I Divorced Him For Giving Her My Promotion

In the fifth year of my secret marriage to Eli Palmer, he handed the crucial project I'd been dedicating myself to for six months over to a new intern.

I burst into his office, simmering with frustration, demanding an explanation. Eli lazily tossed a prestigious university diploma across the desk.

"Valerie's a star graduate, naturally gifted, and just needed a chance. How could you possibly match that?"

I might have believed him if I hadn't noticed the lipstick stain on his collar.

When Valerie Riley breezed through the door, the tension between Eli and me was almost tangible. We were one second away from a full-blown argument. I snapped without thinking, "Don't you knock?"

Valerie's face turned pale, her voice faltering as she stuttered, "Isabelle, I’m sorry, I didn't know you were in here."

"I tried to refuse the project several times with Mr. Palmer, but he..." she whimpered, feigning innocence with wide, doe eyes.

"Enough!" Eli cut in, his voice tight with irritation as he turned to me. "Isabelle Palmer, this was my call. Don’t blame Valerie."

"I really don’t want the project," Valerie said with false sincerity, but her eyes flashed triumph.

Their synchronized routine of playing good cop, bad cop made me seem unreasonable.

Eli watched me with a smug look as if to say I was out of my depth. "Isabelle, I’ve made my decision. No tantrum will change that."

"I’ll make it up to you later. For now, leave us, I have matters to discuss with Valerie."

I looked at them calmly, choosing silence. Valerie’s lipstick hue today was vibrant, a perfect match to the mark on Eli's collar.

Seeing Eli’s impatience, I suddenly felt weary. Let him give the project away if he wants.

I replied with detachment, "No need for compensation. You’re the boss, you make the decisions. I’m leaving."

Eli showed a moment of surprise, quickly replaced by satisfaction.

As I closed the door, I glimpsed Valerie perched on Eli’s lap, giggling.

Back at my desk, I received a message from Valerie:

“Isabelle, Mr. Palmer wants to thank you for your dedication over the past six months. Thanks for handing over the project!”

The project she referred to was one I'd meticulously overseen since the beginning of the year.

Earlier, Noa, my assistant, informed me that Valerie Riley was now leading the London project.

The London project was something I had nearly worked myself to the bone for, battling through sleepless nights and stress. For the past several months, I’d been refining proposals and monitoring progress around the clock. Now, as it finally neared completion, someone else was at the helm.

Anger brewed inside me, making me want to confront Eli for an explanation. Instead, I faced his cold, taunting words.

"Valerie is a gem. I’m simply thinking about the company’s future."

"And besides, the company thriving benefits you too, doesn’t it?"

Tears welled up as I looked at Eli, who showed not a glimmer of guilt or empathy.

"This was a project I practically poured my heart and soul into."

Eli frowned, "We’re husband and wife; it’s all in the family. Does it really matter who leads the project?"

I insisted, "It matters."

"Isabelle Palmer, I run this company. Everything you have is thanks to me. Could you stop being so unreasonable?"

Eli’s face darkened as he saw my resolve.

Thinking of this, a sense of profound disillusionment settled within me. This company was built with my support, only to receive such dismissive words in return.

I reached out to a lawyer I knew, asking for help drafting a divorce agreement.