On the day of the United Nations meeting, I noticed a new electronic watch on my wife’s wrist.

She said it was a gift from her first love to monitor her health. It was a veiled jab, which implied I was not as thoughtful or caring as an outsider.

Something felt off, so during her lunch break I secretly checked, and found a bugging device.

I reported it immediately, using my official title to cover her wrongdoing.

Her first love, however, was now wanted by the authorities. While fleeing, he tragically died in a car accident.

My wife said coldly that it served him right, yet treated me with even more care and attention.

However, she deliberately leaked my translation files at work, which resulted in me being accused of espionage and taken in for investigation.

“Miles, that bug was clearly planted by you. You were jealous of Ash and wanted him dead!”

“I truly regret giving up Ash to marry someone as malicious as you. You should go to hell and atone for him!”

When I opened my eyes again, I was back there once again on the day her first love gave her that watch.

I did not interfere this time. I simply signed my name on the divorce papers.

“Miles, can you stop overreacting? Do you really think Ash would ever hurt me?”

Wynnie’s impatient low growl pulled me back from the shock of my second life.

The commotion caught the attention of the rest of our team.

“Ms. Lynn, it looks like that electronic watch on your wrist didn’t get reported?”

An observant teammate pointed out, noticing the brand-new watch on Wynnie’s wrist.

Wynnie frowned and answered, “That’s a personal gift I received. There’s no need to report it.”

“But that doesn’t comply with the reg…”

Her sharp tone cut the teammate off.

“Enough. I’m the team leader for this mission. If there’s a problem, I’ll take full responsibility.”

The teammate shot me an awkward glance.

I closed my eyes as memories from my previous life flooded my mind.

I was worried that she might make a huge mistake in a moment of carelessness, so I secretly checked the watch.

After I discovered the bugging device, I used the promotion I had worked ten years to earn as cover to ensure her safety.

However, what I received in return was her relentless pursuit of revenge.

I would never forget the horror of being dragged hundreds of miles behind a car.

A flicker of hatred surged in my eyes at the thought of this.

“Ms. Lynn is always measured in her actions. We don’t need to worry.”

Wynnie’s expression softened slightly when she noticed that I was not making a big deal out of the watch

At that moment, Ash came running over, wheezing and dragging his suitcase.

“Wynnie, take me with you. I haven’t traveled abroad in ages.”

A teammate refused him without a second thought.

“No! You’re an external staff member. You don’t have the qualifications to join such an important mission.”

“Besides, the personnel list for this trip was set personally by the director. Even Ms. Lynn doesn’t have the authority to add or remove anyone at will.”

A hint of displeasure flashed across Ash’s eyes. His tone made it sound like he was speaking up for Wynnie.

“Wynnie, I didn’t expect that as team leader, you don’t even have the right to add a traveling member.”

“But why does it feel like they have to check with Miles every time your team speaks? Anyone who didn’t know might think that Miles is the actual team leader!”

Wynnie flew into a fit of rage.

“Am I the team leader or is Miles the team leader?! If you all follow him blindly, I won’t hesitate to request a personnel change from the director!”

No one dared to speak after seeing her publicly lose her temper.

She took a deep breath and softened her tone a little.

“It’s exactly because Ash is an outsider that he deserves this rare chance to grow. Otherwise, how else could he improve?”

“Let him come with us this time.”

“That doesn’t comply with regulations.”

I finally looked up. My voice was calm and controlled.

Wynnie’s expression darkened again.

She stared at me. Her eyes were filled with undisguised anger as she gave me a warning look.

“I know you’re jealous of Ash, but don’t mix your personal feelings with work.”

“Anyone who disagrees can withdraw from this mission on their own!”

The team members’ expressions all changed at once.

This opportunity was extremely rare. Everyone wanted to perform well and pave the way for their future promotions.

Wynnie swept her cold gaze over everyone and spoke in an arrogant tone, “If you don’t want to quit, then keep your mouths shut. Otherwise, pack up and get out of the Translation Institute.”

I suppressed the emotions surging inside me and said nothing more.

Wynnie, this time, I would not interfere anymore.

I would just sit back and see how her story ended.

…

After we arrived in Norvira, everyone was busy making final preparations for the next day’s meeting… Everyone except Ash, who was still stirring up trouble.

“Wynnie, I’ve never been to Norvira before. Can you show me around?”

He wrapped an arm around Wynnie’s slim waist in front of me.

“There’s a suit that’s only available in Norvira. Come with me to get it. You always say I look my best in a suit.”

I frowned. “We still have work to do.”

He curled his lips, sounding openly dismissive.

“Aren’t there plenty of you around? Why does the team leader need to get involved personally?”

“Ms. Lynn is one of tomorrow’s main interpreters. She can’t afford to make even the slightest mistake. Even if you want to fool around, just wait until after the meeting.”

Ash immediately looked at Wynnie with a wounded expression.

“Wynnie, I just wanted to buy some clothes. I never meant to interfere with your work. Is it really necessary for Miles to twist our relationship into something so filthy?”

“I know he doesn’t want me here. Fine then. I’ll just buy a ticket and go back right now!”

As he spoke, he even put on a show of turning to leave.

Wynnie immediately grabbed his hand, then shot me a furious glare.

“People with dirty minds see everything as dirty! Miles, if you bully Ash again, don’t even bother showing up to tomorrow’s meeting!”

Several teammates who were close to me were visibly furious when they heard that.

However, I did not let them speak up for me.

It was because I knew the louder Wynnie and Ash celebrated now, the more miserable their ending would be after the meeting.

Wynnie still had a shred of rationality left.

She did not abandon everyone to go shopping with Ash. She only promised to accompany him after she finished her work.

Even though Ash was unhappy, he still nodded in agreement.

That peace did not last long.

At dinner, he insisted he was not used to the food there and demanded that I prepare fish and chips for him.

When I refused to do so, he immediately went crying to Wynnie.

Once again, Wynnie used her authority as both team leader and wife to force me to play babysitter for Ash.

When I returned to the hotel room carrying the dish, he was already wearing my pajamas, sitting on the sofa with an arm around Wynnie’s waist, watching TV.

The moment he saw me, a smug, arrogant smile spread across his face.

“Thanks, Miles.”

“Oh, right, I forgot to bring my pajamas, so Wynnie gave me yours. You don’t mind, do you?”

“But honestly, these pajamas are pretty ugly. It’s no wonder Wynnie isn’t interested in you. After we get back, I’ll buy you a few sets she likes!”

I did my best to suppress the emotions boiling inside me and replied coldly,

“No. Keep them for yourself.”

I handed him a plate of fish and chips.

He suddenly tilted his head and put on a knowing smile

.

“I heard from Wynnie that you’re a great cook. I’ve always wanted to give it a try.”

He stood up and took the dish from me. At the same time, he lowered his voice so only the two of us could hear.

“Bastard. Haven’t you always been trying to block my way into the Translation Institute? Fine then. I’ll steal Wynnie from right under your nose. That’s only fair!”

The next second, the plate slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor.

Most of the hot sauce splashed onto me, yet he screamed as though he was badly burned.

“Wynnie! It’s so hot! If Miles didn’t want to cook for me, he could’ve just said so, I wouldn’t have forced him. Why would he deliberately hurt me like this?!”

Before I could react, Wynnie’s slap landed across my face.

“Miles, when did you become this vicious? Apologize to Ash. Now!”

That was it. I could not hold back anymore.

I shot the two of them with a vicious glare, then turned around and stormed out of the room.

As I looked at the mess all over my body and my arm, scalded red, my hatred for Wynnie reached its breaking point.

…

By the time I had cleaned myself up and headed to the routine meeting, the team members were giving me strange, complicated looks.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

They looked awkward.

“Well… I went to get Ms. Lynn just now, but Ash was inside. She said she had something to deal with, so tonight’s meeting is canceled.”

A few teammates could not help but mutter under their breath, “Isn’t this a bit much? Pre-mission meetings are a long-standing rule at the Institute. How can she just cancel it like that? Especially when Miles is here, she…”

I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to calm down.

“Let me go take a look.”

The moment I pushed open Wynnie’s door, a coquettish laugh drifted out.

She was sitting on Ash’s lap, one arm hooked around his neck, posing deliberately for the phone camera.

When Ash saw me, his smile grew even brighter.

“Hey, Miles, don’t get the wrong idea. Wynnie and I are just really close like brother and sister.”

Wynnie shot me an indifferent glance, making no move to stop his hands as they roamed all over her body.

“Don’t let your seniority as an interpreter go to your head. If you don’t want a divorce, you’d better apologize to Ash immediately.”

“And when we get back, talk to the director and get him to approve Ash’s full-time transfer.”

I wanted nothing more than to storm over and slap their faces, then yell at her, “I want a divorce!”

However, my sense of reason barely managed to rein in my rage. It was not time to tear the mask off yet.

I clenched my fists and said through gritted teeth, “The Translation Institute isn’t my personal property and the director isn’t my father. I don’t have the power to turn an external hire into a full-time employee.”

Wynnie sneered, acting as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

“Didn’t you just receive an award last week? Trade your medal for a full-time slot. That shouldn’t be difficult for you.”

I took several deep breaths, telling myself not to stoop to their level.

“I came to notify you that it’s time for the meeting. Everyone’s waiting.”

Before Wynnie could respond, Ash cut in impatiently, “Are you all useless or something? It’s just a routine meeting. Does Wynnie really need to attend personally? I honestly don’t know how people like you even got into the Translation Institute. What? Did you all get in through connections?”

Then, he buried his face into Wynnie’s neck.

“Wynnie, you promised to spend the night with me. Don’t go back on your word. I even prepared several spicy uniforms just for you.”

A faint blush crept onto Wynnie’s cheeks when she heard that. Her eyes shimmered with unmistakable sense of desire.