Chapter 5

Because I had listed the apartment at a very low price, it sold within a week.

I signed the contract, set the handover date with the buyer, and returned home.

The moment I opened the door, laughter echoed from inside.

At the entryway, the couple’s fleece slippers were gone. In their place sat a pair of men’s leather shoes and a pair of high heels, the same ones Zach had bought Nina for her birthday.

That was when I realized who was inside: Nina and Zach.

Weren’t they supposed to return in two days?

I was still processing that when Zach heard the noise and strolled over. He was wearing my slippers and my pajamas, ambling with a lazy, comfortable posture, like he owned the place.

"Darren, why do you come back home so early? Isn’t the workday still going on?" As he spoke, he flicked ash directly into a cup on the side table.

I recognized it immediately. It was the couple’s mug Nina had given me. I used to treasure it, always holding it carefully in my hands.

Nina appeared from the living room. She saw Zach using my mug as an ashtray, but pretended not to notice. She also didn’t gag from the cigarette smell, even though she used to retch from the scent and had ordered me to quit. She really had changed a lot during her time with Zach.

When she saw me, her expression flickered into something complicated for a moment before settling into something cold and dark.

"You skipped work again? Darren, even if you’re my husband, you can’t keep doing this! That’s a company, not our home. If you can’t follow rules, how am I supposed to manage the others?"

Rules?

I almost laughed.

If we were talking about breaking rules, who broke them more than Nina herself?

A year ago, when the company had barely stabilized, Nina had bypassed all hiring standards and directly placed Zach, someone with zero industry experience, into management.

I’d been confused, but Nina insisted Zach was talented and destined for big things. So I trained him seriously.

However, all Zach ever did was play games or sleep. He dragged his feet during the day, then stayed until midnight just to post a photo in the company group chat, pretending he was working late.

I reported this to Nina, but she brushed it off. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he needed to play games to relax.

I suggested she pay more attention. She said she had no time.

I suggested installing cameras. She said it wasn’t legal.

Then projects began failing one after another. We lost tens of millions. Still, Zach continued doing whatever he wanted.

I reached my limit and tried to fire him, but Nina stopped me immediately.

Then she asked, "Are you jealous? Afraid Zach’s too talented and will surpass you?"

So Zach stayed. He poached my clients and stole my projects.

Nina saw it all and ignored it. She even praised him as an exemplary employee and used me as a cautionary tale of a jealous coworker.

I used to feel wronged, but looking back, if I had that much tolerance, I could have survived any company and wouldn’t be standing in this mess now.

I didn’t say a word.

Zach gently patted her back, soothing her. "Maybe Darren rushed home because he knew you were returning today."

Nina seemed convinced. Her expression brightened with smug satisfaction. "Fine. Don’t let it happen again. But tell me, how did you know I was coming back today?"

Zach smiled. "Nina, remember? Julia Hart from HR booked the flight. She probably told Darren."