Alex was surprisingly fast. In half an hour, my phone vibrated.

I received a link and a comment from him.

[It’s a generous contribution from the best actor of the year. The evidence is so complete that I can’t bring myself to charge you with a full payment. Take your time and enjoy.]

I clicked on it and realized that it was Samuel’s social media account. It was set to public.

The newest post was a close-up photo of a wrist with the bracelet that I was most familiar with because of the engraved “L.” The caption went something like this:

[The Sun is coming to you, Miss C.]

My nickname “the Sun” and my bracelet had become another man’s prizes.

My face was devoid of expression as I scrolled down.

The background of one of the photos was the study in my house. Samuel held his face and smiled innocently, with the out-of-print architectural atlas I had collected from Lasnon behind him.

[I’m learning in Miss C’s study, and I’m getting better!]

Samuel held a pen and was drawing on a piece of paper in another photo. That pen had been my gift to Linda for her thirtieth birthday. It was a globally limited, co-branded pen.

[The pen Miss C gave me is so nice! She said my hand deserves the best pen.]

There was another photo from a private restaurant that we frequented. They ordered my favorites.

[This is my secret spot with Miss C. She said I’m her only harbor where she can fully relax!]

The photos and words were like sharp scalpels, slicing right into the most tender parts of my memory.

Then, I read the post from three days ago.

Samuel was holding a printed design draft in the photo and smiling in satisfaction.

The caption went: Miss C stayed up late to help me revise my draft. She told me I’m the most talented designer she’s ever met! I’m sure I can get the Sky Center project. I can do it!

We had spent all of our effort and prepared for half a year for the Sky Center project. It was the most important milestone of my career.

I abruptly got up from the sofa, grabbed the car key, and rushed out of my home.

The company was vacant at midnight. I used my fingerprint to unlock the door and went straight to Linda’s office.

The screensaver on her computer was still on. It was our wedding photo. She smiled happily in the photo, but it disgusted me.

I clicked on the keyboard, and the screen lit up. It prompted me to enter the password. I tried my birthday, which was the wrong password. Then, I tried our wedding anniversary date. That did not work either.

I sneered and keyed in Samuel’s birthday.

[Welcome.]

The desktop was neat and clean, but I immediately noticed an encrypted folder. I opened it and found the final proposal for the Sky Center project inside. Every detail reflected months of hard work by me and my team.

Surprisingly, there was another folder beside it, with the letter “S” as its name.

I opened it and found that the proposal in it was almost the same as mine. But there were some minor adjustments made to a few key load-bearing structures and design highlights. It also avoided the core patent, but it kept the essence of my proposal.

The proposal was signed with Samuel’s name.

Not only did Linda cheat on me, but she also stole my work and jeopardized the future of our company. She used it to paint a bright future for her young lover.

Nausea overcame me. I held onto the cold table firmly so that I would not collapse.

It seemed that jealousy and betrayal could make a woman seem like a different person entirely.

The bidding conference of the Sky Center project was full of people.

I sat at an inconspicuous corner and watched as the representative of Sun Design Co. walked onto the stage.

It was none other than Samuel.

He had put on a slim-fit professional suit with leather shoes that day. His hair was neatly done. His naive and innocent demeanor had been replaced by the confidence of a seasoned professional.

He took a deep breath and started describing the concept of his design.

“My design is inspired by the Eyes of the City. We don’t want it to be a cold building, but something that can breathe with this city. We hope it can be a living thing that witnesses the city’s development…”

Those were the exact words I once told Linda. Night after night, I made coffee and burned the midnight oil as I told her those very things.

I once thought that trust was the unspoken bond between our souls as a married couple.

Finally, I learned that I was only playing a part, and Linda had been the most patient thief.

What was more ironic was that Linda was sitting with the judges as a specially invited VIP.

Her long hair was tied up, and she had put on exquisite makeup. She looked like the professional elite that I was most familiar with.

She listened to Samuel attentively. She nodded from time to time. When she looked at Samuel, her eyes shone in a way I had never seen. She regarded Samuel as her treasure, and she was eager to show him off to the world.

She ignored me. I was sitting in a corner below the stage. She made it seem like I was just an irrelevant backdrop.

My phone vibrated briefly in my palm. It was a text from Alex.

[Do you need me there with some weapons?]

I looked at the screen and smiled a little despite my tightly pursed lips. I texted him back.

[Wait.]

Samuel’s speech reached its climax as he stood on the stage. The final image of his presentation was the one stolen from my computer.

The audience exclaimed softly.

When Samuel ended his speech, he received a roar of applause.

The host walked to the stage. “Thank you for your brilliant presentation, Mr. Wilson. Let’s ask our specially invited judge, Ms. Clark, for some comments on this proposal. She’s the most experienced senior in the field and comes from Dream Co.”

Linda accepted the microphone. She cleared her throat before she looked at Samuel and spoke up.

“To be honest, I’m very surprised. Mr. Wilson’s design perfectly balances aesthetic values with practicality. Plus, he made some adjustments to the few load-bearing structures. It’s very bold, and he’s full of talent.”

She claimed that Samuel was talented. At the same time, she used that to hurt me.

After a pause, she scanned the audience.

“I must admit that this design is undoubtedly the best today.”

The audience clapped enthusiastically.

I could hear nothing but loud silence besides the beating of my own heart.

The host smiled and chimed in, “Thank you for your high praise, Ms. Clark! It looks like Sun Design Co. might surely get this project! Is there any other guest or judge who would like to ask Mr. Wilson any questions?”

There was only silence.

After Linda, the expert, spoke so clearly, there was nothing more to say.

Samuel bowed on the stage and could not hide his smug happiness.

I pocketed my phone and stood up when everyone was about to clap again. I did not make any sudden movements, but I attracted everyone’s attention.

The host was stunned. “Sir, may I know who you are?”

Linda’s smile froze on her face.