Adeline Carter's POV:

I truly believed Brock was a good man.

In college, he was the campus star, the charming athlete everyone liked. He was gentle, he loved to cook, and he kept our apartment spotless. We married for love, and nothing else.

Our life was peaceful, almost devoid of conflict. We were happy.

But the last three months had been a descent into hell. Both of our stable jobs had turned into nightmares.

Brock missed out on a promotion he'd been dreaming of. His department head started making his life miserable, piling on the most grueling tasks instead of moving him up.

He came home every night exhausted, looking haggard.

My situation was no better.

I was working as an executive assistant to Gill Webb at a prestigious law firm. I thought it was a stable job, a stepping stone to something better.

Then Gill met Brock.

Gill was out and proud. He had never shown any personal interest in me.

But from the moment he laid eyes on Brock, everything shifted. He started asking incessant questions about him, digging into our lives and our relationship. it made my skin crawl.

Then came the dinner invitation. “Adeline, why don't you and Brock join me for a meal? Just a casual get-together.”

I saw right through him. His intentions were as clear as glass, and they were predatory. I turned him down without hesitation. “Thank you, Mr. Webb, but we have other plans.”

I could feel the storm brewing.

Adeline Carter's POV:

Gill Webb didn't take my rejection lightly. He summoned me to his office immediately. His voice was soft, unnervingly calm. “Adeline, you shouldn't be so stubborn. Life is full of opportunities.”

He leaned back in his leather chair, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “I'm only interested in a certain… aspect of your husband. Why do you care so much?” He chuckled softly. “If you aren't using him yourself, why not let someone else enjoy the view?”

I stared at him, my mind reeling. His words were vile, disgusting.

He continued. “You could give him a little sleeping aid. He won't suspect a thing. He'll wake up feeling refreshed.” He promised, “No memory, no trouble.”

“Adeline, agree to this, and I'll promote you to VP. A million-dollar salary.” My current salary barely covered our mounting debts.

A million dollars. It was an astronomical sum.

“Go home and think about it. Give me an answer by the end of the week.” His tone carried a razor-sharp threat.

I panicked, trying to find a way out. How could I escape this? Gill's power was suffocating. I felt powerless.

He was my boss. He had a thousand ways to make my life miserable.

Adeline Carter's POV:

I stubbornly held out for a week, refusing to give Gill an answer.

The consequences were swift and brutal. My position as team lead was revoked. I was demoted.

To make matters worse, a petty, small-minded woman was promoted to my old position. She became my new superior.

Every day, she found new ways to harass me. “Adeline, is that report finished? Or are you too busy dreaming about a promotion you'll never get?”

Another week passed. I still didn't respond to Gill.

The bullying intensified. My new supervisor humiliated me in front of the entire team during a meeting, tearing my work to shreds. “This is garbage, Adeline! Worthless! Are you even trying?” My face burned with shame. I felt exposed, my dignity trampled.

Three weeks passed.

My desk was moved to a corner right next to the overflowing office trash bin. Coworkers, eager to please Gill, intentionally threw trash outside the bin. “Adeline, could you pick that up? You're right there.”

I couldn't quit. Our company was an industry leader. If I left, Gill would blacklist me, ensuring I'd never find a decent job in New York again.

He wasn't just my boss; he was a powerhouse in New York society with deep connections. I was a nobody, a disposable pawn. I had no leverage.

My will was breaking. But I couldn't tell Brock. I couldn't burden him when he was already under so much pressure.

Even as my world crumbled, I clung to my principles. My love for Brock, though battered, still flickered like a fragile candle in the dark.