Chapter 2

"What's with that attitude, Skyler? You think I can't live without you? I've had enough of this! I've never met a man as petty and narrow-minded as you!" Susie snapped.

John quickly stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and comforted her. "Don't get mad, Ms. Miller. You'll make yourself sick."

She looked at him with obvious gratitude. They gazed into each other's eyes, standing so close they were practically up against each other without a care for who was watching.

I remembered what I had accidentally come across on her phone a couple of days ago, and my stomach churned.

"Seriously, Mr. Lloyd. This could've been resolved with a simple apology, but you had to make such a big deal of it. What good is threatening her? If Ms. Miller really divorces you, you'd have to cry and beg her to take you back."

"A petty man is a hopeless man."

Everyone was pointing fingers at me, but I merely scoffed. "I'm petty? You know exactly what you've done."

Guilt flickered in Susie's eyes. "What are you talking about? I don't get it."

I pulled out my phone and showed her. Her face immediately fell, and she reached out to snatch it from me. "Skyler!"

I swiftly raised the phone so everyone in the room could see. I had a photo of Susie and John in her office, wearing sexy lingerie and laughing together.

Everyone gasped.

"Damn. Who would've thought Ms. Miller was like that in private?"

"No wonder Mr. Lloyd is pissed. No man could stand being cheated on."

The employees began muttering among themselves. Susie's face went pale, then flushed with anger. She was eager to defend herself.

"I was doing it for work! John and I were discussing product designs. I was helping him test some new styles so we could improve the company's sales. It's not as filthy as you're making it sound, Skyler!"

Betty jumped to her defense. "Exactly! It's not her fault that you have a dirty mind. They were standing so far apart. So what if they were wearing a little less than usual? She has nothing to hide!

"As for you, you're lazy and incompetent. What would you know about the sacrifices people have to make to get ahead?"

Andrew chimed in righteously. "She works this hard to make money because you're incapable of providing for her! Instead of appreciating her, you accuse her of cheating. You don't deserve her!"

Those who had been hesitant a moment ago suddenly sympathized with Susie.

"I mean, yeah. People already gossip when you work in a company like this. If your own family refuses to understand you too, how are you supposed to keep going?"

"You've got to make a living somehow. Life is hard."

"Still, was it necessary for her to try on those samples herself?"

The room filled with conflicting opinions. Seeing that most of the female employees were taking her side, Susie finally relaxed. Her arrogance soon returned.

"Skyler, I'll let it go this time. But if you pull something like this again, I'll actually be angry."

John looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lloyd. I was just too eager to improve. If Ms. Miller hadn't helped me test the samples, you wouldn't have gotten the wrong idea. It's all my fault…"

"It's not your fault," Susie said sternly, her face scornful. "The one at fault is the one who never does any real work and constantly uses underhanded tricks to push others out. It's honestly so disgraceful."

The others joined in, accusing me of smearing John out of jealousy and pettiness to sabotage him. My in-laws went even further, cursing me and saying how blind they were to ever marry Susie off to me.

I looked around the angry crowd and let out a cold laugh inside.

Just then, John hesitantly pulled out several pieces of lingerie. "Mr. Lloyd, Wendy gave these to me a few days ago. She said you used so-called research as an excuse to harass her.

"She couldn't take it anymore, so she came to me for help. I don't believe you're that kind of person, so I'd like to clear things up while we're here."

I froze.

Suddenly, I remembered one of my employees, Wendy Sawyer, awkwardly asking me for some old designs a few days earlier. I thought the designs were flawed and was planning to throw them away anyway.

Then I caught the gleam in John's eyes, and I instantly realized what this was all about—a trap.

I was ready to say something when Susie flew into a rage. She grabbed the lingerie and hurled it at my face, her finger pointed between my brows.

"What's there to clear up? Wendy was obviously telling the truth! I guess you've had ulterior motives all along! That's why you were so quick to suspect me! I really was wrong about you, Skyler!"