Chapter 1

At the press conference, my wife, Valerie, was about to unveil her new partner.

But then, Liam, her newly hired male assistant, walked onto the stage holding a little girl.

"Lily, Mommy's calling for you on stage!"

Immediately, the crowd erupted, reporters clamoring for details about Valerie's love life.

Valerie didn't refute it. Instead, she dotingly embraced the little girl, placing a million-dollar piece of the company's new jewelry on her.

"Yes, we have a child."

Seeing me frozen in place, the reporters in the audience, eager for drama, pressed on.

"Director Asher, you've worked alongside Valerie for so long, shouldn't you have something to say on such a monumental day?"

I managed a calm smile, then tossed the jewelry blueprints I'd painstakingly designed for a year to Liam.

"Double the good news! These new product blueprints are a gift from me. Consider it a welcome present for your daughter!"

When everyone saw me hand over the blueprints to the newcomer, Liam, they paused for a moment, then burst into a chorus of cheers.

"That's Director Asher for you, always so generous! Giving away such priceless designs just like that – those are a year's worth of your hard work!"

"Director Asher, you dote on Valerie's daughter so much, why not just be her official guardian?"

Liam's chin lifted proudly as he shot me a triumphant smirk.

Valerie, however, pressed her lips into a thin line, her deep-set eyes boring into me.

Watching her squirm with embarrassment, I found it utterly laughable.

We had been married for ten years, yet she always used the excuse of "impacting company development" to avoid going public with our marriage. To keep us discreet, she never picked me up or dropped me off, leaving me to brave crowded public transport every morning. At the office, she maintained a strict professional distance, forbidding me from calling her "wife," insisting I use her full name, "Valerie."

I never complained, silently enduring our secret marriage for a decade, helping her build the company from the ground up and grow it into a powerhouse. It wasn't until yesterday, when my new jewelry line won first place in a major design competition, worth millions and bringing in numerous partnerships, that she finally agreed to announce my identity at tomorrow's press conference as a reward.

I was so overjoyed by her concession that I didn't sleep a wink. The next day, I woke up early, primped myself, and even spent half a year's salary on a sharp, expensive suit, just to look the part beside Valerie.

In the end, the person standing by her side wasn't me. I was nothing but the biggest punchline.

In the past, I would have thrown a massive fit. But now, I simply watched the "family of three" on stage with a serene expression.

"May your family of three live happily ever after."

Valerie's eyes hardened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but her words were cut short by the little girl's cries.

Liam tugged on Valerie's sleeve.

"Valerie, Lily seems to be scared and crying..."

Hearing this, Valerie shot me a scathing look, her voice low and cutting. "Look what you've done!"

With that, she waved her hand, pushing me aside. Then, she scooped up Lily, took Liam's hand, and left the venue without looking back.

That shove, combined with my ill-fitting dress shoes, caused my ankle to twist. I stumbled and fell to the ground, my head slamming into the champagne tower. Glass flutes rained down on me, a dull ache shot through my back, and champagne drenched my suit.

Valerie didn't even glance back.

Watching her cold retreat, I felt a sharp pang of irony. She treated strangers better than her own husband and daughter. Lily was merely startled into tears, and Valerie was a mess. But when our own daughter was delirious with fever, she couldn't have cared less.

Once, Valerie and I also had a daughter, Daisy, who was five years old. One time, Daisy had a fever, and I happened to be away on a business trip, unable to care for her myself. I could only plead with Valerie to take good care of her. She promised she would, but then she just left Daisy home alone for a work dinner, letting her fever rage for three whole hours. By the time I rushed back, Daisy was gone.

Valerie and I had a terrible fight that day. Later, she knelt before me, crying and repenting. But I remembered how she'd saved my life years ago, and my heart softened. I forgave her.

I was so foolish back then. Not anymore.

Thinking this, I pushed myself up. I didn't stay behind to clean up Valerie's mess, as I usually would. Instead, I turned and walked out of the venue.

After leaving the venue, I hailed a cab home, planning to disinfect and bandage my wounds with iodine and gauze. The moment I walked through the door, I saw Liam and Lily laughing on the couch. Lily was holding my daughter's favorite teddy bear.

Seeing me enter, Liam's lips curved into a smirk. "Asher, you're back! Lily said she wanted to see your place, so Valerie just brought us over and told us to make ourselves at home!"

He even took out the blueprint, twirling it in his hand, flaunting it in front of me. "I hear these are your precious designs, and the necklace Lily's wearing? You designed it specifically for your daughter, right?"

"I just had to say the word, and Valerie practically handed it all over to us, didn't she?"

"Asher, if I want something of yours, it'll eventually be mine. So if you're smart, just get out now! Save yourself the embarrassment of being thrown out later!"

In the past, his provocations would have infuriated me. Now, I merely glanced at him indifferently, then turned to go upstairs. I was in a hurry to clean my wounds; I didn't have time for his mind games.

But Liam blocked my path. The next second, he deliberately ripped the necklace from Lily's neck and slapped her across the face. Lily's cheek turned crimson from the slap, and she screamed, terrified. Liam pulled Lily into his arms and deliberately shouted, "Asher, I know you're mad at me about the press conference. Take it out on me, but Lily is just a child!"

I almost laughed. This was his usual trick. Sure enough, the next second, Valerie stormed in. Seeing Lily's swollen, red face, her expression turned dark with anger, and she slapped me across the face.

"Asher, you've gone too far! How could you harm an innocent child?"

"Lily is Liam's niece. He was just trying to lighten the mood, playing around. Why are you always so petty?"

It was a pathetic act, but Valerie fell for it hook, line, and sinker. If this had happened before, seeing her so blatantly favoring Liam, I would have been consumed by anger and jealousy. But now, my heart was still, devoid of any sadness.

I calmly picked up the necklace from the floor, handed it to Liam, and smiled serenely. "You were kind enough to try and liven things up. I appreciate it, how could I blame you?"

"In fact, to thank you, I've reserved a table at a five-star restaurant." I opened my phone and showed them the reservation. I'd originally booked it to celebrate with Valerie after our announcement. Now, it was clearly unnecessary.

Seeing I wasn't bluffing, Valerie went silent, then mumbled awkwardly, "I'll transfer you the money for dinner."

I waved my hand, declining her offer. Valerie's tone softened a fraction. "Asher, you've become much more understanding. Don't worry, I'll definitely make it up to you once I announce our relationship."

But she didn't know that a man who suddenly becomes "understanding" isn't weak. It just means he's stopped loving you.

This time, I decided I would be the one to leave first!