Chapter 5 · Power, Lies, And Love

Start a business? Intercepting emails?

I clapped a hand over my mouth, terrified I might make a sound.

Half a year ago, I'd been in talks with an investor—he was enthusiastic at first, then suddenly vanished without a word.

So it was her. Nadia had been the one pulling strings behind the scenes?

That investor didn't walk away—he never even got my proposal.

"You don't get it," Nadia said softly. "Every time I saw him chewing on cold leftovers just to save money, it broke my heart too…"

She absently turned her wedding ring around her finger. "But if I didn't do this, how else would I toughen him up? Only through struggle will he come to truly need me."

Foster stared at the floor, guilt heavy in his voice.

"Nadia… I've noticed David's really been down the last few days. That proposal meant everything to him. You all said if he nailed it, he'd get a promotion and a raise—but then you had me present it…"

"And you gave me his promotion. I can tell—he's not okay. I'm worried he might just walk away."

"I know what you mean," Lynne added. "With his ability, he should've been promoted to director a long time ago. When he confronted me yesterday, I actually felt ashamed.

"The look on his face… I thought he might quit right then and there."

"Well, that's what I'm here for, isn't it?" Nadia said with a smile. "I'll talk to him. I won't let him quit. You all did a great job—bonuses are coming in a few days."

"This is exactly the outcome I wanted. David needs to learn how to deal with setbacks. That's how he'll grow. If he can't handle a little failure, how can I trust him to run the company later, especially when I'm pregnant or need to step back? Life won't get easier."

"But you've been way too harsh these past few years. Couldn't you at least throw him a bone once in a while?"

"Lynne's right," Gloria said. "With his track record, he should've been promoted to senior management by now. Instead, he's still stuck as a junior team lead. Honestly, I feel bad for him."

Nadia went quiet, like she was thinking something over.

"Nadia, when are you planning to tell him the truth?" Lynne asked. "He genuinely loves you. If you drag this out too long, it might blow up in your face."

She paused, then said gently, "Soon… but yeah, after this project wraps up, I'll give him a bit of encouragement. We'll adjust his salary next month—give him a 10% raise."

"Only 10%?" Gloria blurted out. "He's not even making the industry average right now!"

"So what?" Nadia raised an eyebrow. "And besides, when men have too much money, they start acting out. His money is my money anyway, isn't it? A wife managing the household finances—that's just common sense."

"I'm helping him with his asset management," she said with a smirk. "He makes 11 thousand dollars a month—I only take 7 thousand dollars. I still leave him 4 thousand dollars! If I didn't budget carefully, he would've blown it all chasing some startup scam."

So my salary wasn't 5 thousand dollars like I thought? And even that was reduced by about 20% every month after so-called performance reviews.

I usually took home just over 3 thousand dollars. In this city, with mortgage payments and daily expenses, there was barely anything left.

"But Ms. Reeves…" Foster said hesitantly, clearly uneasy.

"Oh, enough about that. If it really comes down to it, I'll make it up to him later. Now drink, everyone!" Nadia said cheerfully, raising her glass.

Laughter and toasts filled the room.

"He'll understand me," she added softly, lowering her glass. "Once the test is over… I'll transfer 20% of Wonder Group's shares to him."

It was unclear if she was speaking to them—or trying to convince herself.

"Oh, by the way—don't forget the tech industry gala tomorrow," Nadia reminded them.

"Don't worry, we've got it covered," someone replied. "We already arranged for David to work late. He won't even notice you're not home."

"Perfect. Don't let anything slip. I really don't want to keep making up excuses… I hate lying to him."

Their conversation made my whole body tense. As I turned to leave, I accidentally bumped into a potted plant. The leaves rustled loudly.

"Who's out there?"

Chapter 5

Start a business? Intercepting emails?

I clapped a hand over my mouth, terrified I might make a sound.

Half a year ago, I'd been in talks with an investor—he was enthusiastic at first, then suddenly vanished without a word.

So it was her. Nadia had been the one pulling strings behind the scenes?

That investor didn't walk away—he never even got my proposal.

"You don't get it," Nadia said softly. "Every time I saw him chewing on cold leftovers just to save money, it broke my heart too…"

She absently turned her wedding ring around her finger. "But if I didn't do this, how else would I toughen him up? Only through struggle will he come to truly need me."

Foster stared at the floor, guilt heavy in his voice.

"And you gave me his promotion. I can tell—he's not okay. I'm worried he might just walk away."

"I know what you mean," Lynne added. "With his ability, he should've been promoted to director a long time ago. When he confronted me yesterday, I actually felt ashamed.

"The look on his face… I thought he might quit right then and there."

"Well, that's what I'm here for, isn't it?" Nadia said with a smile. "I'll talk to him. I won't let him quit. You all did a great job—bonuses are coming in a few days."

"But you've been way too harsh these past few years. Couldn't you at least throw him a bone once in a while?"

"Lynne's right," Gloria said. "With his track record, he should've been promoted to senior management by now. Instead, he's still stuck as a junior team lead. Honestly, I feel bad for him."

Nadia went quiet, like she was thinking something over.

"Nadia, when are you planning to tell him the truth?" Lynne asked. "He genuinely loves you. If you drag this out too long, it might blow up in your face."

She paused, then said gently, "Soon… but yeah, after this project wraps up, I'll give him a bit of encouragement. We'll adjust his salary next month—give him a 10% raise."

"Only 10%?" Gloria blurted out. "He's not even making the industry average right now!"

So my salary wasn't 5 thousand dollars like I thought? And even that was reduced by about 20% every month after so-called performance reviews.

I usually took home just over 3 thousand dollars. In this city, with mortgage payments and daily expenses, there was barely anything left.

"But Ms. Reeves…" Foster said hesitantly, clearly uneasy.

"Oh, enough about that. If it really comes down to it, I'll make it up to him later. Now drink, everyone!" Nadia said cheerfully, raising her glass.

Laughter and toasts filled the room.

"He'll understand me," she added softly, lowering her glass. "Once the test is over… I'll transfer 20% of Wonder Group's shares to him."

It was unclear if she was speaking to them—or trying to convince herself.

"Oh, by the way—don't forget the tech industry gala tomorrow," Nadia reminded them.

"Don't worry, we've got it covered," someone replied. "We already arranged for David to work late. He won't even notice you're not home."

"Perfect. Don't let anything slip. I really don't want to keep making up excuses… I hate lying to him."

Their conversation made my whole body tense. As I turned to leave, I accidentally bumped into a potted plant. The leaves rustled loudly.

"Who's out there?"