I Took Back Everything on Her Big Day

On the day my wife, Sharon Lloyd, becomes the CEO of her company, I secretly travel back to the country from abroad with a 600-million-dollar deal in hopes of giving her a surprise. But that's when I witness her formally announcing that her first love, Gabriel Watson, will be the only director of the company. As Sharon holds Gabriel's hand, she tells him how grateful she is for his many years of accompaniment and contributions with tears in her eyes. The moment everyone notices my presence, they all turn to look at me, clearly itching for a good drama. But Sharon's expression goes stone cold. "Aren't you on an international business trip? If you can't even handle a small matter that I've entrusted you with, how can I ever entrust you with the company's management?" She allows Gabriel to mock and taunt me however he wants. On top of that, she even plans on demoting me to a regular employee. I just clap my hands together with a smile on my face before handing over the lucrative business deal to Gabriel graciously. What they don't know is that I'm this company's only source of income. Without me, all of the investors will no longer trust what Sharon tells them. Chapter 1 I couldn't believe my eyes as I looked at the two figures holding hands not far away. The grueling 16-hour flight had left me dizzy and disoriented, to the point where I hoped I was just hallucinating. "Isn't Henry supposed to be on a business trip in Sarovia? Coming back now is just asking for humiliation." "He's a company veteran, and he just got replaced by some random newcomer. This is going to be a shitshow." The hushed whispers of my former colleagues drifted over, accompanied by a barrage of judgmental stares. Gabriel Watson strolled casually over to me with a smug grin. "Henry! When did you get back? You should've told us so we could throw you a welcome party. But looking at you… I guess that overseas deal fell through, huh? Man, what a shame. But don't worry. Sharon and I won't hold it against you." I slapped his hand off my shoulder. His smile flickered, replaced instantly by a look of aggrieved innocence. "Are you mad at me for taking the position that was supposed to be yours? Look, I'll give it back. I just don't want any bad blood between us." He reached up, making a show of taking off his executive badge. My wife, Sharon Lloyd, who had been silent until now, rushed over and grabbed his hand. "Gabriel, what are you doing? He's just a low-level employee. He doesn't have the right to question company promotions." She turned her icy glare at me. "You lost the deal, and you actually have the nerve to show your face here? I told you not to go, but you just had to play the hero and run off to Sarovia. Now you've ruined our relationship with our biggest client, and you still expect a seat on the board?" While listening to her baseless accusations, I almost wanted to laugh. She was the one who had complained about how crucial and difficult the Sarovia account was and said she couldn't trust anyone else with it. That was the only reason I volunteered. Before I left, she promised me that win or lose, my standing in the company wouldn't change. She said that the moment I got back, she would promote me to the board so we could run our business side by side. And what did I actually come back to? Gabriel was just a newcomer with a degree from some third-rate college overseas, hired out of nowhere into an industry he knew nothing about. He never contributed to a single major project. He spent his days barking orders and throwing his weight around. Everyone kept quiet only because of his personal connection with Sharon. Whenever things went wrong, he would spin some sob story, convincing Sharon that he was the real victim. Meanwhile, my years of silent, thankless grind had earned me nothing but contempt—Just like now. Gabriel muttered a soft explanation, "I just don't want the team to resent me." He shrank back behind Sharon, nervously wringing his hands. Anyone else would have thought he was being horribly bullied. Sharon's brow furrowed, and her voice turned razor-sharp. "Anyone who doesn't like it can pack their bags and leave! "And Henry Palmer, let me remind you. I am the CEO of this company. If I want him on the board, he's on the board. You don't get a say." The room went dead silent. No one dared to breathe, terrified of losing their jobs. As I looked at her serious expression, a bitter smile suddenly broke across my lips. When she first said she wanted to start a business, I cut ties with my family just to pour my entire life savings into her dream. When we got scammed by a manufacturer early on and lost half a million dollars, I was the one who got down on my knees to beg investors for an extension. Once the company finally got on track, I spent endless days and nights writing proposals and visiting factories. I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this place, asking for nothing in return except to see Sharon happy. Chapter 2 And now, Sharon was telling me I didn't have a right to get a say. I nodded slowly and took two steps forward. Sharon flinched, and her eyes widened as she glared at me. "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to lay a hand on me?" I pulled out the massive contract I had spent weeks fighting for. "If that's how it is, I'm out. I hope the company reaches new heights under your brilliant leadership." I practically spat out the last few words. Gabriel snatched the document from my hands and flipped through the pages frantically. "This is impossible." Sharon's expression soured as she stared at me, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something. The surrounding colleagues leaned in closer. Everyone was shocked that I had actually managed to land the notoriously difficult Sarovia account. But a second later, Gabriel threw the contract right back at my chest. "Nice try, Henry. Do you think we're stupid? Are you trying to claim all the credit with a fake contract? If you really landed a deal this massive, why hasn't the client contacted us? Why is there no news from the factory?" They didn't know that I had planned this as a surprise for Sharon, so I had specifically asked the client to keep it quiet. Sharon and I had been secretly married for five years. Today was our anniversary. Yet on this milestone day, she chose to deny our marriage and let her first love humiliate and trample all over me. I was finally ready to let go. I looked down. Under everyone's stares, I picked up the scattered pages from the floor and ripped them to shreds. After that, I turned on my heel to leave, but Sharon's voice cut through the room. She rushed over and grabbed my hand. For a split second, I foolishly thought she was trying to get me to stay. After all, she had never once backed down or apologized in any of our past arguments. But the ice in her gaze hadn't thawed at all. She pressed her lips together and said, "Henry, I can't believe you had the audacity to forge a contract. I could call the police and have you arrested right now. "But considering everything you've done for this company, I'll let it slide this once. Effective today, you are demoted to the marketing department. As for Gabriel's appointment to the board, my decision stands!" I let out a bitter laugh. "Don't bother. I quit." If it weren't for Sharon, I would have never wasted five years of my life at this tiny startup. Since there was no longer a place for me here, why should I stick around? I walked out of the building. Looking up at the gray sky, I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number. "Dad, I lost the bet. I'm coming home tomorrow." No one knew that I was actually the second son of Calveron's richest man. When I first met Sharon, I had tried to tell her who I was. But she just laughed it off as a joke. It didn't help that my brother, Leon Palmer, was the only one constantly in the spotlight, leaving the public unaware that the Palmer family even had a second son. Later, I cut ties with my family to help Sharon build her business. My parents didn't reach out until after we secretly registered our marriage. They made a bet with me. They bet that within five years, Sharon would succeed, but our relationship would be ruined. Back then, I was completely confident, treating it as a guaranteed win. Looking back now, I realized I had just thrown away five years of my life on the wrong person. I went back to our apartment to pack my things. My hand brushed against a framed photo on the desk. As I looked at the two people smiling happily at each other in the picture, a wave of bitterness washed over me. Chapter 3 Ever since Gabriel returned to Calveron, everything between Sharon and me had completely shifted. He had interrupted our rare moments together so many times I'd lost count. I pulled out my lighter and watched the flame slowly consume the photograph in my hand. Surprisingly, I felt completely calm. My relationship with Sharon had ended up just like this photo—already burned to ashes. After packing my bags, I drafted my formal resignation letter. Just as I signed my name, I received a notification about Gabriel's latest post. It was a video filmed in a restaurant's private room. He and Sharon were locked in an embrace, drinking from each other's glasses. Sharon looked flushed and thoroughly drunk as she leaned into his chest, while our colleagues chanted in the background for them to kiss. Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling as he leaned down toward her lips. The video cut off right there. I dropped a like on the post and locked my phone. I was used to it by now. This wasn't Gabriel's first time pulling something like this. On my birthday, he had called Sharon away, claiming he had a migraine, only to post a picture of the two of them watching fireworks later. On New Year's Eve, he claimed he was terrified because his power went out and begged Sharon to come over. Later, he sent me a photo of their candlelit dinner. In the beginning, I used to fight back. I even threatened to leave if Sharon walked out the door. But every confrontation was met with her annoyed lectures, until eventually, I just grew numb to it all. Just as I slipped the resignation letter into my bag, Sharon's name flashed on my screen. I declined the call, but she kept calling persistently, refusing to give up. With a sigh, I finally picked up, only to be greeted by her slurred, drunken voice. "I drank too much. Come pick me up at Serenity Hotel." Her entitled tone was almost laughable. Faintly, I could hear Gabriel's voice in the background. "Don't you have someone there who's more than willing to drive you? Why call me?" I asked. Sharon sighed. Her tone sharpened with irritation as she said, "Gabriel just posted that video for fun. Why do you have to be so passive-aggressive? Stop being so petty. "He feels incredibly guilty right now. Just get over here and apologize to him, and we can put this behind us. If you keep targeting him like this, I swear I'll divorce you." I let out a cold laugh. "Then let's get a divorce." The line went dead silent for a long moment, save for the sudden heavy sound of Sharon's breathing. Then, I distinctly heard the wet sound of a kiss, followed by Gabriel's raspy voice. "Sharon, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have posted that. I guess there really isn't a place for me here in Calveron. I'll go pack my things and leave tonight." Sharon's voice snapped back through the line. "Henry Palmer, stop trying to threaten me! You're the one in the wrong, and you're still acting like the victim? Reflect on your behavior!" With that, she hung up the phone. Without a shred of hesitation, I immediately dialed my lawyer, Alfie Adams. "Help me draft a divorce agreement. Make it quick." With everything taken care of, I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. … In my sleepy daze, I felt a pair of hands wrap around me from behind, roaming across my chest. I jolted awake in shock, only to realize Sharon had come back. She reeked of alcohol as she tried to cuddle closer. "Today's our anniversary. I didn't forget. I didn't mean to snap at you at the office today, but everyone was watching. You have to understand my position, too." Chapter 4 Sharon continued, "I know you only said you were quitting because you were angry. I know I messed up, okay? That's why I came straight home. We built this company together from nothing. Do you really have the heart to walk away from it and me?" A sharp whiff of unfamiliar cologne caught in the back of my throat, sending a wave of nausea through my stomach. I forcefully shoved her off me and sat up. Sharon froze, looking at me with a deeply wounded expression. "Are you seriously still mad?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver band. "Look, I bought you a gift. I didn't even hold it against you for forging the contract, so why are you still making such a fuss? "Gabriel can be a little careless sometimes, sure, but his family specializes in overseas trade. He's going to be a massive asset to our growth. I'm doing all of this for the company and for our future. Why can't you just understand that?" As I stared at the ring in her hand, I vividly remembered the identical one I had seen on Gabriel's finger just hours earlier at the office. I simply hummed in response. Sharon never explained her decisions to me. Her uncharacteristic rambling tonight made me wonder if she was truly just drunk or if she was plotting something again. I slid out of the opposite side of the bed and grabbed a blanket to sleep in the guest room. Suddenly, Sharon stepped into the doorway, blocking my path. "I remember you have a master list of our core client contacts. Reorganize it and hand it over to Gabriel tomorrow so he can start taking some of the workload off your plate." I stopped dead in my tracks. So this was the real reason behind her sudden affection. I brushed past her hand and replied coldly, "I thought he was supposed to be capable. If a big-shot board director has to ask a low-level employee for resources, he's going to be a joke." Sharon's expression darkened. "Henry, everything you have right now was given to you by this company. I can take it all back in a heartbeat!" "Be my guest." With that, I closed the guest room door behind me, shutting out her voice completely. … The next morning, I expected Sharon to have already left for the office. Instead, I walked out to find her sitting at the dining table with an equity transfer agreement resting right by her elbow. My chest tightened as I recalled what she had whispered last night about preparing a surprise for our anniversary. Sharon had brought this up before, arguing that since we built the company together, we should split the shares 50-50. But to keep our secret marriage under wraps and avoid office gossip, I had always let her hold my half of the shares in her name. Noticing my gaze, she quickly slid the equity transfer agreement into her bag with an awkward look. "It's not for you," she said stiffly. I watched her grab her bag and head out the door. I knew she wanted to use those shares to provoke me. However, I didn't care anymore. I changed into a clean suit, grabbed my resignation letter, and drove to the office. The moment I stepped inside, I found a crowd of colleagues gathered around Gabriel, showering him with praise. "Now you're our boss, right?" "Man, talk about a power move. You've been here less than a month, and you've already locked down Ms. Lloyd and the entire company." Catching sight of me, the marketing manager, Caleb Holmes, immediately yelled, "Henry, you're 30 minutes late. Not to mention you completely ghosted the team-building dinner last night without saying a word. "Talk about a total lack of professionalism. I want a 5,000-word write-up reflecting on your behavior on my desk by the end of the day!"