Chapter 1

At the gala, Xavier ‌Gibson publicly announced we were getting married. The entire hall erupted in applause.

But what I didn't expect was that before the event even ended, I'd find myself standing outside the lounge door, staring at the projection screen on the wall.

On the screen was a massive Excel spreadsheet.

Behind dozens of candidate names were densely packed rating categories: housekeeping ability, bedroom endurance...

In the baseline column, my name was written prominently: Jade Monroe.

"Relationships are like companies," he said, casually swirling his wine. "You have to cut the underperformers."

So seven years of companionship meant nothing more to him than an asset with terrible returns.

I didn't burst through the door to confront him. Instead, I turned and walked to the end of the hallway, pulled out my phone, and sent a text to a number at the bottom of my contacts.

"I'm ready to honor the terms from ten years ago."

Three seconds later, came the reply. "Finally giving up on that scumbag? Let's register our marriage tomorrow then."

Jade Monroe's POV

Xavier had just publicly announced our engagement on stage, with everyone applauding and offering congratulations.

But what I didn't expect was that before the gala even ended, I'd overhear him at the lounge door, discussing how to dump me.

The door wasn't fully closed. I'd come to bring him tea, only to catch sight of the projection screen on the wall.

Displayed on it was a massive Excel spreadsheet.

"Xavier, is this really how you choose a wife?"

The voice of his business partner, Mr. Davis, drifted out with a hint of mockery.

"You've literally turned wife selection into a competitive hiring process."

I stopped in my tracks and peered through the gap in the door.

A complex Excel spreadsheet was projected on the wall.

The spreadsheet listed dozens of names, each followed by densely packed rating categories: housekeeping ability, social etiquette, and even a brazenly explicit "bedroom endurance level."

Mr. Davis held a cigarette between his fingers, pointing at the data analysis on screen.

"Look at this Candidate No.19, Amber Thomson, right? Her scores in emotional support provision and bedroom compatibility completely crush the baseline."

In the baseline column, my name was written clearly:

Jade Monroe.

Mr. Davis exhaled a smoke ring, his tone becoming hesitant.

"But Jade's been with you since the startup days. If you just fire her and promote someone new, won't that damage the company's image? After all, people are watching."

Two seconds of silence inside the room.

Xavier sat in the main seat on the sofa, swirling half a glass of red wine, his face showing not a trace of intoxication.

He glanced up at the data on screen, his eyes cold.

"Relationships are like companies-both need to eliminate underperformers to maintain vitality."

He tilted his head back and took a sip of wine.

"Jade's cost-efficiency ratio is too low now."

"This feels like you fed Amber the test questions, doesn't it? Her scores just barely beat Jade's across the board. That's pretty cruel to Jade."

In the VIP lounge, the partner's voice carried a hint of hesitation.

Xavier's tone was casual.

"There's still two months left in the probationary period. If Jade can accept a pay cut and demotion, she can stay. She's a veteran employee after all. But that depends on whether she can tolerate Amber's presence. Otherwise, she'll have to go."

Standing outside the door, the hot tea spilled from my hands.

I didn't feel the pain, only felt like a complete joke.

Seven years of companionship, selling my house to help fund his startup-in his eyes, I was just an employee with poor returns.

Since I was being liquidated as a bad asset, I might as well proactively file for bankruptcy reorganization.

I didn't push the door open to confront him.

I walked to the trash can at the end of the hallway and poured out the tea.

Then I pulled out my phone and scrolled to a number at the bottom of my contacts.

My finger hovered over the screen without any hesitation as I typed a message.

"I'm ready to honor the terms from ten years ago."

Send.

I reapplied my lipstick using the hallway mirror.

A few minutes later, Xavier emerged from the lounge.

He casually put his arm around my waist and led me toward the center of the ballroom.

As the spotlight hit us, he wore a smile and whispered a warning in my ear.

"Smile. Don't make a scene. The stock price just went up today."

When his fingers touched my waist, I stiffened reflexively.

I could smell it on him.

Amber's scent.

I avoided his touch and pulled my lips into a standard social smile.

Until now, I'd never doubted Xavier.

Not until that girl named Amber showed up at my door with an expense report.

The next morning, I was processing files at my studio.

The receptionist called through the internal line.

"Jade, there's an intern sent by Xavier who insists on seeing you."