Because I had listed the apartment at a very low price, it sold within a week.

I signed the contract, set the handover date with the buyer, and returned home.

The moment I opened the door, laughter echoed from inside.

At the entryway, the couple’s fleece slippers were gone. In their place sat a pair of men’s leather shoes and a pair of high heels, the same ones Zach had bought Nina for her birthday.

That was when I realized who was inside: Nina and Zach.

Weren’t they supposed to return in two days?

I was still processing that when Zach heard the noise and strolled over. He was wearing my slippers and my pajamas, ambling with a lazy, comfortable posture, like he owned the place.

"Darren, why do you come back home so early? Isn’t the workday still going on?" As he spoke, he flicked ash directly into a cup on the side table.

I recognized it immediately. It was the couple’s mug Nina had given me. I used to treasure it, always holding it carefully in my hands.

Nina appeared from the living room. She saw Zach using my mug as an ashtray, but pretended not to notice. She also didn’t gag from the cigarette smell, even though she used to retch from the scent and had ordered me to quit. She really had changed a lot during her time with Zach.

When she saw me, her expression flickered into something complicated for a moment before settling into something cold and dark.

"You skipped work again? Darren, even if you’re my husband, you can’t keep doing this! That’s a company, not our home. If you can’t follow rules, how am I supposed to manage the others?"

Rules?

I almost laughed.

If we were talking about breaking rules, who broke them more than Nina herself?

A year ago, when the company had barely stabilized, Nina had bypassed all hiring standards and directly placed Zach, someone with zero industry experience, into management.

I’d been confused, but Nina insisted Zach was talented and destined for big things. So I trained him seriously.

However, all Zach ever did was play games or sleep. He dragged his feet during the day, then stayed until midnight just to post a photo in the company group chat, pretending he was working late.

I reported this to Nina, but she brushed it off. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he needed to play games to relax.

I suggested she pay more attention. She said she had no time.

I suggested installing cameras. She said it wasn’t legal.

Then projects began failing one after another. We lost tens of millions. Still, Zach continued doing whatever he wanted.

I reached my limit and tried to fire him, but Nina stopped me immediately.

Then she asked, "Are you jealous? Afraid Zach’s too talented and will surpass you?"

So Zach stayed. He poached my clients and stole my projects.

Nina saw it all and ignored it. She even praised him as an exemplary employee and used me as a cautionary tale of a jealous coworker.

I used to feel wronged, but looking back, if I had that much tolerance, I could have survived any company and wouldn’t be standing in this mess now.

I didn’t say a word.

Zach gently patted her back, soothing her. "Maybe Darren rushed home because he knew you were returning today."

Nina seemed convinced. Her expression brightened with smug satisfaction. "Fine. Don’t let it happen again. But tell me, how did you know I was coming back today?"

Zach smiled. "Nina, remember? Julia Hart from HR booked the flight. She probably told Darren."

Nina let out a short, dismissive hum. "Darren, you never put your mind to work, but when it comes to gossip like this, you’re suddenly very proactive. But don’t think I’ll forgive you just because of that.

"You threw a tantrum and froze the bank card, making me lose face in front of our partners. In the end, it was Zach running around borrowing money from people to settle the bill."

I stayed silent for a long time.

Nina thought, like always, that I was reflecting on my mistakes. Her tone softened a little. "I can forgive you, but before that, we need to give Zach proper compensation.

"The place he’s living in right now is under renovation. It’s not livable for the moment. Clear out this bedroom and let him stay here for a while, and I’ll stop holding this against you."

I shook my head. "But I already sold this apartment."

"Sold it?" Nina’s eyes widened.

Before she could say anything else, Zach jumped in. "Darren, are you planning to sell this place and buy a bigger one to make it up to Nina?"

Nina seemed to find that reasonable. Her face lit up with delight. "That actually makes sense. We’ve lived here for quite a while. It is about time we got a bigger place. When that happens, I’ll pay part of it with you. For now, don’t sell this apartment. Zach can use it."

"That’s too much. I’d feel bad. I’ll pay the rent at market rate," Zach said.

"What rent?" Nina’s expression darkened. "I’m your boss. How could I make you pay rent?"

"That wouldn’t be right. No, I have to pay something."

"Then just a few hundred a month."

The two of them chimed back and forth, completely in sync.

Nina seemed unconcerned about the rent. This apartment was in the city center. Market rent was close to ten grand a month. Of course, she could act like it was no big deal. However, when we were dating, she calculated every little expense for meals and movies down to the last cent.

The difference between loving someone and not loving them really was like night and day.

"So? If you agree, I can still reconsider the divorce."

"No need to reconsider..."

"How could I just forgive you that easily? If I don’t teach you a lesson, what if you go back to your bad habits?" Nina cut me off, convinced I was trying to get her to drop the idea of divorce again.

Zach chuckled from the side. "You're right, Nina. But for my sake, just forgive Darren, okay? And come on, you and Darren have been married so many years. Getting divorced now would be such a pity."

Nina put on a show of thinking it over.

Zach went all in, blowing air into her ear.

Nina told him to stop fooling around, but her face was already blooming with smiles. "Fine."

She finally turned to look at me, satisfied. "Since Zach is speaking up for you, I’ll forgive you this time. You should really thank him. After the way you’ve treated him, he still doesn’t hold a grudge and is willing to speak on your behalf.

"Alright then, about the divorce this time..."

"You’re misunderstanding." I cut her off calmly and held the copy of the divorce agreement out in front of her. "I've been trying to tell you—we’re already divorced."