It no longer mattered. After all, there was nothing left in that house worth lingering over. Just when I turned to wait for the bus, a neighbor I recognized passed by and pointed straight at me.
"Look! That’s the guy. He’s the one who cheated on his wife and tried to kick her out!"
"I heard he ignored his daughter’s illness because he was busy having an affair with some slut … "
I clenched my teeth, unwilling to argue.
With my parents testifying in the homeowners' group, no amount of explanation would make a difference. After getting on the bus, I checked into a random hotel. Once I soaked in the warm tub, I finally let myself break down and cry.
The hot water poured over my face, but it couldn’t wash away the feeling that the entire world had betrayed me. Soon, my phone screen lit up. A new message appeared in Miranda’s fishing group.
It seemed that she had tagged everyone, saying she wouldn’t be able to fish today because she was ‘busy’.
Scrolling further, I saw a post from the day Olive had been hospitalized. She had proudly shared in the group.
[I caught an impressively huge fish today. It felt amazing!]
[@Vicky_Lewinsky, did you catch anything today?]
My mother had quickly replied.
[You’re such a good fisherwoman, you quick woman! I only have a few small fish here.]
[Young people know how to have fun. My old waist can only catch some home-cooked dishes.]
I stared at the words of ‘impressively huge fish’ and my stomach churned all over again. Just then, my phone vibrated. It was from my lawyer.
"Mr. Lewinsky, all the documents have been compiled. Whether it’s an amicable divorce or a straight-up legal battle, we can ensure you get the best deal."
After I ended the call, I felt slightly more comfortable. Then, I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
However, on the very next day, I was met with strange glances in the elevator as I walked into the office.
When I opened the office door, everyone’s conversation stopped cold.
"Mr. Lewinsky, the boss wants to see you."
My current boss’ assistant lowered his head, avoiding eye contact and gestured toward a nearby cubicle. At a glance, I saw it was filled with my personal belongings. The moment I walked into my boss’s office, he told me straight away.
"Anthony, the company has decided to terminate your employment contract. This is your compensation."
"Why? We agreed that once I handed off the current projects, I’d transfer to the Boston branch as head!"
He pulled out his phone and flipped it toward me.
"Your personal matter has affected the company’s image. It’s gone viral. Take a look."
The trending topic was all about me, cheating on my wife and kicking her out of the house. The words ‘A Huge Piece of Shit’ blazed in bold across the headlines. Clicking on one of the videos, I could see the very scene from the room at the hotel the day before.
Seeing the angle, it had to be hotel surveillance footage. Who else but Miranda could have requested that footage? Clearly, she had gone to great lengths to destroy me.
My colleagues stared at me with disgust.
One even shouted, "You act so noble, yet you’re actually a scumbag!"
"I toatall have no idea how someone like you made it to an executive role … "
I calmly signed the resignation agreement and took my box of belongings with me.
After leaving the building, I called my former team leader, Wynona Black.
"Is that offer to start a branch together still on the table?"
A surprised voice came through the line.
"Of course! You finally came around? When can we start?"
"I’ll be in Boston in three days."
After I ended up the call, I stopped by the mall to buy a change of clothes. But as I entered the men’s section, I heard people whispering and pointing.
"That’s him! The asshole from the video!"
Soon, a crowd gathered and the insults began.
"Are you even worthy of being a father? You ignored your daughter when she was sick!"
