Filmed Like a Pet, I Let Them Pay

My wife, Chloe, loved to record our intimate moments, especially videos where she played the queen and humiliated me.

I initially disagreed, but she'd always plead:

Alex, if you truly love me, can't you even grant me this one request?

Over three years of marriage, she recorded us over a thousand times.

But the moment Liam, the guy she'd always been hung up on, returned to the country, he uploaded my private videos to TikTok.

The caption read: [Check out this simp! So embarrassing for a guy!]

I demanded a public apology, but he just sneered at me:

"Isn't that Alex? You're like a dog in the video, now you're trying to act all high and mighty? A pathetic kept man who whored himself out for status, do you really think you deserve an apology from me?"

My hands trembled with anger, ready to call the police, but Chloe snatched my phone, chuckling:

"He's just kidding, Alex. Be a little more laid-back, don't be so sensitive!"

Watching the constantly climbing hot topics on TikTok,

I suddenly felt that our three-year relationship had to end.

On TikTok's trending list, the hashtag #Alex Is A Dog# had been stuck at the top for three whole days.

My private videos were viewed, commented on, and reposted by tens of millions.

I stared silently at the screen, my fingers mechanically scrolling.

After a long while, I took a deep breath and called my lawyer.

"Regarding the video infringement."

"Alex, I'm sorry."

The voice on the other end sounded a bit awkward: "Chloe said she's handling this herself and instructed us not to interfere."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we can't accept any of your requests."

I was silent for two seconds, then said calmly, "Okay, I understand."

I hung up and called three more law firms.

The same reply.

I sat on the couch, staring at the wedding photo on the coffee table.

In the picture, Chloe was nestled in my arms, smiling gently.

She'd said, "Alex, I'll love you forever."

Now, her way of loving me was to have my private videos plastered all over the internet.

At eleven PM, Chloe returned.

She saw me still on the couch, her brow furrowing slightly: "Not in bed yet?"

I didn't answer, just calmly asked:

"What are you planning to do about the videos?"

"The PR department is handling it," she said, taking off her coat, her tone casual.

"How are they handling it?"

"I'll issue a statement saying the videos are AI-generated," she said dismissively, "then get some influencer accounts to clarify, and in a few days, no one will remember."

I looked at her and suddenly laughed: "That's your solution?"

"What else?" she frowned. "What more do you want? It's just a few videos, right? Didn't you enjoy playing around in them?"

"What do I want?" I repeated softly. "I want Liam to delete the videos and issue a public apology. I want you to give me back my $5 million!"

Chloe's face instantly darkened: "Alex, don't push your luck."

"Push my luck?"

I stared at her, suddenly finding it laughable.

Three years of marriage, over a thousand days and nights of what I thought was intimacy.

She never saved our memories; she saved her trophies.

"Chloe," my voice trembled with anger, "do you know? What disgusts me most isn't that my private videos were seen."

She frowned, a flicker of impatience in her eyes: "What are you trying to start now?"

I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to slap her:

"What disgusts me most is that I'm only now seeing your true colors!"

With that, I kicked the bedroom door and turned towards my study.

Before I closed the door, her furious shout came from behind: "Alex! Stop right there!"

I didn't look back.

The moment I locked the door, I pounded the wall, venting my rage.

Then, I opened my phone's photo album and scrolled to the very bottom.

There was an encrypted folder containing photos of Chloe proposing to me.

I gently brushed the screen, then deleted them one by one.

When I reached the last one, my finger paused.

It was our wedding photo.

I was in a suit, she in a white gown, standing at the church entrance.

She'd said, "Alex, you look so handsome."

I pressed delete, and the wedding photo vanished from the screen.

The next morning, I was woken by noises from the kitchen.

Pushing open the guest room door, I saw Chloe's back as she bustled around the kitchen.

I froze.

Three years. This was the first time I'd seen her cook.

I stood there for a long time. Then the doorbell rang.

Through the peephole, I saw Liam standing outside, impatiently ringing the bell.

I took a deep breath, gripped the doorknob, and opened the door.

"Well, if it isn't the kept man,"

He looked me up and down, sneering,

"Up so early, going to serve some sugar mama?"

Before I could speak, he walked straight into the kitchen, embracing Chloe from behind.

"Chloe, what are you making?"

"Breakfast for you," Chloe's voice was uncharacteristically gentle.

I stood there, my stomach suddenly churning.

Her first time cooking was for Liam.

I put on my jacket, turning to leave.

But Chloe called out to me.

"Alex, eat breakfast before you go."

I paused.

Staring at the breakfast on the table, I suddenly remembered when we first started dating.

Back then, I was just a poor student, but she didn't mind.

I remember the first birthday gift I gave her was a green dress, which I'd saved up for three months working part-time.

But after she saw the price tag, she insisted on returning it.

She smiled and said:

"You are the best gift heaven sent me. Don't ever waste money on me again."

Back then, I secretly swore that I would earn a lot of money and give her a happy life.

But now, the woman who once cared for me had even forgotten I was allergic to eggs.

"I'm allergic to eggs," I said calmly.

Chloe's face instantly flushed, about to explain.

But I didn't stop, walking straight out.

At ten AM, I was in my office, processing documents, when a sharp pain flared in my stomach.

Just as I pulled open a drawer to find my stomach medicine, the door pushed open.

Liam walked in and kicked my desk.

"Hey, kept man, Chloe wants to see you."

I looked up at him, my gaze falling on the ID badge on his chest.

On Liam's first day back in the country, Chloe had made him President's Assistant.

A year ago, my mom asked me to arrange for a relative to join the company, but Chloe had repeatedly declined.

"What does she want?" I asked calmly.

"How should I know?" Liam rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, she said to come now."

I endured the stomach pain and walked towards Chloe's CEO office.

Although I had initially founded this company, I had gifted all my shares to Chloe.

Pushing open the door, Chloe sat at her desk.

"Sit," she said without looking up.

I didn't sit, just stood and watched her: "What is it?"

She finally looked up, her eyes cold: "The video situation has gotten too big. The company's stock price is affected."

"So?"

"So," she pushed a document across, "the board has decided for you to take some time off."

I picked up the document. It was a suspension notice.

"Suspension?" I laughed. "What's the reason?"

"Too much public pressure," she frowned, looking very impatient: "You need to lay low."

I stared at her, suddenly feeling my stomach ache even more.

She had sent the videos to Liam, and Liam had posted them on TikTok.

Now, she wanted me to pay for their mistake?!

"Okay, fine," I nodded. "I accept the suspension."

As I turned to leave, she suddenly called out: "Wait."

"Something else?"

She hesitated,

"Why don't you take a trip to Greece, clear your head."

Greece.

A place I had always wanted to go.

When we got married, she said she wanted to honeymoon in Greece.

But at that time, the company was just starting, and I hoped we'd go once it stabilized.

Later, when the company was stable, she said she didn't want to go anymore.

Now, she suddenly brought up our missed honeymoon.

I looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"What? You want to get rid of me, afraid I'll cause trouble at the company? Or are you afraid I'll get in the way of you and Liam's little romance?"

"You..."

"Don't worry," I cut her off. "I won't bother you."

Because it wasn't worth it.

The moment I closed the door, I heard something shatter inside.

I didn't look back.

Returning from Chloe's office,

my workspace had been cleared, and Liam sat in my chair.

"You're back!"

I ignored his provocation, just going to the drawer to retrieve my personal items.

After taking a cab home, I found the front door password had been changed.

I called Chloe. It rang for a long time before she answered.

I asked, "The password's changed?"

"Yeah," she paused, "Liam hasn't found a suitable place yet, so he's moving in with us. He thought the old password was hard to remember, so he changed it."

I gripped my phone.

Three years ago, when we moved into this house.

Chloe had linked her arm through mine, smiling and saying:

"Let's use our wedding anniversary as the password. That way, you'll never forget."

Now, because Liam said it was hard to remember, she had erased our wedding anniversary.

"Anyway, you're going to Greece for vacation, so changing the password won't affect you," she continued on the phone.

I took a deep breath:

"I can go to Greece, but I'm taking Judy with me."

Judy was my Ragdoll cat, I'd had her for three years, she'd been with us since we got married.

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

"Judy..."

Her voice suddenly became unnatural:

"Liam is allergic to cat fur, so I had someone take her to a pet hotel."

"Which pet hotel?"

She said, "The one by the complex entrance. Just go to Greece first, we'll talk when you get back!"

I hung up and went directly to the pet store by the complex entrance.

"Excuse me, did Chloe board a Ragdoll cat here?"

The clerk shook her head:

"No, Chloe hasn't been here in a long time."

I stood there, suddenly feeling a chill run through me.

I went to several nearby pet stores, and the replies were all the same.

Finally, I went to the vet clinic.

The vet saw me, his expression a bit troubled.

"Alex, what brings you here?"

I went straight to the point: "I'm here to pick up Judy."

The vet's face changed: "Judy? She..."

"What about her?"

The vet lowered his head:

"When Chloe brought her in, she said the cat was very sick."

I staggered back a step, feeling the whole world spin.

"She lied!" my voice trembled uncontrollably. "Judy was fine before I left the house!"

The vet didn't dare to look at me:

"Later, Liam came to handle it. He said the cat was too noisy, affecting his rest, and requested euthanasia."

Judy, my cat of three years, was euthanized because she was too noisy.

Walking out of the vet clinic in a daze, I took out my phone and called Chloe:

"Judy is dead!"

The other end was silent for a long time.

"Alex!"

She finally spoke, her voice somewhat flustered:

"I didn't know."

"You didn't know?"

I cut her off:

"Didn't know Liam would kill my cat? Or didn't know I'd find out?"

"Chloe, do you know?"

"When Judy died, she must have been so scared. She must have wondered why I didn't come to save her."

With that, I hung up the phone.

I stood at the vet clinic entrance, holding Judy's urn, memories flooding back like a vivid montage.

The first day I saw Judy, I had failed in my startup, sitting on the couch, covering my face, silently weeping.

When Chloe returned, she held a box in her hand.

She smiled and said, "Alex, this is for you."

Inside the box was a tiny Ragdoll kitten.

"Her name is Judy," she said, "I hope she can make you happy."

Later, every time I worked late into the night, Judy would lie on my lap.

Every time I was too stressed, she would rub her head against me.

Every time Chloe and I argued, she would jump into my arms, as if comforting me.

Now, she was gone.

Just like my feelings for Chloe.

"Judy,"

I whispered:

"I'm sorry. I didn't protect you."

I wiped away my tears:

"I promise you, I will make those who hurt you pay the price."

My phone suddenly rang; it was my mom.

Her voice, choked with tears, came through:

"Alex, I saw the news online."

My nose stung, and my eyes welled up.

Mom's voice was choked but firm:

"No matter what happens, your dad and I believe in you."

I took a deep breath: "Mom, I'm fine. Those videos are AI-generated; it'll be resolved soon."

Mom suddenly said:

"If you're unhappy, just come home. I know starting your own business alone in New York is hard. Your dad and I will always welcome you back."

I stood by the roadside, and tears finally fell.

It had been three years. This was the first time I'd cried.

In this world, someone still loved me unconditionally.

"Okay," I said softly.

I hung up the phone and looked at the wedding ring on my hand.

Chloe hadn't worn hers in a long time.

It was time for me to take mine off too.

I took a deep breath and removed the ring.

Then I called a local delivery service.

I put the ring in a parcel box and sent it to Chloe.

After the courier left, I went to a hotel.

As soon as I entered the room, Chloe's call came through.

I didn't answer.

After it rang three more times, I just turned my phone off.

When I turned it back on an hour later, there were 23 missed calls, all from Chloe.

And over a dozen text messages:

[What does the ring mean?]

[Answer the phone!!]

[Alex, I'm giving you one last chance]

[Fine, then don't regret it]

The last one was sent five minutes ago.

I scoffed, a cold laugh escaping me, and with a tap of my finger, deleted her contact.

At eight PM, there was furious pounding on the door.

"Alex! Open up!"

It was Chloe's voice.

I looked through the peephole; she stood at the door, her face dark.

"I know you're in there," her voice was icy, "Open the door, let's talk."

I didn't move.

"Alex," she knocked on the door, "Don't make me get nasty."

I still didn't move.

"Fine," she sneered, "You think hiding will solve anything?"

"I'm telling you, I've frozen your accounts."

"All your money is in my hands."

"Without me, you can't even afford this hotel!"

"Open the door right now, or..."

"Or what?" I spoke through the door.

She froze for a moment, then grew angrier: "Or you won't get a single cent!"

"Oh," I said, "Then don't give it."

"Chloe," I said softly, "Do you know?"

"The one thing I'm never short on is money."

"Alex!" she exploded, "Open the door for me, now!"

"You..."

"Chloe," I cut her off, "If you don't leave, I'm calling the police."

"The police?" she scoffed, "Go ahead! Let's see who dares to intervene!"

I took out my phone and dialed 911.

"Hello, I have someone harassing me here."

Before I finished speaking, I heard footsteps outside the door.

Then the sound of the elevator closing.

I hung up.

I opened my laptop and logged into my email.

Three years ago, I gave up a Ph.D. opportunity, focusing solely on starting a business to make money for Chloe. My mentor once told me:

"Alex, with your abilities, you shouldn't just be your wife's assistant. You can always come back."

Now, it was time to go back.

I sent an email to Professor Clark:

[Professor, is there still a position available for the project you mentioned three years ago?]

Then I made a call.

"Jeff, can you help me check Chloe's recent call records?"

The other end was silent for a few seconds.

"Okay."

Jeff was my college roommate and the champion of a national hacking competition.

Back then, I had helped him secure a coveted position at a prestigious research institution.

After hanging up, I dialed another number.

"Marta, it's me."

The voice on the other end immediately became excited: "Alex! You finally contacted me!"

Marta was a classmate from college, now a partner at a renowned law firm.

Back then, I had helped her get established at SKY Group; now it was her turn to help me.

"Marta," my voice was calm, "I need your help."

"Tell me," she said immediately, "What do you need?"

"Help me prepare divorce papers."

The other end was silent for a few seconds.

"Alex," her voice was slightly choked, "You finally came to your senses."

Hanging up, I walked to the window, looking at the distant SKY Group building.

Those lights, one of them used to shine for me.

Now, I was going to shut them down, one by one.