Chapter 2 The Accusation

Julian strode into the conference room, dressed in a tailored suit and polished leather shoes that struck sharply against the floor.

The room fell silent in an instant. The secretary hurried to pull out a chair for him, but Julian didn't sit. Instead, he walked straight up to me, his tone cutting and cold. "Skye, stop fearmongering. Acting self-important only makes me despise you more."

I froze for a moment. I had thought his earlier "enough" was aimed at his assistant—but now I realized it had been meant for me.

Before I could even open my mouth, Julian went on, his voice laced with irritation. "The only thing I regret is letting you join the company in the first place. I'll never understand why Grandpa insisted on bringing in someone as useless as you.

"Who do you think you are? You think this company can't survive without you?"

We'd been married for five years. Even if our marriage was just for show, he could've at least maintained some semblance of harmony in public. His harsh, humiliating words stunned me. The shock faded quickly, replaced by a cold, sinking anger.

Five years ago, his grandfather, Edward Fraser, had reached out to my family, hoping I could help when Julian's company was on the brink of collapse.

"The company's in crisis, Skye. Thank you for lending a hand," he had said back then.

Julian had been nothing but courteous at the time—fresh from studying overseas, still youthful and polite. Later, Edward arranged for us to marry, thinking it would strengthen both families' ties.

I had fallen for Julian at first sight. Otherwise, with my personality, I never would have agreed to a marriage of convenience, no matter how much anyone offered.

I had thought Julian might not love me, but that he at least liked me enough to try.

We'd been "trying" for five years. And over time, he forgot everything I'd done quietly for him, for the company, for this family.

I looked at his cold face and said evenly, "If you want to shut down the department, fine. But you'll need to ask Old Mr. Fraser first. If he agrees, I'll accept it. I joined Fraser Networks because of his friendship with my grandfather—not because of anyone in this room."

For a split second, something flickered in Julian's expression—hesitation, guilt maybe—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

He straightened his back and snapped, "What, you're going to use Grandpa to threaten me now? Is that all you can do—throw your family's name around? I honestly don't know what he ever saw in you. You came in here and turned into nothing but a parasite."

I stared at Julian, searching his face for even a trace of the man I'd once known. There was nothing left.

Around us, the others began to stir, emboldened by his outburst.

"Why are you still standing here? Mr. Fraser made himself clear! You're an adult, Solen. Stop clinging like a child."

"Do you have to make such a scene? Why not part ways peacefully?"

"You're not about to throw a full-blown meltdown, are you, Solen?"

At first, I was confused by their sudden hostility. However, as I noticed who was speaking, everything fell into place. These were the same people rumored to have taken kickbacks—lining their pockets with dirty money.

The one who led the earlier mockery had once approached me too, testing the waters to see if I'd falsify data for him. I'd refused him flat-out. I hadn't thought much of it then, but now, the pieces all fit together.

Ever since that day, I'd been treated like an outcast, targeted again and again.

So this was their doing all along. And Julian—fool that he was—actually believed them. I had no idea what he'd learned during those years abroad, but apparently, common sense wasn't one of them.

I turned to the man who had just called me clingy—Craig, if I remembered correctly. "Craig, all this because I refused to cook your numbers and hide your tracks? Don't you think that's going too far? And you, Louis, Trent—you've been eager to push me out since the start of this meeting. Did my Cybersecurity Department threaten your little side business somehow?"