Chapter 5

The next morning, I stood outside HR clutching a termination letter. The accusations on it made me laugh.

Embezzlement? $3.2 million?

Ridiculous.

I was just a backend team lead. The biggest budget I handled was for new monitors. How the hell could I steal $3.2 million?

I marched into HR. “I want to see the audit logs and system records.”

The HR director adjusted her glasses, looking almost sorry for me.

“The company was acquired yesterday. You’ll need to ask the new owner for those records.”

“Who the hell is that?!”

“Lucas West.”

I barged into the CEO’s office. There they were—Lucas behind the desk, Diana beside him shuffling papers like nothing was wrong.

“Well, if it isn’t our coding whiz!” Lucas grinned, all teeth. “Team lead—sorry, former team lead.”

My vision went red.

But I forced myself to stay calm, taking slow breaths.

"Diana, that audit report is fake. Purchases need three approvals. I only had advisory power, not signing authority. The system logs will prove it."

Diana finally looked up. "The system was hacked. All those records are gone. Funny how it was only the ones related to your purchases, right?"

I laughed out loud. "I built this company's security system. I wrote the firewall code myself. You expect me to believe it got hacked that easily?"

Lucas kicked back in the leather chair, smirking. "That's why we're怀疑你. Insiders always make the best hackers, right? Faking logs, altering purchase orders—piece of cake for a hotshot like you."

My hands balled into fists.

"You rigged the database!"

Lucas stood up. "You need proof to make accusations. Right now, every log points to you. Enjoy the lawsuit—and maybe a jail cell."

He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "Or... you could beg. Get on your knees and maybe I'll have Diana ask the lawyers to go easy."

I felt sick to my stomach.

"Diana, say something! Don't you have any humanity left?!"

Diana met my eyes, voice flat. "You did this to yourself. We're giving you an out. Take it."

I exploded. "An out?! You lied to me for seven years, and now you frame me for embezzlement? You want to destroy my life? Is that what this is about?!"

Her face paled.

Lucas lunged forward and grabbed my arm. “Who the hell do you think you’re yelling at?!”

“Let go! You want me on my knees begging? Crawling like a dog? Dream on!”

I turned to Diana. “I’m not paying a cent. I’m not admitting to shit. Go ahead—call the cops. I’ll see you in court.”

Diana’s lips quivered.

She started to speak, but Lucas cut her off.

“Diana, go grab some coffee. Clear your head.”

She hesitated, then walked out.

The door clicked shut, and Lucas’s fake smile vanished.

“Let’s cut the crap, Adrian. You’re just bitter. Bitter she chose me, bitter you’ll get nothing in the divorce.”

My muscles tensed.

“Hit a nerve, did I?”

“That hotel photo turned out nice, huh? Diana’s skin’s so soft… like silk.”

Blood rushed in my ears.

“What’s your point?” My voice came out gravelly.

“My point? You lost. Diana’s mine—body, heart, everything. This company, her money, her future. All mine.”

“And you? You’re just trash. Waiting to be thrown out.”

I balled my fist.

The punch grazed his cheek. Lucas touched his face, eyes flashing, but then he smiled again.

"Getting desperate? Here's your last chance. Walk away with nothing, disappear, and I'll make the charges go away. You can start over."

"$3.2 million, Adrian. How many delivery orders to pay that off? A lifetime?"

That did it. Something snapped inside me.

I launched at him, tackling him to the floor. My fist was raised when the door opened.

Diana stood there.

Lucas wiped his cheek, like there was blood. "Babe, he attacked me! I was trying to talk sense into him, and he snapped!"

"I didn't—"

"Enough!"

Diana cut me off. She spoke into her walkie-talkie, and two security guards appeared, grabbing my arms.

A guard kicked the back of my knee, forcing me down.

My face smashed into the carpet.

Diana's voice was ice.

"Lucas, he hit you? Hit him back."

Lucas stepped closer, then planted his shoe on my face.

He ground his loafers into my cheek, then kicked me square in the jaw.

My nose exploded in pain. Blood poured out.

Then the pain faded. All I felt was absurdity.

Seven years of marriage, seven years of devotion. This was my reward.

Diana's voice cut through. "Adrian, you never learn. I'm calling the police. We'll see how tough you are in a cell."

Her phone rang mid-sentence.

She answered, frowning.

Her face went white as she listened.

When she hung up, she stared at me. “You… you filed for divorce?”