Chapter 1

"Emily, I don't want anything that belongs to Chad. Get him to take everything back!"

I had just taken off my employee badge when Ivan Perkins obstinately rejected my offer.

My wife, Emily Stewart, smiled as she stuffed the share certificate and employee badge into his arms. "Ivan, just take everything I’m giving you. Chad doesn't need them."

The company employees looked at each other, noticing the brewing scandal. No one could claim to be ‘humiliating’ another person while stuffing their arms full of money.

My fingers twitched.

A year ago, Emily took Ivan on as her personal assistant after his family went bankrupt, claiming she wanted revenge for him turning his back on her years ago.

However, after six months of 'torture', all I witnessed was her gifting Ivan thousands in cash, several luxury cars, numerous properties, and so many luxury brands that I could hardly keep count.

Emily had promised she would stop having fun with him once the company was listed and focus on being with me, but she was still happily playing her game of chase with him until today.

No wonder she announced our relationship publicly today for no reason. She gifted me company shares and even wanted to promote me to Vice President. All she really wanted was to use me as a middleman to funnel money to Ivan.

I was exhausted with all of this and no longer wanted to be a part of it.

Ivan acted humiliated and accepted the shares and employee badge with a look of disdain.

Emily smiled as she looked at him adoringly. However, when she glanced at me, she noticed how upset I was, and she got a grip on herself. She turned to taunt Ivan in an attempt to hide her true intentions.

"I thought you had a backbone, Ivan. I guess anyone can turn you into a good boy as long as they have money."

Tonight was the company's celebration for getting listed, but everything had been messed up.

Emily waved, and the host continued the night's program. She was in a good mood and started digging into her slice of strawberry shortcake.

Before she could finish it, her phone rang, and she got up to take the call.

I realized she had forgotten her Bluetooth earphones, so I brought them out to her, only to overhear the most unforgettable conversation of my life.

"Are you crazy, Emily? The Perkins reported on your father’s actions and destroyed your family. Ivan made things even worse for you by canceling your wedding and instructing his bodyguards to beat you to a pulp, yet you got a court wedding with him?

"How could you do this to Chad? You wouldn't be where you are today if he hadn't taken you in. He took care of you and helped you make a comeback, but you lied to him with a fake wedding, claiming that you didn't want to drag him into any trouble.

“You promised him you'd give him a real wedding once you became successful, but you married Ivan instead!"

Faced with her friend's accusations, Emily replied calmly, "What can I do when Ivan is making a fuss about resigning if I don't marry him? I'll divorce him once I've had my fun. It won't affect Chad and getting married later."

I tasted bitterness in my mouth. This time, she had gone as far as to marry Ivan in her attempt at ‘revenge’.

I quickly returned to my seat before she could realize I was behind her.

Not long after, Emily returned as well. She continued eating her cake as if nothing had happened, even carefully removing the leaves from the decorative strawberry before enjoying it.

Halfway through, she moved to offer Ivan some of her slice. However, she quickly thought better of it and turned to me instead, smiling.