Chapter 2

"Madelyn, you and I are about the same size. These are spare pants I keep at the office. Please take them."

An employee handed me a bag with sympathetic eyes, speaking softly.

I forced an awkward smile to show my gratitude, but my chest felt like it was tearing apart.

I should have noticed River's change of heart long ago.

I'd paid fifty thousand dollars to buy Vivian's life from her parents.

If I hadn't saved her back then, she would've been sold to a crippled, blind man who'd beaten three wives to death.

I bathed her, bought her clothes, hired tutors for her studies.

After college graduation, I arranged for her to join the company directly.

At first, River was very resistant, finding her stupid, childish, and incapable of doing anything.

He even fired her behind my back once.

I was the one who convinced River to gradually accept her.

But in the end, this is how Vivian repaid me. And I never expected River would trample on me together with her.

Too dispirited to work anymore, I hurried home.

During this time, I kept trying to contact River, but he never responded.

I sat numbly on the sofa until ten at night, when Vivian finally posted on social media:

[Thanks to my boss for canceling another partnership to take me out for a beautiful dinner. Today's another day of being pampered by the boss~]

Below the caption was her affected photo.

In the bottom left corner of the photo was River's hand, serving her food.

I stared quietly at this photo until my eyes slowly started burning.

Then a call from a partner manager interrupted me:

"Madelyn, why can't today's partnership or the previous one proceed?"

"Also, what's the deal with that woman next to River?"

The group chat?

While on the phone, the manager sent me chat records.

In the chat history,

The photo of my exposed underwear after my pants were torn had been posted in the group by Vivian,

Without any censorship at all!

And Vivian was also posting mocking emojis while saying:

[The color of her panties is so tacky? My mom wouldn't even wear this color~]

[Sigh, as expected, old women have no advantages to keep a man. You still have to look at us young people!]

"Madelyn, one of my employees has access to this group. He sent it to me because Mr. River's photo looked familiar."

"But before that, this photo had already spread. In our operations circle, this is a major taboo!"

My palms were already bleeding from where I'd dug my nails in. My throat tasted metallic.

But I still forced myself to chat with the manager for a few moments before hanging up.

Just then, the front door finally opened. River had come home.

His face still carried a trace of satisfaction he never had when with me.

On his collarbone was an ambiguous red mark.

"Madelyn, you're still awake?"

River's face looked relaxed, as if nothing had happened.

I threw my phone on the table, staring at him expressionlessly.

He frowned slightly, picked up the phone, and looked at it for a moment. After a long pause, he sighed.

"Madelyn, I understand how you feel right now, but Vivian actually did this for your own good!"

I was stunned, unable to believe my ears for a moment.

What was he saying?

River smiled lightly.

"In the past, our company's operations concept was very old-fashioned and official. But after Vivian took over operations management, the account's followers gradually increased."

"This fully proves that her entertainment-oriented, influencer-style approach is very innovative. That's what people online love to see now."

"You're usually too calm and cold. Having some energy and liveliness is good. Just stop holding grudges against Vivian!"

I laughed bitterly. River must have forgotten—

The previous operations concept was something he'd consulted with me for a long time before carefully deciding on.

Now, for Vivian's sake, he'd even abandoned the work attitude he used to value most.

Turns out people really can rot in an instant.

A person's sincerity can also change in an instant...

I took a deep breath, looking steadily at River.

"River, if this is the excuse you're making for Vivian's mistakes, I don't accept it."

"Your unprofessional attitude toward work, standing up partners, your terrible behavior, and trampling on my sincerity—"

"River, let's break up. The person you are now is no longer worthy of standing by my side!"

But River just laughed, shaking his head.

"Stop being dramatic, Madelyn. Right now I hold the most shares. If you break up with me, what will you have left?"

"You haven't worked hands-on in a long time. Isn't it nice to let Vivian handle things while you relax at home?"

He dismissed it, walking straight into the bedroom without looking back.

A smile tugged at my lips.

River, I warned you.

You're the one who didn't cherish this last chance.