My Husband Chose His Destined Intern

Babe, you need to clear your weekend schedule right now. Youre taking me to that new French restaurant that just opened downtown.

The moment I walked into my husbands office, my jaw dropped.

Benjamin, the man who always prided himself on keeping a strict professional distance from the opposite sex, was holding the hand of our new intern, Nora.

Fury flared in my chest. I stormed over, my hand automatically raising to slap this homewrecker across the face.

But right before my hand made contact, a strange, robotic voice echoed in my head:

Slap me! Come on, hit me hard!

The stream chat said that if she hits me, Benjamin will hate her even more!

What a brainless heiress. A cheap trick, and she totally fell for it.

Keep throwing your tantrum, honey. Im the main character here.

Your ending is a one-way ticket to a mental asylum. Mine is a fairy-tale wedding with Benjamin.

My hand froze mid-air.

I looked at Nora. Her eyes were wide with eager anticipation, practically begging for the slap.

Instead of hitting her, I lowered my hand, reached out, and gently patted her soft cheek.

Nora, your skin is absolutely glowing, I said, my voice dripping with honey. No wonder Benjamin likes you so much. He just cant seem to let go of your hand, can he?

Nora froze.

A flicker of absolute confusion crossed her innocent little face. This was clearly not how her script was supposed to go.

Why didnt she hit me?!

The stream chat explicitly said shed slap me the moment she saw us holding hands!

If she doesnt hit me, how is Benjamin supposed to feel sorry for me and start hating her?!

I sneered inwardly. Hit you? In your dreams, sweetie.

Benjamin quickly let go of Noras hand, stepping forward to wrap his arm around my waist.

Atalanta, dont get the wrong idea. She almost tripped, and I was just catching her.

Oh, I believe you.

I looked up at him, flashing him my sweetest, most dazzling smile.

Babe, I have a quick question for you.

What is it?

I really like this girl.

I slid my arm through his, leaning in with my usual pampered, spoiled attitude.

Transfer her to my office. I want her as my personal assistant.

I needed to keep this girl right under my nose to see what other "plots" she was cooking up.

Benjamin frowned slightly, hesitating.

Shes doing incredibly well in the Mergers and Acquisitions department. The M&A director specifically requested to keep her.

Noras mental voice immediately erupted with joy.

The M&A director never said that!

The chat was right! Benjamin definitely has feelings for me, his destined heroine. Hes already making up excuses to keep me close!

Atalanta is such a clueless idiot.

The fire in my chest flared up again. I pushed Benjamin away.

Whats that supposed to mean? I cant even have one intern?

Atalanta, thats not what I meant

Then what do you mean? I stared him down.

Benjamin was taken aback by my sharp tone. He subconsciously glanced at Nora.

Nora stood behind him, looking terrified and fragile on the outside. In her mind, though, she was throwing a party.

Yes! Atalanta is throwing a fit! The chat is so rightthe more she throws tantrums, the more annoyed Benjamin gets!

Benjamin just looked at me! Hes worried about my feelings! His affection points just went up again!

I took a deep breath, suppressing the violent urge to slap them both.

Benjamin, Im only asking you once.

I crossed my arms, tilting my chin toward Nora.

Are you giving her to me, or not?

I had been pampered by my parents my entire life, and since marrying Benjamin, I had never faced a single "no" from him.

And now, he was hesitating over a mere intern? He had to be joking.

Looking at my cold expression, Benjamin finally sighed.

Of course. Whatever makes you happy, babe.

Noras mind instantly went into overdrive

What?! Hes actually transferring me to her?

No way! How am I supposed to romance Benjamin if Im stuck working for her!

Wait... the chat says its fine. A transfer will actually make Benjamin feel guilty.

Hell start seeing Atalanta as selfish and unreasonable.

Yes, yes! As long as I play the victim, hell only pity me more!

For the next few days, I kept Nora right under my eyes.

But every single morning, the first thing she did wasnt reporting to me. She would sneak straight into Benjamins office.

Benjamin complimented my financial report today. He said it was better than the senior analysts' work.

The chat says: Affection points +10.

At lunchtime, she would "coincidentally" run into Benjamin in the corporate cafeteria.

He actually asked if I was eating alone and sat at my table!

He said I have a great personality and a strong work ethicunlike some rich girls who only know how to spend money~

In the afternoon, when Benjamin came to my office to discuss business and saw Nora working overtime, hed casually say, Thanks for your hard work. Dont stay too late.

He cares about me!

The chat is so right. The more useless Atalanta is, the more my hard work stands out.

Sitting at my desk, my grip on the fashion magazine tightened until the pages wrinkled.

Technically, Benjamin hadnt crossed any lines.

No hugs, no kisses, no suggestive texts.

He probably genuinely believed he was just mentoring a capable, hardworking intern.

But I had to sit there and listen to those mental updates, over and over again.

Until one afternoon, when I went to his office to drop off some files.

That was when I noticed something that made my blood run cold.

The way Benjamin looked at Nora... it contained something unfamiliar to me.

Admiration. And worsetenderness.

I decided to test him.

The next day, Nora brought me a contract. The formatting was a total disaster, and she had used three different fonts.

I snatched the folder, marched into Benjamins office, and slammed it onto his desk.

Look at this. Is this the 'capable' intern you talked about? She cant even format a basic document. How did she even pass her internship review?

Benjamin flipped through the pages, frowning slightly. But then he sighed.

Shes fresh out of college, Atalanta. Theres no need to be so harsh.

Its a basic document, Benjamin.

Shell get better with practice. He dismissed it gently.

He defended me again!

The chat says Benjamin is officially getting sick of this spoiled heiress!

Later that afternoon, I asked Nora to bring me a cup of coffee.

When she brought it, it was barely warm, choked with milk, and sickeningly sweet.

I took a sip right in front of her and spat it back into the cup.

What is this garbage? Are you here to work, or are you on vacation?

Noras eyes instantly welled with tears. She lowered her head, her voice trembling.

Im so sorry, Mrs. Jefferson. Ill make a fresh cup right away

Just endure it. The chat says the more she bullies me, the more cruel she looks to Benjamin.

Right on cue, Benjamin walked in. Seeing Noras red, tear-filled eyes, his frown deepened.

Atalanta, its just a cup of coffee. Is it really worth throwing a tantrum over?

I looked up at him.

She cant even remember my basic coffee order. You call that capable?

Shes only been here for a few days. Give her some time to adjust.

Benjamins voice carried a distinct edge of annoyance. Can you stop being so...

He cut himself off, but I knew exactly what he wanted to say.

Stop being so unreasonable.

I let out a bitter laugh. I leaned back in my chair and waved my hand.

Nora, get out.

Nora glanced at Benjamin, then at me, and scurried out with her head low.

Benjamin walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat beside me, softening his tone.

Babe, whats wrong with you today?

Nothing.

Youre clearly angry.

He reached out to hold my hand, squeezing my fingers. Is this still about the other day? I already transferred Nora to you, didnt I?

I stared at him.

Did he truly not know what he was doing, or was he just playing dumb?

Let me ask you something. I looked straight into his eyes. Do you honestly think shes better than me?

Benjamin blinked, then chuckled.

How can you even compare yourself to her? Youre my wife. Shes just an employee.

Im only helping her because she actually has potential.

Outside the door, Nora was eavesdropping, her mind gloating triumphantly:

Hes definitely comparing us in his head! The chat says his affection points just went up again~

I ignored the voice and kept my eyes locked on him.

Then why dont you take Nora to our weekend date? I asked coldly. You two can talk about work the entire time.

Benjamin sighed, pinching my cheek gently.

What are you talking about? Of course I wouldn't go with her. My weekend belongs to you.

A flicker of hope ignited in my chest.

Atalanta is so gullible. She believes everything he says.

But the chat already revealed the truth. Benjamin is going to cancel on her, claiming he's too busy, and then hes taking me out for my favorite Mexican food~

The smile on my face froze.

No, I told myself. Those voices might not be real. Noras "system" could just be a delusion.

On Friday afternoon, I put on my makeup and a brand-new dress, waiting for Benjamin to finish work.

At 5:30 PM, my phone buzzed.

Benjamin: An urgent business dinner came up tonight, babe. I cant make it. Im so sorry. I promise Ill make it up to you next time.

I stared at the screen, the bright light burning my eyes.

I typed out a long reply, then deleted it all.

In the end, I only sent: Okay.

The next day, I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw Noras new post.

There was no caption. Just a single photo.

A table full of Mexican food, and a mans hands sitting across from her.

On his ring finger was the wedding band I had personally chosen for him.

After that weekend, Benjamin seemed to realize I was being unusually cold.

For the next few days, he came home strictly on time for dinner and brought me expensive gifts.

On Wednesday night, as we lay in bed, Benjamin wrapped his arms around me from behind.

Babe, I have a three-day business trip this weekend. Its a major project, very important.

I nodded slowly. Okay.

He leaned down to kiss the back of my neck. Be good. Ill bring you back something nice.

The next morning, the moment I approached my office door, Noras mental voice drifted out

The chat says Benjamin is taking me to Santorini!

A luxury cliffside hotel! A sunset suite!

Thats the exact trip Atalanta has been begging him for five years!

The chat is right. I am his true love. Atalanta is just a stepping stone on her way to the asylum!

The coffee cup in my hand almost slipped.

Santorini. That was the honeymoon trip Benjamin and I had promised each other when we got married.

I had brought it up for five years. And for five years, he had always said he was too busy, to wait, next time.

And now, he was taking someone else.

The moment I shut my office door, my hands began to tremble.

At noon, I went into Benjamins office.

He was reviewing some documents. When he saw me, he smiled.

Whats up, babe? Miss me already?

I sat down across from him, quietly observing the face I had loved for over a decade.

Benjamin.

My voice was barely a whisper. Do you remember you still owe me a trip?

Benjamin paused, then smiled. Of course I do. Santorini, right?

When are we going?

Babe, Im drowned in work right now. He walked over, gently stroking my hair.

Once things quiet down, Ill take you. I promise, okay?

Once things quiet down. Always the same excuse.

I forced a smile and said nothing. I was done waiting.

On Thursday, they departed.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, I watched Benjamins car pull out of the parking garage.

Then, I unlocked my phone and texted my best friend, Audrey:

Can you recommend a divorce lawyer? The absolute best in the city.

She replied instantly: ??? Are you insane?

Ive never been more sane. Just send me the name.

After a long silence, she sent over a contact card.

Jonathan Vance. Hes a shark of a divorce attorney. And... he was our college classmate, remember?

I stared at the name.

Jonathan. The tall, quiet guy from college who used to buy me yogurt every single day.

The next morning, I walked into his law firm.

He was dressed in a sharp, tailored charcoal suit. He looked much more mature and grounded than he had in college. He was handsome, but in a completely different way from Benjamin.

After listening to my story, Jonathan didn't ask unnecessary questions. He simply said:

Ill draft the paperwork. We will take him for everything hes worth.

He paused, then added, Its on the house.

Jonathan, I can pay

Back in college, when those street thugs cornered me to steal my money, you swung your skateboard and chased them off. Ive remembered that for ten years.

He looked at me, tilting his head with a soft smile. You also told me back then that if it werent for him, you would have chosen me.

Are you still making me wait?

I couldnt find the words to answer.

On the night the paperwork was finalized, I saw Noras Instagram update.

Pictures of the blue-domed churches of Santorini, the stunning Aegean sunset, and the infinity pool of a cliffside hotel.

And the last photo was a shot of Benjamin from behind.

He was standing on a white balcony, overlooking the deep blue sea.

Her caption read: Thank you for taking me to the most beautiful place in the world.

I stared at the photo for a long time.

Then, I opened my chat with Benjamin, sent him a PDF of the divorce papers, and added two words:

Were divorcing.

Then, I blocked his number.