Chapter 2

"Oh, look at Mr. Monroe. Usually so arrogant, locking himself in his office all day. Turns out he was just riding on someone else's coattails!"

"I knew it! 'Chief Engineer'? What a joke. He’s nothing without Mikel!"

"Stealing credit and hitting on the boss. He’s truly shameless."

"She already has a family, and he still clings to her every day. How disgusting."

Listening to the whispers of my employees, my clenched fists slowly relaxed. Maybe I was just too angry to care anymore. My heart suddenly went cold and numb, like still water.

Mikel put on a show, waving his hands in mock humility.

"Oh, come on, guys. I only helped with the core algorithm. Most of the credit still goes to Frank."

It sounded like he was praising me. But in reality, he was telling everyone that he was the mastermind behind the core tech, and I was just a useless figurehead.

"Frank, don't be so petty," Rachel said, frowning. Her eyes were filled with protectiveness for Mikel as she looked down at me.

She gently stroked the boy’s hair. I couldn't believe my eyes. This was the same Rachel who used to detest children. Now, she was acting like the most loving mother in the world.

"Mikel, don't say that," Rachel said softly, her voice filled with pride. "Others might not know, but I do. I know how much sweat you put into this project. You deserve all the glory."

She gave Mikel a flirtatious look.

If slacking off in the office counted as "sweat," then yes, he worked incredibly hard.

Looking at Mikel in his tailored suit, I laughed.

The guy didn't even graduate from high school. He started out as a street thug, learned a tiny bit of basic coding, and now he was standing here basking in the applause of the tech elite.

To get this company off the ground, I had pulled all-nighters for a week straight until I collapsed and ended up in the ICU.

And now, this useless slacker who had been at the company for less than six months was calling me petty. It was hilarious.

What did my years of silent support and sacrifices even mean to her?

My legal wife was standing on a stage, holding another man's kid, playing happy family.

I guess the internet was right. Years of devotion can't compare to a single look from a first love.

I swept my cold gaze across the room, finally letting it rest on Rachel and Mikel. My eyes were filled with pure contempt.

To put it bluntly, I built this company from scratch. I provided the funding. I wrote the code. Without me, this place would have gone bankrupt years ago.

Those long nights of coding were brutal. But I kept pushing because I thought I was building a future for Rachel and me.

But now? They looked like a happy family, and I looked like an intruder in my own life.

Suddenly, a familiar, annoying voice cut through the crowd. "Oh, look. Isn't that Frank? What are you still standing here for?"

I looked up. Rachel's best friend, Lillian, was walking over, swaying her hips.

She was dripping in designer logos and heavy makeup, her eyes filled with mock pity.

"Lillian? You made it!" Rachel smiled in surprise.

Lillian linked her arm through Rachel’s and shot me a nasty look.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss your big day for the world."

"Such a successful launch! You're finally on top."

Then, she turned her eyes to Mikel, practically beaming.

"Mikel, you are amazing! I always knew you had it in you. Handling the core R&D of such a massive project... Rachel is so lucky to have you."

Mikel fake-smiled. "You flatter me, Lillian. It was a team effort."

Lillian waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, don't be so modest. Everyone knows you did the heavy lifting. Unlike some people who sit in their offices doing God-knows-what, yet have the nerve to steal credit."

My face went pale with anger.

"Lillian, watch your mouth. Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do? Who do you think funded this company all these years?"