Seven Days to Leave My Marriage

My wife suddenly arranged a seven-day trip to Scandinavia for me.

I thought she had finally learned to be considerate, but I accidentally overheard her conversation with our son.

Mom, if you marry Uncle Osman, what about Dad?

My son asked innocently.

We're just fake married. My wife chuckled softly. "Diego, remember to keep it a secret. Don't tell Dad about this, and I'll buy you that toy car you've been wanting."

My head buzzed. I stood there stunned for a long time, then turned and went downstairs to smoke a cigarette.

Since she wants to make up for past regrets with Osman.

Then I have the right to pursue the dreams I abandoned too.

This trip to ScandinaviaI won't be coming back.

After finishing my cigarette, I turned to go back upstairs and ran into Victoria in the hallway.

Seeing her in a red dress, I asked in confusion, "I thought you hated the color red?"

"The past is the past, now is now. Red is in this year, and besides, I'm going with my girlfriend to try on wedding dresses."

Victoria immediately came up with several excuses.

But I suddenly remembered that red was Osman's favorite color, and since Osman returned to the country, Victoria's closet had gained several red outfits and handbags.

It turned out, there were signs all along.

"Trying on wedding dresses? Let me drive you," I said flatly.

"No, no need!" Victoria shook her head. "Why would a big guy like you get involved in girls' stuff? When I get back, I'll bring gifts for you and Diego."

After saying this, she hugged me, didn't wait to hear what else I might say, and quickly ran off.

My heart suddenly ached. I instinctively wanted to call out to Victoria, but in the end, I just shook my head.

Everyone thought Victoria and I were the perfect couple in life and the best partners in business.

She didn't look down on my humble origins and married me without hesitation.

I worked practically year-round, turning the tide multiple times, saving her family from the brink of bankruptcy.

Ten years of working side by sidewe not only had a lovely son but also rebuilt the glory of Victoria Group.

But even I just discovered that Victoria had been harboring feelings for Osman in her heart.

I walked into the house.

"Dad." My son Diego rushed over and hugged my leg tightly, saying, "No matter what happens, you'll never leave me and Mom, right?"

He seemed to sense something. His innocent face was filled with nervous fear.

My heart ached. I crouched down, stroked Diego's head, and asked gently, "If one day Mom and I separate, who would you want to stay with?"

Diego froze, then tears welled up in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." I hugged Diego. "I'll go make you dinner."

Diego was only eight years old. Adult matters shouldn't trouble a child.

We could have hired a nanny, but both Diego and Victoria loved my cooking.

I remembered all their dietary restrictions and preferences. Tonight I made Diego's favorite dishes.

When Diego saw the food on the table, he suddenly burst into tears and looked up. "Dad."

"You already know about Uncle Osman and Mom getting married, don't you?"

"Mom told me it's just a fake marriage. Dad, please don't be angry, okay? Mom loves you."

I sighed softly and held Diego in my arms.

I knew his little head couldn't hold all those complicated twists and turns. He simply believed Victoria naively, hoping Mom and Dad wouldn't separate.

Unfortunately, the adult world isn't that simple.

After dinner, I saw Victoria's girlfriend post on Twitter and couldn't help raising my eyebrows.

Although the photo of trying on the wedding dress didn't show the face, that little red mole on the neckVictoria had one too.

The photo of intertwined fingers with a man clearly showed the mark of a ring on the ring finger.

The watch the man woreI'd seen it before. It belonged to Osman.

The caption read: "The moon I missed will always come back to illuminate me once more."

That phrase seemed familiar.

I rushed into the study and moved Victoria's computer. Underneath was a notebook.

The moment I opened it, that exact phrase jumped out at me.

All signs indicated this account wasn't some girlfriend's, but Victoria's own.

"Scandinavian trip."

"The fictional girlfriend's wedding and Twitter account."

"Victoria, to deceive me, for Osman's sake, you could come up with such absurd tricks."

I muttered to myself and picked up my phone to send a message.

[Save me a partner spot.]

[Also, have your lawyer draft a divorce agreement for me.]

A few months ago, my childhood friend Brennan invited me to start a business in Scandinavia, offering me 30% equity without requiring a penny of investment.

The other two partners agreed because they valued my abilities.

But I had a wife and child and just wanted stability, so I kept refusing.

Now it's time to let loose.

Close to midnight, Victoria came home drunk. She wasn't carrying any gifts. Instead, her hair was wet and stuck to her cheeks, and her black stockings under her red dress had several holes.

She looked completely disheveled.

"Collins, why aren't you asleep yet? Were you waiting for me? You naughty man, you just love wearing me out."

She flashed me a seductive smile and went straight to the bathroom.

In the past, she would always hug me first.

At this thought, my heart sank.

Suddenly, I heard sobbing and hurried to Diego's room.

"What's wrong? Bad dream?"

Diego shook his head, his little finger pointing at his phone screen.

I looked downit was a Twitter post from Osman's daughter, Millia.

Millia was sitting at a pink piano, hugging a tablet computer, smiling happily.

Caption: [Thank you to the best mom in the world for giving me a custom limited-edition piano.]

"Dad."

"I saw this piano on Mom's computer, and that tablet too."

One aggrieved sentence nearly shattered my psychological defenses.

I finally understood why Diego was crying.

Usually, Victoria would say, "Boys should be raised frugally so they don't become spendthrifts later."

So she was very strict with Diego, almost never buying him the toys he wanted.

Even this phone was my old one I secretly gave Diego. I would also secretly take Diego out to play.

Every time Victoria found out, she would get angry with me.

That's why she used the toy car to buy Diego's silence.

And today before leaving, she said she would bring gifts for Diego and me, but came back empty-handed.

Deceiving and tricking me was one thing.

But how could she shower someone else's daughter with love, giving her everything she wants, while being harsh and deceptive to her own son?

"Be good, I'll buy them for you."

I comforted Diego, coaxed him to sleep, then returned to the living room and sat on the sofa.

Waiting for Victoria to come out.

Suppressing my anger, I asked, "Didn't you say you'd bring Diego a gift?"

"I forgot, I forgot."

Victoria smiled awkwardly and snuggled into my arms. "I'll buy it for him next time. Boys should be raised frugally anyway."

While speaking, she caressed my chest.

In the past, I couldn't resist this kind of flirtation from her. Now my heart remained completely unmoved.

"I see Millia gets whatever she wants from her family. Today she was smiling while holding a tablet sitting at a pink piano."

I deliberately spoke sarcastically.

Victoria froze first, then exploded, standing up abruptly and frowning. "Why do you have to compare with others?"

"It's just a gift. Why are you being so passive-aggressive? Are you deliberately picking a fight?"

"Is it Diego who wants a gift, or is it you?"

I said nothing, just looked up and stared into her eyes.

After a moment of tense atmosphere, Victoria seemed guilty. She looked away, and her tone softened considerably.

"Collins, let's not fight. The day after tomorrow is Diego's birthday, and I'll definitely prepare a big surprise for him!"

"Keep yourself in a good mood these next couple days and get ready for the seven-day Scandinavian trip."

I nodded and went to the study under the pretext of handling work.

The next day at the company meeting, Osman suddenly spoke up. "Someone should take over Collins's work while he's on vacation, right?"

"I'd like to volunteer."

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile, his eyes fixed on me with a hint of provocation.

Everyone was stunned and looked at Victoria in unison, waiting for a response.

It was just a seven-day vacationnormally Victoria or a deputy could have filled in.

No one expected Osman to dare demand authority publicly. It was rather absurd.

"Do as Osman says."

Victoria took a deep breath and looked at me. "Collins, relax on your vacation. Leave the work to Osman. He's quite capable."

The room fell silent. This time everyone looked at me.

"Collins, you don't think I'm trying to steal your position, do you?"

Osman smiled even more brightly, his tone even more provocative.

Everyone could smell the tension.

I'd been at Victoria Group for ten yearseveryone knew I was decisive and formidable, not someone to mess with.

Even Victoria seemed nervous.

But I just smiled. "Fine, I agree."

No one expected me to yield authority so easily. Only Victoria breathed a long sigh of relief and showed a smile.

Before she could say anything, I stood up and left.

Victoria immediately followed me out and grabbed my hand from behind.

"Collins! Let me explain..."

I turned and interrupted. "Explain what? That this whole meeting was targeted at me?"

Never mind meanyone could see Victoria was paving the way for Osman at my expense.

And it started with the seven-day Scandinavian trip.

Her schemes ran too deep. I hadn't noticed before.

"Collins, let me explain properly."

Victoria opened her arms and hugged me tightly, speaking earnestly. "Osman is talented. He can shine and bring new vitality to the company."

"I was forced to come up with this solution."

"When you get back, I'll definitely make you vice chairman of the company. I hope you can understand."

Vice chairman? Don't make me laugh!

Since Victoria Group was established, there had never been a vice chairman position!

Just like the gift she kept promising Diegoit was nothing but empty words.

"For ten years, I've been understanding you, being considerate of your difficulties."

After hesitating for a few seconds, I sighed.

"Yes, you're the best!"

Victoria actually thought I wasn't angry anymore. After complimenting me, she turned and went back to the conference room.

When I was packing up things in my office, Osman walked in.

"I'm treating everyone to dinner tonight. Want to join?" He smiled.

"No time."

I calmly declined and took my things to leave. Behind me came Osman's voice.

"So what if you've been together ten years? It doesn't compare to one glance I give Victoria."

But I didn't respond.

In the afternoon, Osman sent a message in the executive group chat: [I got promoted today, treating everyone to dinner.]

Victoria didn't try to stop it at all. Instead, she took the lead in responding, then sent me a message.

[Collins, don't overthink it.] I didn't reply.

That evening, Victoria and Osman and the others happily dined out.

I was at home packing my luggage.

"Dad."

Diego ran over, tugging at my hand. "Dad, are you leaving? Can you wait a few days?"

"Tomorrow is my birthday. Mom said she'd give me a big surprise. I'll wish for you and Mom to never separate! For Mom not to marry Uncle Osman!"

"She'll definitely agree!"

His little face looked anxious as he spoke incoherently.

"Okay." I nodded gently.

Victoria didn't come home all night. Diego and I stayed awake all night.

"Mom must be preparing my surprise!"

Diego looked out the window and spoke as dawn broke.

But one hour, two hours... until it got dark again, Victoria still hadn't come back.

I couldn't help calling Victoria. "Today is our son's birthday. Where's the surprise you prepared?"

"Oh... it's in the nightstand. Plane tickets to Scandinavia. Take Diego and go travel together!"

Victoria laughed. "I'm too busy today. I'll hang up now."

The call ended abruptly.

I turned and took out the plane tickets from the nightstand.

So Diego had also become an obstacle in Victoria's path to fulfilling her wishes.

Almost simultaneously, Victoria's "girlfriend" account posted on Twitter again.

[Engaged! If you love him, give him everything he wants.]

The attached image was an equity transfer agreement.

I clenched my fists.

For ten years, I worked hard at Victoria Group, doing the work of ten departments by myself.

From rules and regulations to company development direction, from choosing partners to factory locationseverything was painstakingly determined by me.

Yet I only received an ordinary manager's salary!

Now all my achievements were being taken by Osman, who had contributed nothing.

"Dad, Mom's not coming, is she?"

My son's crying voice came through.

I turned back to see my son trembling while holding his phone. On the screen, Osman's daughter Millia had also posted on Twitter.

[Thank you, Mom, for the little cake you made with your own hands!]

For a child, this was undoubtedly a crushing blow.

"Dad, I don't want to stay here anymore. Can you take me with you?"

Diego said through his tears.

"Okay."

I nodded tearfully, packed all the luggage, left the divorce agreement, and led Diego out the door.

We boarded a plane to Scandinavia.

Victoria and Osman held their wedding, spent a few days on their honeymoon, and didn't go home. They went directly back to the company for a regular meeting.

Her eyes swept across everyone present. She asked in confusion, "Where's Collins? Why isn't he here?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

"He must be having too much fun."

Victoria muttered, stood up, walked out of the conference room, and called me.

"Hello, Collins!"

"You're never late for work normally. Why didn't you show up for today's meeting? Haven't you come back from Scandinavia yet?"

Hearing her questioning tone.

I couldn't help but laugh coldly. "You've already abandoned this family. Why should I come back?"