Ethan drove to pick me up. The man, always known for his aloof and disciplined demeanor. Actually let his new secretary sit in his passenger seat. I knew then, this marriage was over. 01 That day, Ethan drove over to pick me up. When I opened the passenger side door, I froze for a second. A young, pretty girl was sitting in the passenger seat, flashing me a sweet smile. "Hi, Mrs. Hayes!" The girl greeted me very politely. But she made absolutely no move to get up and offer me the seat. I narrowed my eyes and shifted my gaze to Ethan. Ethan was looking down, taking a phone call, completely oblivious to the hidden tension on this side of the car. We had made plans today to go to an auction together. I had been looking forward to this date with him and had dressed up carefully, but I never expected someone else to be sitting in his passenger seat. "Hi, Mrs. Hayes, my name is Chloe. I'm Mr. Hayes's new assistant." A warm smile curved on the girl's lips. The two shallow dimples made her look exceptionally sweet. "I heard you two were going to a private auction tonight, so I begged Mr. Hayes to bring me along to see the world. Don't worry, I absolutely won't interrupt you guys." My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I knew the cold, perfect man in front of me too well. He always maintained a sense of distance. He wouldn't easily let others step into his personal space. We got together through an arranged marriage. After much consideration, we chose each other. Outsiders joked, saying I was practically signing up to be a living widow. But after we made our relationship official. Ethan would hug me with a gentle look in his eyes. In moments of passion, the corners of his eyes would tinge red. He said: "You are my wife. Husband and wife are one entity; naturally, you are different from anyone else to me." Today, it felt like something had changed. 02 But I wasn't some delicate flower who would just swallow my anger. I was Audrey, who had never needed to read the room or suppress my temper for anyone. "Get out!" I kicked her out with a cold face, showing no mercy. The girl was stunned for a long moment. She probably didn't expect that on our very first meeting, I would directly embarrass her. Perhaps because my tone was too harsh and cold. For a moment, the girl actually looked at a loss for what to do. "I-I'm sorry, Mrs. Hayes." The girl's voice carried a hint of a sob as she dejectedly moved to the back seat. Ethan just finished his call and looked over at us. He realized I was angry. A look of helpless indulgence washed over his face. The man leaned over and fastened my seatbelt for me. Noticing the seat position had been adjusted by someone else, I readjusted it with extreme impatience. This whole ordeal made me furious. "So annoying! Why would anyone dare to adjust my passenger seat!" The air pressure in the car dropped, and the girl was too scared to speak again. Ethan furrowed his brow slightly, suggesting to me in a calm tone. "If you're not in a good mood today, let's just go home." The woman in the rearview mirror was silently shedding tears. I felt incredibly frustrated. "Chloe, right? I'm not in the mood to go anymore. Call an Uber and go home yourself. Mr. Hayes and I are going home." The girl's face turned pale, and she looked weakly at Ethan. The man showed no intention of helping her out of the situation. The girl got out of the car, looking devastated. 03 Ethan would never embarrass me in front of outsiders. He always knew how to control his emotions. So he suggested: go home. If there's an issue, solve it at home. This was the unspoken understanding we had built over the years. "She's just a college grad who just entered the workforce. Why are you getting so worked up over this?" Ethan pulled me into his arms. "It's the first time." Ethan didn't understand: "What?" "In all these years, this is the first time you've let another woman sit in your passenger seat." The man didn't expect that this was what I cared about. Everyone in our circle knew how outstanding Ethan was. The number of women who liked him was innumerable. But he kept his nose clean. Surrounded by temptation, he never let a single leaf stick to him. Ethan smiled faintly and ruffled my hair. "I can't believe I actually managed to make you jealous for once." The man leaned down to kiss me, his nose brushing against my cheek. "She is my subordinate, nothing more. "There won't be any other relationship between her and me." Ethan cupped my face, staring into my eyes. He made a solemn promise to me in a deep voice. 04 A woman's intuition is always very accurate. Even though I had only met Chloe once. My intuition told me that this girl definitely had other intentions towards Ethan. I originally thought my show of dominance at our first meeting was enough. But I never expected that the auction necklace that was supposed to be given to me would be worn around the girl's neck the very next day. Harper, serving as Ethan's executive assistant, sent me a photo and a screenshot of a Facebook post. In the photo, the crescent moon diamond necklace hung around Chloe's fair neck, making her look even more delicate and pretty. The girl's eyes were red and swollen, but a smile played on her lips. She probably went home and cried her eyes out last night. And received a gift from someone. In the screenshot, it was a post Chloe made on Facebook: [The CEO says girls need to be strong even when they feel wronged! [Wiping away my tears. Yes sir, my CEO!] Followed by a few cute emojis of a clenched fist showing determination. Along with a picture of the necklace in its box. At that moment, my blood almost froze. Although it's hard to admit, I must confess. I was provoked by her to the point where I almost lost my composure. This feeling was terrible; it was like my cherished white silk scarf was stained with a smear of mosquito blood. This feeling was very strange to me. I even wanted to ignore the facts, jump into my yellow Ferrari, drive at 100 mph, and slap that woman twice across the face. But looking at my own hands, I felt that taking a cheap, manipulative girl so seriously was beneath me. I made a phone call to Vivian at Hermès. Vivian's tone was filled with uncontrollable joy. She assured me over the phone. "Don't worry, Mrs. Hayes. Even if I have to empty out all the stores in the city today, I will gather all the items and guarantee they're all delivered to you!" And so, that very day. Before the workday even ended. Excluding Chloe, all the assistants to the executives and the girls in the general manager's office at Hayes Group headquarters, a total of forty-six girls, received a generous gift from the CEO's wife— A Hermès necklace worth twelve thousand dollars. Although the unit price couldn't compare to the two-million-dollar auction necklace, the sheer quantity made up for it, effectively leveling the playing field. Harper was tactful in her execution. She required everyone to post on Facebook with the caption— [The CEO's wife says every girl deserves the best! [Clenching my fist. Yes ma'am, my CEO's wife!] The girls who received the gifts were naturally happy to cooperate. As assistants and general office staff. They were practically the gossip center of the entire company. Now receiving a gift from the CEO's wife, which one of them wouldn't happily and actively post the caption and pictures? There were even some clever ones who added a line to their captions: [The CEO's wife really knows how to play!] The influence of these directors' assistants might not be huge, but their ability to spread information across various departments was terrifying. Within half an hour, the whole company knew that the CEO's wife had gifted everyone a Hermès necklace. As for the reason, the various gossip groups were already buzzing with speculation. Chloe's face was pale; she seemed to have suffered a great insult. With red-rimmed eyes, she hid in the restroom to take off the diamond necklace. Two colleagues who came in to touch up their makeup saw her and let out two ambiguous scoffs. Chloe felt completely humiliated. She lowered her head and quickly walked out of the restroom, the mocking laughter behind her becoming even more unrestrained. Her cheeks burned as she put the necklace back into the box. She returned it to Ethan exactly as it was. 05 Ethan had just finished a video call with a partner. He saw the girl, who had obviously been crying again, holding the necklace box, looking desolate and staring at her toes. "What's wrong?" Ethan asked, puzzled. Before Chloe could speak, her tears began to fall. She sobbed quietly, looking pitiful: "Mr. Hayes, please take this necklace back. I don't dare keep it." A hint of displeasure appeared on Ethan's cold, handsome face. His intuition told him that something must have happened. But he didn't press for details directly. He just quietly watched the person in front of him. Chloe pursed her lips, hesitating repeatedly, and finally took the initiative to speak, recounting everything that happened in the office today in full detail. "Mr. Hayes, I'm sorry for always causing you trouble. "I just made a Facebook post to encourage myself. I didn't know why the Mrs. would find out about it." Chloe sobbed softly. "I didn't think the Mrs. would be so angry." The woman looked as pitiful as a little white rabbit. "Mr. Hayes, I want to go apologize to the Mrs. I can explain everything to her clearly in person." Ethan never had the habit of checking Facebook. His time was filled with work. But as the CEO of the group, he understood all too well these toxic habits of chasing shadows within the company. His usually stern face grew even colder. "I understand." The man said in a deep voice. 06 That evening, Ethan brought Chloe home. The girl was meek and submissive, standing behind the man. "I asked Chloe to come over so she can clear things up face-to-face." Ethan sighed. "Audrey, Chloe is just my secretary. "Because of what happened yesterday, as a gesture of apology, I casually gave her a gift, that's all." I stirred my silver spoon, finishing the bird's nest soup the housekeeper had stewed. "Mrs. Hayes, I'm sorry." Chloe was sincere in her attitude, bowing to me. Trembling with fear, delicate and weak. "This is the first time I've received such an expensive gift. I got dizzy with happiness for a moment. If I did anything to upset you, please tell me, and I will definitely change right away!" I raised an eyebrow: "Chloe, right?" The girl glanced at Ethan, seemingly trying to draw courage from him, and slowly nodded. Looking at the woman acting like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, insisting on challenging me, I only found it amusing. "I'm not your teacher, nor am I your boss. I don't have the time to teach you how to behave or do things. "But I am Ethan Hayes's wife. Therefore, whoever dares to act ambiguous with my husband, I will not give her a chance to turn over a new leaf." This girl had probably never met someone as direct as me in her entire life. Her face, which was trying hard to maintain a facade, was left with nothing but frail vulnerability. "Audrey, Chloe came to apologize to you." Ethan knew my personality and methods. Even if he didn't approve of what I did today, he could understand my feelings. So he didn't argue with me, just agreed to let Chloe come and apologize to me. He had already made a concession, wanting me to let go of the misunderstanding. Everyone here was smart. Even a single look was enough to convey each other's meaning. "I understand." I decided to give Ethan a chance. After all, he hadn't actually cheated. "But there won't be a next time, no matter who it is." 07 "You didn't have to use those methods against a girl." Before falling asleep, Ethan brought up the topic. "You should have told me first." I sat at the vanity doing my skincare routine, staring at the handsome man in the mirror. "You knew perfectly well I liked that necklace, yet you gave it to another woman. Shouldn't I be angry?" I couldn't imagine if such a perfect person got dirty, whether I would still adore him as before. Ethan unhurriedly went to the bar to pour himself a glass of ice water. "She cried all night because of your misunderstanding. "When I saw how swollen her eyes were this morning, I casually gave her the necklace as an apology." There wasn't a single flaw in his explanation. I scrutinized him coldly for a long time. Two million dollars, to us, was just pocket change. Giving it away casually made sense. It just depended on whether the other person was worth it. The man's fingertips tapped against the quartz countertop. He was waiting for me to think. This was the first time we had a conflict over a third party. Our upbringing and education made us both feel a bit tired of this kind of thing. We were both people who cared about keeping up appearances. "Ethan, I love you." Ethan's fingertips paused. He probably didn't expect me to say this suddenly. "Ethan, I love the pristine, flawless version of you. This is what makes you different from anyone else. "You never let women get close before because you have emotional mysophobia. You wanted a clean marriage. I wasn't like that before, but your values influenced me. Now, our life goals are the same. "I hope your marriage never has a crossroads." Ethan said helplessly: "I don't." 08 Ethan was a very clear-headed person. He knew I cared, so he wouldn't give Chloe any more room for fantasies. Without the CEO's elevation, Chloe, as an intern, could only start from the most basic tasks. Before, she had the opportunity to rotate at the main reception desk. Now, Harper simply didn't schedule her for shifts. I didn't signal anyone to ostracize her. Since Ethan knew where to draw the line, I completely trusted him. But this kind of thing didn't require any instructions from me. There were plenty of people willing to kiss up to the powerful and step on the weak. In less than half a month, this new secretary couldn't handle the drop in her professional standing and the psychological blow, losing a whole size in weight. The turning point occurred after an important executive meeting ended. That day, Chloe was assigned to clean the small conference room alone. The girl, wearing a skirt suit, knelt on the floor, struggling to scrape chewing gum off the carpet with a razor blade. This scene was witnessed by Ethan, who had returned to retrieve something. Noticing someone behind her, the girl hurriedly stood up in embarrassment. Ethan's gaze was deep and coldly profound. Such a silent stare stripped Chloe of all her dignity. "Mr. Hayes." The girl's tears fell uncontrollably. She wasn't acting, nor was she pretending. Ethan was originally the sun she admired but couldn't touch. When she was marginalized, she had almost accepted her fate. Now, being seen by the man in this state. Chloe wished she could push Ethan aside and flee out the door. In just half a month, that originally cheerful and lively girl had become so fragile. This was the first time Ethan lost his temper. He came home and violently smashed the water glass I handed him onto the floor. Water splashed everywhere. "Why do you still refuse to let her go? "Audrey, I respect and love you, tolerating your insults and harm to her time and time again. "Does bullying the weak give you some kind of thrill?" I remembered that during Ethan's time studying abroad, his younger sister in middle school committed suicide by jumping off a building due to severe school bullying. This became an indelible scar in his heart, causing him to abhor such behavior. "Audrey, I won't let you use these methods to hurt others again, otherwise I won't stand idly by!" I stared blankly at the emotionally out-of-control man in front of me. For the first time since our marriage, Ethan lost his reason and blew up in anger for another woman, for something I didn't even do. This feeling was terrible. Like glass shattering. Like spilled water that can't be gathered again. 09 Ethan promoted Chloe to his personal assistant. At the same time, he decisively fired Harper. This was the executive assistant who had fought alongside him for seven years. "You need to be clear about exactly who you are working for." Harper was very stubborn in certain aspects. "I am working for you, Mr. Hayes. "For some matters, I will privately contact the Mrs. "But only regarding personal matters." The man threw the shift schedule in front of Harper. "Is that so? So righteous? "Then did your professional ethics allow you to abuse your power to bully others?" Harper was speechless. She knew her deliberate mistreatment of Chloe had been discovered, and she showed fear in front of him. Ethan saw right through it. "You have no tolerance for others, you can't distinguish right from wrong, you suppress colleagues based on personal grudges. What right do you have to hold the position of executive assistant?" Harper walked out of the office, defeated. Outside, several assistants looked sorrowful. "Harper, do you really have to leave?" Before the large tears could roll down her face, Harper quickly wiped them away. "Yeah, I'm leaving. See you all around, ladies."
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