Chapter 3

The call with Mr. Grant from the restaurant went pretty smoothly.

I asked him, using the excuse that the company needed to verify entertainment expenses, to make a copy of the full security footage from the private room where we had eaten that day.

Mr. Grant agreed readily and said someone could deliver it in the afternoon.

Right after I hung up, my mother-in-law’s number called in.

“Jason! You shameless piece of trash! How are you still alive and looking people in the eye?”

Her voice shot at me like a machine gun.

“Our Sarah must have used up every ounce of bad luck in her life to end up marrying you!”

“What if you fool around outside and bring some filthy disease home? How are you going to answer to us?”

I was totally confused. “Mom, what are you talking about? I didn’t—”

“You still dare to argue! Sarah already told me!”

“You harassed a young girl at work, and the post is already online!”

“You’ve made our whole family look disgusting!”

“I’m telling you, I already took my daughter back to my house. A piece of trash like you doesn’t deserve to see her again!”

“If you still have even a little conscience, hurry up and divorce her. Don’t keep dragging her down!”

“Mom, all of that is fake. Someone set me up!”

“I’m telling you, don’t come looking for Sarah these next few days, and don’t call her either. If you do, I’ll have my son break your legs!”

She hung up on me hard.

I held the phone, my hands and feet going cold.

Tina hadn’t just ruined my career and driven a wedge between me and my wife. Now she had turned the fire on my entire family.

I immediately called Sarah. No one answered.

I sent a SnapChat message. I was blocked.

I always thought that even if the whole world misunderstood me, Sarah would still stand by me.

But reality slapped me hard in the face.

Five years of marriage, and in front of rumors with no solid proof, it was fragile beyond belief.

I rushed out of the house and drove straight to my mother-in-law’s place.

I had to explain everything to Sarah in person!

But I didn’t even make it through the gate of her neighborhood.

Security stopped me right away and said, “Mr. Miller, Mrs. Carter told us not to let you in.”

I stood at the entrance, looking at that familiar building, and felt like the whole world had abandoned me.

When I got back to the company, waiting for me was an even heavier blow.

Mr. Walker called me into his office again, and his face looked worse than yesterday.

“Jason, take a look for yourself!” He pushed a tablet in front of me.

On the screen was the anonymous forum post, and the original poster had updated it again.

“Latest update! That bastard not only shows no remorse, he also threatened the victim and said he’d make her unable to work in the industry!”

“The poor girl was so scared she didn’t even dare come to work today. She’s crying at home.”

“Even the bastard’s wife found out. She’s already fighting with him and wants a divorce. Serves him right!”

There was also a candid photo attached below it.

In the photo, I was standing at the meeting room door, face dark, pointing at something.

Even though you couldn’t see Tina, the text made the photo into ironclad proof that I had threatened her.

And Tina had indeed taken a sick day today.

Every step she took was calculated to perfection.

First she acted weak, then pretended to be sick, completely locking in her “victim” identity, while painting me as the “attacker” in the most vivid way possible.

“Jason, I’ll ask you one last time. What exactly happened?”

Mr. Walker’s voice had no patience left in it, only cold accusation.

“She set me up! Mr. Walker, all of this was planned by her!” I pointed at the photo.

“This photo is taken out of context!”

“At the time, she was in the meeting room slandering me. I got angry and argued back. I never threatened her!”

Mr. Walker shook his head, his face full of disappointment.

“At this point, you’re still making excuses.”

“Jason, the company has invested in you for so many years. You’ve really disappointed me.”

“Starting today, Project Phoenix is completely under Tina’s control.”

“Turn over the rest of your current work too. The company has decided to suspend you for reflection.”

Suspended for reflection!

Those four words completely stunned me.

How was that any different from being fired?

In the workplace, once that label was put on you, your career was basically over.

No matter where I went after this, this so-called black mark would follow me.

“Mr. Walker, you can’t do this! This isn’t fair!” I stood up in anger.

“Fair?” Mr. Walker looked at me coldly.

“The company’s reputation is the biggest fairness there is. If you don’t accept it, you can go through legal channels.”

“But let me remind you, the company legal department isn’t soft. Now get out!”

I don’t know how I made it out of that office.

The whole afternoon, I was busy handing over my work.

Those coworkers who used to greet me with smiles now looked at me like I was trash.

I packed up my personal things and left the place I had fought for nearly ten years.

When I walked out of the company building holding a cardboard box, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

It was a message from the person Mr. Grant sent from the restaurant:

“Mr. Miller, the item has been left at your building’s front desk. It’s a black USB drive.”

My spirits lifted. This was my only hope right now.

I quickly walked to the front desk and signed for the envelope containing the USB drive.

I clutched it tightly in my hand. This little piece of metal was my only shot at turning everything around.

But when I got home, I found two people standing at the door: the landlord and his broad-shouldered son.

When the landlord saw me, he said impatiently,

“Jason, hurry up and pack your stuff and move out. I’m not renting this place to you anymore.”

I froze. “Why? The lease still has six months left, and I’ve paid my rent on time.”

“Why?” The landlord snorted.

“Your wife’s mother called me. She said you’re a sleazy guy with bad character,”

“and told me to get you out fast so you wouldn’t dirty up my place!”

“I don’t care about the mess between you and your wife, but I’m not letting you ruin my property’s reputation!”

“This is the penalty. Take the money and move out today!”

He shoved a stack of cash into my arms, and his son stepped forward, staring at me with threatening eyes.

Career, family, home.

In just three days, I had lost everything.

I had been forced completely to the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss behind me.