When the Act Ended, So Did the Marriage

My husband, Gavin Chapman, is giving his secretary, Natasha Gardner, exactly what she wants. He's making her his wife. To pull it off, he fakes a lab accident, pretends to have amnesia, and brings her home.

In his office, Gavin wraps his arms around Natasha and murmurs indulgently, "Not just Mrs. Chapman. Even if you want to pretend to be the vice president for a week, I'll let you."

My eyes dim, but I let the lie go on.

The next day, at a press conference, Gavin holds Natasha's hand and tells the world she's his real wife. He even threatens to kick me out of the company and take over all my research data.

Dozens of cameras swivel toward me, waiting for my outburst. But I stay silent and simply sign the termination papers.

Gavin doesn't know that the pharmaceutical project he believes will be done in seven days isn't quite finished. There's still one final step, and I'm the only one who knows how to do it.

Three years into our marriage, Gavin brought his mistress home. He claimed he had lost his memory, then flaunted their affair right in front of me. And once he had taken credit for all my research findings, he kicked me out of Chapman Pharmaceuticals.

While I was packing up my things in the office, Natasha stormed in, knocked the files from my hands, and sent them flying across the floor.

She jabbed a finger at me and shouted, "Rhea, how dare you try to steal the company's drug formulation and experimental protocol? Who knows? Maybe you're planning to sell them to our competitors!"

But those files contained a protocol I had developed based on years of experimentation since my college years. They were the result of everything I'd poured my life into. How could anyone say I didn't have the right to take what was mine?

I turned to Gavin. "So, that's what you think, too?"

His cold gaze barely met mine before he gave the slightest nod.

My mind went to the pharmaceutical project, which was just one step from the finish line. If I ripped up those papers now, there'd be no turning back. But he must've known I wouldn't dare. That was why he stood his ground so confidently. He knew my research was my soft spot.

Since college, I'd shown a rare passion and talent for pharmaceutical development. Prestigious companies had come calling, but I turned them all down. Instead, I stood by Gavin and helped build his struggling startup from the ground up.

Day in and day out, I threw myself into my experimental project, working from dawn to dusk. Every detail was deliberate because real lives depended on it. It was my work that had contributed most to the company's growth.

But just last week, during a meeting, Gavin announced he was handing my project over to Natasha. Most of the employees didn't dare speak up. They just nodded along, offering half-hearted praise for her.

But I refused to play along. After everything I'd sacrificed, I wasn't about to let Natasha tear it all apart. So, I stood my ground and said no without hesitation.

Gavin knew damn well I'd never give up my study without a fight. So, to break me and to hand Natasha what she wanted, he staged this ridiculous amnesia act.

With his arm around her, he declared, "The love of my life is my wife. And whatever she says, goes."

A few colleagues watching the scene smiled at me. "See? Mr. Chapman still loves you! He's just confused and thinks Natasha is you now."

Gavin had always kept up the act of a devoted husband in front of others. I was the only one who knew it was all a lie.

He and I started dating in college. Right after graduation, I spent three brutal months landing a job at a major firm, only to quit without a second thought when he said he wanted to start his own company. I gave it all up to work at his tiny startup instead.

It was my first relationship, and I held on like it was everything. Back then, Gavin had nothing. But he had drive, grit, and the kind of determination that made me believe in him.

We had our fair share of fights. And every single time, I was the one who caved first, swallowing my pride to make things right.

Gavin got so used to it that he started believing he could do whatever he wanted, and I'd still take him back. But this time, I felt nothing but cold disappointment. I was done.