Chapter 5

At every business event, she would hide in the back and push me, the founder, to the front lines.

I would drink at the dinner table until I threw up, while she was busy giving a massage and making soup for Lewis, who had barely had a few sips.

Natalie's face stiffened, and tears instantly streamed down her cheeks.

"Miranda! You're just using this as an excuse to get back at me! You can't control your own husband, so you're taking it out on me!"

She made a show of pushing Lewis away. "I can't do this job anymore! I quit!"

That sobered Lewis up completely. He immediately pulled her into a tight embrace and glared at me accusingly.

"Miranda, Natalie is just thinking of the brand. Can't you cut her some slack?"

Then he turned and coaxed Natalie gently,

"Natalie, you're my right hand. The brand can't survive without you. We agreed we were going to build a global brand together. You're not allowed to quit!"

With that, he put his arm around Natalie and walked out without a backward glance.

In the car, Natalie naturally followed Lewis into the back seat.

"Miranda, I still need to confirm the launch event's schedule with Lewis. Would you mind sitting up front?"

I was already settled in the passenger seat and ignored her.

Lewis waved his hand dismissively. "Ignore her. Let's get down to business."I closed my eyes and turned on the car radio, hoping to ease my tension.

Only to find that all of my playlists had vanished. Only one remained, its title glaring at me: Natalie’s Favorite Songs.

I took a deep breath.

The driver explained nervously, "Madam, that wasn't my doing..."

"I know," I said calmly. "This car is tainted. Have it disposed of tomorrow."

Lewis's head snapped up, his gaze sharp. "Miranda, what's that supposed to mean?"

Natalie immediately grabbed his sleeve, the rims of her eyes turning red.

"Lewis, don't be angry. Miranda just thinks I'm filth. But the press conference is the most important thing right now. I'm only an assistant, my pride doesn't matter. It's okay, I can take a little mistreatment."

Lewis shot me a vicious glare. "Miranda, you and I will settle this tonight!"

Settle this?

Did he really think I would give him the chance?

I pulled out my phone and sent a text directly to my lawyer: "Prepare to file for divorce. I'll send you the evidence shortly."

Lewis, however, mistook my silence for submission. A smug smirk played on his lips. "With that awful temper of yours, who besides me could ever put up with you?"

When we arrived at the office, Natalie was all over Lewis, enthusiastically straightening his suit. Right in front of me, she tied his tie, styled his hair, and made a show of icing his perfectly fine cheek.

"I'm on an assistant's salary, but doing Miranda's job. My life is so hard."

Lewis quickly placated her, "Alright, Natalie. I'll give you a raise tomorrow. I'll double it!"

I smiled and chimed in, "Why not just marry her and make her the new Miranda?"

Lewis hissed, his voice low, "Miranda! That's enough! You're so much older than Natalie, can't you be a little more sensible?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Weren't you the one who said I was only five years older?"

"When did I..." Lewis froze. "You heard what happened last night? What else did you hear?"

Just then, several executives from a luxury brand conglomerate pushed the door open and entered.

"Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, long time no see! How have you been?"

At the press conference, Natalie, as usual, pushed me to the front to handle the mingling.

I had just raised my glass of champagne when she suddenly gave me a hard shove from behind.

The entire glass of champagne splashed across my face. The alcohol stung my eyes, and I couldn't open them.

A chorus of sneering laughter rose from the crowd.

Mortified, I tried to leave, but Natalie grabbed me and held me back. She snatched a napkin and roughly scrubbed at my face.

"Madam, champagne is meant to be savored. Gulping it down like that just makes you a laughingstock for the executives."

The pressure she used was immense, as if she were trying to tear a layer of skin from my face.

I raised my hand to push her away.

The moment my fingers brushed her shoulder, Lewis darted forward, pulling her protectively behind him and slapping me hard across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the room, and the entire banquet hall fell instantly silent.

Lewis’s voice was venomous as he snarled,

"Miranda! You can't even hold a glass of champagne properly. What good are you? You're a complete embarrassment!"

"Natalie was just trying to help, and not only are you ungrateful, you try to attack her? Get out!"

I clutched my burning cheek, the spilled champagne stinging my eyes as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"Lewis, she's the one who pushed me. Am I not even allowed to defend myself?"

His expression grew even darker as he shoved me away.

"Natalie, push you? Ask anyone here if they saw that! Miranda, stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes. It’s pathetic."

I staggered, steadying myself on my feet, and then a laugh escaped my lips.

To think I had actually tried to reason with him, hoping he would stand up for me. From beginning to end, hadn't he always been unwavering in his choice of Natalie?

What on earth was I still hoping for?

Our seven years together had long grown as bland as water; how could it possibly compare to the fresh, thrilling embrace of a new love?

At that moment, everything suddenly felt utterly absurd.

I lowered my head and murmured, "I despise myself for this, too... It would have been so much better if I had just left long ago."

He paid me no mind at all, lowering his voice to placate me. "It’s good that you know you were wrong. Don't go around talking about divorce all the time. If people overhear, they'll really think we're splitting up. Go and get yourself cleaned up, then come back. I'll hold down the fort here."