My Wife Thought I Was a Nobody and Offered Divorce

After the New Year's Eve gala, my wife instructed her assistant to host the opening ceremony.

During the meeting, Gideon distributed red envelopes to every employeeexcept me.

I was about to step forward and question him when he suddenly smirked and mocked me in front of everyone.

Desmond, you've been freeloading off this company for years. And now you have the nerve to beg for a red envelope?

A hushed silence fell over the room. I simply smiled, unpinned my work badge, and called my wife.

"I heard that Whitaker Group of Companies is planning to fire me. Is that true?"

All eyes were on me. The phone rang several times before the call finally connected.

Everett's impatient voice came through the speaker.

"Desmond, what nonsense are you up to now? This meeting is crucial for the company. Cant you wait until I get back?"

From the corner of my eye, I caught Gideons smug expression. I tightened my grip on the phone and responded firmly.

"No."

The next second, Everett snapped.

"Yes! I ordered Gideon to fire you. Are you satisfied now?"

I was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered.

"Give me a reason."

She let out a cold laugh.

"Reason? I am the chairman of Whitaker Group of Companies. Do I need a reason to fire someone?"

Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a blade.

"Youve been the sales manager for three years with zero achievements. And you dare ask me why?!"

Even with my phones volume at its lowest, her words rang throughout the venue.

"Desmond, listen carefully! Whitaker Group of Companies does not keep useless trash!"

With that, she hung up.

The entire room fell into dead silence.

Then, Gideon stepped forward, his voice dripping with glee.

"Everyone heard it, didnt they? Even Madam Everett herself called Desmond a waste. Why should we keep someone like that in the company?"

He smirked, reveling in my humiliation.

"I suggest you pack your things, head home, and take a nice long rest."

Then, as if struck by inspiration, he chuckled.

"If youre a kept man, you should act like one. Dont you agree, Mr. Delaney?"

I met his gaze with a calm, unwavering stare and sneered.

"So, according to Gideon, Ive been nothing but dead weight here?"

Gideon let out a boisterous laugh, his face practically glowing with triumph.

But he had no ideahis laughter was premature.

"What else?"

Gideon sneered.

"At work, you're either glued to your phone or playing games. You know nothing about business. If it werent for your connection to the president, youd have been fired long ago."

His voice dripped with disdain as he continued.

"Keeping dead weight like you in this company is a complete waste of resources."

I raised a finger and slowly wagged it.

"No, no, no. Gideon, I think you were right about most things, but theres one point I disagree with."

My confidence seemed to catch him off guard. His smirk faltered for a moment.

"Oh? And what would that be?"

His gaze narrowed suspiciously.

"Dont tell me you actually believe Whitaker Group of Companies cant function without you?"

I smiled, then nodded firmly.

"Thats exactly what Im saying."

"If I leave, Whitaker Group of Companies will go bankrupt."

The moment the words left my lips, the previously silent meeting room erupted.

"Oh my god, this guy is delusional! Whitaker Group of Companies is one of the top 500 companies in the country. How could it collapse because of some insignificant manager?"

"Exactly! He only has this job because he married the chairman. Hes been sitting around doing nothing, collecting three years' worth of salary for free."

"Disgusting! How can a person like him even exist? A kept man, a leechhe should just disappear!"

The room buzzed with ridicule and scorn, but I simply smiled, unfazed.

Little did they knowreality was about to hit them harder than they could ever imagine.

The jeers and insults grew louder, but I remained indifferent.

Because every word I said was the truth.

Whitaker Group of Companiess risefrom a small firm with just a handful of employees to a listed corporation with tens of thousandswas not thanks to Everett, as they all seemed to believe.

It was because of me. Or rather, the power behind me.

Theodore Whitaker, the true founder of Whitaker Group of Companies, had once traveled all the way from New York to London, just to ask me to marry his granddaughter. He held a marriage certificate in his handone that bore my grandfathers signature.

I was young then, too na?ve to understand love. I only thought that if my grandfather arranged it, he must have had his reasons.

Never did I expect that after supporting Whitaker Group of Companiess meteoric rise, I would be cast aside as a useless burden.

The thought alone sent a surge of anger through me.

Fine. If thats how they wanted to play, Id go straight to Theodore himself and askwas the Whitaker Family truly willing to turn against me?

And if he insisted on letting Everett remain as chairman then I wouldnt hesitate to drag the Whitaker Family back to where they were three years ago.

I turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Gideons voice rang out behind me.

"Mr. Delaney, youre just walking away like that?"

Slowly, I turned back toward the stage, meeting his smirk with a calm gaze.

"What? Gideon, are you planning to treat me to dinner?"

He stared at me for a long moment before speaking.

"Before you go, leave behind everything that belongs to the company."

I narrowed my eyes.

"I already handed over my work badge. What else could I possibly have?"

Gideon sneered and raised the microphone.

"Take off your work uniform."

The room erupted once more.

Laughter, jeers, mocking whispers filled the air. Most of the employees watched with gleeful anticipation, while only a fewthose who had once been close to mecast uneasy glances my way.

It was pathetic. Just moments ago, these people called me "Sir Desmond." Now, not one of them had the guts to stand up for me.

So this was the so-called professionalism of employees in a top-listed company?

In my opinion, the Whitaker Familys rapid rise over the past three years had been far too easy.

Gideon, growing impatient at my silence, clicked his tongue.

"Hey, Des! Im talking to you. Are you pretending not to hear me?"

I smiled, looking at him with complete composure.

"What if I refuse?"

A flicker of irritation crossed his face before he scoffed, his eyes brimming with arrogance.

"You're the first person who's ever dared to talk back to me. I dont know who gave you the courage."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice to a condescending drawl.

"Boy, even your wife doesnt want you anymore. What right do you have to act high and mighty in front of me?"

I chuckled.

"Who told you that I needed to rely on Everett?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Gideons lackeys immediately jumped in.

"Ha! Listen to this guytalking big like hes someone important!"

"Right? If you didnt have Everett, you'd be nothing but a stray dog!"

"If Everett hears this, youll probably have to kneel on a washboard all night when you go home."

They laughed, enjoying the spectacle.

I said nothing. Instead, I calmly memorized every single one of their faces.

Then, I turned to Gideon, my expression unreadable.

"If Im not mistaken, you and these clowns youre all in the same group, arent you?"

The laughter falteredjust for a moment.

As a sharp businessman, keen insight is second nature.

From the moment this meeting started, I had noticed how these people clung to Gideon, laughing at his every word, nodding along like obedient lapdogs. They had also received the largest red envelopes at the start of the yearso full they were nearly bursting.

The company had a clear policy: the annual start-up red envelopes were to be equal for everyone, regardless of rank or position. Yet, these people were different. It was obvious Gideon had manipulated things from behind the scenes.

And Everett, foolish as ever, had actually entrusted him with such an important position.

Even I, the true power behind this company, could hardly stand watching this farce unfold.

"You little bastard, what nonsense are you spewing? We have nothing to do with Gideon!"

"That's right! We just can't stand watching you leech off the companys resources, so we spoke up!"

"What right do you, a kept man, have to question us?"

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. My sharp glare shut them up for a moment. Then, I smirked.

"I admit Im indeed younger and more handsome than all of you," I said casually.

Then, my expression turned ice-cold. My voice, sharper than a knife, cut through the air.

"But I dont appreciate being called a gigolo."

I took a step forward, locking eyes with them.

"I suggest you never use that term again."

"Because if I get angry, the consequences will be severe."

My sudden shift in presence made them stiffen. For a moment, they were speechless, their cowardice laid bare.

Gideon, seeing his lackeys falter, stepped forward with an ugly scowl.

"You little bastard, do you think Ill let you get away with this?"

"Youre just a worthless bum who got fired. And yet, you dare to act all high and mighty in front of me?"

"Let me make it cleartoday, Im not just kicking you out of this company, Im going to make you strip down and leave in shame!"

I almost laughed at how ridiculous he sounded.

New Yorks business world was certainly more entertaining than Londons. At least here, I got to witness a clown show in broad daylight.

"Gideon, do your words represent the company?" I asked, my voice eerily calm.

Gideon waved dismissively. "Of course!"

"Boy, let me spell it out for you. Madam Everett is divorcing you. She never liked younot from the beginning, not ever."

I smirked, unfazed. "Oh? Is that so?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Did Everett tell you that herself?"

Gideon sneered and nodded. "Obviously! You dont actually think the chairman of a listed company would ever fall for a loser like you, do you?"

"If it werent for the old chairman forcing her, youd have been kicked out ages ago!"

So my suspicions were correct.

The Whitaker Family thought they were strong enough now to abandon me. That they could just toss me aside after using me to build their empire.

But they had seriously miscalculated.

Did they really think they could betray me and walk away unscathed?

I had single-handedly built the Whitaker Familys empire in just three years. With a single phone call, I could strip them of everythingreduce them back to nothing.

But where was the fun of ending things so soon?

No, this game was just beginning.

Gideon had no idea what was going through my mind. Seeing me stand there silently, he assumed I was scared. His grin widened, his arrogance grew.

"Hey, Des, everyones waiting. Are you going to take off your clothes, or should I have someone do it for you?"

As he spoke, Gideon raised the microphone and bellowed toward the entrance.

"Security! Get in here!"

With his command, more than a dozen security personnel wearing Whitaker Group of Companies badges stormed into the venue. Under Gideons direction, they quickly surrounded me, forming a tight perimeter.

Meanwhile, Gideon stepped down from the rostrumbut despite his bravado, he stayed safely behind the security guards, keeping a cautious two-meter distance from me.

"Gideon, are you really trying to force my hand?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with warning. "Dont forgetIm still legally married. Arent you afraid of how Everett will react when she finds out about this?"

At my words, Gideon threw his head back and laughed.

"I knew youd hide behind Everett! Lucky for me, I came prepared."

With a smug grin, he pulled out his phone in front of the crowd, dialed a number, and after a few rings, pressed the speaker button.

Everetts voice came through loud and clear.

"Desmond, I want a divorce."

The entire room fell silent.

I remained expressionless. "Judging from your tone, Everett, you must have found a new buyer, havent you?"

I could practically hear the excitement in her voice.

"Name your price," she said. "As long as you agree to the divorce, you can have whatever amount you want."

She avoided answering my question directly, but I wasnt in a rush. This was a slow gamelike boiling a frog in warm water.

I let out a soft chuckle. "No need to pay me. I believe the Whitaker Family will collapse soon enough."

Then, my tone turned cold and sharp as a blade.

"I just want to know one thingwho dared to take a woman from me?"

Everett scoffed. "You dont deserve to know his name."

"But Ill tell you thishes from London. Hes at a level youll never reach in your lifetime."

At that, I almost laughed out loud. A man from London? How could I not know who he was? I just found it amusing that someone had the audacity to challenge me.

Before I could respond, Gideon snatched the phone back.

"Alright, alright, even if Everett told you who he was, what could you possibly do?" he sneered. "Be smart, Desmond. Strip off your clothes now and at least walk away with a breakup fee."

"For a kept man like you, isnt that the best deal you could hope for?"

He kept pushing, taunting me over and over again. But instead of reacting, I held back. Not out of fearbut because I needed to confirm who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Now that the truth was coming to light, there was no need to tolerate him any longer.

"Enough!" My voice cuts through the room like a whip.

I swept my gaze over the gathered employees, then spoke with quiet authority.

"This meeting is over."

"You all have two choicesleave now while you still can, or stay and be my enemy."

"And let me be clearI never show mercy to my enemies."

For a brief moment, the room was silent.

Then, laughter erupted.

"You hear that? This pretty boy thinks he can order us around!"

"Desmond, do you think youre still a big shot?!"

"Didnt you hear the call? Even Everett has abandoned you. What right do you have to make threats?"

Their mockery filled the air, but I didnt flinch. I simply exhaled slowly, suppressing the fire in my chest.

And when I spoke next, my voice was dangerously calm.

"I dont know if youve heard the sayingtheres always someone better than you."

I met their amused stares with a calm gaze, my disappointment settling deeper.

"I, Desmond, never rely on women to get things done."

Their laughter echoed through the room, a sharp contrast to the cold realization creeping over me. So, this was the so-called workplace? The same people who once spoke to me with respect now mocked me without hesitationjust because Everett wanted to divorce me.

Was this the price of staying low-key?

For years, I had concealed my true strength, keeping a low profile. Even when I overheard employees gossiping about me, calling me a mere son-in-law or a gigolo, I never bothered to correct them. It was beneath me. But now, I could see how my silence had only emboldened their arrogance.

Gideon, growing impatient with my lack of reaction, scowled.

"Mr. Delaney, Ill count to three. If you dont strip, Ill have them do it for you!"

I slid my hands into my pockets and met his gaze with an amused smirk.

"Alright, alright. Ive played along long enough. I suppose its time to remind you all exactly who I am."

Gideons face twisted in rage. With a snarl, he rolled up his sleeves and lunged at me

But before he could reach me, the doors to the conference room burst open.

Everyone, including Gideon, turned their heads in unison.

A young man, about my age, strode in with an air of arrogance, his every step demanding attention.

"Desmond," he drawled, his voice carrying an unmistakable confidence. "I heard you were asking about me?"