Betrayed by My CEO Wife

To help my wifes tech startup climb to the top of the industry, I went completely off the grid. I spent two agonizing years working in stealth mode in Silicon Valley.

For two years, I lived like a ghost, eventually breaking through the industry's most difficult barrier: the core AI chip technology.

Before I left, Chloe clung to me, her voice soft and promising:

"Go focus on the R&D, babe. Once the technology is deployed and the company goes public, youll be the co-founder. Ill make sure youre set for life."

With that promise locked in my heart, I returned to the company holding the exclusive patent. But what awaited me was a cold-blooded betrayal.

I walked in only to see my wife leaning intimately into the arms of my former assistant. She announced to the entire room:

"Starting today, Asher is appointed as our Chief Technology Officer. He will take full control of all core projects!"

As Chloe finished speaking, Asher smirked. He slid his hand around her waist, pulling her close. "Thank you for your trust, Chloe. Ill make sure AuraTech's technological future is in safe hands."

I stared at Chloes slightly swollen belly, then at the triumphant smile plastered on her face. My heart turned to ash.

Two years of sweating blood, sacrificing my health in that lab, and my life's work was nothing but a stepping stone for them.

Swallowing the rage burning in my throat, I sneered. I opened my laptop and remotely shut down all of the companys core servers.

You want to steal my hard work? You want to use my brain to buy your happy ending?

Fine. I don't mind burning down everything you stole from me.

With a loud bang, I pushed open the doors to the banquet hall on the top floor of the company.

Inside, the lights were dazzling, and the room was filled with elite guests in formal wear.

To break through that fatal coding bottleneck, I had worked day and night in Silicon Valley for two years. I slept less than four hours a day. I even ended up in the ER three times from sheer exhaustion.

I had returned with the final patent authorization, eager to give my wife, Chloe, the ultimate surprise.

But the scene in front of me felt like a bucket of ice water poured straight down my spine.

On the stage in the center of the hall, Chloe was wearing a custom haute couture gown I had personally designed for her. She was wrapping her arms lovingly around a young man's waist.

It was Asher. The intern assistant I had hired before going to Silicon Valley.

He was a college grad who couldn't even write a basic line of clean code, a boy who only knew how to sweet-talk.

Now, he was wearing a bespoke tuxedo. On his wrist was the Patek Philippe watch I had eyed at an auctionthe one Chloe had told me was "too expensive, maybe next time."

"Partners, investors!" Chloe raised her champagne glass, her voice booming with pride.

"Today is the most important day for AuraTech!"

"Our core AI chip is finally a success. Next month, we will officially ring the bell on Nasdaq!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

Chloe turned to Asher, her eyes dripping with affection.

"And here, I want to give a special thanks to someone very close to my heart."

"Our newly appointed CTO, and my future husbandAsher!"

"For the past two years, he led the team, working day and night to achieve this breakthrough."

"And... I am already carrying his baby."

The hall went wild.

"They look so perfect together!"

"Congratulations, Chloe! Double blessings!"

"Asher is so young to carry such a massive tech project. What a genius!"

Standing at the entrance, listening to these disgusting, flattering words, I felt a wave of pure absurdity wash over me.

Asher led the team? A technological breakthrough?

That idiot couldn't even tell the difference between C++ and Java!

For two years, I was the one leading the core engineers in the research base. Under immense pressure, I wrote those core algorithms line by line.

I nearly died to get this technology, and now it was Asher's stepping stone to the top?

I took a deep breath and walked toward the stage.

The sound of my leather shoes clicking against the marble floor echoed sharply in the quiet room.

The crowd parted automatically.

The executives who used to bow to me now turned pale, dodging my gaze and whispering among themselves.

When Chloe saw me, her smile froze instantly.

She instinctively let go of Asher's waist.

Panic flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference and annoyance.

Asher, on the other hand, didn't look guilty at all. He squared his shoulders, stepped closer to Chloe, and spoke in a mocking tone.

"Oh, Ethan! You're finally back!"

He raised his glass, looking down at me like a victorious king.

"Grab a seat, were celebrating."

"You worked hard 'studying' abroad these past two years. Don't worry about the R&D anymore. Ive got it covered. You can just relax and retire."

Looking at his smug face, I let out a cold laugh.

"Studying? Covered?"

I turned my eyes to Chloe, staring at her coldly.

"Chloe, is that what you told them?"

"I risked my life in that lab to build your technology, and you told everyone I went to 'study'?"

Chloe frowned, quickly stepping down from the stage. She grabbed my arm and whispered harshly:

"Ethan, what the hell are you doing? There are investors here today! Don't embarrass me!"

"Embarrass you?" I violently shook off her hand.

"You took my code to put your new boy toy on a pedestal, and you're worried about embarrassment? I have nothing to lose!"

Chloes face turned pale.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Your code? That was a collective effort by the companys team!"

"As the project manager, Asher deserves all the credit!"

"Ethan, I know you feel left out. But you need to face reality."

"You weren't here for two years. Asher was the one helping me manage everything, inside and out."

"He is highly capable, and now, Im pregnant with his child. I have to give him a proper place in this company."

She spoke with such righteousness, as if I was the one who had cheated and stolen.

I laughed out of sheer anger, pointing at Ashers smug face.

"Highly capable? He doesn't even understand basic algorithmic logic! What project could he possibly manage?"

"Did he manage to 'inspire' you in bed?"

Slap!

Chloe swung her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

I tasted blood in the corner of my mouth.

The entire hall fell into a dead silence.

Asher took a few steps back, standing behind Chloe, pretending to play the peacemaker.

"Ethan, calm down. Today is not the day to make a scene."

Chloe shielded him, pointing at me viciously.

"Ethan! Keep your dirty mouth shut! If you dare touch Asher, I swear Ill ruin you!"

The surrounding executives and colleagues began pointing fingers at me.

"Ethan, youre being incredibly childish."

"Chloe is a billionaire CEO now. What's wrong with her choosing a younger, better-looking man?"

"Exactly. Asher is the hero of the company now. You haven't contributed anything in two years. Who are you to scream here?"

"Just apologize to Asher and get out. Don't ruin Chloe's big day."

I wiped the blood from my lip, looking at these fake, social-climbing faces. My heart was completely dead.

Years ago, Chloe and I had started this company in a cramped basement.

To get our first investment, I drank with clients until my stomach bled, landing me in the hospital for two weeks.

To meet project deadlines, I pulled so many all-nighters that I lost partial hearing in my left ear. It still hasn't fully recovered.

I took her from a broke, nobody student and turned her into the glamorous tech queen she was today.

And now that she was at the top, she looked down on the husband who had built her throne.

"Chloe, did you forget? I own forty-nine percent of AuraTech!"

I looked at her coldly.

"Want me gone? Sure. Let's split the company. Im taking my half!"

Chloe let out a mocking laugh, as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

She adjusted her gown, walked up to me, and whispered in a voice only I could hear:

"Shares? Ethan, while you were away, we went through multiple rounds of equity restructuring and dilution."

"Your shares are worth less than one percent now."

"But for old times' sake, Ive prepared a five-million-dollar settlement for you."

"Take the money, sign the divorce papers, and hand over the core source code."

"Otherwise, you won't get a single penny, and I will blacklist you from the entire tech industry!"

I grit my teeth.

"Five million? For half of my company? For two years of my life?"

"Chloe, you're out of your mind!"

I turned to leave.

"Stop him!" Chloe barked.

A dozen security guards rushed forward, surrounding me instantly.

Chloe walked up behind me, her voice icy.

"Ethan, don't make this ugly."

"Without that source code, our chip cannot go into mass production. The IPO will fail."

"If you don't hand over the encrypted hard drive containing the code today, you aren't leaving this room."

She was outright robbing me.

I looked at the menacing guards, reached into my bag, and pulled out a black, encrypted hard drive.

Chloes eyes lit up, her hand reaching out to grab it.

I sneered. With a sudden swing, I threw the hard drive directly into the giant champagne tower next to us.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the hall. The hard drive hit the floor, and without hesitation, I slammed my foot down on it.

Crack. The drive shattered into pieces.

"You want my source code? In your next life!"

Chloes eyes turned red with fury. She lunged at me like a madwoman.

"Ethan! You psycho! Ill destroy you!"

Taking advantage of the chaos, I shoved a guard aside and ran out of the hall without looking back.

Outside, the rain was pouring.

I didn't have an umbrella. I was soaked to the bone, the icy wind cutting straight to my chest.

I called an Uber and went back to the luxury villa Chloe and I owned downtown.

We bought it on our third anniversary. The down payment came from selling the old house my father had left me.

I walked to the front door and scanned my thumb.

Beep. Fingerprint denied.

I froze, then typed in the passcode.

Incorrect passcode.

I began banging on the door furiously.

"Open up! Open the door!"

After a long minute, the door cracked open.

It was Chloes father, Marcus.

He was wearing a silk robe, holding a glass of Cabernet, looking at me with pure disgust.

"Screaming in the middle of the night! Shut up!"

When he realized it was me, he rolled his eyes and tried to slam the door.

I jammed my foot in the frame, staring at him coldly.

"This is my house. Let me in."

Marcus sneered, looking at my soaking wet, miserable state.

"Your house? The deed has Chloes name on it!"

"You're a useless loser. How dare you call this your house?"

"Chloe told me everything. Youre getting divorced, and Asher is moving in tomorrow!"

"Get lost. Don't bring your trashy energy into our home!"

Footsteps echoed from the living room.

Asher, wearing my limited-edition slippers and wrapped in my cashmere throw, walked over lazily, biting into an apple.

"Marcus, who's making all that noise? I can't sleep."

Marcuss face immediately shifted into a fake, sycophantic smile. He turned to greet him.

"Asher, its just a beggar. Im throwing him out."

Asher walked to the door, pretending to be shocked.

"Oh, Ethan! Why are you so wet? Didn't Chloe book a hotel for you?"

"Look at this place. Chloe said the master bedroom's decor is too old-fashioned. We're gutting it tomorrow to build my walk-in closet."

"By the way, I had the housekeeper pack all your cheap clothes and old junk. They're in the trash bin in the basement garage."

I shoved Marcus aside, forced my way through the door, and ran straight up to the second-floor study.

My fathers last notebookhis handwritten programming journalwas kept there. It was my most precious possession, the only thing I had left of him.

I burst into the study. The room was a complete disaster.

My desk was cleared out. The bookshelves were empty.

I spun around, glaring at Asher, who had followed me up.

"Where is my dad's notebook?!"

Asher covered his mouth, letting out a chuckle.

"That dusty old book? The pages were yellow and filled with weird scribbles."

"I thought it was dirty, so I told the maid to burn it with the trash."

"Ethan, you're not going to get mad over a piece of garbage, are you?"

Burned...

My mind went blank. Every ounce of sanity I had left snapped.

I lunged forward, grabbing Asher by his collar, and slammed my fist into his face.

"You burned my father's legacy! Ill kill you!"

Asher shrieked like a pig, struggling wildly.

Marcus screamed, rushing over to tear at my clothes.

"You animal! How dare you strike Asher! Get off him!"

I kicked Marcus back, throwing him to the ground, and slammed Ashers back hard against the drywall.

"Give it back! Give me back my father's notebook!"

Ashers forehead was bleeding. He began to sob hysterically.

"Help! He's killing me! Marcus, help!"

Suddenly, loud footsteps rushed through the front door downstairs.

Chloe burst in with several beefy bodyguards.

Seeing the scene, she roared, "Ethan! Stop!"

She ran up and shoved me away with all her strength.

I stumbled back, hitting my spine against the wooden banister. A sharp pain shot through my back, leaving me breathless.

Chloe frantically helped Asher up, wiping the blood from his face.

"Asher, baby, are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

Asher clung to her, trembling. "Chloe, it hurts so bad... Ethan tried to kill me..."

Chloe turned to me, her eyes venomous.

"Ethan, you are a literal psychopath!"

"I swear, for what you did to Asher today, I will make you pay!"

"Throw him out! And make sure he never sets foot near this property again!"

The bodyguards dragged me up from the floor and threw me out onto the wet driveway.

Bam! The heavy door slammed shut in my face.

I stood in the freezing rain, my back throbbing in pain.

Water mixed with dirt ran into my eyes, blurring my vision.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails drew blood.

Chloe. Asher. Marcus.

Everything you owe me... I will make you pay back a thousand times over.

I lost track of how long I stood in the storm.

Suddenly, a black umbrella appeared over my head, blocking out the heavy rain.

I looked up. A cold, striking, and incredibly sharp face came into view.

Elena Vance.

The CEO of Vance Group, Chloes biggest rival in the tech industry.

She was also my true, "secret business partner" for the past two years.

"Mr. Vance, it seems your homecoming party didn't go as planned," Elena said smoothly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

I stood up straight, looking at her.

"Are you here to mock me, Ms. Vance?"

Elena smiled faintly, handing me a dry trench coat.

"Im just here to bring my Chief Technology Officer home."

"My car is waiting. Lets go."

I didn't decline. I followed her into the Rolls-Royce Phantom parked by the curb.

Inside, the heater was blasting. Elena handed me a cup of hot coffee.

"The hard drive. You actually destroyed it?" she asked casually.

I held the warm cup, letting the heat seep into my hands.

"It was a dummy. Filled with anime files."

Elena raised an eyebrow, a smirk of appreciation playing on her lips.

"And the real source code?"

I tapped my temple.

"All in here. Im the only person on this planet who can make that system run."

Elena leaned back against the leather seat, her long fingers tapping her knee.

"Chloe thinks she can kick you out and use your tech to ring the bell on Nasdaq."

"She has no idea you built a backdoor into that entire system."

I sneered, a dark look crossing my eyes.

"Did she really think my work was that easy to steal?"

"Im going to let her climb as high as she can, just so she can feel the bone-crushing pain when she falls."

Elena looked at me, her eyes deep and scheming.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Help me prepare a grand gift," I said, watching the city lights blur past.

"Doesn't Chloe want an IPO launch? I want the whole world to see who she really is."

The next morning, while I was resting in the hotel Elena had booked for me, my phone rang frantically.

It was Chloe.

I pressed answer and quietly hit the record button.

"Ethan! What the hell did you do to the source code!"

Chloes voice was hysterical, like a wounded animal.

"Why are all the test runs showing errors? The system won't even boot up!"

"The investors want to see the final demo tomorrow morning! Hand over the decryption key right now!"

I took a slow sip of my milk.

"Ms. Aura, we are getting a divorce. Whether your company goes public or goes bankrupt has nothing to do with me."

Chloe gritted her teeth. "Ethan, don't push me!"

"You think I can't touch you just because you won't hand it over?"

"Lest you forget, your sister Lily's kidney transplant surgery years ago was paid for by the company! Three million dollars!"

"I have every single bank transfer and signature. If I report this to the police, it's grand larceny and embezzlement!"

"Its enough to put you in federal prison for ten years!"

My grip on the phone tightened.

Lily had suffered from acute kidney failure back then, needing an urgent transplant.

I was locked in the stealth lab and couldn't leave. Chloe had offered to use company funds to pay for it, saying we would deduct it from my future dividends.

So she had been setting me up even back then.

She intentionally framed that medical payment as embezzlement just so she could hold it over my head today!

"Chloe, you are truly disgusting," I spat.

"Call it whatever you want!" Chloe laughed coldly. "Three o'clock today. Come to the office, sign the divorce papers, and hand over the decryption key."

"Otherwise, expect a warrant for your arrest. You can spend the rest of your youth in a cell!"

She slammed the phone down.

I stared at the black screen, laughing out of sheer anger.

Great. Perfect.

Chloe, if you want to play dirty, lets play.