Chapter 1The Intern's Betrayal

After a company intern reported me, my wife said he was just being naive.

“Sir, we’re going to need to open your suitcase for inspection.”

The customs officer’s face was grim as he pulled me aside.

I froze, watching as they pulled the packet of white powder from a hidden compartment with unnerving precision.

Three days later, my wife picked me up from the detention center.

“He’s just an intern, he doesn’t know any better,” she said, her tone casual. “Don’t take it personally.”

That was the moment I realized.

This marriage should have ended a long time ago.

* * *

The click of the lock turning echoed in the quiet hall as I dragged my exhausted body through the door. The wheels of my suitcase screeched against the polished floor.

The living room lights were blinding, making my eyes ache.

The moment he saw me, the intern, Jackson, shot up from the sofa. His eyes were red-rimmed, his lip trembling.

He was wearing my slippers. The gray cotton ones I’d bought just last month.

The sight of them on his feet was a jarring violation.

“Mr. Reilly,” he choked out, his voice thick with an emotion that suggested he was the one who had been wronged. “I really didn’t know it was just your sinus medication in the bag.”

“I thought it was… something illegal. I didn’t mean to, please don’t be angry.”

Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

I watched him in silence, saying nothing.

My wife, Kendra, walked over and patted Jackson’s shoulder. Her voice was so gentle it felt foreign to me.

“It’s alright, Jackson. Don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

She turned to me, a hint of reprimand in her eyes. “Ethan, don’t be so hard on him. Jackson just graduated; he doesn’t have any real-world experience. How was he supposed to know the ins and outs of these things?”

I stared at her, my throat tightening. “So you think him reporting me, getting me detained by customs for three days, is just a minor inconvenience?”

Kendra frowned. “But you’re out now, aren’t you? Nothing really happened.”

Jackson hung his head, his voice a barely audible whisper. “Mr. Reilly, I’m really, truly sorry.”

“You seem pretty comfortable in my slippers,” I cut him off, my voice low.

Jackson’s head snapped up, his face instantly draining of color. He glanced down at his feet in a panic, stammering, “I-I was just…”

I took a step closer, my voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Because you think you can just walk in and out of this house as you please?”

Kendra suddenly stepped between us, her tone turning icy. “Ethan, that’s enough! Jackson is here to apologize. What is this attitude?”

I looked at her, and a wave of absurdity washed over me.

“Kendra,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I want a divorce.”

The air froze.

Jackson’s eyes widened, his lips trembling even more violently. He stumbled forward, his knees buckling as if he were about to fall to the ground, his voice cracking.

“Mr. Reilly, it was all my fault. Don’t blame Kendra.”

“I’ll… I’ll get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness, okay? Please, just don’t divorce her.”

The way he acted, anyone would think I was the one bullying him.

Kendra grabbed his arm, pulling him forcefully to his feet, her voice laced with concern. “Jackson, what are you doing? Stop it!”

She whirled on me, her eyes blazing with fury. “Ethan, are you serious? A grown man, being this petty?”

A bitter smile touched my lips. I stared at Jackson’s tear-streaked face. “What’s this now? Are we moving on to the tragic melodrama portion of the evening?”

My words struck Jackson like a physical blow. He flinched, and the tears fell faster, but he bit his lip and didn’t dare say another word.

Kendra’s chest heaved with anger. She pointed a shaking finger at me. “What’s with the sarcasm? Jackson is here to sincerely apologize!”

“Do you have any idea what the rumors are at the office because of what happened to you?”

“The board of directors is involved! They’re saying a senior executive is suspected of smuggling. Think of how damaging that is!”