The High Price of Loyalty

I looked up to see Melanie storming into the office. I started to move toward her, but Jeffrey beat me to it. He smoothly pulled her halfway into his embrace, acting like they were already a couple.

My steps froze.

Melanie's face was full of anger as she marched up to me. Then, without warning, she slapped me hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the entire office.

"Kieran! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Melanie jabbed her finger at my nose, her voice cutting like a knife. "Why are you bullying Jeffrey? Who do you think you are?!"

I clutched my stinging cheek, staring at her in disbelief. At that moment, even a fool would have understood what was going on.

The whispers in the office were true: Melanie had been cheating on me all along.

Rage surged through me so fast my whole body trembled. I glared at her, my voice shaking. "Melanie, we're married. Are you really going to throw that away for him? I worked my back off to help you build this company from the ground up. Maybe I wasn't perfect, but you really think this is how I deserve to be treated?"

Before Melanie could answer, Jeffrey cut in. He lifted his head and looked at me smugly. "Kieran, you just don't understand women. What they need most is companionship and warmth. Do you even get that?"

The sight of his arrogant expression made my stomach turn.

Melanie's gaze softened as she turned to him with affection. When she looked back at me, her eyes were filled with disgust.

"Kieran, did you hear that? Jeffrey is a hundred times better than you! He's kind, attentive, and he actually helps me run the company and make money! Compared to a deadbeat like you who's never home and just messes around outside all the time, he's better in every possible way!"

A deadbeat?

I laughed bitterly at the absurdity of it all. Back when she was running this tiny startup with just the two of us, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. I threw myself into it, hunting down clients, closing deals, drinking, and schmoozing until my legs gave out and my stomach was destroyed.

The company's revenue grew exponentially right before our eyes, transforming from a failing operation into a well-known name in the industry.

Melanie? She had pursued me relentlessly, crying and begging, swearing she would never marry anyone but me. I was moved by her devotion, so I turned down offers from top-tier companies and willingly stayed with her little startup.

While I spent countless nights chasing clients to give Melanie a better life, she was busy rekindling an old flame with her childhood sweetheart. Everything I had sacrificed for her had become something she simply took for granted, and my absence from home had even become her excuse for cheating.

I stared at the shameless pair in front of me, feeling my heart grow colder by the second.

In front of everyone, I challenged Melanie. "Have you forgotten that almost every single client this company has was brought in by me? Aren't you afraid that if I leave, this whole company will collapse?"

The moment I finished speaking, Melanie, Jeffrey, and even the sales team erupted in mocking laughter.

They had been itching to take down the guy who never showed up to the office but still held the top sales spot.

"Who does he think he is?"

"You really think the company can't function without you? Get over yourself!"

"Exactly! Ms. Gardner has Mr. Young now. Who needs you anymore?"

Melanie joined in with a cold laugh, her eyes dripping with sarcasm. "Kieran, get it through your head: you're just a salesman. And pretty soon, you won't even be that. Now that I have Jeffrey, he's so much better than you. You're nothing but a discarded pawn I don't want anymore."

I felt my heart turn completely cold.

Alright.

I looked at her calmly and said, "In that case, let's get a divorce. I'll do you a favor and clear the way for you and your homewrecker."