She defeats her ex-husband and rises to become a billionaire

Chapter 5 The Mysterious Email

"Divorce?" He snorted derisively. "Then why don't you tell your new boss? Or do you think hiding your marital status will make it easier for you to gain his favor?"

I trembled all over. "That's not the case... I..."

Before I could finish, he roughly tore open my clothes. My struggle turned into begging. "Please, don't do this..."

"Why didn't you say no on that night when I was drunk?" His voice was as cold as ice. "Don't you always want me? Now I'm giving myself to you."

At that moment, I suddenly understood. This was revenge, a punishment for my taking advantage of him way back then. I stopped struggling and let the tears roll down. "Fine. From now on, we're even. I don't owe you anything anymore."

After dawn, I didn't dare to go back to the hotel. I sat in a nearby Starbucks for a long time before just replying a message to Sarah: "I can't continue to participate in the jewelry exhibition. Please help me take my luggage back to the company. I'll pick it up tomorrow."

She just replied with an "OK". She was probably in a meeting, and I didn't want to say more.

When I went to the company to pick up my things the next day, Sarah threw my backpack on my desk. "Mr. Smith wants to see you."

I had offended the investor. I probably would be fired on the grounds of "seriously violating professional ethics".

Pushing open the office door, Mr. Smith was looking at some documents. His expression was calm, as if that embarrassing scene of that night had never happened.

"I do have a good impression of you," he said straightforwardly. "But not in the way you think. I appreciate your professional ability, especially your unique insights into jewelry design."

I nervously fidgeted with the corner of my clothes. When I was pushed into his car that night, my resistance must have been too obvious on my face.

He continued, "Moreover, I didn't know you were married."

I had written "divorced" on the employment form. Now James publicly declared that I was his wife. I wondered what my colleagues would think of me. I just wished I could disappear right then and there. "I'll go and take care of my resignation now."

"Wait," he took out a document. "The jewelry design plan you put forward is very creative. I hope to see the detailed design drafts by the end of this month, including your design concept."

"Okay, I'll go and prepare the design drafts right away." I picked up the document and turned to leave.

"By the way," his voice came. "Regarding yesterday's absenteeism, three days' salary will be deducted according to the regulations."

I gritted my teeth and said nothing. At least I managed to keep my job.

Back at my workstation, Anna looked at me thoughtfully. "I heard that Mr. Smith has made you a full-time employee ahead of schedule? It seems that our design department will have one more person on our side. By the way, your husband... no, ex-husband, is really handsome and is really envy-inducing."

"We're already divorced," I interrupted her directly. "And what happened that night was just a misunderstanding."

"Sorry," Anna's expression became concerned. "Do you want to go to the lounge and sit for a while?"

"No need," I turned on my computer and brought up the design software. "I still have an important project to work on."

I focused on my work.

In the past, I would toss and turn because of a single word from James, but now, I have more important things to do.

This series must be completed by the end of the month. I want to prove my worth.

The design plan received unexpectedly positive feedback. Mr. Smith said he would make it the main series for the brand next quarter. When I got my salary at the end of the month, I also received a generous project bonus.

Finally, I was finally able to take my Mom to see a new house.

I wanted to rent a two-bedroom apartment, but Mom insisted on a smaller one. "Sooner or later, you'll move back to James. It's a waste for me to live in a big apartment alone." I didn't have the heart to tell her about the divorce, so I rented a studio apartment and slept on the sofa myself.

But it's much better than the previous studio apartment. At least there's a private bathroom, and I don't have to queue up to use the toilet in the middle of the night.

I happily went to work on Monday, only to find that the atmosphere in the company was unusual.

My colleagues' eyes were shifty, and they were whispering to each other. As soon as I sat down, Anna nervously poked me. "Hurry, look at the internal email."

I opened my mailbox, and there was an email sent to the whole company right in front of me.

When I clicked it open, my hands started to shake. My job application materials and photo were attached in the email, and below was a malicious message:

"Everyone, see this woman's true face: She used low-down means to steal her best friend's fiancé. After getting divorced, she seduced the company's senior management and got promotion opportunities through quid pro quo."

My first reaction was to stand up and refute loudly.

But reason told me that being irrational would just make things worse and complicate the situation.

I took a deep breath, silently closed the email, and continued working.

Yes, I really didn't have the strength to push James away the night he got drunk. But I never seduced anyone. Every achievement of mine was earned through my own strength.

"Will you stop it already?" Anna suddenly stood up and yelled at those who were gawking. "If you have so much time to gossip, why don't you go and finish your design drafts!"

Although the overt chatter decreased, I knew the rumors in the break room and the restroom were still spreading.

Whenever I heard my colleagues describe me with the nastiest words, I wanted to submit my resignation directly.

But I told myself that for the sake of making a living, I had to persevere.

When I got off work that day, I finally couldn't keep from crying on the bus. Fortunately, there weren't many people on the bus, so I could let my tears flow freely.

I wiped away my tears and was gonna go home and pretend nothing had happened.

Just as I entered the neighborhood, I saw Mrs. Jones, my next-door neighbor, running over in a hurry. "Something's wrong! Your mom fainted in the courtyard downstairs!"