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Chapter 2

Author: Ethereal Realm
It was with my help that Lily first got into Callum's company. I never imagined the two of them would betray me together.

Callum's recent behavior finally made sense. He'd promised to meet me at the law firm to discuss business matters, yet he always found excuses to cancel. Late at night, his phone rang with calls he wouldn't explain, but he could go the entire day without answering mine.

Lydia hesitated before asking, "Serenity, is this... Callum?"

I nodded slightly and continued scrolling through the comments.

The internet was ablaze.

[Oh my God! A real-life CEO romance!]

[Girl, don't let this chance slip away. Where do you even find a boss like that?]

[Wishing you both a happy ending! This story is too sweet!]

The blogger had liked all the encouraging comments.

But there were dissenting voices too:

[If the feelings aren't mutual, isn't this just workplace harassment?]

[Be careful not to mix work and romance—it could end badly.]

[You should confirm he's single first. Don't become the 'other woman' without realizing it!]

These comments quickly disappeared.

I quietly followed the account, curious to see how things would unfold. It wasn't just jealousy—there was also a strange calm. I wanted to see, with my own eyes, how the man I once loved would sink further into the mud.

Lydia slammed her phone down, eyes blazing. "This is disgusting! Serenity, should we post the truth and expose them?"

I stopped her. "Don't. Online public opinion is unpredictable, and I don't want you dragged into trouble because of me."

Taking a deep breath, I added, "It's fine. I'm already preparing for a divorce."

Lydia didn't hesitate to reply, "Serenity, you deserve so much better!"

Lydia wasn't just my assistant—she was also my junior from law school. Her loyalty was unconditional.

As I stepped out of the office, I could feel my colleagues' complicated gazes. They wanted to speak but held back. Clearly, they had seen the post too.

Casey Wharton, the legal counsel for Callum's company and my primary contact for corresponding lawsuits, caught up with me.

In a low voice, she said, "Serenity, Lily has gone too far. You've done so much for Callum without asking for anything in return. How could she do this to you?"

I smiled faintly. "It won't be like this for much longer."

Casey's eyes widened in surprise. "Serenity, you mean... No matter what happens, I'll support you! Honestly, I've been wanting to quit that place for ages."

Her words warmed my heart. Maybe I wasn't as cold and difficult as Callum made me out to be.

I recalled his recent complaints:

"You always look so stern when you come to handle lawsuits. You scare off our clients.

"Why can't you learn from Lily? Look how cheerful she is—everyone likes her. You need to fix your attitude."

But I barely had time to breathe while managing his endless legal troubles. I was too exhausted to bother with smiling. Besides, my skills had long surpassed the need for pleasing anyone with fake cheerfulness.

While Callum was busy dating Lily, he dumped all the company's work on me. And when things went wrong, he was the first to criticize, "How could you screw up something so simple?"

I shook my head with a bitter smile. Maybe I really wasn't good enough for him in any way. Since that's how he felt, perhaps it was time to step aside and let Lily take my place as his wife.

At 2 a.m., curled up in bed, I clutched my stomach as sharp pain twisted through me. Cold sweat soaked my pajamas.

Callum still hadn't come home.

I stared at my phone, lips pressed into a thin line. Our last conversation was over a week ago.

The final message he sent: [Make sure the client's satisfied.]

I knew what he was implying without him saying it outright.

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