Chapter 78
Chapter 2
I glanced down. The call had already ended.
I calmly turned off my phone, considering how to explain, when his phone chimed.
Madeline had texted him, saying she’d seen a stray kitten on her way home and bought it a sausage.
[Very cute.] Charles texted.
She replied instantly. [The kitten, or me p>
A selfie followed, Madeline holding the kitten, pouting and flashing a peace sign.
Charles smiled unconsciously. [The kitten’s cute. But you’re cuter p>
W
Then he noticed me. His smile vanished. “Didn’t I tell you to rest early? Why are you still standing around p>
The coldness in his tone was nothing like how he spoke to her. My earlier mention of resigning had already
been forgotten.
I smiled faintly. “I still had things to handle p>
“It’s so late. What chores could you possibly have left? Eleanor, I don’t want to criticize you, but your procrastination is a real problem p>
I didn’t explain that my “procrastination” came from his constant last-minute demands. I didn’t argue.
Seeing my silence, he said nothing more and went into the bedroom.
Soon, I heard his laughter. He rarely laughed like that anymore, only with Madeline.
I ignored it and sat down with my materials.
Five years away from academia meant the institute’s direction had shifted. Even with my advisor’s help, I needed solid competence to return.
Fortunately, my foundation was strong.
“Why are you reading these journals p>
Charles appeared at the door without warning. He picked one up, flipped through it, then tossed it back.
“What’s the point? Can you even understand this p>
“Just browsing,” I said, putting them away.
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“Did you need something p>
He paused, clearly not expecting such indifference.
“There is something,” he said stiffly. “Madeline just completed a major project. I’m promoting her, to motivate
the team. What do you think p>
It sounded like a question, but it was only a notification.
“I have no objections p>
“There should be rewards and punishments,” he continued. “You haven’t completed a project in a while, so I’m
moving you to a lower position for now. I’ll move you back later p>
“Don’t worry. It won’t be long. You’re my fiancée, you should support me p>
I nearly laughed.
He still didn’t know I had already resigned.
He could read Madeline’s moods from the smallest clues, knew her preferences by heart. Yet the resignation
letter he personally approved meant nothing to him.
Care and indifference were painfully easy to tell apart.
When I didn’t argue, he assumed I was about to. His face darkened. “Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter. The notice is out. Your office has already been given to Madeline p>
“Accept the reassignment, or leave,” he threatened. “The company is preparing to go public. You should think
carefully before you walk away p>
He was certain I wouldn’t leave.
I had endured worse. In just one year, I had been demoted repeatedly because of Madeline.
If I could endure that, surely I wouldn’t give up now, at least, that’s what he thought.
I smiled bitterly. “I didn’t say I disagreed p>
“Let’s leave it at that for now,” he said, a hint of relief in his voice.
I didn’t say no, so that counted as agreement.
As he turned to leave, he paused. “Didn’t you have a photo of us on your desk? Why is it gone p>
Only then did I realize.
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Not just my desk, my phone wallpaper, the walls, my wallet. Everywhere had been filled with our photos.
He once mocked me for being sentimental, never realizing I used those pictures to convince myself that no
matter what he did, he loved me.
How ridiculous that seemed now.
Every photo mocked how foolish I’d been.
“The frame broke,” I said calmly. “I put it away p>
“You’re so clumsy,” he frowned, checking the floor for glass. “Clean it properly. Don’t hurt anyone p>
Maybe it was because I no longer seemed on edge. He relaxed his tone, stood up, and left the study. I watched his back and chuckled to myself.
He wasn’t worried about me. He meant Madeline.
This was our home, or at least, it had been. I managed everything here.
Until months ago, when I found a hair tie in his study and noticed the pillows in the bedroom had been moved. That was when I realized he’d brought her here, many times.
When I confronted him, he immediately produced “evidence” that it was all work-related, then accused me of being jealous and narrow-minded. To punish my suspicions, he began bringing her home openly.
I could sense the challenge and hostility in Madeline whenever she looked at me.
Yet their interactions stayed strictly professional, nothing ever crossed the line.
As the days went by, self-doubt crept in. I found myself constantly replaying events, questioning if I had done something wrong.
Now I thought, if I’d spent that energy on myself, I could have succeeded at anything.
The next morning, Charles announced Madeline’s promotion, and my demotion.
When he announced it, he was still wary, until he saw that I remained completely calm. Only then did he realize I had truly accepted it.
He was in a great mood. So was I.
While he threw her a celebration banquet, I processed my visa.
While they went to an amusement park, I packed. Everything I needed fit into less than one suitcase.
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While they drank cross-cup wine at a club, I completed my final handovers.
Two days later, my last day, I finalized everything with HR.
“Before you go, stop by the executive suite. Mr. Reed wants to see you,” the HR director said without looking
I considered refusing, then remembered I was leaving that night. If he didn’t come home again, this would be
our final meeting.
Five years together deserved a proper ending. I went upstairs.
Just as I reached the door, I saw through the glass wall, Charles leaning back on the sofa, Madeline in a long
dress, lying with her head in his lap.
I didn’t catch what Charles said. Madeline covered her mouth, her laughter spilling out without end.
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