Chapter 4

When John emerged from the bathroom, I had already wiped away my tears and was distractedly scrolling through my phone.

He approached me and wrapped his arms around me, saying, "Dear, the meeting ran late last night. I just remembered that yesterday was your birthday. Happy birthday! I'll have my assistant bring you your gift shortly."

In recent years, the time John spent with me was all too rare. When I fell ill, he sent his assistant to accompany me to the hospital. In the moments when I felt the deepest longing for my grandmother, he had his assistant take me back home to visit her grave. Even during my unexpected miscarriage, I spent half a month in the hospital without his presence; he sent his assistant instead as usual.

Ah… of course. With his absence in so many significant moments, how could he possibly remember my little birthday?

I looked directly into his eyes and asked, "Johnny, how long have we been together?"

"For many, many years."

"After all this time, we should be tired of each other, right?"

As those words slipped out, my heart stuttered, leaving a gaping void within me. I desperately tried to recall our cherished memories, striving to fill the emptiness, but the more I thought, the more turbulent my emotions became, and tears began to stream down my face.

John froze, a flash of anger crossing his features as he shouted, "Moira, what do you mean by that?"

"And what do you mean?"

I hurled my phone at him, my eyes brimming with tears, utterly disappointed in the man before me. The screen displayed a screenshot of a message from a girl named Yvonne.

"Thank you, Mr. Hansen, for keeping me company last night. I had a great time."

"Moira, after all these years together, you doubt me over one message? You really disappoint me!"

John picked up the phone and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

He didn’t come home for the next two weeks.

The next time I saw John, it was on television. He attended a new project gala with a beautifully made-up girl, delicate and demure, by his side. He publicly announced that she was his new secretary—Yvonne.

That night, the video soared to the trending topics, and every moment of my past with him was unearthed.

Netizens condemned John, insisting that he shouldn’t have such a secretary around him, as it showed a blatant disrespect for me.

Public opinion overwhelmingly sided with me.

The company’s stock price took a significant hit; with the IPO looming, such a scandal was the last thing they could afford.