Chapter 3
Adam grabbed the phone before I could reach it.
As I leaned over, I saw that Oliver had sent just a photo.
In it, a man was holding a woman in his arms. She was showing off an enormous gemstone ring, which sparkled brilliantly and screamed
extravagance.
Although the photo was cropped to hide their faces, I instantly recognized Oliver.
The woman with him was his secretary, Sally Basom.
Adam recognized them as well and snorted, his expressión full of mockery.
“Tacky beyond words.”
I smiled and gave him a comforting kiss on the cheek.
This didn’t seem typical of Oliver. Sally must have used his phone to send it.
To be honest, this wasn’t the first occurrence. When Sally first started her affair with Oliver, she had already tried to provoke me.
At that time, I still had feelings for Oliver, and receiving such a blatant challenge sent me into a furious rage. I ended up losing all control of my
emotions.
Naturally, I went to confront Oliver and ended up having a massive argument with him–even going so far as to demand that he fire Sally.
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And what did he say to me back then?
He called me unreasonably and said I was beyond help.
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I could still vividly recall the scene. He was sitting in the CEO’s chair that I had just vacated, giving me a cold look and speaking in an indifferent
tone.
“Marie, Sally, and I are just colleagues. Stop causing a fuss over nothing.
“You’ve been away from the company for too long and no longer understand how it operates or is managed. It’s best if you don’t meddle in personnel matters.”
During this confrontation, Sally was standing next to him, gazing at me with a blend of victimhood and challenge.
“Mrs. Tobt, Mr. Tobt and I have nothing more than a typical superior- subordinate relationship. Please don’t read too much into it.”
She continued, “I understand you’re worried about Mr. Tobt leaving you, but I’ve worked tirelessly to secure this position. It’s unfair for you to accuse me like this.”
Her words were so plaintive, pulling at everyone’s emotions, that I appeared as the spiteful, envious wife.
Observing their ambiguous exchanges that lingered just shy of crossing any boundaries, coupled with the unspoken code they shared in covering for one another, left me with a profound sense of emptiness in my heart.
As I exited the office, I noticed the employees had just returned to their desks, their eyes still sparkling with gossip and excitement.
Their mocking and sarcastic looks were directed at me, making each step feel overwhelmingly challenging. I felt akin to a stray dog cast out by its owner, utterly disoriented and adrift.
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For a long while after that, Sally kept provoking me in every way imaginable.
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I watched as Oliver showered her with flowers and designer bags while he only gave me leftovers and freebies. I saw him take her to various banquets while I was left confined at home like a disgraced mistress who was unable to show my face in public.
I was overwhelmed with endless pain, feeling like nothing more than a walking shell.
“Stop thinking about him.” Adam’s voice snapped me back to the present.
He buried his face into my neck, biting softly but insistently. His voice was muffled when he spoke again.
“Don’t you dare think about him?”
I chuckled quietly and gently held his face.
His eyes were like a vast galaxy, reflecting the dim, fragmented light. I saw my own reflection in them.
Had I not met him after the whole incident, I couldn’t fathom what sort of path my life would have taken.
Oliver had broken me into pieces, yet there were still those who cared for me, enduring numerous challenges to help me put myself back together.
I would never repeat that mistake.
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