s trailed off.

“I wish it were,” I shook my head.

“But sadly for you, it’s not.”

Vlad turned pale, glancing around the room for some kind of support. But no one spoke—each person knew that neither his connections nor status could help him now.

“This can’t be…” he whispered, stepping back. “How… How didn’t I know?”

I tilted my head slightly, concealing a smile.

“Maybe because you never bothered to take any real interest in my life,” I said.

“All these years, while you played the hero, I was busy building my business. You never even asked what I did. To you, I was just a pretty accessory.”

His expression twisted in confusion.

For the first time in ages, he was speechless.

“You hid this on purpose?” he asked, narrowing his eyes, suspicion in his voice.

“Of course I did,” I replied, letting the silence hang. “You wouldn’t have believed me. You never thought I could be anything more than ‘the wife of a successful man.’”

He moved closer, lowering his voice.

“So, is this your revenge for tonight?” he asked.

“No, Vlad,” I said, meeting his gaze.

“This is just the truth. A truth you’ve been avoiding for years.”

He stiffened, realizing that things were spiraling out of his control. His public image was crumbling before everyone.

The guests began whispering among themselves, some barely hiding their smirks.

“I don’t believe it…” he muttered, shaking his head as if trying to reject the reality. “It’s easy to check,” I shrugged. “Come to the office tomorrow—the secretary will confirm that I’m the CEO.”

He froze, the reality sinking in.

“Now I get why they always invited you to those closed meetings,” he mumbled. “I thought you were just an assistant to some investor.”

“You assumed many things, Vlad,” I said, sipping my wine. “And now you’re paying the price for those assumptions.”

His face shifted with every passing moment—from shock to realization, then fear.

For the first time in a long time, he felt vulnerable, stripped of his usual confidence. Vlad slowly sank into the nearest chair, his fists clenched unconsciously. The guests stood still, sensing the magnitude of the moment—one that would forever alter not just this night, but his entire future.

I had already made up my mind.

“All this time, you were just playing me?” His voice cracked, his usual bravado gone.

I smiled softly, almost gently. “No, darling. I only let you live in your world of illusions.

I didn’t hide the truth—you just never wanted to see it. You never asked the right questions.”

His jaw tightened as he fought to contain his anger. He knew that any outburst now would only backfire.

“So what happens now?” he whispered, his voice full of dread. “Are you going to throw me out?”

I twirled my wine glass thoughtfully. “Just fire you?” I echoed, leaning forward.

“That would be too simple, too easy for someone who’s worked so hard to climb the ladder. No, I want you to feel what it’s like to lose everything, piece by piece.”

He swallowed hard.

“You can’t…”

“Oh, but I can,” I smirked. “Didn’t you teach me yourself that power and money make anything possible?

Now the roles are reversed.”

A hesitant cough broke the heavy silence, but the tension in the room was unbearable, even for the bystanders.

“I think it’s time to wrap things up for tonight,” I said, standing and smoothing the fabric of my dress. “Thank you all for coming.”

The guests quickly started to leave, eager to avoid being present for the final moments of this drama.

When the last person had exited, Vlad remained, lost in thought, staring blankly ahead. Gone was the confident man; in his place was someone who had just lost control of his life.

I paused in the doorway.

“Tomorrow, at the office, Vlad.

We’ll have plenty of things to discuss.”

Without waiting for a reply, I left him there to ponder.

The next morning, I arrived at the office much earlier than usual. My secretary greeted me with her usual smile—she, like most of the staff, had always known my true position and kept it discreet. Walking into my office, I felt a surge of excitement—today marked the beginning of my new life, free from Vlad.

An hour later, the door opened quietly, and he walked in.

The confident man from last night had vanished, replaced by a nervous, anxious figure. His hair was disheveled, and his shirt looked hastily thrown on, as though he hadn’t slept.

“Take a seat,” I gestured to the chair in front of my desk, but he stayed standing. “We need to talk,” he said in a hollow voice.

“Lera—”

I raised my hand to stop him. “Here and now, you’re not my husband, Vlad. You’re my employee.”

He froze, the weight of my words sinking in.

“So,” I continued, folding my hands on the desk, “after last night’s little performance, your credibility within the company has taken a serious hit. Think about what your colleagues will say when they find out how you publicly humiliated your wife—who, by the way, happens to be their boss?”

His fists clenched instinctively. “So, you’re firing me?” he asked.

“Quite the opposite,” I shook my head. “That would be too fast, too easy. You’d still save face.

No, I want you to experience what it’s like to lose everything, bit by bit.”

His jaw tightened. “What’s your plan for revenge?”

“I’m transferring you to a regional branch, with a lower position,” I said coldly. “No perks, no power.

An ordinary schedule, an average salary. You’ll be reporting to the very people you once looked down upon.”

His face contorted with anger.

“You have no right—”

“Oh, I do,” I said, coolly. “I’ve already filed the paperwork.”

He exhaled sharply.

“We loved each other… How can you just destroy everything like this?”

I leaned forward, locking eyes with him.

“You destroyed it yourself when you reduced me to a decorative object with no dignity.

Now you’re reaping the consequences of your actions.”

He fell silent, lowering his gaze. For the first time, I saw him humbled—no arrogance, just the harsh reality of his mistakes.

“Let’s end this conversation, Vlad,” I said, standing. “I’m no longer your wife.

And you’re no longer the man I once planned a future with. And by the way, thank you for the prenuptial agreement—it’s going to make our separation swift and painless.”

Without a second glance, I left the office. This was not just my victory—it was my long-awaited freedom.