ManyWriters

My CEO wife, fearing I'll lack ambition after marriage, puts a price tag on every date.
Calling me "honey" costs ten grand, holding hands is thirty grand, and going public with our relationship comes with a hefty price of ten million.
To speed up our official announcement, I work overtime and schmooze like crazy. Meanwhile, my mom, worried sick about me, has a heart attack and urgently needs surgery. However, without a word, she transfers the few hundred grand I've saved up to her male assistant, claiming it's a year-end bonus.
I beg her to return the money, but she calls me a cheapskate who's not fit for high society, complaining that I've embarrassed her in front of the staff. Then she freezes all my accounts.
Later, when my mom passes away because of this, I decide to file for divorce. My wife sneers, thinking I'm playing hard to get:
"Fine, I won't charge you this time. We'll make it official when we go back for New Year's. You and your mom can finally have your moment of glory in the village!"
What she doesn't know is that from the day my mother died, I've been planning to study abroad and never speak to her again.

My CEO Wife Sets a Price For Our Dates

I looked at the plane ticket in my hand, frozen in place for a long time.


I had been by Elowen's side from when we had nothing to now, when she could move mountains with a word.


I still remember the early days of our startup, crammed into a tiny rental, eating instant noodles and dreaming of the future.


Back then, she would hug me and sweetly call me "honey," her eyes full of love.


During that time, headhunters repeatedly contacted me with offers of high salaries and stock options, but I turned them all down.


It wasn't because I was stupid, but because I believed in my relationship with Elowen. I believed we could make it to the end together.


But now it seems I was wrong. Terribly wrong.


Without me noticing, she had changed, become someone I didn't even recognize anymore.


After a while, I took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the office.


Since I was leaving anyway, I might as well hand in my resignation.


But as soon as I entered the company doors, I overheard my coworkers whispering.


"Hey, did you hear? Gunner had a fight with Ms. Carlisle and made her storm out."


"Serves him right! Who does he think he is to talk back to Ms. Carlisle like that?"


"I heard he even tore up the check Ms. Carlisle gave him. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.""


"I have to say it's downright foolish – risking everything for petty gains, ending up losing both wealth and relationships. Now he’s even about to quit his job."


"Clearly Ms. Carlisle got furious and lost faith in Gunner. Otherwise, how could Rylan have become the golden boy by Ms. Carlisle's side so quickly? Smooth talkers always have their ways."


My former subordinate, David from HR, immediately averted his gaze upon seeing me, pretending not to notice.


Yet when I approached him, he sneered disdainfully:


Gunner, you have the nerve to come say hello? Hurry up and pack your things and get out of here," he said with a look of disdain.


I looked at him, feeling a chill in my heart.


These people, all of whom I had mentored myself, were now kicking me while I was down, one after another.


I said nothing and turned to walk towards my office.


I gave a bitter laugh as I packed the last item into the box, leaving this place where I had worked for seven years.


As I walked out of the company building, the biting cold wind cut across my face like a knife.


I suddenly realized that I seemed to have lost everything.


I wandered aimlessly on the streets, looking at the bustling crowds, feeling like an orphan abandoned by the world.


Chapter 2