Chapter 2 Things He Gave Her

Nolan took my phone from my hand and chuckled. "Wendy, is this how you're making your mark now that you've taken office? You're already taking it out on your sister-in-law?"

"Everyone says I'm all talk. I just don't want to disappoint you, Nolan! Besides, even June has to follow the company's rules!"

The two of them continued their sweet, affectionate exchange for quite some time before Nolan finally hung up.

He then looked at me and casually explained, "Wendy said she could handle the finance department. Since you're going on leave anyway, I let her temporarily take over your position, lest people ridicule her again."

I could barely get a sound out.

I had worked at Gallagher Inc. for years. I started as a sales representative and slowly climbed my way up to become the CFO.

Because Nolan said we needed to avoid any appearance of favoritism, I never once used the privileges that came with being the CEO's wife.

It took me seven years to earn that position—Wendy got it simply by asking.

After the call ended, Nolan's gaze stayed fixed on his phone, a smile lingering at the corner of his lips. He looked like a shy young man in the throes of first love.

It wasn't until I coughed that he finally looked up. "What is it?"

His phone wallpaper had been changed to a pink teddy bear. Before that, it had always been a photo of us two.

When he noticed me looking at it, he couldn't help but laugh. He handed me the phone so I could see it clearly. "Wendy said a tough guy like me should use pink."

I hadn't seen such a genuine smile on Nolan's face in a very long time. For a moment, the man before me overlapped with the Nolan I had known when we'd first gotten together.

Back then, he had looked at our photo with that same radiant smile and promised me, "June, this photo will be my wallpaper forever."

Another phone call pulled me out of my memories.

Nolan answered, and his expression changed immediately. "Don't panic. I'm coming."

He walked outside abruptly, then seemed to remember something and turned back to me. "June, give me the silver pendant I prayed for before. Wendy's been having heart palpitations lately. Wearing the silver pendant should help her feel better."

When I had been critically ill after my car accident, he'd spent three days and three nights praying for my recovery, refusing to leave until he'd obtained the pendant for me.

At the time, he stood beside my hospital bed with bloodshot eyes while saying, "June, with this, you'll be safe and blessed for the rest of your life."

Now, he was asking to give it to someone else. But how could I bring myself to accept that?

"That's mine."

When I saw him drawing his brows together, I knew exactly what he would do.

As if following a familiar routine, he tore off a check and handed it to me.

I gave a quiet laugh, took the silver pendant from around my neck, and placed it in his hand. Then, I deliberately picked up the check.

But Nolan's expression only grew darker. "June Olsen, how did you become like this? Is money all you can think about? Do you know why I like having Wendy around me? She's not like you. She doesn't want my money."

With that, he slammed the door and left.

I knew he'd forgotten again—he was supposed to drive me home.

…

I took a taxi home by myself and put the newly received check into the box.

I had an entire box full of checks like this. Every time Wendy got herself into trouble, Nolan would use a check to placate me. In his eyes, the moment I asked him for money even once, I became someone after his wealth.

But was Wendy asking for less?

All she had to do was post online, saying she'd own a luxury mansion worth hundreds of millions, and Nolan would immediately transfer ownership of our marital home, worth 100 million dollars, to her.

When Wendy bragged that she was a lost heiress from a wealthy family, Nolan then arranged an identity for her as an overseas-educated heiress. He even transferred half of the company shares under his name to Wendy.

And the position I had worked tirelessly for seven years to earn? He took it away from me without a second thought.

I looked around the increasingly empty and desolate house. Even our wedding photograph had gathered a layer of dust now.

Just then, Wendy updated her social media again.

In the photo, she was flashing a peace sign at the camera. In the background, Nolan was down on one knee, fixing her plumbing.