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.

"There's no need for that anymore. Let's break up, Kiera," I said coldly.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

Kiera panted heavily as the emotions she had been suppressing finally burst out. "I'm only doing all this for the sake of the company's growth! Any other man would've loved to be in your position, so why can't you?"

I ignored her twisted sense of reasoning.

Kiera continued as she usually did, iterating how crucial it was for the company to grow. She even promised to give me a share of the pie once the company went public.

I was getting tired of her building castles in the sky. I then raised my hand to cut her off, saying, "No need. I'll pack my things and go right now."

This was the first time in years since Kiera became CEO that she had been interrupted while speaking. She went red in the face and glared angrily at me for a long while before sneering.

"No! I'll go instead!" She snapped. She then left the house, slamming the door behind her.

I didn't go after her and continued silently packing my things instead.

Maelstrom Corporation had prepared a deluxe single-person staff dorm for me and told me I could move in whenever I pleased.

After packing my luggage, I called a moving company.

When most of my belongings had been loaded onto the movers' truck, I happened to see Trevor walking Kiera home.

Their hands were intertwined as they chatted merrily while walking together. Kiera's usually cold and distant demeanor had evaporated as she giggled while looking down at her feet. She seemed so warm and loving beside Trevor.

Trevor saw me before Kiera did. He immediately tightened his grip around her hand.

When Kiera noticed something was off, she followed Trevor's gaze and saw me standing right there. She then quickly let go of his hand.

She walked up to me, ready to give me another excuse just like she always did. But the sight of me putting my belongings in the movers' truck surprised her for a moment.

"Where are you going so late at night?" Kiera asked.

Was she blind? Couldn't she see the words "Hilton's Movers" emblazoned on the side of the truck?

I continued moving my things, but Kiera suddenly got in my way. She then shoved a shirt into my arms.

When I didn't react, she reached for the shirt and draped it across my chest.

"I know you've been really busy lately, and that you haven't had time to buy any new clothes. So, I bought this for you earlier at the mall," Kiera said.

Did Kiera get this for me? I usually wore XL size, yet this shirt was clearly an M.

I then took out the receipt from the plastic bag the shirt was in. It cost over one thousand dollars. Kiera had paid for this with her own card.

She didn't buy this for me. She clearly went to pick this out for Trevor.

How generous of her.

Two days ago, I had asked Kiera what she thought about a new shirt I had bought. It cost me 200 dollars.

In response, Kiera had snapped at me and berated me for wasting money. She spent an hour lecturing me on how money wasn't easy to come by, and that no amount of quality clothes could outshine good working capabilities.

What now?

Was she suddenly finding it easy to make money?

I put my hands in my pockets and gazed coldly at Kiera and Trevor.

"No, thank you. You know what people say—clothes make the man. I think it's best that you save this shirt for Mr. Horton," I said.

Trevor was in the middle of taking back the shirt when he heard what I said. He then angrily flung it aside and yelled, "What do you mean by that?"

He ran toward me, raising his hands to strike.

I stood where I was and swiftly slapped him across the face, making him fall to the ground.

"Since you hit me, it's only fair I do the same," I retorted.

Trevor's arms were skinny like breadsticks. He only managed to strike me before because he had caught me off guard.

Now I returned this slap in kind.

Kiera cried out in shock. She touched Trevor's swollen cheek, feeling incredibly sympathetic to him.

"Be civilized, Alfred! Why must you be violent? If you're going to leave, then leave! Don't ever come back again!" Kiera cried.