In the next couple of days, the investigation carried out by the Disciplinary Department was very detailed. They dug out everything I did at the company for the past 15 years.
They looked at all the reimbursement forms that I had submitted and all the records of everything I took from the storage room.
The investigator was looking at me as if he were looking at a criminal in court.
News of me being grounded had quickly spread within the company.
The people who were congratulating me on my arriving back home safely were now all avoiding me.
Some people who had a grudge against me began criticizing me.
"I knew it! What did I say? Felix's bound to get into trouble sooner or later!"
"You really can't judge a book by its cover. He really does know how to put on a good act."
"I've heard that the amount he's embezzled is enough for him to be given a life imprisonment sentence."
A couple of first officers who weren't on good terms with me were overjoyed and even began spreading exaggerated rumors about me on the internet.
It seemed that they wished I would stay down.
Only the first officer that I had trained personally, Rick, sent me a message.
"I trust you, Captain Lawson! You're someone who feels you're taking advantage of the company by taking an extra bottle of water during an overnight flight. How could you embezzle millions? Those bastards are just jealous of you! Just ignore them!"
After reading the message, tears began welling up in my eyes.
However, Jean wanted to make sure I stayed down.
She began playing the victim on social media and in front of our mutual friends.
She posted a photo of her swollen red eye, saying, "Looks like the past 10 years have gone to waste. I thought I had married the man of my dreams, but it seemed that I was wrong. I feel so hurt."
The comments under that post were filled with comfort from her friends.
"Aww, Jean, don't cry. You can always leave that scumbag and start a new life!"
"I knew there was something about him that was off! Looks like the reason that he rarely talks to anyone is that he doesn't want to give anything away!"
"You must make sure he's left with nothing after the divorce!"
It was the middle of the night. I had no idea why Jean would do this to me.
I didn't know what came over me, but I went and looked at Jean's social media account.
The post that she had pinned to the top was actually an intimate photo of her and another man.
The store in the background was a luxury watch brand that I knew.
The man had his hand on her waist, and she had a big smile on her face.
The flashy women's watch on her wrist cost at least 5 figures.
I knew the man in the photo. I had met him once at a banquet.
He used to go to the same university as Jean and was a year above her. Jean always told me how rich he was. His name was Kyle Jones.
The text that came with the photo was, "Thanks, babe, for the watch. It's time for a new start!"
The date of the post was the second day after I was grounded.
It seemed that she had been well prepared for this.
The whistleblower report was to take all my assets and marry into an affluent family.
At that moment, I wasn't angry or upset.
I punched the wall hard. Blood trickled down my hands, but I didn't feel any pain at all.
The public opinion on the internet quickly became one-sided. To everyone, I was a scumbag who embezzled millions from the company and cheated on my wife.
The next day, I went to inquire with a lawyer about my divorce.
When the lawyer read the divorce agreement, his face became serious.
"Things don't look good for you, Captain Lawson. If the company finds evidence that you are embezzling funds, then the judge will definitely favor your wife. If that's the case, then it's very likely that you'll be left with nothing."
At that moment, I thought of my parents, who were living in another city.
I didn't want them to be worried, so I didn't dare tell them anything.
But the people who used to be my friends were now avoiding me.
Under such circumstances, I really didn't stand a chance.
