All Chapters of Fate’s Second Chance: Married to my Ex's Boss: Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

The car ride was tense.I hadn’t expected it to be any different, not after the way Asher shut me down this morning. But still, I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, we could talk.That maybe he would explain.That maybe I would understand.I turned my head slightly, glancing at him. His fingers were curled loosely around the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the road, his jaw set in that unreadable way he always had when he didn’t want to show what he was feeling.I hesitated for a moment, debating if I should try.Then, finally, I took a breath.“Asher.”He didn’t respond.I swallowed, shifting slightly in my seat. “About the flowers—”“We’re not talking about that.”His voice was calm. Cold. Final.I frowned. “But—”“I said no.”His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.I stared at him, frustration bubbling in my chest. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry—”His jaw clenched.I stopped, realizing that if I kept pushing, I wouldn’t get anything.

Working with Lili was exactly what I expected—a nightmare in disguise.Since she was tasked with guiding me, she took every opportunity to make me look stupid.But in front of others?She played the role of the perfect friend.A concerned mentor. A supportive colleague. A helpful senior.She was so convincing that, if I didn’t know any better, I might have believed it.Except I did know better.Because behind the fake smiles, the soft reassurances, and the friendly tone—Lili was calculating.She knew exactly what she was doing.And so did I.It started small.On my second day, I had to submit my first report—a simple summary of the team's current projects. Claire had given me a rundown, and I had worked on it all morning, making sure it was polished and professional.I sent it in, confident that it was at least decent.But an hour later, Claire called me into her office.I barely had time to sit before she sighed, sliding a copy of my report across the desk.“This is… incomplete, Anas

The office was a battlefield, but no one else seemed to realize it except me.Lili had mastered the art of deception, wearing a mask so flawlessly that most people didn’t see the venom beneath her smile. But I did. I saw everything.She was careful, never outright cruel—at least not in ways that could be proven. Her attacks came in subtle jabs, small inconveniences that could be brushed off as mistakes, miscommunications, or even helpful corrections.But I wasn’t stupid.She was trying to make me look incompetent.And I refused to let her win.I walked into the office, the usual hum of conversation filling the space as people bustled around. The moment I stepped into my department, I felt eyes on me. Lili was already seated at her desk, scrolling through emails like she hadn’t been waiting for me to arrive just so she could start something.“Morning, Tasia,” she called out, her voice overly sweet.I gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Morning, Lili.”Her eyes gleamed as she leaned back in