Chapter 1

I was buying a cake at a bakery when I overheard the staff complaining about the pressure to meet their sales targets.

One employee named Skyler said:

"Lucky for me, I have the sweetest boyfriend. Whenever I'm short on my quota, he just buys out the entire store."

I felt a pang of envy.

My boyfriend Caldwell was a major client at my company, but he was always harsh on my proposals. He'd never bend the rules to help me meet my targets.

Just then, a customer walked in and asked for Skyler by name.

"Skyler, same as last month. I need 300 cakes."

"Coming right up, Lisa!" Skyler bounced over cheerfully.

I froze in place. The customer was Lisa from Caldwell's company's purchasing department.

Looking at the cakes Skyler was packing, it suddenly hit me. These were the exact cakes Caldwell bought every single day.

Even at our company celebration banquets, all the cakes came from this shop.

So Skyler's "sweet boyfriend" was Caldwell.

Lisa didn't notice me tucked away in the corner.

As the purchasing manager, there were few things that required her personal attention anymore.

Yet here she was, treating Skyler with a respect tinged with warmth.

"Wait, Lisa! Can you give this to Caldwell for me? He left it at my place last night and forgot to take it!"

Skyler handed Lisa a watch.

Witnessing this scene, my face must have turned deathly pale.

That IWC watch was what I'd bought him with my year-end bonus last year.

Yesterday morning, I'd clearly seen him wearing it when he left.

By evening, his wrist was bare.

When I casually asked about it, he said he'd probably taken it off during his golf game that afternoon and forgotten to retrieve it.

Turns out, he'd left it at Skyler's place.

"Huh, why are you crying?"

When Skyler came back, she looked startled.

I stared in the direction Lisa had gone, unable to snap out of it.

"Maybe because I'm too envious."

I forced one corner of my mouth up in a bitter smile.

"You have a boyfriend who treats you so well."

This got Skyler excited.

She sat down across from me and pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears.

"Of course! Even though he's loaded, he respects me!"

"Actually, he told me I didn't need to work. Said he'd take care of me."

Skyler stuck out her tongue. "But I don't want to be some trophy wife!"

"He couldn't change my mind, so he had no choice but to support my girl-boss dreams!"

Those words sounded so familiar. That was exactly Caldwell's personality.

He'd once urged me to quit work early too.

"You've got such an amazing husband. Why put yourself through the grind for that measly paycheck?"

At the time, I was working overtime in the study, rushing to finish a report.

When I finally sent it off, I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him:

"Having an amazing husband like you and wanting to establish my own career aren't mutually exclusive!"

Caldwell's tone immediately soured.

"You're just working for your boss. You really think you're creating any real value?"

That conversation ended badly.

It wasn't the first time he'd dismissed my work.

In Caldwell's eyes, I could be capable, but that capability should only serve to embellish my identity as his wife.

From that point on, Caldwell, as our company's biggest client, started nitpicking everything, finding fault with me left and right.

Just like yesterday.

Our team had prepared three proposals for his company Radiance's Valentine's Day marketing campaign for Caldwell to choose from.

He wasn't satisfied with any of them.

We revised them for three solid weeks. Five minutes after I sent the final draft to Caldwell's email, I got a reply with just one cold word: "Redo."

No reason, no comments, not even a hint about what direction to take.

Days of pulling all-nighters had crushed everyone on the team.

I sat in my office, looking at those young subordinates outside, drowning in guilt.

All I could do was sigh and decide to go to Caldwell's office myself.

"Can you at least tell me what's not suitable?"

I was somewhat helpless. He didn't even glance at me.

"If you can't even see what's unsuitable, Director Nivea, I suggest you switch careers."

It was so insulting.

I couldn't maintain basic business etiquette anymore. I slammed the door on my way out.

Late that night, after working overtime, I dragged myself home feeling angry and exhausted, only to find a huge bouquet of flowers in the bedroom.

Caldwell came out of the shower, acting like nothing had happened, smiling as he said:

"I was a bit harsh during the day. These flowers are my apology."

"Don't be mad, Nivea."

"You want to pursue your own life goals, so naturally I can't show favoritism in business."

The same situation, the same conflict.

Caldwell refused to acknowledge my soul's outlet, yet chose to support this girl's dreams.

"What the hell is the point of a husband like that?"

After hearing my story, Skyler was indignant on my behalf.

"After you dump him, come back here with proof and I'll give you free coffee!"

After talking it out, I felt much calmer.

Caldwell's heart had really strayed to another galaxy. Maybe I really should come claim that free coffee.