The moment I unlocked my phone, a notification popped up. 【BREAKING NEWS: Tech CEO Eleanor Vance and Husband Dazzle at Charity Gala, Donate Millions, and Can't Keep Their Hands Off Each Other!】 But I distinctly remembered attending no such charity gala. A knot of confusion tightening in my gut, I tapped the link. In the video, my wife, usually a picture of cool composure, was walking the red carpet, her fingers tightly intertwined with her male assistant’s. Descending the steps, the assistant even swept her into a bridal carry, as if terrified she’d trip on her gown. Even the host couldn't help but gush, “Mr. and Mrs. Vance are simply as smitten as newlyweds – truly enviable!” Eleanor, however, offered no explanation, just clutched her assistant's hand and playfully flashed a peace sign at the camera. I stared at the screen, my heart sinking like a stone. Looks like Eleanor wants a new husband. 1 Overnight, Julian Clark, the assistant, became a viral sensation. That very evening, hundreds of thousands flooded his livestream, the comments section exploding with frantic messages: 【OMG, CEO’s Husband! What’s it like being married to the CEO? Spill the tea!】 【Ms. Vance is always so serious. Is she super cute and demure behind closed doors, like a little darling wife?】 【You must be new here! Company employees already leaked it: once, Ms. Vance's husband came to pick her up, and she’d scamper over and practically melt into his arms, blushing furiously!】 【Wow! So how good was the hug?】 Julian’s face flushed as he nodded. "Very soft, very good to hold." The comments instantly erupted: 【Oh my God, the CEO's husband is actually shy! Is this what they mean by a 'darling husband'?!】 【From today onwards, this couple is officially locked in for me!】 【Please, please, more gossip about Ms. Vance! She's always got that Ice Queen face on. Her fans are starving!】 Last year, Eleanor Vance attended an international AI conference. A video of her speech went viral, making her an online phenomenon, admired for both her beauty and powerful presence – she became everyone's "Ice Goddess." To avoid excessive scrutiny of our private life, I rarely appeared in public with her. So why, this time, did she bring Julian Clark to the gala? Just as I was pondering this, Julian continued: "Ms. Vance might seem cold, but she’s surprisingly demure. She gives me a morning kiss every day and even makes breakfast. At noon, she’ll text to ask what I’ve eaten. And at night, she cooks dinner herself. Every day with her, I feel surrounded by love." Someone piped up: 【Surrounded by love? That sounds a little suggestive!】 【Quick! Does Ms. Vance prefer a dominatrix outfit or a maid costume at night?!】 【Definitely a maid costume! The colder she is by day, the sweeter she is by night!】 Julian covered his face, "blushing" again. "She prefers to wear maid costumes to please me… Oh, don't ask any more questions! It's so embarrassing!" I gripped my phone, my knuckles white. At that very moment, a text from Eleanor popped up: 【Honey, the company’s doing a product test tonight. Might be home very late. Don't wait up, go to bed first~】 Product test? More like wearing a maid costume on some other "husband's" bed. Seeing Julian still vaguely flaunting their supposed affection, I left a comment directly in the livestream: 【Julian Clark, you're just an assistant. What are you doing pretending to be the CEO's husband?】 The screen instantly went silent. Then, a wave of furious comments crashed down on me: 【Who let this crazy dog loose? Mind your tongue!】 【Calling the CEO's husband by his full name? Do you have a death wish?】 【I suggest you apologize, fast! Ms. Vance could trace your IP and find you in minutes!】 I scoffed, a cold sneer on my face, and revealed my identity: 【I am Eleanor Vance's actual husband! Julian Clark, report to HR tomorrow to process your resignation!】 On screen, Julian’s face drained of color. A few seconds later, he abruptly ended the livestream. That night, Eleanor didn't come home. 2 The next morning, I marched straight to the company. Eleanor, her face etched with exhaustion, immediately lit up when she saw me. She pulled me into her office, clinging to me, playfully whining, "Husband, why are you so early today? Missed me last night, didn't you?" The images from the livestream flashed through my mind. I shoved her away. Just then, Julian Clark’s voice drifted from outside the door. "I'm going to take care of someone, then I'll come back to settle things with you!" Julian saw me emerge and lowered his head. His eyes were swollen and red, clearly from a night of heavy weeping. Julian whispered, barely audible, "Mr. Hayes, you're here?" "Let's go to the conference room, I'll explain everything to you there." I crossed my arms over my chest, my voice booming. "Say whatever you have to say right here. Don't give me that pathetic, innocent look, making people think I'm bullying you." I added, "And who are you calling 'Mr. Hayes'? Just call me Marcus." Julian looked at Eleanor, his eyes brimming with tears. Eleanor, unflustered, began to explain for him. "Honey, you must have seen the charity gala video last night?" She offered a sweet smile. "It's like this: I've been busy testing new products lately, and I forgot to tell the organizers you wouldn't be attending. They’d already set up a spot for you and an interactive segment, so I just brought Julian instead. With so many cameras, I couldn't let outsiders think there was trouble in paradise between us, could I?" No sooner had she finished explaining than the R&D manager rushed in, saying there was a slight glitch with the new product and Eleanor needed to check it out. Julian started to follow, but Eleanor stopped him. "My husband's still mad. You better not come." I didn’t beat around the bush. "Julian Clark, let's talk about what happened on the livestream last night." Julian’s face immediately drained of color, then flushed, looking utterly miserable. "Marcus, I had a little too much to drink last night, that's why I spoke without thinking." He stammered, "You know, my parents aren't well, and my younger brother is getting married soon, so I need to get money for his wedding. My regular income isn't enough to cover my family's expenses, so I thought I’d try livestreaming to earn some extra cash. Yesterday, when I saw so many people in the livestream for the first time, I just… started running my mouth. Honestly, Eleanor and I have nothing going on. It was all just me making things up." "I'll upload a video after work clarifying my relationship with Eleanor and apologizing to you." Julian suddenly dropped to his knees, begging. "Marcus, please don't fire me! I really need this job." Seeing I didn't speak, he began to slap himself repeatedly. The office echoed with the sound of slaps. Julian was a scholarship student Eleanor sponsored. I knew his family's situation all too well. Watching him slap his face until it was swollen and blood trickled from his lips, my heart softened. "Don't entertain unrealistic fantasies, and don't let there be a next time!" My voice hardened. "Otherwise, I, Marcus Hayes, will show no mercy!" I glanced toward the conference room. Eleanor’s expression was grim. It looked like she’d run into a thorny issue. I went home without a word. My best friend, Devon Blake, called, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mr. Perfect Husband, I heard you went to the company today and made a scene? But you couldn't bring yourself to deal with Eleanor, huh?" I snapped, "I'm letting her off the hook for now because she's busy. Tonight, when she comes home, I'll deal with her." Devon’s tone sobered. "I heard the organizers didn't actually expect you to show up. No one's ever been able to convince a bigshot like you before." My heart sank. This felt more complicated than it seemed. 3 Under the subdued lighting, I fell into deep thought. Eleanor and I had an arranged marriage, a strategic business alliance. While we had little emotional foundation before the wedding, after, she was shrewd and capable at work, and gentle and virtuous at home. What's more, my wild, impractical ideas, she somehow understood. It was as if I had suddenly found a soulmate on my wavelength. Even more importantly, our chemistry in bed was explosive. Every night, for three hundred and sixty-five days a year, she’d anticipate my desires, exploring new ways to please me, always keeping things exciting. To give me complete security, she conscientiously maintained more than double the standard social distance from other men. A woman with perfect looks, a stunning figure, and outstanding capabilities – a true catch. It was hard not to be captivated. The door creaked open, and Eleanor quietly slipped in. She shed her outer clothes and burrowed into my embrace like a kitten. "Husband, I'm home." Seeing I didn't respond, she chuckled and playfully tapped my nose. "First time I've seen you jealous. You're like a little tiger, all claws and snarls." I hadn't cooled down. "I'm no little tiger. Go to your 'darling husband.' Aren't you afraid people will misunderstand and think you're having an affair, coming to my place?" Eleanor let out a soft laugh. "Still mad at Julian? He's just a naive boy who hasn't seen much of the world. It’s normal for him to get a bit conceited with all that sudden attention. Look, he's already posted a video clarifying things and apologizing. The comments are all trashing him now. Consider it payback for you." Her eyes met mine, earnest and unwavering. "Husband, I swear to God, there's absolutely nothing going on between Julian and me!" My heart softened. The Hayes and Vance families had been allied by marriage for years, their interests deeply intertwined and complex. What's more, Eleanor came home almost every day, working hard to please me every night. I figured she wouldn't have the time or energy to get physically involved with Julian. So, as long as she was willing to humble herself, I could give her an out. But then, Devon’s warning flashed in my mind, and my expression hardened. I cupped her face, my voice low and cautionary. "Eleanor Vance, you know I, Marcus Hayes, am a stickler for exclusivity. I never liked, nor would I tolerate, sharing what's mine—people or possessions." My gaze bore into hers. "The reason I agreed to marry you, beyond the family alliance, was because you were different from those other socialites. You were pure and untainted. If you ever got tainted, I'd find it utterly repulsive. So please, don't force me to stop loving you." Eleanor nodded. "Husband, I'll always be yours and yours alone." Then she pulled me down toward her. "Husband, how about I make amends in triplicate tonight?" I propped myself up with my elbow, keeping her at arm's length. "Not so fast. I have a condition: Julian Clark has to be transferred!" "That's just a word from the CEO's husband, isn't it?" she purred. 4 The next morning, Eleanor and I arrived at the company, hand in hand. I marched straight to HR. "Julian Clark lacks the necessary skills. Is there any suitable position for him?" The HR manager paused. "Marcus, we just had a cleaning lady resign." I nodded. "Excellent. That position suits him well. Doesn't require much brainpower, after all." Minutes later, the HR manager loudly announced Julian Clark's transfer. Amidst the whispers and knowing glances of the onlookers, Julian, fists clenched, stubbornly asked, "Marcus, according to labor law, a formal employee transfer requires a legitimate reason. Otherwise…" I scoffed, cutting him off. "New hires should start from the bottom, shouldn't they? If you're unwilling, that's fine. Just pack your things and leave. There are plenty of people lining up, practically tripping over themselves to get in here." Familiar footsteps echoed behind me. Julian, his eyes red-rimmed, looked at Eleanor. "Eleanor…" "Eleanor," I prompted, "do you have any objections?" Eleanor smiled, serene as a summer breeze. "Such trivial people and matters… you decide." At that, Julian seemed to lose all his strength. "Marcus," he said, defeated, "I accept the assignment." He then changed into a cleaner's uniform and went off to scrub toilets. The onlookers began to whisper amongst themselves. "Ha, he finally got what he deserved! He used to walk around with his nose in the air, acting all superior because Eleanor favored him. Now he’s stuck scrubbing toilets." "Should I go leave a real mess just to make him gag?" "Oh yes, absolutely! I still remember how he used to boss me around when he first started. I’m boiling with rage! We have to make him sick to his stomach!" I glanced at Eleanor from the corner of my eye. Seeing no reaction from her, a weight lifted from my heart. I clapped my hands and headed off to go racing with Devon. 5 The HR manager was a real go-getter, assigning Julian plenty of manual labor. Eleanor ignored it completely. A month passed peacefully, and our third wedding anniversary was approaching. I specifically dragged Devon to the mall to pick out a gift. From a distance, I saw Eleanor enter a watch store. "Your Eleanor's something else, isn't she?" Devon said, his voice full of admiration. "I heard she's been swamped and stressed lately, but she still remembered your anniversary! Truly a five-star wife in our circle." My heart swelled with joy listening to his praises. When I got home, I personally prepared a candlelight dinner and changed into Eleanor's favorite doctor’s uniform, waiting for her to return. But as eight o'clock approached, Eleanor still hadn't appeared. I called her, but at first, no one answered. Then, her phone was simply off. Eleanor never ignored my calls; no matter how important the matter, she would always answer and explain. My heart clenched. Nothing bad could have happened to her, could it? Frantic, I called Eleanor’s new assistant. He hesitated, stammering, and couldn't clearly explain where Eleanor was or what she was doing. It wasn't hard to guess. Eleanor wasn't at the company, nor was she held up by any legitimate work matter or person. Unless it was Julian Clark. My heart sank. I silently enjoyed the elaborate candlelight dinner alone. Just as I finished the last piece of steak, the door suddenly burst open. Eleanor’s face was thunderous as she raged at me. "Marcus Hayes, I used to think you were merely spoiled, but now I see you’ve lost your humanity!" Her voice trembled with fury. "Julian misspoke, yes. He was subjected to online attacks, bullied by colleagues, demoted and had his salary cut to scrub toilets. He has already received his due punishment! Why do you refuse to let go of his family too? Do you want to drive them to their deaths before you’re satisfied?" She stared at me, her voice dripping with scorn. "Is it really that entertaining to toy with a powerless, no-name kid?" She saw me calmly sipping my red wine. Her anger intensified. She swept the dinner plates and wine bottles off the table with a violent swipe. Porcelain clattered sharply against the floor. Eleanor warned, "I advise you to be a good person! Don't push my boundaries again!" With that, she stormed out. The space returned to silence. I searched online using a few keywords and quickly pinpointed Julian Clark's newly created social media account. He was wearing an exquisite watch, flaunting it in a post. 【A one-year anniversary gift personally prepared for me by my amazing CEO!】 【My CEO also said she knows I've been through a lot of unhappy things recently, so she's giving me a vacation to clear my head. She hopes when she sees me again, I'll be her energetic little assistant once more.】 【Actually, I just want to tell her that a word of comfort from her would be enough.】 I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. Flaunting their relationship so openly? How could I not help him out? I forwarded the link to Devon. "Devon, get all your company’s influencer accounts moving. By tomorrow morning, I want this sweet story of boss and assistant to be viral across the entire internet." Eleanor Vance, I told you long ago, I, Marcus Hayes, am no saint. Cross me, and there's a price to pay!
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