It was fascinating, really, the way his mind worked—how quickly his concern pivoted to public perception, to reputation. It was this very quality, this fixation on appearances, that had drawn us together once upon a time. We had been a power couple, two ambitious souls in sync, but somewhere along the way, our paths had diverged.

I looked at him, my gaze unwavering. “Robert, this isn’t about others. It’s about us—about how you see me, how you’ve always seen me. You didn’t want a partner. You wanted a subordinate, someone whose success you could tolerate only as long as it didn’t eclipse your own.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but I silenced him with a raised hand. “No, listen. You’ve spent so long building yourself up by tearing others down, and for once, you’re the one being held accountable.”

Behind me, the driveway filled with the soft purr of the black luxury car, its presence a stark contrast to the chaos of the moment. The chairman’s secretary stepped out, her expression neutral but respectful.

“Mrs. Daniels, we’re ready whenever you are,” she announced, her voice a soothing balm to the rawness of the situation.

I nodded, turning to face Robert one last time. “Goodbye, Robert. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

With that, I stepped into the awaiting car, leaving behind not just a man, but a chapter of my life that had taught me the true cost of ambition and the unyielding strength required to claim my own narrative. As the car pulled away, the future unfolded before me, a blank canvas ready for my hand, while the past crumbled quietly behind.