Chapter 2

Seeing that I was about to leave, Rowan hurried to block my way, putting on an act of being wronged:

"Felix, I know you're an expert in the industry. You're right, I'm not qualified for the technical director position. Here, take it back."

He grabbed the employee badge and tried to shove it at me.

I simply pushed him lightly, but he took the opportunity to fall dramatically, knocking over a chair and pulling down a computer in the process, alarming the surrounding colleagues.

Rowan got up and waved off the concerned inquiries from coworkers, saying it was no big deal.

Gwendolyn, startled by the commotion, came running in her 4-inch heels.

After making sure Rowan was unharmed, she glared at me with furrowed brows:

"Felix, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're a long-time employee."

Hearing this, the surrounding colleagues jumped in to lecture me:

"Yeah, Felix. The old giving way to the new is for the company's development. Don't bully the newcomer just because you have seniority."

The harshest words came from Jack, the protégé I had personally mentored:

"So what if you landed a few projects? You're acting like you own the place."

"Got addicted to playing favorites, huh? Can't even respect a genius like Rowan?"

We had worked together for years, and I was the top salesperson. In the past, everyone respectfully called me "Felix" when they saw me.

Now they were all gloating, staring at me with schadenfreude, eager for me to get lost.

Whatever. Let them say what they want. I was done here.

I left the company without another word.

Gwendolyn chased after me. Seeing no one else around, she rubbed her forehead and said:

"You're just overworked lately. I'll approve some time off for you to rest."

"Today is our 7th anniversary. Wait for me at home, I have a surprise for you."

As she finished speaking, the elevator arrived. I stepped in without saying a word.

Back home, I cooked myself dinner without waiting for her. She still hadn't returned by nightfall.

I put on my shoes and tidied up a bit before heading out to meet with the client representative, but I ran into a coworker on the way.

This guy was slow on the uptake, so he hadn't distanced himself from me like the others. He still greeted me enthusiastically.

"Felix! Are you going to the promotion party Gwendolyn's throwing for Director Rowan? Let's go together and split the cab fare!"

He happily said he finally didn't have to take the subway, but I shook my head: "That's not where I'm going."

He gave me an awkward look:

"Gwendolyn didn't invite you?"

I nodded indifferently and walked away.

I faintly heard him muttering "Gwendolyn sure plays favorites," but I didn't look back.

She never played favorites. She just favored Rowan.

For Rowan's sake, she could do anything. Breaking promises to me wasn't unusual.

Previously, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, she said she'd come see me after a meeting. I waited until dawn before she finally showed up, claiming she was working overtime when in reality she was watching a movie with Rowan.

A while back, we had an appointment to take couple photos. I waited in a suit until the store closed. She arrived unhurriedly, saying work had held her up, but she had actually taken Rowan shopping for some well-fitting clothes.

There were countless similar incidents. Every time I questioned her, she would coldly scold me with a "work comes first" attitude. This dynamic was exhausting.

At the café, the client representative looked at the progress report I submitted and exclaimed in admiration:

"Felix, are you sure you don't want to switch companies? We can offer ten times your current salary."

This time, I didn't refuse. The client representative was delighted and said we could negotiate any requests I had.

After discussing the benefits package with him, I returned home to find Gwendolyn sitting on the couch waiting for me, with takeout boxes packed.

She had stood me up again. In the past, she would offer a litany of explanations, but this time she said nothing. After a moment of silence, she pushed the food containers towards me:

"You must be tired today too. No need to cook, just heat this up and eat."

I glanced down.

Various dishes were piled together unattractively in the plastic containers. There were stir-fried and boiled dishes, and even a piece of steamed cake soaking in the soup.

It was clearly leftovers, carelessly packed up.

She didn't even bother to pack things separately, just mixed everything in one big container. It looked unappetizing just looking at it.

I waved my hand: "No need, I've already eaten."

Gwendolyn gave me a long look, and the usually cold woman took the initiative to wrap her arms around my waist:

"I'm sorry. He just got promoted, so as the boss, I had to show some support."

"I know you were wronged today. Let's get our marriage license this weekend."

Hah! Easy for her to say.

But when I was promoted to director, I happily took the initiative to throw myself a promotion party.

I waited expectantly in the private room. The waiter reheated the food five times. I waited until the restaurant closed, but not a single colleague dared to show up.

I sent message after message, but they all sank like stones.

A kind-hearted colleague secretly asked if I had offended the CEO.

I was baffled at the time. It wasn't until later that I found out.

When I wasn't in the office, she had coldly scolded each colleague who said they were going to attend the party:

"Is your workload too light? Bored out of your minds?"

"All you think about is eating, drinking, and having fun. Is this what the company is paying you useless people for? You might as well quit now!"

Thinking of this, I pried her restless hands from my waist and said coldly:

"There's no need for that, Gwendolyn. Let's break up."