From His Secret Wife to His Worst Mistake

Synopsis

Three years into our secret marriage, Henry pulled out all the stops and handed me a huge Valentine's Day gift. Three years of advanced training in Saldovia, fully funded. For my career growth, he said. I was so happy I couldn't sleep all night. I kept tossing and turning, wondering if we'd finally go public once I came back. The next day, I overheard him in the break room, sweet-talking the new intern. "Once I ship her off to Saldovia for three years, the credit on every big project will be yours alone." "Mr. Carter, what if she finds out?" The intern's voice came out small. Henry was quiet for two seconds. His tone went flat. "I gave her a 170 thousand dollars scholarship. Whatever guilt I'm supposed to feel, I've already paid for it in cash." I leaned against the wall, and I suddenly wanted to laugh. Three years of secret marriage. A thousand nights of working until 2 AM. Turns out I had a price tag—less than 60 thousand dollars a year. I didn't walk in to confront him. I opened my phone and returned the missed call from the rival company's headhunter, the one I'd been ignoring for six months. "Hello. I've thought it over. I can start whenever you need me."