The company held a management meeting, and my husband's secretary was standing at the door, checking everyone's identity. Every person who entered the conference room was greeted with a bright smile—until it was my turn.

Then came a derisive snort.

I frowned and handed over my badge from the Cybersecurity Department, but he didn't even bother to look. "Skye, Mr. Fraser only pitied you enough to make you a manager. Don't tell me you actually think you're something special?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I turned around and dialed the CEO's direct line. "Someone just said this position was yours to grant out of pity. Is that true?"

The Fall of the Cybersecurity Department

"It's nothing serious. Don't take it to heart. I'm busy—gotta go."

Julian Fraser's voice came through cold and clipped, though I could tell from the background noise he was already on his way over. The secretary obviously heard it too; he rolled his eyes so hard it was almost theatrical before finally letting me into the conference room.

I thought that little act of pettiness at the door would be the end of it. But the moment I stepped inside, I could feel the air change. Everyone avoided me as if I were contagious. Wherever I sat, the people nearby would shift their chairs within seconds.

I raised a brow but didn't bother to react. I'd never been popular here anyway—people whispered, pointed, and sneered behind my back all the time. I was long past caring.

"Thank you all for attending this management meeting. Since Mr. Fraser hasn't arrived yet, I'll begin with a brief introduction on his behalf."

The secretary who had stopped me earlier took the stage, launching straight into the agenda—routine business adjustments, personnel changes, and a few other minor issues. I listened half-heartedly, scrolling through my phone from time to time just to stay awake.

"As company profits have dropped by 3% compared to last quarter, the board believes that reasonable budget cuts are necessary," he continued. That was when I noticed everyone suddenly turning to look at me, their eyes gleaming with glee that I couldn't quite understand.

Then, the secretary faced me directly. "Skye Solen, the Cybersecurity Department will be dissolved first. You haven't brought in any profit all these years, and you're the only one in that department. What's the point of clinging to a title and coasting on the company's dime? It's been a terrible look for us!"

So, that was why everyone's attitude had been off that day. I couldn't help laughing under my breath at how absurd it all was. "Are you sure? You're actually shutting down my department?"

The secretary snorted, as though I were too dense to understand human language.

That was when a few of my colleagues jumped in to pile on.

"Give it up, Solen! How much clearer does it need to be?"

"If you can't handle it, maybe you should start with some self-reflection. You've been on your phone since the meeting began!"

"Disrespecting the secretary means disrespecting Mr. Fraser—you know that, don't you?"

I could only stare at them, speechless. "I was checking the firewall logs to make sure no malware breached our core systems while I was away. How did that turn into me being disrespectful to Mr. Fraser?"

Did none of them even understand what I did for this company?

However, my words only stirred another wave of mockery.

"What's the point of monitoring? When has the company ever been under that much threat?"

"Exactly. You probably sit in your office daydreaming half the time. Suddenly, you're pretending to work hard now that Mr. Fraser's on his way?"

Looking around the room, I finally realized just how many of them despised me. I'd never noticed it before. The irony hit me hard—after years of keeping the company's systems airtight, I was now being ridiculed for doing my job too well.

It reminded me of a joke I'd once seen online: a programmer, afraid people would think he had nothing to do, secretly created bugs so others would call him to fix them. That way, at least he looked useful.

Maybe I should've done the same. Staying quiet and just doing my work clearly didn't earn me any respect.

Well, fine. If that was how they wanted to play it, I wouldn't bother being polite either.

I rose slowly to my feet, letting my gaze sweep over every one of them. "If it weren't for me, this company would've gone under a long time ago. You think you can talk down to me? Let me make one thing clear—the Cybersecurity Department is the most important department in this company. Got it?"

The secretary scoffed even louder. "And what gives you that confidence? Mr. Fraser? Don't be naive, Skye."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the conference room door swung open—and a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Enough!"

The Accusation

Julian strode into the conference room, dressed in a tailored suit and polished leather shoes that struck sharply against the floor.

The room fell silent in an instant. The secretary hurried to pull out a chair for him, but Julian didn't sit. Instead, he walked straight up to me, his tone cutting and cold. "Skye, stop fearmongering. Acting self-important only makes me despise you more."

I froze for a moment. I had thought his earlier "enough" was aimed at his assistant—but now I realized it had been meant for me.

Before I could even open my mouth, Julian went on, his voice laced with irritation. "The only thing I regret is letting you join the company in the first place. I'll never understand why Grandpa insisted on bringing in someone as useless as you.

"Who do you think you are? You think this company can't survive without you?"

We'd been married for five years. Even if our marriage was just for show, he could've at least maintained some semblance of harmony in public. His harsh, humiliating words stunned me. The shock faded quickly, replaced by a cold, sinking anger.

Five years ago, his grandfather, Edward Fraser, had reached out to my family, hoping I could help when Julian's company was on the brink of collapse.

"The company's in crisis, Skye. Thank you for lending a hand," he had said back then.

Julian had been nothing but courteous at the time—fresh from studying overseas, still youthful and polite. Later, Edward arranged for us to marry, thinking it would strengthen both families' ties.

I had fallen for Julian at first sight. Otherwise, with my personality, I never would have agreed to a marriage of convenience, no matter how much anyone offered.

I had thought Julian might not love me, but that he at least liked me enough to try.

We'd been "trying" for five years. And over time, he forgot everything I'd done quietly for him, for the company, for this family.

I looked at his cold face and said evenly, "If you want to shut down the department, fine. But you'll need to ask Old Mr. Fraser first. If he agrees, I'll accept it. I joined Fraser Networks because of his friendship with my grandfather—not because of anyone in this room."

For a split second, something flickered in Julian's expression—hesitation, guilt maybe—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

He straightened his back and snapped, "What, you're going to use Grandpa to threaten me now? Is that all you can do—throw your family's name around? I honestly don't know what he ever saw in you. You came in here and turned into nothing but a parasite."

I stared at Julian, searching his face for even a trace of the man I'd once known. There was nothing left.

Around us, the others began to stir, emboldened by his outburst.

"Why are you still standing here? Mr. Fraser made himself clear! You're an adult, Solen. Stop clinging like a child."

"Do you have to make such a scene? Why not part ways peacefully?"

"You're not about to throw a full-blown meltdown, are you, Solen?"

At first, I was confused by their sudden hostility. However, as I noticed who was speaking, everything fell into place. These were the same people rumored to have taken kickbacks—lining their pockets with dirty money.

The one who led the earlier mockery had once approached me too, testing the waters to see if I'd falsify data for him. I'd refused him flat-out. I hadn't thought much of it then, but now, the pieces all fit together.

Ever since that day, I'd been treated like an outcast, targeted again and again.

So this was their doing all along. And Julian—fool that he was—actually believed them. I had no idea what he'd learned during those years abroad, but apparently, common sense wasn't one of them.

I turned to the man who had just called me clingy—Craig, if I remembered correctly. "Craig, all this because I refused to cook your numbers and hide your tracks? Don't you think that's going too far? And you, Louis, Trent—you've been eager to push me out since the start of this meeting. Did my Cybersecurity Department threaten your little side business somehow?"

The Breaking Point

Instantly, their faces stiffened with unease, though Julian acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.

Craig was the first to recover, his voice rising defensively. "What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever spoken to you about anything? Do you have proof for these ridiculous accusations?"

Julian, still oblivious to what I was implying, only frowned deeper, impatience flashing across his face. "So now, before you leave, you're trying to slander the people who've actually contributed to the company? Pathetic."

I let out a cold laugh. "Contributors? Tell me, which of these fine gentlemen here counts as one?"

Their expressions darkened further, and I continued, voice sharp and steady. "Evan's wearing a five-million-dollar watch he could never afford on his salary. Trent just bought himself an ocean-view apartment by the riverside. And Louis—didn't you just send your kid overseas to study?"

Trent slammed the table, his face red with fury. "Y-You're slandering me! I've been with this company since day one. You think your little Cybersecurity Department gives you the right to lecture me?"

Louis glared coldly. "Watch your words. I've given my best years to this company. Everything I have, I earned. My conscience is clear."

I couldn't help laughing outright. Watching them bluff and bluster was almost entertaining. If only Julian knew—Fraser Networks would've been torn apart long ago if not for me. The "profits" these men pocketed came from system loopholes left by a former programmer, ones I had already patched months ago.

Without me, the company would've been easy prey for rivals.

Julian, the so-called CEO, had no idea how much danger he'd narrowly avoided. He'd spent his days signing papers others placed in front of him, thinking that made him in control.

He didn't realize that for the past six months alone, the company had faced multiple cyberattacks from competitors—each one I quietly blocked before it reached the core systems. I'd submitted every report, but he'd never once bothered to look.

He'd once told me he only needed me to play the part of a pretty ornament in the office. But because I'd given Edward my word, I'd poured my full expertise into safeguarding his company.

Now that Edward was ill and no longer overseeing operations, Julian no longer even bothered pretending to value me. He thought he could rule Fraser Networks single-handedly.

My hands clenched into fists, knuckles cracking in the silence. Finally, I looked him squarely in the eye. "Julian Fraser, I'll ask you once. Are you absolutely certain you want me gone?"

For a brief moment, Julian just stared at me, startled by the steel in my voice. Then, he gathered himself and snapped, "Yes."

That alone ended everything. I no longer had any desire to warn him or defend myself. He would reap what he sowed soon enough.

The other executives were still shouting for me to leave when Julian spoke again, his tone laced with disgust. "Skye Solen, do yourself a favor and leave quietly. The company doesn't need someone who takes a salary and does nothing.

"And don't even think about going to my grandfather. If you tell him about this, I swear I'll despise you for the rest of my life."