It was the World Consumer Rights Day summit and my wife insisted I accompany her. At the banquet, my wife arrived arm-in-arm with her assistant, dressed to impress. Meanwhile, she had me sit at a table with the cafeteria lady. Just as I was about to confront her, her assistant sneered at me in front of everyone. "Frederick Larkin, you're just a useless freeloader. What makes you think you deserve to sit next to Mrs. Baker?"

I gave him a slight smile and turned to look at Willa Baker, my wife. "So, you think I don't deserve to sit here either, right?"

——

At that moment, all eyes at the table were on me. Willa hadn't expected me to challenge her in public. Her expression darkened as she glared at me. "Frederick, what the hell are you doing now?" she snapped. "This is a business networking event! If you want to argue, get out and do it somewhere else. Don't embarrass me here!"

I chuckled and looked at her lazily. "Willa, you think sitting next to me is embarrassing, huh?"

The next second, she slammed the table and pointed at me, her voice filled with disgust. "That's right! I feel ashamed to be seen with you! So what? You're my husband in name only. There's no real affection between us. To the Bakers, you're nothing more than a pet we keep around!"

By the time she finished, she had completely lost her temper. She stood up, spitting her words so angrily that I could feel her saliva land on my face. I wiped my face with a napkin, still smiling. "Then I really don't get it. If you hate me so much, why insist on dragging me to this damn summit? Or was your whole plan just to humiliate me?"

I had been wondering about this all evening. Usually, Willa hated having me around and wouldn't even let me step foot in her company. Yet today, at such an important event, she made sure I came. Something was definitely off.

Before I could get an answer, Jacob Walker, her assistant who had taken my seat, stood up with a smug grin. "Fred, you're even dumber than I thought. Can't you figure out something this simple? Of course, it's because … "

Willa quickly cut him off. "Jacob, let's just eat. Why bother with him? Even if you told him, what would it change? He'd still be the same useless layabout, never admitting he's the problem. I should have never agreed to marry him. It's bad luck!"

Her words stunned me. Me, the actual behind-the-scenes boss of the company, useless? Did she expect me to sit in an office all day, sipping coffee like her?

Willa saw me staying silent and assumed she had hit a nerve. A victorious smirk spread across her face. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? You don't even have the guts to talk back, do you? Frederick, you better behave yourself, or I swear I'll fire you right now!"

I let out a cold laugh, my eyes locked on hers. "Willa, are you saying I'm redundant at the company?"

I'd hoped to avoid a scene at the annual industry event, especially since the Bakers had barely managed to get an invitation. However, this crazy woman was determined to pick a fight. I could tolerate her insults, but now she was threatening me with my job? That was the last straw. Did she have any idea who was responsible for the Bakers' current position?

"You're absolutely right! Keeping a useless piece of trash like you in my company is just a waste of resources!"

I shook my head with a faint smile. "Willa, I can take you saying I'm idle, but I won't stand for you saying I'm useless to the company. Do you really think you got to where you are today all on your own?"

When Willa saw that I dared to speak back in addition to refusing to take responsibility, she became enraged. "Frederick! Open your damn eyes and take a good look! I am the chairwoman of Baker Group! Do you think the company went public because of you, a worthless loser?"

I nodded earnestly. "Exactly. You're spot on. The Bakers were able to rise to become one of Stormford's four great families precisely because of me."

As soon as I said that, the dinner table erupted. "Kid, you're really full of hot air, aren't you? The Bakers are a respected name in Stormford and what are you?"

"Mr. Lawson is right. How dare a man who can't even get respect from his own wife sit with us?"

"I suggest you leave now. Everyone here is a big shot in the business world. We don't welcome gigolos."

I rubbed my ears, tuning out their words. "Whether or not I have the right to sit here isn't up to you."

"The moment those words left my mouth, the entire room fell silent. Everyone in attendance tonight was a powerhouse in Stormford's business scene, from top executives to major investors. Even Baker Group had only just managed to secure an invitation this year.

My statement spread like wildfire, drawing all eyes to me. One by one, sharp and hostile gazes locked onto me as if they were ready to tear me apart. As the crowd grew larger, I soon found myself surrounded."

Seeing this, Jacob grinned from ear to ear. "Everyone, let me clarify. This man is indeed Mrs. Baker's husband, but he's already been fired from the Baker Group. You can hit him, you can yell at him; we won't stop you."

Hearing his words, I almost couldn't hold back my laughter. "Jacob, I'd suggest you don't cut ties with me so quickly."

I flashed him a small smile. "Because without me, Baker Group will go bankrupt in less than ten minutes. Want to bet on it?"

Jacob slammed his hand on the table. "Frederick, are you dreaming? A freeloader like you thinks he can bring down the company? You must be out of your mind."

I nodded, looking at him calmly. "That's the truth. If you don't believe me, feel free to test it."

Jacob raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "Test it? Someone who doesn't even know his own worth dares to act tough in front of me."

His mocking didn't faze me in the slightest. Instead, I smiled confidently. "Unlike you, I, Frederick Larkin, never rely on anyone to get things done."

The moment I said that, the expressions on the faces of the business elites at the table shifted. "Tch, I was wondering who was acting so arrogant. It's just Baker Group's pet."

"Well said! A kept man living off his wife's fortune, yet he still dares to look down on others? What a joke!"

"Everyone at this table is worth billions and you? You don't have a hundred bucks in your pocket.

I cleared my throat and scanned the room. "You're mistaken. It's not that I look down on others. I look down on every single one of you."

I may not be a business expert, but at least I know how to be a decent person. From the moment I stepped into this banquet hall, all these so-called business elites have done nothing but discuss shady ways to exploit loopholes, never how to actually grow their companies. One was bragging about underpaying his employees. Another was boasting about dodging taxes. With bosses like these, it's only a matter of time before their companies go under.

The second those words left my mouth, I became the number one target of everyone's anger. Even the event host couldn't take it anymore. "Sir, this is a professional business gathering. We don't welcome people like you here."

I slowly raised my head and looked towards the stage. "Oh? And what kind of person am I exactly? Go on, enlighten me."

Before the host could speak, Jacob rushed onto the stage and snatched the microphone. "Frederick Larkin, you're nothing but a worthless freeloader!"

The words echoed through the hall, blasting through the speakers. The business moguls at my table immediately burst into applause, enjoying the show. Even Willa, who had been quiet all evening, clapped along with them.

Seeing this scene unfold before my eyes, I finally understood Willa's true motive for inviting me. Unfortunately for her, her scheme of using others to do her dirty work was completely ineffective against me. Even if you searched the entire city of Stormford, no one would dare look down on me.

Seeing that I remained silent, Jacob thought I was intimidated and raised the microphone again. "Hey, Frederick, now do you understand why Mrs. Baker didn't want you at her table?"

He paused, then grinned. "Because ... you're simply not worthy."

I stared at him coldly, my voice devoid of any emotion. "Alright. I've played along with your little show long enough. Now tell me, what's the real reason you dragged me here tonight?"

Jacob smirked, his eyes filled with contempt. "Since you already figured it out, I won't bother pretending anymore. To put it simply, Mrs. Baker brought you here so you could finally understand your place and stop shamelessly clinging to the Bakers."

I casually slipped my hands into my pockets and smiled. "And then?"

Jacob gave me a once-over, his expression full of disdain. "Mrs. Baker is divorcing you."

I froze for a moment, then turned to look at Willa. "Is that true? You really want a divorce?"

Willa raised an eyebrow, looking at me with disdain. "Jacob is right. I've wanted a divorce for a long time, but I've only been delaying it because of my father's pressure. Since all the business leaders are here today, they can witness this. I, Willa, want a divorce from you, you good-for-nothing who only knows how to freeload!"

After hearing her words, everything suddenly became clear. Julian Baker, the founder of Baker Group, knocked on my door three years ago when the Bakers' business was still modest. He declared his desire to wed me to his daughter. Before I could even refuse, he pulled out of the marriage contract. I took one look at it and immediately recognized my father's handwriting. I was young at the time and had little understanding of love. Still, I unwillingly consented to fulfill my father's final wish.

However, Willa abruptly changed her mind on the day we were meant to receive our marriage certificates, stating that she would only consent to the marriage being registered and not to have a wedding. After giving it some thought, I granted her request because relationships take time to grow. Still, I never expected that not only did our relationship fail to grow over three years, but now she was trying to force me into a divorce. The more I thought about it, the more my anger surged.