Chapter 3 Nothing Left To Hide

Talia's expression shifted instantly, her body tense. "Who did I call out for?"

"It was too muffled. I couldn't catch it."

Relief washed over her face as she relaxed again. She tried to come closer, reaching out to hug me. "If you didn't hear it clearly, how did you know it wasn't your name?"

A wave of disgust rose in my chest. I leaned away, unable to hold it in anymore. "I said that to spare you. Do you seriously not know who you were calling out for?"

A flicker of guilt crossed her face, but she quickly masked it, furrowing her brows and playing it cool.

Then, she started lashing out. "Tobias Stroud, why are you always so paranoid? When Leon was interning at the company, you were constantly suspicious of everything. Don't you have anything better to do? If you've got so much free time, maybe focus on improving yourself. Just because you're my husband doesn't mean you get to drift through your job at this company."

Her words were so absurd that I almost laughed. "Ms. Grant, have you already forgotten who stood by your side when things were at their worst? Who helped you build this company from the ground up?"

Perhaps the mention of our early days touched a nerve, as her expression instantly darkened.

"What's that supposed to mean, Tobias? You want credit? Are you trying to say all my success came from you?"

In all our years of marriage, I had never once demanded anything. I willingly stayed behind the scenes, letting her shine. And yet, in her eyes, everything I had done meant nothing.

It was a slap in the face.

I couldn't bear to listen anymore. I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm forcefully. "I'm not done talking. What kind of attitude is that?"

I lost my balance and stumbled, crashing into the glass coffee table. My arm hit the edge hard, slicing open a gash that bled down to my wrist.

Talia's anger vanished instantly. "Tobias, are you okay?"

She was about to help me up, but just then, someone knocked on the door. She immediately pulled her hand back and retreated behind her desk like nothing had happened.

My chest hollow, I pushed myself off the floor and opened the door to find Caelum standing behind it.

He greeted me with a smirk, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

I ignored him and walked off.

…

Back at my desk, a few coworkers leaned in to gossip.

"Did you see? The new guy's desk is right outside the boss' office. All she has to do is look up, and there he is."

"Damn, that's bold."

"Real bold."

I nodded absently, brushing off their comments. Pulling out my phone, I sent a text to my lawyer. 'Draft the divorce papers. Make it fast.'