trevor the previous night.

When Kiera and I scheduled a couple's photoshoot, I waited outside the photographer's studio wearing a two-piece outfit all day.

Kiera took her own sweet time and only arrived after the studio had closed. She told me she had some urgent work to attend to, but had in fact brought Trevor shopping and bought him some clothes.

This sort of thing had occurred countless times by now. Every time I questioned Kiera about it, she would always bite back with a "work matters most" attitude.

It really was tiring to continue living with her like this.

Maelstrom Corporation's representative, Gregory Bell, had been in awe of how swiftly I'd handed in my report.

"Are you sure you won't consider switching companies? We'll pay you tenfold of your current salary," Gregory said.

I didn't refuse his offer this time. He then happily said that I could propose any terms I wanted.

After discussing the terms and benefits of my employment at Maelstrom Corporation, I returned home.

Kiera was waiting for me on the couch. She had gotten some takeout for my dinner too. Once again, she had stood me up.

She used to give a lengthy explanation as to why she missed our dates, but this time she said nothing.

After a brief silence, Kiera nudged the takeout container toward me. "You must be tired. Don't trouble yourself with cooking. Here, eat while it's still hot."

I looked down and glanced at the takeout. All sorts of mains and sides were lumped together. There was even an eclair drenched in some sort of seafood stew.

This was clearly leftovers from a full-course meal. Kiera hadn't even bothered packing each course separately. The mere sight of this colorful pile of food was enough to ruin my appetite.

I waved my hand. "It's fine. I already ate."

Kiera gazed long and hard at me. She then held my hand, a gesture quite unfitting of how cold she usually was.

"I'm sorry, Alfred. Trevor just got promoted, after all. As his boss, I have to do something to celebrate it. I know you feel aggrieved by what happened earlier. Let's get married this weekend."

Hah! How nicely put.

When I got promoted to director of the tech department, I happily threw a celebratory dinner for everyone in the company. I sat in the private suite eagerly waiting for my colleagues to come, and the server even reheated the food over five times.

But not a single one of them showed up even after the restaurant closed for the night. Each text message I sent to my colleagues was met with dead silence.

A kind-hearted colleague of mine even secretly asked me if I had upset Kiera. I had found his question strange at first. Then, I found out about what had happened.

Kiera had lashed out at every single employee who wanted to attend my celebratory dinner while I wasn't around.

"Do you guys not have enough work on your hands? Is that it? All you do is eat and play! Do I pay you guys to waste time this way? You might as well quit right now!"

As I recalled what happened, I pried Kiera's hand off mine.