Chapter 6
Geoffrey–the head of the branch–had never once brought me to any company event. I had always thought it was because I wasn’t good enough.
I remember timidly asking him once if he wanted a partner for the company’s annual party.
He brushed me off every time.
His constant rejection chipped away at me, piece by piece, until I lost all my self–confidence. I blamed myself–I thought I had become too out of touch, too ordinary, too domestic.
All the while, when I was at home reading bedtime stories to Matthew, bathing him, tucking him
in…
He was out, attending banquets–smiling beside other women.
The love and sacrifices I poured into this marriage became a cruel joke.
Yes, I confronted him–fought with him, showed him blurred photos I managed to find from anonymous sources.
He always shrugged them off.
“Jean, which eye of yours saw me sleep with her?”
No, I never saw it with my own eyes.
I was too busy holding our home together.
I didn’t have time to investigate his betrayals.
Eventually, I got tired. So tired.
For the sake of Matthew, I chose to stay.
I became Mrs. Sharp. The obedient, quiet wife.
And my patience brought us a brief period of
For a while, he came home on time.
peace.
He played with Matthew, cooked with me on weekends, and even canceled social gatherings to take us on family outings.
I once believed that he had simply grown tired of playing around–that he was finally ready to come back to his family.
But that illusion shattered the moment his new assistant appeared.
He started slipping again–worse than before. He brought her to events openly, no longer hiding behind excuses. His silence in public was its own kind of admission.
Friends who knew us both began to reach out.
“Be careful,” they warned. “Men like him don’t change.”
And truthfully, I was growing tired of waiting for him to try.
One day, that very assistant came to me herself. Her voice was sharp, her eyes unashamed.
“I’m pregnant with Geoff’s child. Be smart–divorce him.”
The audacity stunned me.
But that same day, Geoffrey fired her without a second thought. She disappeared from our lives completely.
That moment taught me something: to him, playing around was playing around–but no one was allowed to shake the foundation of his “family.”
And I? I just became more numb.
Until Caroline appeared.
She didn’t confront me like the others. Instead, she acted coy, subtle, calculated. Her every move n front of me was laced with meaning.
And the worst part? Geoffrey saw it. He knew–but he indulged her anyway.
That’s when I finally understood: Caroline wasn’t like the others. He treated her differently.
had mulled over the word “divorce” for so long. When I finally said it, it was like breathing after Irowning–bitter, but relieving.
Gasps filled the hallway. The employees around us exchanged stunned glances and whispers:
She’s Mr. Sharp’s wife? She doesn’t look the part at all!”
Yeah, she’s pale like a corpse. Is she sick or something?”
No wonder Mr. Sharp never brought his wife around… she’s so weak–looking.”
stood still, letting their voices wash over me like cold wind. But only one person remained quiet
Caroline.
She said nothing–only smiled faintly, with a look of satisfaction she couldn’t fully hide.
had figured her out long ago. Her tricks weren’t clever, just persistent. But I didn’t have the energy to play her game.
Not anymore.
They were all the same in the end–interns, assistants, secretaries. Just different names for the same betrayal.
Enough!”
Geoffrey’s voice cut through the noise, low and angry. The hallway fell silent.
He put his arm around me, suddenly remembering to act concerned. “What’s wrong? You look errible. Is something wrong with the baby?”
So he remembered.
He knew where I’d been today. That I had carried his child.
But not anymore.
looked up at him and smiled bitterly. “Yes. Something’s wrong with the child.”
His expression froze. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Before I could answer, Caroline stepped forward.
‘Mr. Sharp, I’ll take the others and head out first. You two should talk.”
Her tactfulness earned her a subtle nod of approval from him.
8:35 pm DD
X
She was skilled at reading the room. No wonder she had wormed her way so deep. She probably
knew just how to flatter him, how to smile at just the right angle to win points in the office. Once everyone had left, Geoffrey reached out to touch my cheek.
I flinched away.
He bent down, voice tight with unease. “Jean… stop it. Tell me–what’s wrong with the baby?”
My stomach twisted, a sharp pain cutting through me. My legs gave out slightly from the emotional strain and physical weakness, and I gripped his arm just to stay standing.
Cold sweat beaded at my forehead. I steadied my breath and muttered, “It’s nothing. I just want to go home.”
He looked at me suspiciously. “I know you’re angry, but don’t overthink it, alright? I just happenec to be passing by. I left my phone in the car–that’s why I didn’t answer your call.”
His explanation sounded logical. It always did.
But I no longer cared if it made sense.
I nodded dully. “Okay. I believe you.”
I turned to leave, exhausted–too drained to argue anymore.
But he grabbed my wrist again. “Jean, what’s with that attitude?”
Tai Jun is a dreamer and storyteller who believes the sky is never the limit. He spends most of his time with his friend Lian, chasing new horizons and crafting tales that soar beyond boundaries.