The Whole Company Saw My Husband’s Affair

Lily, my husband Ethan's secretary, sent me a photo.

In the photo, my husband was sound asleep, covered with my coat.

The caption read: Emma, Ethan had too much to drink. He's staying at my place tonight.

I stared at the photo for three seconds, then smiled.

With a light tap of my finger, I screenshotted the photo and chat record, then sent them both to the company's group chat of nearly a thousand employees.

"Congratulations to Lily on her successful promotion to CEO's wife."

Send. Power off. All in one smooth motion.

Two days later when I turned my phone back on, hundreds of missed calls nearly crashed it.

In the photo, my husband Ethan was sleeping peacefully, his profile pressed against the pure white hotel pillow.

I stared at that coat.

That morning before leaving, I'd personally helped Ethan put it on.

I smiled.

I didn't reply, just took a screenshot.

Then sent it to the company's thousand-person work group.

"Congratulations to Lily on her successful promotion to CEO's wife."

Then I turned off my phone.

The world went quiet.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, the city lights merged into a silent ocean.

I walked to the wine cabinet and poured myself a glass of whiskey.

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary.

On the table sat the custom cake I'd picked up that afternoon.

Ethan had called in the afternoon, saying he had an important business dinner he couldn't skip.

He said he'd make it up to me when he got back later.

So this was his idea of "important business."

This was how he planned to "make it up to me."

I carried my glass and walked over to the cake.

The black swan held its head high, graceful and proud.

I reached out a finger and gave it a gentle push.

The swan toppled over, falling into the soft cream, its neck broken.

What a shame.

I drained my glass in one gulp, the burning liquid searing my throat.

Perfect.

This relationship that had lasted eight years, from campus to wedding dress, from nothing to company IPO.

It was time to end it.

I walked into the dressing room and pulled out the largest suitcase.

Started packing.

Mine, I'd take everything.

His, I'd leave nothing.

Including those matching couple outfits we'd bought together, the expensive jewelry he'd given me, all those mementos symbolizing every bit of our past.

One by one, I took them out and threw them into the trash bags beside me.

Like I was doing a complete decluttering.

Throughout this process, my heart remained completely calm.

No tears, no angry screaming.

Like a surgeon performing an incredibly composed operation on herself.

Cutting away the necrotic tissue.

Though it would hurt, it had to be done.

Two hours later, the suitcase was full.

Three large trash bags were piled beside it.

The 24-hour moving company I'd booked arrived promptly at 3 AM.

The workers silently and efficiently loaded my things onto the truck.

I took one last look at this home I'd personally decorated.

On the wall hung our wedding photo.

In it, I was smiling blissfully.

In it, Ethan's eyes were so tender they could drip water.

I walked over and took the photo down.

Then, I let go.

Crash.

The glass frame shattered across the floor.

I said to the movers: "Let's go."

The vehicle pulled out of the complex and merged into the city traffic.

I didn't look back.

My new place was an apartment I'd bought several months ago, keeping it empty all this time.

I'd told myself a woman always needs to leave herself an exit.

Now it seemed that decision was incredibly correct.

By the time I'd settled my luggage, dawn was breaking.

I took a hot shower, changed into clean pajamas, and lay down on the unfamiliar bed.

Not the slightest bit sleepy.

My mind began replaying the entire incident.

Lily.

Ethan's secretary, hired a year and a half ago.

Young, beautiful, elite university graduate, outstanding abilities.

That was how everyone in the company described her.

When I'd come to the office to bring Ethan lunch, she'd eagerly approach me, sweetly calling me "Emma."

She'd thoughtfully remember my preferences, brewing my favorite tea before I arrived.

She'd subtly display her work chemistry with Ethan in front of me.

For instance, Ethan would give her a look and she'd know which document to hand him.

Before Ethan finished a sentence, she could immediately complete it.

She'd tell me in a joking tone: "Emma, sometimes I feel like I understand Ethan even better than you do."

Back then, I'd just smile it off.

I figured a man's capable work assistant and his life's soulmate were two different tracks.

They didn't conflict.

Now it seemed I'd been naive.

Or rather, I'd been too confident.

So confident I'd overlooked all those telltale signs.

Like how Ethan kept coming home later and later.

Like the occasional unfamiliar perfume scent on him.

Like how he started reflexively countering some of my decisions using Lily's phrasing.

"Emma, your idea is too idealistic. Lily's proposal would be more practical."

"Lily said this project is too risky, we should wait and see."

Lily, Lily, Lily.

Her name appeared with increasing frequency.

And I'd actually kept treating it as normal "work communication."

Until that photo, like a sharp knife, punctured all the fake peace.

I closed my eyes, that photo surfacing in my mind again.

Ethan's sleeping face, my coat, and Lily's provocative caption.

Why did she dare do this?

She was certain I wouldn't make a scene.

She was certain I'd choose to swallow my grievances for the sake of Ethan's career, for the company's stability.

She was certain I'd find her privately, or find Ethan, cry, make a fuss, then accept an explanation of "just a mistake all men make."

Then she could continue lurking by Ethan's side as the victor, until she completely replaced me.

Unfortunately, she miscalculated.

I, Emma, never make losing deals.

Since you want war, I'll give you the grandest spectacle.

Let nearly a thousand people in the entire company witness your love.

I don't know when I finally fell asleep.

I only know this sleep was exceptionally deep.

No dreams.

Two days later.

I slept until I woke naturally.

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled patterns on the wooden floor.

An unfamiliar room, but the air carried my familiar perfume.

I sat up and picked up my phone from the nightstand.

After two days off, it was time to see how far this storm had blown.

Deep breath. I pressed the power button.

The phone vibrated once, the screen lit up.

After the familiar startup animation, the signal bars instantly filled.

Then, my phone went crazy.

"Bzz---bzz---bzz---"

Violent vibrations, like it would break free from my hand any second.

On the screen, missed calls, texts, SnapChat, notifications from various apps flooded in like a burst dam.

Hundreds of missed call alerts.

Dozens of unread texts.

I looked at the call list.

At the very top was Ethan.

99 missed calls.

Below were company executives, my friends, and some unknown numbers.

I put the phone on silent and tossed it aside.

Got up and went to the kitchen to make myself a simple breakfast.

Fried egg, toast, a glass of hot milk.

I ate slowly and methodically.

As if the storm that had already turned everything upside down had nothing to do with me.

After breakfast, I washed the dishes.

Only then did I pick up that burning hot phone again.

I ignored all of Ethan's messages.

Instead, I opened the company group chat on SnapChat.

Two days was enough time for many things to ferment.

The group messages had exploded.

The "congratulations" message I'd sent was like a depth charge.

Below it was several minutes of dead silence.

Then, the first to jump out was the company's HR director.

He sent a shocked emoji, then quickly deleted it.

Immediately after, various whispers began appearing.

"Holy shit? What's going on?"

"Did Emma's account get hacked?"

"That's Mr. Brooks in the photo, right?"

"My god, this is too much information."

"Did Lily mess up?"

After the initial shock, public opinion quickly divided.

Some were watching.

Some were secretly enjoying the drama.

Others began taking sides.

A female colleague who was usually close to Lily jumped out saying:

"Everyone stop speculating. I believe Lily isn't that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding."

Someone immediately echoed:

"Exactly. Mr. Brooks and Emma have such a good relationship, how could this happen?"

"Maybe Emma was just joking."

These weak defenses were quickly drowned by more details.

"Joking? About something like this?"

"Are you blind? Didn't you see Lily's own text? 'Staying at my place tonight.' How could that be fake?"

"I always thought something was off about Lily. Always dressing up, her mind clearly not on work."

"Right. At the last project celebration, she kept blocking drinks for Mr. Brooks, got herself wasted, and Mr. Brooks ended up taking her home."

When someone falls from grace, everyone loves to pile on

Lily's carefully cultivated "perfect secretary" image was torn to shreds in this moment.

As for the other protagonist of the incident, Lily herself finally appeared about half an hour after I sent my message.

She posted a long text in the group.

That text was written tearfully, pitifully.

"Everyone, I'm sorry for using public resources for my personal matter."

"Last night, Mr. Brooks drank a lot at a business dinner to close an important deal. He could barely stand."

"As Mr. Brooks's secretary, I have the responsibility and obligation to ensure his safety, so I took him to a nearby hotel to rest."

"Because he'd drunk so much and gotten his clothes a bit dirty, I took off his suit jacket and covered him with a spare coat from my car---one Emma had left at the office before---so he wouldn't catch cold."

"After I settled him in, I left. I called his home but no one answered."

"In my panic, I remembered Emma's SnapChat and wanted to let her know."

"That message might have been ambiguous and caused a misunderstanding. I really didn't mean it that way."

"I don't know why Emma would send such a message. I'm really scared."

"Mr. Brooks and I are completely innocent, just a normal superior-subordinate relationship. Please don't misunderstand."

"Emma, if you see this message, please, can you come out and explain?"

"I'm a young woman and my reputation is ruined. How can I face people anymore?"

At the end, she even @-ed me.

What a delicate little hypocrite.

This PR piece was written flawlessly.

Portraying herself as a diligent, dutiful, yet innocently wronged victim.

Throwing all the blame onto me.

Saying I "misunderstood," that I was "making a mountain out of a molehill," ruining her reputation as a "young woman."

Once this statement came out, the group's sentiment shifted subtly again.

Some clueless "saints" came out to uphold justice.

"Oh, so that's what happened. I knew there must be a misunderstanding."

"Emma was a bit impulsive this time. Posting to the group without asking clearly really hurt Lily."

"Yeah, how can a young woman continue working at the company after this?"

"Feel so bad for Lily. Hugs."

Watching these messages, the cold smile on my lips grew wider.

Playing the public opinion game?

Lily, you're still too green.

Just then, a call came in.

The name flashing on the screen made my expression turn cold.

Not Ethan.

My mother-in-law.

I let it ring for a long time, only pressing accept in the last second before it would auto-disconnect.

"Hello."

My voice betrayed no emotion.

On the other end, my mother-in-law's shrill, furious roar immediately came through.

"Emma! You finally answer! Have you lost your mind! What do you think you're doing!"

"Are you trying to destroy Ethan!"

My mother-in-law's voice, from extreme anger, carried a hoarse crack.

In the background, I could hear the sound of things being smashed.

I held the phone away a bit, my tone flat.

"Mrs. Brooks, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Still playing dumb with me!" My mother-in-law's volume shot up another octave.

"Look what you've done! Now the whole company knows!"

"Where can Ethan show his face! What about the company's stock price! You vicious woman!"

I listened silently without interrupting.

When she tired herself out from cursing and was gasping for breath, I spoke unhurriedly.

"Mrs. Brooks, you should ask your precious son what he did."

"What could he have done! A man having too much to drink at business dinners, isn't that normal?"

"That girl Lily was kind enough to take care of him, and instead of being grateful, you turn around and bite her! Where are your manners!"

"My manners don't allow my husband to spend our wedding anniversary night at another woman's place."

I enunciated each word clearly.

"And I certainly don't allow that woman to cover him with a coat I bought, then take a photo and send it to me to show off."

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end.

Then my mother-in-law's tone shifted from anger to a kind of righteous favoritism.

"So what! Men, they just play along sometimes! Did you have to make such a huge scene that everyone knows? Can't you just endure it for Ethan's future, for this family?"

"Endure?" I sounded like I'd heard the biggest joke. "Mrs. Brooks, thats not how the world works anymore."

"You! What kind of attitude is that!" My mother-in-law was clearly choked by my words. "Emma, let me tell you, the Brooks family will never accept an unclear woman into our family!"

"You need to go to the company right now, explain to everyone in the group that it was just a joke! Then apologize to Lily, and this matter is over!"

"Apologize?" The curve of my lips turned colder. "Is she worthy?"

"You ungrateful woman! Don't think Ethan can't do without you! Let me tell you, there are plenty of women who want to marry our Ethan! Younger than you, prettier than you, more sensible!"

"That's wonderful." I replied lightly. "Please have him switch to someone else quickly. I won't hold him up."

"You just wait! I'll have Ethan divorce you right now! A woman like you should leave with nothing!"

"Great." I said. "I'll be waiting for the court summons."

With that, I hung up directly.

Then blocked her.

All in one smooth motion.

Making peace, twisting the truth, always only protecting her son.

That was my wonderful mother-in-law.

I'd already experienced it before.

The phone vibrated again. This time, it was a familiar friend's profile picture.

I answered.

"Emma! You're finally back online! Are you okay?" On the other end came Madison's anxious voice.

Madison was my college classmate, my best friend, now a senior executive at a headhunting company.

"I'm fine." Hearing her voice, my taut nerves relaxed slightly.

"Thank god. You scared me to death! That move was brutal, detonating it directly in the group. The whole circle is talking about it now."

"Ethan's company must be as lively as a marketplace today." Madison's tone carried gleeful excitement.

"That's exactly what I wanted."

"Well done!" Madison didn't hide her support. "Dealing with scumbags and homewreckers, you can't go easy!"

"But what are you planning to do next? I heard that secretary Lily is no pushover."

"She's apparently crying all over the office now, telling everyone she's innocent, that you misunderstood her, making it seem like you're some evil crazy woman."

"I know. I saw her 'essay' in the group."

"So what are you thinking? Just let her twist the truth like that?" Madison sounded worried.

I picked up the milk from the table and took a sip. The warm liquid slid into my stomach, very comfortable.

"Don't worry." I said. "Let her fly for a while."

"The bullet's already been fired. It needs time to fly and ferment."

In a public opinion war, the worst thing is being led by the nose.

If Lily wanted to play the victim and gain sympathy, I'd let her act.

The harder she performed, the more pitifully she cried, the more fierce the backlash would be when the truth came out.

What I wanted wasn't a war of words.

I wanted to nail her to the pillar of shame, never to rise again.

"What about you? What are your plans today? Just staying home?" Madison asked.

I looked at the bright sunshine outside the window and spoke slowly.

"No."

"I'm going to the office."

"There are some things I need to take back myself."

"And it's time to meet those two protagonists."

"Yes!" Madison's tone was excited. "Do you need me to come with you? To back you up! I happen to be free today, can come anytime."

"No need." I declined her kindness. "This is my battlefield. I'll handle it myself."

After hanging up, I walked into the bedroom and opened the closet.

Inside were clothes I'd newly bought, tags still attached.

I picked out a bright red dress.

V-neck, cinched waist, slit to the thigh.

Paired with ten-centimeter black heels.

Then I sat at the vanity and gave myself an exquisite yet sharp makeup look.

The focus was bright red lipstick.

Full, sharp, with strong aggression.

Looking at the radiant woman with cold eyes in the mirror, I smiled with satisfaction.

Emma, welcome back.

This show had just begun.

I grabbed my car keys and headed out.

Destination: the office.

I wanted to see just how far they'd taken this performance without me, the "evil crazy woman," present.

My car was a white Porsche.

A gift from Ethan on the day the company went public.

He said it was to thank me for my companionship and contributions along the way.

Now it seemed truly ironic.

The car drove smoothly toward the CBD in the city center.

There stood the business empire he and I had built together.

And there waited for me a showdown.

The Porsche pulled into the company garage's reserved parking spot.

I turned off the engine but didn't immediately get out.

I looked at myself in the rearview mirror---red lips like blood, eyes like ice.

Perfect. This was the armor and weaponry I needed.

I pushed open the door and got out. My heels struck the polished epoxy floor, making crisp "click, click, click" sounds.

The sound echoed through the empty underground garage, amplified and clear, like war drums.

I entered the elevator and pressed the top floor directly---the CEO's office level.

The elevator doors opened.

The familiar reception desk, the familiar logo wall.

But today's atmosphere was completely different.

The normally quiet and orderly office area now permeated with an eerie silence.

Everyone sat at their workstations, pretending to work diligently.

But their wandering eyes, perked ears, and the subtle movements of secretly communicating through office software betrayed them all.

The air floated with the scent of gossip and speculation.

When I appeared in their view wearing a strikingly red dress.

The entire office area seemed to hit pause.

All eyes, in an instant, focused on me in unison.

Shock, curiosity, sympathy, schadenfreude...

Various complex emotions wove into an invisible net, covering me.

I ignored it all.

I straightened my back, chin slightly raised, eyes looking straight ahead.

My target was the office at the end of the corridor, the one belonging to Ethan.

The sound of my heels became the only sound in this dead silence.

Each step seemed to land on everyone's hearts.

They watched me like watching the lead actress of the year's biggest drama personally take the stage.

I walked past expressionlessly.

The closer I got to the CEO's office, the clearer the whispers became.

"Oh my god, Emma really came!"

"Dressed like that... is she here to declare war?"

"There's going to be a good show. Quick, quick, open the meeting software, let's livestream this."

"Lily's still in Mr. Brooks's office. Saw her crying when she went in this morning, hasn't come out."

I listened to these voices, the cold smile on my lips flashing briefly.

Perfect.

The audience was all in position.

I walked to that closed, heavy solid wood door.

The door's soundproofing was excellent, but I could still faintly hear from inside the suppressed, intermittent sound of crying.

Lily's voice.

I didn't knock.

Under everyone's gaze, I raised my hand, directly turned the handle, and forcefully pushed open the door.

The moment the door opened, the scene inside clearly entered my view, and also entered the countless pairs of eyes peeking from the corridor.

Inside the office, Ethan stood by his desk.

And Lily sat on the guest sofa, crying piteously, shoulders shaking.

Ethan held a tissue in his hand, his body leaning slightly forward, about to hand it to her.

His face was full of irritation and sympathy.

Hearing the door open, both looked toward the entrance simultaneously.

Seeing me, Lily's crying stopped abruptly, like a duck with its neck grabbed.

Panic flashed quickly through her eyes, then was covered by thicker grievance and tears.

And Ethan, the moment he saw me, froze completely.

The tissue in his hand just awkwardly stopped in mid-air.

The entire office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking at this "touching" scene before me.

I smiled, breaking the silence.

"Mr. Brooks, busy? I'm not interrupting, am I?"