Dad's New Boss Is Me

When I was eighteen, I witnessed my father sneaking into our young nanny's room late at night.

I knew right then he had betrayed my mother.

But I didn't wake Mom.

Instead, I waited by the door until he came out.

I had a calm conversation with him.

Either divorce and I'd stay with Mom, or fire the nanny.

Dad's expression was heavy as he thought it over all night.

The next day, he made me a promise.

"I won't see that nanny again."

Three years later, I learned that Mom had almost miscarried.

Under my relentless questioning, Mom finally revealed the truth:

"I saw your father with that woman with my own eyes! The shock caused the bleeding... Megan, what should I do?"

I took a deep breath.

Half an hour later, I returned to the country with my appointment letter in hand.

Since Dad chose to break his word, he couldn't blame me for blacklisting him from the entire industry.

When I arrived at the hospital, Mom lay in bed like a puppet, her swollen belly clearly visible beneath the blanket.

But my maternal grandmother, Eleanor, showed no consideration for Mom's feelings whatsoever.

"If you get divorced, there's no room for you at home. Megan still needs to get married you have to think about your child."

"I heard Matthew is about to be promoted to Vice President with double the salary. You're carrying his son now. If you divorce, won't you just be handing everything to that woman?"

My maternal grandfather, Harold, was even more blunt.

"What man doesn't stray? Your nephew is about to buy a house and get married. He's planning to borrow a million from Matthew. Just bear with it for now."

Despite being Mom's own parents, Eleanor and Harold spoke over each other, trying to smooth things over.

On the surface, they claimed to be thinking of Mom, but in reality, they were sacrificing her to support my uncle.

Seeing Mom's silent tears, I spoke harshly to Eleanor and Harold for the first time.

"From now on, Mom has me. Please leave!"

When Mom saw me enter, she grasped at me like a lifeline and broke into sobs.

Eleanor and Harold spat in disgust, called me an ungrateful wretch, and stormed off.

Mom couldn't hold back her wailing anymore, as if trying to cry out all her grievances.

"Your father and that tramp it wasn't just once or twice. He promised me that if I had a son through IVF, he'd completely cut ties with Susan."

That's when I learned the whole story.

Dad never fired Susan at all.

The moment I left, he brought her back.

The first time Mom caught them in the act was in the garage, seeing them together.

She made a scene and demanded Dad end it.

Dad gave her the silent treatment.

When Mom tried to file a complaint against Susan's company, they had a violent argument.

Mom had once tried to have an honest conversation with Dad.

He vented all the resentment buried in his heart.

He blamed Mom for not giving him a son and promised that if she had a son through IVF, he'd break things off with Susan.

Mom was furious and wanted a divorce, but her relatives' persuasion made her waver.

She was afraid the divorce would affect my career abroad, so she compromised.

During my participation in new energy research, I was cut off from all outside contact.

Yesterday, she had wanted to reconcile with Dad on their wedding anniversary, but Dad sent her Susan's pregnancy ultrasound.

Under the double shock, Mom nearly lost both her life and the baby's.

"I wanted him to send Susan away before you came back. You shouldn't have to know about such dirty things... but he was too cruel."

Mom's eyes were filled with shame.

I shook my head through my tears and told her about what happened three years ago.

Mom was shocked, both moved and remorseful: "This is my fault for making you bear so much."

I comforted her: "Don't worry, Mom. I'll handle everything."

Dad was in the VIP room upstairs because Susan had stomach pains scared by what happened with Mom.

When he saw me arrive, Dad set down his cake spoon, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face.

I confronted him: "Dad, what did you promise me! You taught me since childhood to keep my word."

A bouquet was thrown at my feet as Dad roared at me: "I'm your father! Show some respect!"

"Don't think that just because you got some worthless diploma from a no-name foreign university, you've grown wings!"

"Susan is carrying my child now. You and your mother better behave, or you'll both get nothing!"

He protectively held the pretending-to-be-pitiful Susan in his arms.

I just sneered.

Who cared about his pocket change!

The money in my account could literally bury this pair of cheating scum if I withdrew it all!

But seeing Susan's slightly protruding belly, my anger deflated like a punctured balloon.

I spoke calmly: "I will pursue your marital infidelity to the end. Just wait to leave with nothing."

Dad thought I was just making empty threats.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand.

Just as he was about to strike, I dodged.

It seemed Dad wasn't even pretending anymore.

Good.

That meant I didn't need to hold back either.

Three years ago, I had submitted an application to use my achievements to exchange for an opportunity to join Dad's company.

To help Dad fulfill his lifelong dream.

I never expected that his promotion would give him the confidence to abandon his wife and daughter.

Dad didn't know that I was his new boss.

The higher Dad climbed now, the harder I'd make him fall.

"Your father wasn't always like this..."

Finding the tissue box empty, I could only use the back of my hand to wipe Mom's tears while waiting for a VIP room to open up.

"If you want a divorce, I fully support you."

Since my work was classified, I only told Mom I had a job.

But she misunderstood.

"You've been such a good student since childhood. With the economy so bad now, just having a job is good. Mom has savings to support you."

I smiled softly, about to reveal that I was going to be Dad's boss.

But Eleanor and Harold burst in, interrupting me.

Eleanor dramatically stroked Mom's pregnant belly, clasping her hands together in prayer.

"Claire, you've been with Matthew for over thirty years. What storm can't you weather?"

"Matthew's about to become Vice President with double the salary, and you're pregnant with his son. If you divorce now, won't you just be handing everything to that woman!"

Harold was even more direct.

"What man doesn't cheat? Your nephew is about to buy a house and get married. He's planning to borrow a million from Matthew. Just bear with it for now."

Eleanor and Harold, despite being Mom's own parents, chattered away trying to smooth things over.

On the surface claiming to think of Mom, but actually sacrificing her to support my uncle.

Seeing Mom silently crying, I spoke harshly to Eleanor and Harold for the first time.

"From now on, Mom has me. Please leave, or I'll call security."

Eleanor and Harold's faces flushed with embarrassment.

Unable to argue back, they could only curse me as an ungrateful old maid.

When I pretended to expose Dad and his mistress, they frantically grabbed me.

"We're leaving! Don't make a scene and affect his promotion."

Before leaving, they stuffed a thousand dollars into Mom's hands, saying it was for supplements.

"Don't divorce. At worst, raise that nanny's child. In the future, you'll have one more child to care for you."

Mom threw the money at their feet.

"I'm definitely divorcing Matthew!"

Seeing they could no longer control Mom, they slunk away.

I stayed with Mom in the hospital for three days of observation.

When we returned home, I immediately noticed two banners hanging in the main hall.

Celebrating Queen Susan's 30th Birthday

Congratulations to Mr. Rivers on His Promotion to Vice President of the Energy Corporation

Dad and Susan stood on the steps, calmly accepting the guests' blessings and flattery.

Seeing me and Mom return, the crowd knowingly parted to create a path.

"I told you they'd come to celebrate. The birthday girl was just asking about you two."

"She's so kind, specially giving you the honor of cutting the double celebration cake so you can share in the good fortune."

Mom and I were pushed in front of the eight-tier cake, knives pressed into our hands.

Dad's voice was filled with joy: "Ms. Anderson has always been understanding and a strong businesswoman. Our collaborations have all been very successful."

"Everyone should consider using her housekeeping company. Today I've hired a chef please enjoy yourselves."

So Dad had packaged Susan as a female entrepreneur and was using the opportunity to drum up business for her.

In the past, when he threw parties for Mom, he only invited both sets of parents for a simple meal.

Feeling Mom's trembling, I pulled her forward.

Facing all the guests, I clapped to get their attention and spoke loudly.

"I have to ask since when did our housekeeper become a boss? What exactly has Dad been collaborating with the housekeeper on? Collaborating on affairs or getting pregnant?"

That sentence was like cold water dropped into hot oil.

The guests' mocking eyes stuck to Susan, leaving her nowhere to hide.

But with Dad's encouragement, Susan smiled confidently.

Videos of Mom's breakdown played on the wall, along with photos of me intimate with a man.

"Miss Rivers, you should go to the hospital and get tested for STDs."

"Your mom looks crazy you should take her to a mental hospital."

Dad sighed, looking like a man unfortunate in his family.

Instantly, all the guests turned mocking eyes on me.

Some elders even spat at me, and their crude insults drowned me out.

"Matthew spent so much money sending her abroad to study, and she went there to sleep around! I bet her fifty-year-old mom having a miracle baby at her age isn't innocent either."

Eleanor and Harold straightened their clothes and stood tall next to Susan.

Mom clutched her belly and groaned.

I rushed over to support her.

Sweat soaked her hair.

She gripped my hand and shouted loudly.

"Matthew, you have such a vicious heart! You had an affair with our housekeeper and even got her pregnant, but you don't have the guts to admit it? My daughter went abroad to study with a clean reputation, and you conspired with this tramp to photoshop pictures and ruin her name. I'll get a lawyer to sue you both!"

I scattered the copies I'd prepared in my bag Susan's pregnancy ultrasound and intimate photos of her with Dad.

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned against Dad and Susan.

Seeing Susan couldn't withstand the pressure, her eyes red like a rabbit's, Dad couldn't pretend to be distant anymore and pulled her tightly into his arms.

The room fell deathly silent.

Dad simply came clean: "Susan and I love each other. It's rare that at over fifty, I've met true love. Claire and I had an arranged marriage. She almost let my family line die out."

"But I'm not a heartless man. I won't divorce Claire. And Susan isn't a shallow woman she has her career to pursue. We won't get married."

Everyone cheered and applauded his declaration of true love.

Seeing he'd controlled the situation, Dad smugly pointed at Mom: "Just have the baby. After you've recovered, you can help Susan with her postpartum care. Megan, you shouldn't work outside either. Dad will pay you to take care of your younger brothers."

"Matthew, you bastard! My daughter is more capable than you!"

"Who do you think you're looking down on! We'll live better than you."

Mom cursed him out, but she didn't mention my upcoming position.

But all she got was roaring laughter.

Everyone thought she was talking big.

She firmly stood in front of me, angrily cursing those with ill intentions toward me.

"Matthew, I married you at eighteen when you were so poor you couldn't even afford rent. I worked three jobs a day to pay the rent and saved money to put you through college."

"The only reason you got into the energy corporation was because I traded my life for that opportunity. If I hadn't saved Director Smith, in those days when jobs were so scarce, you getting in would've been pure fantasy!"

"Shut up! That was my own ability!" Dad got angry.

"Your ability is sleeping with a nanny younger than your daughter! Shameless!"

As my parents continued arguing, Eleanor and Harold surrounded Mom, trying to calm her down and appease Dad.

After the guests dispersed, Dad stormed upstairs with Susan.

I took Mom to the hospital for oxygen.

She looked dazed.

In my memory, Dad had never raised his voice at Mom.

He'd always been smiling, helping Mom cook.

After I was born, we'd had a very happy childhood for a while.

But now everything was unrecognizable.

Some family ties needed to be cut when they needed to be cut.

But Dad didn't let up.

Eleanor and Harold came to Mom again, urging her to make peace with Dad.

"Matthew refuses to lend money to your brother. Your nephew is about to get married, but the bride's family says they'll cancel the wedding if he doesn't buy a house. Daughter, just sweet-talk Matthew for now."

"Loan interest is so high! As his aunt, you have to help your nephew!"

I was about to say I'd lend the money when Mom covered my mouth.

She agreed to go see Dad.

On the way, I was confused: "I have money. If my cousin needs it, I can lend it to him."

Mom shook her head, her eyes filled with a determination I couldn't understand: "That's your uncle's business. You don't owe him anything. You don't understand them once you lend this money, it'll be hard to get back."

"This divorce I'm going through with it. But first, I need to put on a show."

The route led to the National Energy Company.

Tomorrow was my official reporting day.

Today I could familiarize myself with the place.

We found our way to Dad's office.

He was glowing, listening to his subordinates' flattery.

Seeing me and Mom, his expression changed drastically.

"You two go home now. The security guard should be criticized for letting just anyone in!"

Dad slammed the table, telling his subordinate to reprimand the guard.

"Mr. Rivers, the guard was someone you brought in."

Dad suddenly realized and stopped pursuing the guard's responsibility, instead urging us to leave.

"Say what you need to say and leave quickly."

Mom sat calmly on the sofa and spoke lightly: "What you said the other day woke me up. I choose to divorce you."

"Just sign it."

Dad was instantly furious at being slapped in the face.

He stood up, slamming the table and cursing.

"You want a divorce? Fine! But you have to pay back every penny I spent on you over the years! Otherwise, I'll send you to prison!"

Before I could speak, Susan barged in, making a scene.

"Everyone help Mr. Rivers get justice! Today this money must be recovered!"

Susan wore a business suit, looking like an elite professional.

I hadn't expected Dad to bring Susan into the corporation.

"Uncle Matthew, is this the girlfriend you're setting me up with?"

A sleazy voice sounded in my ear.

I turned to see a man nearly fifty reaching his hand toward me.

"This is my uncle. He's never been in a relationship. He doesn't mind your messy private life. Miss Rivers, you should treasure this."

Susan stood next to the still-angry Dad, her face full of malice.

"Get away! Don't touch my daughter!"

Mom protectively stood in front of me like a mother hen.

The few leading the jeering were clearly Susan's relatives.

Dad was really something treating the corporation like his private garden.

Susan's relatives kept stirring things up, disturbing the leader in the next office.

"Mr. Rivers can't encourage this kind of bad behavior. Today I'll make the call Ms. Taylor will get her money back. As a family member of Mr. Rivers disrupting corporate order, she must be severely criticized."

I looked up and memorized his face.

The timing was about right.

The person I was waiting for would arrive soon.

Just then, an authoritative voice rang out.

"Mr. Rivers is right! This must be dealt with seriously today!"

Dad's face lit up as he fawned over the Vice President: "As the Vice President says, arrest them immediately."

Everyone stepped aside respectfully, watching as the Vice President slowly walked toward me.

But the storm Dad expected didn't come.

The Vice President respectfully extended his hand to me.

"Let me introduce everyone. This is our new CEO, Ms. Megan Rivers."

Dad's smugness instantly froze on his face.