It didn’t matter anymore; there was nothing in that house worth holding on to.
As I turned to wait for a taxi, a few familiar neighbors walked by, pointing and whispering behind cupped hands.
"That’s her, the one who cheated and tried to leave her husband with nothing."
"Heard she didn’t even care when her son was sick, just ran off to meet her lover..."
I clenched my teeth, refusing to argue. With my parents fueling the gossip in the neighborhood chat, nothing I said would change their minds.
Once I got into the taxi, I booked a random hotel and checked in. Soaking in the warm bathtub, I finally let myself fall apart.
The hot water rolled down my cheeks, but no amount of heat could wash away the sting of betrayal from everyone I once trusted.
Just then, my phone screen lit up. A new message appeared in Kyro’s fishing group chat.
He’d tagged everyone, saying he couldn’t go fishing today, he had something to do.
As I scrolled up, I saw the message he posted on the very day our son was hospitalized.
[Caught a top-quality black koi today. Amazing feel! @Zeus, you catch anything today?]
My dad replied almost instantly.
[You lucky brat. I only pulled up a few worthless little ones.]
[Young folks know how to enjoy themselves. This old back of mine can only manage dinner-sized fish.]
Staring at those words, black koi, my stomach twisted violently.
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a call from the top-tier lawyer.
“Miss Castillo, all the paperwork’s ready. Whether you choose a contested or amicable divorce, we’ll ensure your best interests are fully protected.”
After I hung up, a wave of relief finally settled over me, and I sank into a deep sleep.
By the next morning, the moment I stepped into the office building, I felt eyes follow me from the elevator to the hallway.
When I pushed open the door to my office, all conversation stopped.
“Director Castillo, the boss is looking for you.”
My assistant kept her head down, avoiding my gaze, then silently gestured toward a box nearby.
One glance was enough; it was packed with my personal belongings.
I walked into the boss’s office. He didn’t bother with pleasantries.
“Eloise, the company has decided to terminate your contract. Here’s your severance.”
“Why? Didn’t we agree I’d take over the Roseville branch after finishing this project?”
He pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward me.
“Your personal scandal has affected the company’s image. It’s already all over the internet, see for yourself.”
Right there on the trending page was a headline screaming accusations of infidelity and trying to force my husband to leave with nothing.
The phrase “Modern-Day Lady Macbeth” burned across the screen like a scarlet brand.
I clicked on the video, and it was surveillance footage from the private dining room yesterday.
From the angle, it was clearly taken from the restaurant’s cameras.
And the only person who could’ve accessed and leaked it was Kyro.
He really meant to ruin me.
Colleagues nearby stared with disgust. A few even raised their voices on purpose.
“So much for pretending to be pure and noble. She’s just a slut!”
“Now it makes sense how she landed that executive role…”
I said nothing. I calmly signed the resignation and walked out with my box.
As I stepped out of the company building, I dialed my senior from university. “You mentioned wanting to open a branch together. Does that offer still stand?”
His voice burst through the line, both surprised and thrilled.
“Of course! You’ve finally decided? When can you start?”
“Three days from now. I’ll head to Roseville.”
After ending the call, I went straight to the mall to buy some clothes.
But the moment I stepped into the women’s section, I heard hushed voices and saw fingers pointing my way.
“That’s her… the shameless woman from the video.”
The murmurs swelled, drawing a small crowd, and the insults came sharper, louder.
“You call yourself a mother? Your kid was sick and you didn’t even care!”
“Your son was rushed to the hospital this morning with vomiting and diarrhea, and here you are, shopping like nothing happened!”
