My Husband Ruined My Career for Her

I was buying a cake at a bakery when I overheard the staff complaining about the pressure to meet their sales targets.

One employee named Skyler said:

Lucky for me, I have the sweetest boyfriend. Whenever I'm short on my quota, he just buys out the entire store.

I felt a pang of envy.

My boyfriend Caldwell was a major client at my company, but he was always harsh on my proposals. He'd never bend the rules to help me meet my targets.

Just then, a customer walked in and asked for Skyler by name.

"Skyler, same as last month. I need 300 cakes."

"Coming right up, Lisa!" Skyler bounced over cheerfully.

I froze in place. The customer was Lisa from Caldwell's company's purchasing department.

Looking at the cakes Skyler was packing, it suddenly hit me. These were the exact cakes Caldwell bought every single day.

Even at our company celebration banquets, all the cakes came from this shop.

So Skyler's "sweet boyfriend" was Caldwell.

Lisa didn't notice me tucked away in the corner.

As the purchasing manager, there were few things that required her personal attention anymore.

Yet here she was, treating Skyler with a respect tinged with warmth.

"Wait, Lisa! Can you give this to Caldwell for me? He left it at my place last night and forgot to take it!"

Skyler handed Lisa a watch.

Witnessing this scene, my face must have turned deathly pale.

That IWC watch was what I'd bought him with my year-end bonus last year.

Yesterday morning, I'd clearly seen him wearing it when he left.

By evening, his wrist was bare.

When I casually asked about it, he said he'd probably taken it off during his golf game that afternoon and forgotten to retrieve it.

Turns out, he'd left it at Skyler's place.

"Huh, why are you crying?"

When Skyler came back, she looked startled.

I stared in the direction Lisa had gone, unable to snap out of it.

"Maybe because I'm too envious."

I forced one corner of my mouth up in a bitter smile.

"You have a boyfriend who treats you so well."

This got Skyler excited.

She sat down across from me and pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears.

"Of course! Even though he's loaded, he respects me!"

"Actually, he told me I didn't need to work. Said he'd take care of me."

Skyler stuck out her tongue. "But I don't want to be some trophy wife!"

"He couldn't change my mind, so he had no choice but to support my girl-boss dreams!"

Those words sounded so familiar. That was exactly Caldwell's personality.

He'd once urged me to quit work early too.

"You've got such an amazing husband. Why put yourself through the grind for that measly paycheck?"

At the time, I was working overtime in the study, rushing to finish a report.

When I finally sent it off, I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him:

"Having an amazing husband like you and wanting to establish my own career aren't mutually exclusive!"

Caldwell's tone immediately soured.

"You're just working for your boss. You really think you're creating any real value?"

That conversation ended badly.

It wasn't the first time he'd dismissed my work.

In Caldwell's eyes, I could be capable, but that capability should only serve to embellish my identity as his wife.

From that point on, Caldwell, as our company's biggest client, started nitpicking everything, finding fault with me left and right.

Just like yesterday.

Our team had prepared three proposals for his company Radiance's Valentine's Day marketing campaign for Caldwell to choose from.

He wasn't satisfied with any of them.

We revised them for three solid weeks. Five minutes after I sent the final draft to Caldwell's email, I got a reply with just one cold word: "Redo."

No reason, no comments, not even a hint about what direction to take.

Days of pulling all-nighters had crushed everyone on the team.

I sat in my office, looking at those young subordinates outside, drowning in guilt.

All I could do was sigh and decide to go to Caldwell's office myself.

"Can you at least tell me what's not suitable?"

I was somewhat helpless. He didn't even glance at me.

"If you can't even see what's unsuitable, Director Nivea, I suggest you switch careers."

It was so insulting.

I couldn't maintain basic business etiquette anymore. I slammed the door on my way out.

Late that night, after working overtime, I dragged myself home feeling angry and exhausted, only to find a huge bouquet of flowers in the bedroom.

Caldwell came out of the shower, acting like nothing had happened, smiling as he said:

"I was a bit harsh during the day. These flowers are my apology."

"Don't be mad, Nivea."

"You want to pursue your own life goals, so naturally I can't show favoritism in business."

The same situation, the same conflict.

Caldwell refused to acknowledge my soul's outlet, yet chose to support this girl's dreams.

"What the hell is the point of a husband like that?"

After hearing my story, Skyler was indignant on my behalf.

"After you dump him, come back here with proof and I'll give you free coffee!"

After talking it out, I felt much calmer.

Caldwell's heart had really strayed to another galaxy. Maybe I really should come claim that free coffee.

There was another presentation that afternoon.

To prevent Caldwell from finding fault, I prepared thoroughly, pushing the proposal's creativity to its limits.

I didn't expect to be met with awkward silence after presenting.

Caldwell tapped the table.

Anticipating what was coming, my fists clenched unconsciously, my nails digging deep into my palms.

But Caldwell wasn't looking at me.

He just addressed the person in charge from Radiance with earnest instruction:

"When you do proposals in the future, don't be like Director Nivea hereseemingly comprehensive but actually lacking focus, flashy and hollow."

Naturally, it was another wasted effort.

Everyone was used to it by now, ready to pull another all-nighter to redo it.

But for the first time ever, I let everyone go.

"You've all worked hard this past while. Go out and have a nice meal, put it on my tab."

"Get some rest when you get home."

Everyone cheered, and infected by their mood, I showed a rare smile.

After work, I didn't want to go home and face Caldwell.

So I drove to my mom's house.

As soon as I opened the fridge, I saw it stuffed with cinnamon cakes.

All because she didn't want to waste Caldwell's "thoughtfulness."

My mom forced herself to eat several, which resulted in an upset stomach that landed her in the hospital for a week.

After that scare, I gently hinted to Caldwell not to buy my mom so many cakes anymore.

Mom already had diabetes and wasn't in good health.

But he didn't take it to heart at all.

Furious, I immediately wanted to throw out all the cakes in the fridge.

"Mom, I told you not to eat these anymore. Have you forgotten about your hospital stay?"

But she looked conflicted. "Won't Caldwell be upset? He means well, after all."

Seeing my mom so timid broke my heart.

Caldwell did mean wellbut that thoughtfulness was for Skyler!

I couldn't tell her that.

I could only swallow my bitterness.

When I got home, the first thing I saw was another huge bouquet of flowers.

I didn't even want to look at it. I just felt sad.

His own wife came home this late, yet Caldwell didn't find it strange at all.

After all, ever since our conflicts began, I'd been working overtime almost every day.

I finally showered and lay down in bed, clean and refreshed, when he turned over and pulled me into his arms.

The moment our lips were about to touch, I couldn't help but imagine him with Skyler.

I instantly felt sick.

Almost as a reflex, I broke free from Caldwell's embrace.

"What's your problem now?"

He turned on the bedside lamp. His expression was terrifyingly dark.

I dry-heaved, then suddenly felt a surge of impulse.

"Let's get divorced, Caldwell. Let's stop torturing each other."

He looked at me in disbelief. "Just because I rejected your work during the day?"

Seeing my tear-filled eyes looking so pitiful, his tone softened.

"During the day, I was just being objective about work. Don't take it personally."

"You know that's just how I am at work."

He pointed at the bouquet and presented it to me like a treasure:

"Look, your favorite white roses."

Seeing that I still wasn't moved, Caldwell smiled helplessly.

"How about this, Nivea. Let me apologize first, and tomorrow I'll make it up to your team too."

"Don't be mad anymore, okay?"

Caldwell was always generous with apologies, but he never actually solved the problems.

He just wrapped them up with ribbons and sent them back disguised as gifts.

Even when I brought up divorce, he thought I was just being petulant.

Tears instantly soaked into my pillow.

Caldwell's compensation came in the form of desserts from Skyler's cake shop.

Various cakes filled our break room.

One of the women on my team let out a long sigh.

"Does Mr. Caldwell own this shop or something? Why is it always this stuff!"

I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically. "Maybe one of the employees saved his life."

Everyone rarely heard me speak in such a tone. They exchanged glances.

I didn't continue. Instead, I pressed the elevator button and went downstairs to the coffee shop.

It was during work hours, so there weren't many people.

Skyler always looked carefree, nothing like the typical corporate drone.

Today she seemed especially happy.

"Nivea! I'm about to be promoted to shop owner!"

"Today's my last day working here. This one's on me!"

Her smile was practically overflowing.

Something ugly began to crawl through my heart like ants. It was jealousy.

Jealousy drove me to open my phone's voice recorder under Skyler's curious gaze.

"You said if I had proof of a breakup, I could get free coffee from you. Does that still stand?"

Skyler looked pleasantly surprised at first.

"Of course! Congrats"

Before she could finish, she heard my voice from the recording.

"Let's get divorced, Caldwell."

Her face went white as a sheet.

"Looks like you knew he was married."

Skyler frantically shut off the recording.

She wanted to explain, but having no mental preparation, her words came out jumbled.

"No, I... I didn't mean to..."

The other customers in the shop seemed to smell drama and gradually gathered around.

"Skyler, you're about to have your own coffee shop. Congratulations."

"But do you know how you got that position?"

My voice was just loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

"Last night, Caldwell had his assistant contact your regional headquarters, promising long-term cooperation."

"On the condition that this shop be handed over to 'the person most familiar with their needs'meaning you."

The color drained from Skyler's face inch by inch.

"Is this your girl-boss script? Enjoying someone else's husband helping you meet your KPIs with one click?"

"Is this your girl-boss script? Using someone else to exchange resources, easily getting your first shop?"

By this point, the onlookers understood everything.

"A homewrecker! Disgusting!"

Someone spat directly onto Skyler's shoe.

She flinched and completely broke down.

"Stop it, stop it, please stop!"

Seeing her like this, I felt bored. I really had no desire to continue the confrontation.

I was about to turn and leave when I saw Caldwell rushing over.

"Smack!"

The moment the slap landed, everything spun. I collapsed to the floor and couldn't get up for a long time.

Well, no need to pity Skyler anymore. I was in far worse shape than her.

"Caldwell! Tell them I'm not a mistress, I'm not..."

Skyler cried like a helpless little rabbit.

Seeing people still taking photos, Caldwell took off his jacket and threw it over her head.

He carefully sheltered the girl in his arms and ushered her behind the counter, telling the other staff to take good care of her.

Only then did he come to stand before me. "In a moment, you're going to cooperate with me and apologize to Skyler."

Caldwell crouched in front of me, making a show of helping me up, but the words that reached my ears chilled my heart.

"And if I say no?"

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. I looked at him defiantly.

He smiled gently, speaking softly by my ear as if whispering sweet nothings:

"Then I might have to transfer Radiance's Valentine's Day project to Glamour, your competitor."

I was shaking with rage.

"That won't benefit Radiance at all!"

Switching teams at the last minute was a move that would hurt both sides.

But Caldwell smiled like a devil.

"Remember, you're the one who made this mess."

"I don't really care. As long as Skyler isn't hurt, Radiance can handle it."

"Can you?"

I desperately wanted to be selfish just this once, regardless of my career.

But thinking of those young faces on my team, their complete trust and reliance on me...

For this project, everyone had sacrificed so much. They didn't deserve this outcome.

So I couldn't tell which hurt moremy face or my heart.

I could only agree to Caldwell's terms.

"Sorry for disturbing everyone's day. This was a misunderstanding."

"I admit, my heart did wander outside my marriage for a while."

"But Skyler is a good person."

"She consistently rejected my advances and always maintained proper social boundaries with me."

He was actually willing to use his own reputation to protect Skyler.

It was like I didn't know him anymore.

"As for my wife, she grew up in a single-parent household, so she tends to be suspicious. I hope everyone can be understanding."

To sell this lie, Caldwell directly targeted my deepest pain.

When my dad died, my mom nearly cried herself blind. He was the one who supported both of us.

But now, he was using my pain as a weapon against me.

"She's just been under a lot of work stress lately, so she's seeing things that aren't there and overthinking."

Then Caldwell turned to look at me, his complaining voice tinged with indulgent helplessness.

"Stop making a scene, Nivea."

"You can't joke around with people's reputations like this. When we get home, I'll make it up to you, okay?"

That speech tarnished me and tarnished himself.

Only Skyler remained spotless, as if she were the purest white lotus.

Finally, Caldwell ran his hand through my hair.

The seemingly affectionate gesture carried a heavy threat.

I couldn't help but shrink back, then forced out those words with difficulty.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong about you."

Skyler's emotions had already calmed down. Seeing me like this, she looked reluctant.

She started to speak several times but ultimately didn't have the courage to face the truth.

She could only laugh awkwardly and chose to forgive. "It's okay, I understand how you feel."

And just like that, a perfect victim was born.

From now on, no matter how I tried to bring this up again, with Caldwell's narrative set today, Skyler would forever remain unassailable.

Caldwell had taught me a masterclass in my own fieldmarketing.

I closed my eyes and let the tears flow.

In that moment, I felt incredibly grateful that I'd submitted my resignation letter that morning.

Mr. Mycenae had wanted to convince me to stay.

But I told him that only if I left would Caldwell stop making things difficult for the company.

He let out a long sigh.

That sigh contained guilt toward mefar more genuine than any guilt Caldwell felt.

After all, when the crowd dispersed, the first thing Caldwell did was take Skyler home.

He did try to placate me, saying the slap wasn't intentional, telling me to go home first and have the housekeeper tend to it.

He said that tomorrow when he got back, I could hit him or yell at him all I wanted.

Tomorrow was Valentine's Day.

He didn't know yet that there would be no tomorrow.