My Reward Was a Slap

I was in the middle of negotiating a business deal when my husband Ethans newly hired intern, Lily, barged in and demanded I go buy her breakfast.

Watching the clients face darken, I immediately threw her out.

Afterward, I apologized repeatedly before finally securing the partnership.

Just as I was about to share the good news with Ethan, patent agreement in hand, he slapped me twice across the face in front of the entire company.

You vicious woman! Is money all you ever think about? Do you know you almost got Lily killed?

Thats when I learned Lily had been hospitalized for low blood sugar from skipping breakfast.

But there was clearly chocolate on her desk that Id bought for her earlier.

I looked up at Ethans furious face. My cheeks burned, but my heart went cold.

After a long silence, I finally spoke:

Ethan, lets get a divorce.

The moment those words left my mouth, Ethans expression froze.

Then he grabbed a janitors mop bucket and dumped the filthy water over my head.

Ice-cold, reeking water soaked through my clothes.

My white shirt clung to my skin, revealing the color of my bra underneath.

The stench spread through the air.

I was completely drenched, hair plastered to my face, water dripping down my cheeks. Under everyones stares, Id never felt more humiliated.

Ethan pointed at me, his tone violent:

Not thinking clearly? Let me help you wake up.

A deathly silence fell over the room. All the employees kept their heads down.

I clutched the patent agreement, now soaked, my fingertips ice cold.

A wave of bitterness surged in my chest as I shot back:

Ethan, do you know what this project bonus is for? Its to save my mothers life.

What could be more important than keeping the company from going bankrupt, more important than keeping my mom alive?

Lily had low blood sugar, but her desk was full of soda and chocolate I gave her.

Why didnt she eat any of it?

There were so many idle colleagues just now.

Why did she specifically barge in to find me while I was negotiating a hundred-million-dollar project?

Let me be bluntIm the Vice President of this company. Why should I buy breakfast for an intern?

Ethans face turned pale. He seemed at a loss for words, then let out a cold snort:

Since you want this money so badly, fine.

Ill tell you right nowI wont give you a single cent of this project bonus. Im awarding it all to Lily.

My whole body shook. I couldnt believe these words were coming from my husband of ten years:

On what grounds?

His tone was cold, looking at me with contempt:

Your moms already got one foot in the grave. Does this money even matter?

Lily is young with a bright future ahead.

This money suits her better.

Itll also knock down that arrogant attitude of yours.

Those words stabbed into my chest like a knife.

I steadied my trembling body as tears finally spilled down my face.

This company survived until today not because of him, but because of the patent my mother developed by exhausting her lifes work.

My mother contracted cancer precisely because developing that patent meant long-term exposure to experimental metal radiation.

It was because of my mothers sacrifice that I threw everything into securing this project.

For this project, I pulled every string I could, drank until I had stomach bleeding at business dinners, just to connect with this well-established partner who could provide a hundred-million-dollar collaboration deal.

But now...

My voice trembled, tears beyond my control:

Ethan, have you forgotten how you begged my mother when you were penniless, begging her to give you the patent?

My mom felt sorry for me, pitied you, and let the company use her core patent for over a decade for freenot asking for a single cent.

Now you talk about her like this.

Doesnt your own heart ache?

Complete silence fell. My accusation echoed through the office.

All the employees looked at me with sympathy, then began discussing in lowered voices.

Ethan went too far. How could he say something like that?

Right? We were all free at the time.

Lily didnt come to any of uswhy did she specifically go find Jordan while she was in the middle of a project meeting?

So this company exists today because of Jordans mother. Ethans words are just too...

The employees murmurs died down when they met Ethans dark expression.

The whispered sympathy and indignation fell on his ears.

Ethans face alternated between pale and flushed, utterly humiliated.

Cornered by the accusations, Ethans tone softened for a rare moment:

Jordan, I... I didnt mean it like that...

Before he could finish, footsteps echoed from the lobby entrance.

Lily was being supported by bodyguards, her face pale, stumbling as she rushed in. Her voice dripped with theatrical grievance:

Stop fighting, please! Its all my fault.

I shouldnt have troubled the Vice President to buy me breakfast.

A poor person like me isnt worth anything. I dont deserve to make you angry on my account.

Its all my fault. Please dont fight because of me...

Lily cried while actually starting to kneel before me.

I was so thoughtless!

I shouldnt have asked the Vice President to buy breakfast.

The Vice President did nothing wrongits all my fault.

Someone like me is worthless anyway.

I might as well just jump out a window.

She screamed and rushed toward the window, acting like she wanted to end her life.

Ethans face changed drastically.

He immediately rushed forward and grabbed her tightly, pulling her back with force:

Lily! Dont be rash! Im here.

After some struggle, he pulled her back into his embrace.

But during the scuffle, the top button of Ethans shirt popped open.

From his neck down to his chestcovered in fresh and faded red marks.

Wed been sleeping in separate beds for nearly a month now.

His late nights coming home, the perfume smell on him, the mysterious expenses, how he never let his phone out of his sight.

All the signs Id ignored suddenly connected in that moment.

He was having an affair.

With this intern he held so precious.

My whole body went cold. Even breathing hurt.

Seeing me staring at his neck, panic flashed in Ethans eyes, quickly replaced by rage:

Jordan, whats the point of dredging up your mothers old business?

I run this company now, and you need to listen to me.

Stop trying to fool me. Your mothers illness isnt that serious.

She said herself its nothing major. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?

Bitterness surged in my chest again.

My mom had pretended she was fine so Ethan could focus on the company without distraction.

But if hed just asked at the hospital even once, hed know my mom would die soon without surgery.

Before I could respond, he continued:

You think being Vice President gives you some kind of superiority?

Starting today, youre demoted.

Youll be Lilys assistant and learn how to be a decent human being.

That sentence ignited all the humiliation Id endured today and my fury over Ethans affair.

I couldnt control myself anymore.

I raised my hand to slap Lily across the face.

Ethan moved quickly, immediately shouting:

Security! Hold her down.

Two large bodyguards instantly rushed forward, twisting my arms and pinning me so I couldnt move.

Ethans eyes turned vicious.

Still trying to hit people? Beat her. Beat her until she comes to her senses.

Slap after slap landed on my face. At least a dozen.

My lip split, my cheeks swelled and burned, my ears rang, darkness crept into my vision.

Ethan glared coldly at all the employees:

What happened todayanyone who breathes a word of this gets fired immediately and blacklisted permanently.

The bodyguards shoved me hard to the ground. Covered in filthy water mixed with tears and blood, I looked as pathetic as a drowned rat.

I tried to push myself up. Ethan walked over and crouched down in front of me.

Jordan, if you dare call the police, Ill stop your mothers medication immediately and let her fend for herself.

My chest constricted sharply. Sourness rushed straight to my nose.

My mom spent her whole life as a professorfrugal and modest.

Most of her savings went to Ethans startup, the rest to charity. She kept nothing for herself.

I bit down hard on my teeth, unable to say a word. I could only swallow the choking bitterness in my throat.

I stumbled out of the company and headed straight for the hospital.

But just as I reached the inpatient building, the doctor called, his voice urgent:

Ms. Rivers, your mothers medication has been stopped.

My whole body trembled. With shaking hands, I dialed Ethans number.

The moment he answered, his cold voice came through:

This is your lesson. Behave yourself.

Come to the company tomorrow to be Lilys assistant, or your mother wont last another day.

Through the receiver, I heard Lilys sweet, cloying laugh:

Ethan, lets go to that Japanese restaurant tonight, okay?

The call ended.

I stood in the hospitals cold corridor, watching patients families come and go, finally unable to hold myself up. I slowly sank to the ground and cried.

I clutched the salary card Id saved for ten whole years, my hands shaking as I handed it to the payment window.

The nurse swiped it, then looked up at me with a gentle shake of her head, her tone sympathetic:

Ms. Rivers, this card has been frozen. The primary cardholder needs to unfreeze it before it can be used.

In an instant, all the strength drained from my body.

Ten years of marriage. Id stood by him from nothing to the brink of going public.

In his eyes, I wasnt worth a single cent.

My mom was still in her hospital room waiting for life-saving medication.

I had no choice. I wiped the tears from my face, gritted my teeth, and headed back to the company.

By the time I stumbled back to the office, it was long past closing time. Only the top-floor executive office still had its lights on.

Just as I reached the elevator, the head of security blocked my path, looking me up and down with disdain:

Ms. Rivers? Oh waityouve been demoted. What are you doing at the company now? Planning to steal something?

I had no energy to argue with him. I shoved him aside and rushed toward the office.

The closer I got to the door, the clearer I could hear the indecent sounds coming from inside.

A womans sultry moans mixed with a mans heavy grunts, along with the desk creaking under strain.

Ethan, slower... I cant take it anymore...

What if that shrew finds out? Shell beat me...

Ethans voice came through between ragged breaths:

Dont worry. She can only depend on me now. Without me, shes nothing...

My mother was dying in the hospital, and he was here sleeping with his intern.

Overwhelming fury and humiliation instantly clouded my judgment. I raised my foot and kicked the office door hard.

BANG.

The door flew open. The scene inside was obscene.

Ethan immediately grabbed his shirt to cover himself, pointing at me and cursing:

Jordan! Have you lost your mind?! Acting like a total psychowasnt the last lesson enough for you?!

My whole body trembled. Tears finally fell uncontrollably.

I stared at him hard, my voice hoarse beyond recognition:

Ethan, what will it take for you to give my mother her medication?

He straightened his clothes, pulled a document from his drawer, and threw it on the desk.

Simple. Sign this patent transfer agreement. Transfer the core patent from your mothers name to mine personally.

The patent is still in your mothers hands. Im not comfortable with that. Sign it, and Ill renew your mothers medication immediately.

I stared at the agreement, my whole body shaking with rage.

That patent cost my mother half her lifes work. She got cancer from radiation exposure developing it. It was her life.

Ill never sign. This is my mothers lifelong work. Dont even think about it.

Then dont blame me for forcing you. Ethans expression darkened as he advanced toward me.

I was about to step back when sudden, sharp pain exploded at the back of my head.

My vision went black instantly. The world spun.

I struggled to turn my head. The last thing I saw was Lily holding a black iron rod.

Ethans icy voice reached my ears:

Let you experience what Lily went through. See if you still talk back.

With that, he intimately took Lilys arm, and they turned to leave.

I completely lost consciousness and collapsed heavily to the floor.

When I regained consciousness, darkness surrounded me. The air reeked of mildew and dust.

I was locked in an abandoned warehouse. Doors and windows sealed tight. I called for help, but no one came.

I still wore that filthy water-soaked shirt, cold and stinking against my skin.

My stomach growled with hunger. My lips cracked and peeled. Not a drop of water to drink. Cold, hungry, thirstyI was on the verge of collapse.

And all I could think about was my mother in the hospital without her medication.

Was she in pain? Was she suffering? Was she...

I didnt dare think further. I curled up in the corner, breaking down.

I dont know how many times I passed out, only watching the sun rise and set through the window. Two full days and nights.

I had no chance to call for help.

Just as my consciousness was about to fade completely, the warehouse door suddenly opened.

A longtime company employee passing by discovered me barely alive and got me out.

The first thing I did was take a cab to the hospital, then borrowed the drivers charging cable to charge my phone.

The moment it powered on, a text message popped up.

Is this Professor Quinns daughter? Im Professor Quinns former student.

I heard Professor Quinns patent license to Gray Corporation has expired.

Our Sullivan Group is willing to pay ten billion for ten years of usage rights, with 51% profit sharing. Would you be interested?

Before I could reply to that message, the car had already stopped at the hospital entrance.

I stumbled inside, running straight into my mothers attending physician:

Wheres my mom? How is she?

The doctor looked troubled.

Ms. Rivers, your mother was already discharged by someone else and transferred home. All treatment was stopped.

My head buzzed. Who did it?

A young woman. She said she was following Mr. Grays orders, that home care would be fine.

I explained Professor Quinns serious condition to her.

She said the family didnt have money for hospitalization...

It was Lily.

I ran home like a madwoman.

The moment I pushed open the door, my entire world collapsed.

My mother lay quietly on the cold floor, her face pale, no longer breathing.

She was gone.

While I was locked in that warehouse crying for help. While Ethan and Lily were enjoying themselves.

My motherwho lived her whole life in modest poverty, who gave us everythingdied alone. Without medication.

Without treatment. Just like that, she was gone.

I knelt on the floor, holding my mothers gradually cooling body, sobbing until my heart shattered.

Until I couldnt make a sound anymore. Only suppressed whimpers remained.

I couldnt understand how everything had turned out this way.

I didnt notify Ethan.

During those days handling funeral arrangements, I moved like a walking corpse.

Until an elegant, dignified man entered the mourning hall to pay his respects. Afterwards, he turned to look at me.

Ms. Rivers, my deepest condolences. Im Sebastian Sullivan, Professor Quinns former student and the person who sent you that message.

After I told him everything in fragments, his expression darkened bit by bit, the pressure around him becoming frightening:

I never imagined wed meet under these circumstances.

This is my fault. I sent the Professor messages recently that she never replied to.

I should have looked for her sooner.

He lowered his head in self-reproach.

I shook my head, indicating he shouldnt blame himself.

My mom didnt want to make a big deal of her illness.

She always thought of others first. She knew if her students found out she was sick, theyd visit every day.

Sebastian understood my mothers nature and sighed.

I looked up at Sebastian with red eyes:

Mr. Sullivan, I wonder if youre still willing to sign that licensing agreement?

This was something my mother paid for with her life. I would never let Ethan profit from it by a single cent again.

Sebastian nodded firmly.

Just as the pen touched paper to sign, my phone vibrated. A message from Ethan:

Have you thought it over? Sign the patent transfer agreement, and Ill have the hospital give Mom her medication and surgery immediately.

Reading that message, my chest felt like it was being torn open, the pain suffocating. The hatred made my whole body tremble.

My mom was already dead, and he was still threatening me with her life.

Sebastian pressed his hand on my shoulder.

Dont be impulsive. For evil people to fall the hardest, you have to wait until theyre at their highest point.

He was right.

I gripped my phone tightly but ultimately didnt reply with a single word.

On the other side, Ethan waited a long time without receiving my response.

An inexplicable panic rose in his heart. He turned to ask Lily, who was nestled in his arms:

When you went to the hospital that day, did the doctor say how serious Moms condition really was?

Lilys eyes flickered. She forced herself to stay calm:

Not serious at all. The doctor said it was just a minor issue that would get better with rest. Jordan was just making a mountain out of a molehill.

Ethan breathed a sigh of relief and sneered:

I knew it. She was just using her mother to manipulate me.

But it doesnt matter if she wont budge.

At the companys IPO launch the day after tomorrow, Ill publicly announce that the patent belongs to the company.

Done deal. Anyway, my mother-in-law has always been fond of me.

When the time comes, Ill sweet-talk her a bit and she definitely wont make a fuss.

Lily immediately smiled, her eyes crinkling:

Ethan, youre so clever! Once we go public, well be the envy of everyone.

The two embraced, fantasizing about their glorious success.

Soon, Gray Corporations IPO launch event arrived as scheduled.

The venue was brilliantly lit, packed with reporters.

Ethan stood on stage, full of confidence, about to announce the companys core patent and IPO news.

Just then, his secretary rushed in, face deathly pale, voice trembling:

Mr. Gray! This is bad! Something terrible has happened.

Ethan frowned and snapped: What are you panicking about?!

Professor Quinnyour mother-in-laws patent license to the company has expired! And also...

Before the secretary could finish, the venue erupted into chaos. Investors and partners faces instantly changed.

Ethan waved his hand impatiently:

Whats there to worry about?! Thats my mother-in-laws patent. One phone call from me and its settled. Whats the big deal?!

The secretary closed their eyes in despair.

Mr. Gray, Professor Quinn has passed away from illness.