Chapter 3: The Breaking Point

“Ms. Cooper, are you ready for the surgery yet?” came Dr. Li’s voice through the phone as Eva stepped out of the taxi in front of Cooper Holdings. She paused, clutching her handbag tighter.

Her heart was heavy, her breath shaky.

“Not yet, Doctor,” she replied quietly, almost as if she might cry any moment. “Please give me a little more time to raise the money.”

She ended the call and took a deep breath. The towering glass building stood before her — her husband’s empire.

The same man who hadn’t picked her calls since the last time she begged him to come home.

Each day he claimed to be buried in work, yet she hadn’t seen his shadow for days.

Eva brushed her tears away, straightened her red suit, and adjusted the pendant around her neck, the one she had worn since her teenage years.

It was her only comfort now, something that reminded her she still had meaning beyond this pain.

With a sigh, she pushed the door open and walked in.

The first thing she saw made her heart twist. A group of staff stood around Amira Finley, Bradley’s secretary, clapping and smiling as she showed off expensive dresses and jewelry.

Boxes littered the reception desk — gifts from “Mr. Cooper.” Amira glowed with pride, twirling her new dress like a queen.

Eva froze. The laughter, the praises, the admiration — it all sank like a knife into her chest. She needed money to stay alive, but her husband was busy spending thousands on another woman.

She looked away and walked past them, heading straight for Bradley’s office. But one of the female staff, seeing her, whispered too loudly, “Oh, Ms. Cooper is here.”

The cheerfulness in the room instantly shifted. Amira’s expression hardened. “So what?” she said coldly.

The same staff whispered back, “Everyone knows Mr. Cooper doesn’t even care about her.”

Amira smiled with a sharp smirk. “Back to work, everyone,” she said in a commanding tone, before walking towards Eva.

Her heels clicked sharply on the marble floor as she positioned herself right in front of Eva, blocking her way.

“Mr. Cooper is in a meeting,” she said, folding her arms. “He doesn’t have time for visitors. If you need something from him, you can tell me, I’ll deliver the message.”

Eva stared at her, lips trembling slightly but her voice calm. “Don’t worry. I’ll wait.” She moved to step past her.

But Amira moved again, blocking her a second time. Her tone turned mocking. “This is the VIP lounge. If you want to sit, you can take that seat over there.”

She pointed toward a torn chair in a corner near the wall.

Eva’s lips curved slightly. “Amira,” she said softly, but firmly. “I’m the CEO’s wife. Don’t forget that I have the power to fire any staff who misbehaves, including you.”

Amira’s smirk deepened. “I’m not just Mr. Cooper’s secretary,” she said, stepping closer. “Do you even know who I am to him?”

Eva chuckled under her breath, meeting her gaze. “Who are you then, hmm?”

For the first time, the confidence on Amira’s face faltered. “I’m—”

“Since your identity is nothing decent,” Eva cut in sharply, her voice ringing clear across the hall, “you should learn to keep a low profile.”

A murmur ran through the nearby staff. Amira’s face turned red with anger. “Nothing decent?” she snapped. “You think you can insult me just because you carry his last name? You’re the unwanted one here!” She jabbed her finger toward Eva. “You mean nothing to him, and everybody knows it!”

Gasps filled the office as more staff peeked from their desks.

Eva’s expression stiffened, but before she could reply, Amira shoved her hard. Eva stumbled backward, her hand hitting the edge of the table.

The sound of shattering glass filled the air as a cup fell and broke beside her.

For a moment, everything went silent. Then the office door opened.

Bradley walked in, one hand in his pocket, his face unreadable. The staff quickly straightened up, tension filling the air.

The instant Amira saw him, she gasped dramatically and dropped to the floor, pretending to be in pain. She brushed her hand across a shard of glass and let out a small cry as a thin line of blood appeared.

“Mr. Cooper!” she cried, tears streaming down her face. “She attacked me! I told her you were in a meeting and she refused to listen!”

The staff, who had seen everything, froze in disbelief. Some exchanged glances, whispering under their breath.

Bradley rushed to her, kneeling beside her without even looking at Eva. “Amira, are you alright?” His voice softened instantly.

Eva’s breath hitched as she watched him cradle Amira’s hand like it was the most delicate thing in the world. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She stepped forward, trembling, her voice rising. “Bradley, you’re buying into that?”

He finally turned, his expression cold, his eyes burning with anger. “Who else should I believe?” he said.

She stared at him, speechless.

“You?” he added sharply, his voice low and dangerous.

Then, without hesitation, he flung her hand off his arm and turned away.