"Mr. Graves, why don't you just forgive Marian and Frederick? Let it go."
My hand tightened around the cup. "After what they did, you're asking me to forgive them?"
"Look, I know Marian went a bit too far, and Frederick was out of line.
"But Marian is the backbone of this company. Every major project has her name on it.
"You have to think about the bigger picture here, don't you?"
I couldn't speak.
The executive smiled at me. "How about this: I give Marian and Frederick a formal warning on their records, and for you, I can arrange a settlement payment.
"I'm sorry about the child, I truly am. But you and Marian can always have another one. You're still husband and wife.
"Marian's career is booming. You'll only benefit more from that."
I was so furious I laughed. "Fine, protect her. But why are you protecting Frederick too?"
The executive paused for a moment.
"You didn't know? Frederick was personally recommended and vouched for by Marian."
I nearly dropped the cup.
I had submitted my resume to this tech company three times.
Every single time, it vanished without a trace. No explanation.
I had begged Marian. Begged her to put in a word with her bosses, just to get me an interview.
Not a guaranteed position. Just an interview.
I knew her influence. She wouldn't have even needed to ask permission to give me that much.
But she said she had to keep things professional.
She told me not to put her in a difficult position.
So for me, it was about keeping things professional.
For Frederick, it was a direct recommendation straight to the top.
My knuckles went white around the cup. I stared at her.
"And if I don't accept?"
The executive gave a thin smile. "I'd advise you, Mr. Graves, not to pick a fight with the company."
I hadn't been gone from the building long.
The internet was suddenly flooded with posts about me.
Deranged Husband Uses Son's Death to Extort Wife
Tech Rising Star Marian Henson's Troubled Home Life
Husband Suspects Wife of Affair with Male Colleague? Was Son's Death a Tool for Revenge?
Just like that, the public sympathy I'd had evaporated. The crowd turned on me overnight.
The comment sections overflowed with praise for Marian and Frederick.
Had the privilege of working with Ms. Henson once. Genuinely wonderful person, flawless professionally, and always appropriate with male colleagues.
I don't know what Marian Henson's husband could possibly have to complain about.
Maybe George Graves is the one who's been cheating?
I've met Mr. Delgado in person. Incredibly kind, very respectful toward women. Guess when you're that successful, jealous people just come crawling out of the woodwork.
That level of trending traffic didn't happen organically.
I knew Marian's hand was behind it.
I went back to the home I hadn't set foot in for three years.
I ran my fingers over the photograph on Freddy's urn, smiling bitterly.
"I'm sorry, buddy. Daddy didn't protect you."
A set of divorce papers landed on the table.
I had just reached for Freddy's urn to take him with me when the door was kicked open.
Marian stormed in, dragging Frederick behind her. His forehead was wrapped in gauze.
"Where's Freddy?"
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?"
Marian let out a cold laugh. "Frederick got hurt. You put Freddy up to it, didn't you?"
"Marian!"
My fists clenched. "What are you talking about?"
Frederick gritted his teeth.
"Mr. Graves, why bother denying it? When that kid came at me with a hammer, I saw his face clear as day. It was him.
"He said he was getting revenge for you.
"If Marian hadn't shown up when she did, I was completely caught off guard. That kid might've actually killed me."
I clenched my jaw.
