Chapter 2
“Oh, now you’re in a hurry?”
“I tried talking to you nicely, but you wouldn’t listen. I’m pissed as hell right now, so nothing you say is gonna change my mind.”
“Ive got work tonight, so I won’t be home. Maybe use the time to figure out where you messed up.”
Just as Grayson was about to hang up, I heard Ivy’s voice in the background:
“Gray, which dress should I wear to tonight’s birthday dinner?”
The line went dead.
Today wasn’t my birthday. It wasn’t Grayson’s either. It was Ivy’s.
So “working late” was just an excuse to celebrate her birthday.
The thing is, Grayson had childhood trauma around birthdays–he never celebrated them. For his sake, I’d stopped having birthday parties too.
But apparently, he was making an exception for Ivy.
I let out a bitter laugh. Love really was the ultimate cure–all, wasn’t it?
Too bad, after seven years of marriage, I was never his true love. Never his medicine.
I pushed those thoughts aside and met with my team and our new company. After we hammered out salary and benefits, my girls tried to give me
some advice:
“Boss, listen to us–a husband who plays favorites like Grayson? Such an absolutely asshole.”
I smiled sadly.
I remembered when we first met. He’d worn this innocent white t–shirt, standing in front of me too shy to even speak.
Now he was all smooth talk and lies, hurting me over and over again.
Maybe I’d made him this way by spoiling him.
At first, I loved him so much that no matter what he did wrong, as long as he sweet–talked me afterward, I’d let it slide.
But he must’ve thought I had no boundaries, because he kept pushing further.
Later, when he messed up, he’d just say a few nice words. If I didn’t give in, he’d start playing dirty.
Until today, when his behavior finally crossed a line I couldn’t ignore.
I’d given hirn chance after chance to hurt me, foolishly hoping he’d change.
I was such an idiot.
I shook my head and changed the subject: “Tonight’s on me, ladies! We’re not going home until we can’t stand up!”
The girls cheered.
We drank and sang karaoke until sunrise before finally heading home.
I was exhausted as I opened my front door, ready to crash, when I saw Grayson sitting on the couch. The same guy who’d said he wasn’t coming home had apparently been waiting for me all night.
He caught a whiff of the alcohol on me and backed away in disgust:
15:05
Wake Up, Mr. Cinderella, It’s Time to Go Bankrupt now!
10.0%
Chapter 2
“I’ve told you a million times I can’t stand women who drink. Why’d you have so much? Do you just ignore everything I say?”
That made me laugh.
Because he didn’t like drinking, I’d stayed sober for seven years.
And what did I get for it?
Not long ago, Ivy had sent me a provocative video. She was drunk, looking all pitiful:
“I’m sorry, Gray. I know you hate women who drink. I won’t do it again.”
Grayson had cupped her face: “Don’t be silly. Drink if you want to. It’s not that I hate alcohol–I just can’t stand dealing with people who puke from it. I’m too lazy to clean up after them.”
Then he’d actually held her hair back while she threw up: “But if it’s you, I don’t mind.”
Remembering that, I slapped his hand away: “Thought you weren’t coming home tonight?”
Grayson tossed me a blanket, looking annoyed: “I was worried about you being alone.”
“And what do you do? Go out partying without even calling me once. Good thing I brought you your favorite takeout.”
In the past. I used to worry about his safety. Even during fights, if we went more than an hour without contact, I’d check on him.
But this time, I’d gone a whole day without responding to his messages.
He must’ve realized something was seriously wrong and come home.
Looking at the takeout, it really was all my favorite dishes.
But I didn’t touch any of it.
This was his usual move–slap you down, then offer you a treat. I wasn’t falling for it anymore.
Grayson didn’t notice my mood. He probably thought this was like every other time, where a little gesture would win me over. His expression
softened:
“Alright, fighting’s exhausting. Let’s both compromise here.”
“I’ll let it slide that you went after Ivy and made her feel like crap, but that new contract you’re working on? Give it to her.”
“She’s got serious talent. If you hadn’t been holding her back this whole time, she wouldn’t be struggling like this.”
“Play nice, and I’ll lift those penalties on your team right now.”
There it was.
So that’s why he’d suddenly come home early with my favorite food.
It was all for Ivy.
He really did love her, didn’t he? Enough to put on this whole act even during our cold war.
I smiled coldly: “Sure.”
Grayson’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk. My compliance didn’t surprise him–we’d played this scene so many times before:
“Next time think before you act. If you hadn’t been so petty, liking that post and getting your team to gang up on her, we wouldn’t be fighting.”
“Anyway, it’s over now. Go handle the transition paperwork.”
I pulled my company ID from my pocket and tossed it at his feet with a smile:
15:05
Wake Up. Mr. Cinderella, It’s Time to Go Bankrupt now!
13.39
Chapter 2
“One contract ant enough She can have my position too.”
Wake Up Mr. Onderella. It’s Time to Go Bankrupt now!
