Chapter 3

The day Julia moved in, she brought a mountain of luggage. Box after box, they were all carried into the suite next to the master bedroom.

That room was meant to be the honeymoon suite Charles and I saved for our wedding night.

Back when we decorated, I handpicked every lamp, every floorboard, and every scrap of curtain fabric myself. He said that was where our wedding photos would go one day.

Now, it all seemed so ridiculous.

The very first night Julia moved in, things started to change.

She said she couldn't stand cat hair, so my cat, the one I had kept for four years, was shut out on the balcony. She said she couldn't sleep well, so all my scented candles and diffusers got cleared out.

She said the house felt too empty, so the next day, someone came in and replaced all the throw pillows, tablecloths, and flowers.

Even my usual mug got tucked into storage, just because she said so. It was as if there was no space left in that house for anything that had to do with me.

*****

The next morning, when I came downstairs, breakfast was already laid out on the table. There was fresh fruit and yogurt, milk, and low sugar bread. All for her.

I heard oil sizzling in the kitchen. I walked over and saw Charles in an apron, frying eggs.

I stood in the doorway, feeling a bitter laugh rise up inside me.

I used to worry about his stomach, so I learned to cook for him. No matter how late I worked, I always made sure there was a warm meal waiting for him.

He said that once everything was on track in the company, he would take care of me instead.

Turned out, he knew how to take care of someone. Just not me.

I went upstairs to my study and pulled open the top drawer. My hand froze. It was empty. Everything that had been in there was gone.

The photo of us after our first successful funding round. The engagement card he wrote for me. So many things I thought I would hold onto forever. All of it was gone.

In their place was a property settlement document. On the cover, there were two names. Charles and Julia.

I stared at those names and felt cold.

Turned out, in the end, love really left me with nothing.

*****

At noon, a post popped up on the company's anonymous forum. It read: [Why someone will never be the boss' wife.]

It never mentioned my name, but every line was aimed at me.

It said I was controlling. That I used my co-founder status to pressure Charles into marrying me.

It claimed I was jealous of Julia, always undermining her and making her life difficult.

It said I was out of control, even targeting a pregnant woman.

The post was a mix of truth and lies, and it was quite convincing.

Not even a tremor in my fingers as I scrolled to the end because I knew this was all part of their plan.

First, they'd ruin my reputation, then use all this to kick me out of the company at the board meeting, making it look like I deserved it.

*****

That evening, the company sent out an updated meeting agenda. Attached was a list of my "issues."

They accused me of losing control and wrecking the team, targeting a pregnant woman, and colluding with the competition.

I stared at that last accusation and let out a bitter laugh.

So Charles had looked into me after all. And he knew exactly what he was doing. Once he stuck that accusation on me, even if I left, I'd have to walk away branded as the villain.

The study door opened. I didn't turn around.

Charles walked in and placed a document in front of me. "Sign it, Victoria. I've already left you a way out."

I looked up at him and nearly laughed out loud. After everything, he still thought he was giving me a way out.

I picked up the papers and flipped through them, page by page, taking my time.

He must have thought I was finally giving in, because his expression softened. "You've always been smart. You know what's best for you."

I closed the file, looked up, and smiled at him. "Fine. I'll sign."

He paused, clearly thrown off.

I placed the agreement back on the desk. "But I've got a little surprise waiting for you, too."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out at the board meeting," I replied.

I barely slept that night. I sat in the study and sorted through all the files and documents I had kept over the years.

At four in the morning, I sent a message to that person.

I wrote: [Tomorrow, we go in.]

He replied fast: [Got it. You flip the table, and I'll back you up.]

I stared at those words and slowly leaned back in my chair.

Years ago, Charles had said something similar. He said, "Victoria, as long as I'm here, you'll never lose." But now, he was the one pushing me off the cliff.

So, this time, I trusted no one but myself.

*****

On the day of the special board meeting, I was the last one to arrive. The conference room was packed.

Charles spoke first. He said Julia was his lawful wife and the mother of his child.

Then, he said I'd been acting out lately, stirring up conflict in the company, and even reaching out to the competition behind everyone's back. He claimed all of this had seriously messed up the company's management.

He said all of it without a single glance in my direction, as if all those years I stuck by him, all those sleepless nights I spent working for him, just vanished into thin air.

Then, others started speaking one after another.

Someone played a doctored security video, pausing it right at the moment I told Julia to get out of my office.

Someone printed out the anonymous post and said the team had been unhappy with me for a long time.

Richard Ford kept up his good guy act. He sighed and tried to talk me down.

"Ms. Payne, you've done a lot for the company over the years, and we're willing to give you a graceful exit. If you sign the agreement today, you'll still get your dividends and keep your reputation intact," he said.

I sat there and almost laughed.

They tore me down first, then tossed me a few scraps like I should be grateful. They really had every exit planned out for me.

Charles slid the pen across the table to me. "Victoria. Sign it."

I stared at the pen, not even reaching for it.

Julia sat to the side and spoke softly, "Ms. Payne, it's been hard on all of us. Please, don't make this any harder on Charles."

I looked up at her. "Who are you to say that?"

Her face went pale. She bit her lip, and her eyes quickly turned red.

Charles' face went dark. "Victoria. This is not the time to lose it."

I finally reached out and took the agreement. Everyone's eyes were fixed on my hands.

Then, in front of them all, I tore it in half.

The rip wasn't loud. But the entire room went silent.

Charles shot to his feet, his face stormy. "What is this?"