Chapter 1: Finance Manager

"Davina," Camille said as she walked into the lawyer's office, "I implore you to prepare the divorce documents for me."

Davina raised an eyebrow, casting doubt on Camille's intentions. "You claim he is always at home, working as a househusband. I believe he loves you deeply, so why seek a divorce?"

Camille settled in the chair, disregarding her best friend's opinion. "Please, just prepare the divorce documents. Just in case I need them later."

"Do you think my office is a place to have fun? I have dealt with countless absurd divorce cases. Don't make your divorce the most foolish one I have encountered," Davina said, focused on the computer screen, ignoring her best friend's request.

"If I provide you with a serious reason, will you assist me in obtaining a divorce?" Camille inquired.

"We'll see."

Meanwhile, at home, Damian paused, gazing at their exquisitely displayed wedding photo. "My wife still possesses the same beauty she did three years ago.”

Damian attention was diverted as the door opened, revealing his beloved wife, Camille, returning from work. Damian greeted her warmly.

"Welcome home, Darling. How was your day?"

"Nothing special."

Damian took Camille's bag and neatly stored away her shoes. "Wash your hands. I have prepared dinner for us."

Without a word, Camille proceeded to the dining room, where a spread of dishes, expertly crafted by Damian, awaited her. The dinner menu was more extensive than usual.

"You appear weary. Did you encounter any issues at the office?" Damian poured a drink for Camille.

Camille heaved a tired sigh, exhaustion etched on her face. "An irritating boss assigned me an excessive workload today."

"What's the name of this bothersome boss?" Damian inquired.

"Jackson."

"Let's move on from your troubles. I hope our dinner can make your mood better.”

Camille was taken aback as Damian presented a cake. It was an anniversary cake, lovingly prepared by Damian. He always remembered their wedding anniversary.

"Happy anniversary, My Love."

"Anniversary?" Camille suddenly remembered that this day marked their third year of marriage.

Damian excitedly lit the candles. His eyes sparkled with admiration each time he looked at Camille. Every day, Damian fell more deeply in love with his wife.

"I have been so caught up in my obligations lately that I forgot about other things," Camille lied. The fact is Camille never cared about the anniversary wedding.

"That's all right. I understand that you are busy with work. Let’s make a wish."

Camille closed her eyes and blew out the candles. Damian abstained from making a wish, for Camille's wish was one he resolved to fulfill.

"What do you wish for?" Damian asked.

"I wish to become the finance manager of the company."

Damian smiled at Camille's aspiration. His wife possessed career ambitions, and he was determined to help make her wish come true.

"Of course. You can easily become a finance manager. Your wish will come true."

A few days after the anniversary wedding, Damian prepared lunch. Using his cell phone, Damian dialed a number, activating the speaker mode so he could talk while cooking.

"Please arrange for Camille's promotion to finance manager. Do it today."

"Wait. Finance manager? Aren't you spoiling your wife too much? The average person only achieves a managerial position between the ages of thirty and forty. If your wife becomes a finance manager now, she would be the youngest in the city."

Damian had carefully considered all possible outcomes. However, he had to grant Camille's request.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if my wife became the youngest finance manager in the city? I understand the risks, given Camille's short tenure at the company. But please, do it," Damian pleaded, avoiding an argument.

"I understand that you hold power. But a finance manager? What if it disrupts the company's operations?"

Damian paused his tomato chopping, feeling slightly irritated by the question. To him, Camille's well-being far outweighed the company's current state.

"You exaggerate greatly. You can appoint someone to guide Camille. Let her learn while serving as a finance manager."

"I hope you're joking today."

"You know I never joke, especially about work."

"All right. I knew I couldn't refuse your orders."

Damian continued to chop tomatoes before proceeding with cooking. "One more thing, inform Jackson not to pressure Camille excessively."

"Fine, I'll tell Jackson."

"That's all. Goodbye."

Damian concluded the call and continued his culinary endeavor of preparing tomato soup and pasta. Anticipation coursed through him as he envisioned surprising Camille with her favorite lunch.

"I hope my surprise brings joy to Camille."

Donning plaid pants and oversized t-shirt attire, Damian wore this daily attire to deliver a lunch box to his hardworking wife.

Once the lunch was ready, Damian hailed a taxi and went to Camille's workplace. As he approached the company entrance, a woman's voice called out to him.

"Damian?"

Confusion washed over Damian as he tried to place the figure before him. The woman seemed familiar, but he couldn't recall her identity.

"How do you know my name?" Damian inquired.

The woman appeared taken aback by Damian's question. "You're being cruel. I'm Davina, don't you remember?"

"Really? Ah, Davina. I think I remember you," Damian fibbed.

"Don't pretend to remember me if you don't. I'm Davina Claire, Camille's best friend. We were classmates," Davina clarified.

"Do you want to meet Camille here?" Damian asked.

Davina nodded, not wanting to admit that she had just delivered divorce documents to Camille.

"I'm in a hurry. I have to go. Goodbye, Damian."

"Goodbye, Davina."

Davina paused for a moment, turning her head. Observing Damian approach the reception desk, she realized that he hadn't changed since their school days—his appearance and personality remained unchanged.

"Why are there people who never change? Damian, you're not lucky to have a wife like Camille."

Damian settled in the lobby, patiently awaiting Camille's arrival. As lunchtime drew nearer, the vicinity bustled with individuals going about their day. Unintentionally, Damian overheard people discussing the hot topic within the company.

"Did you hear that Camille was promoted to finance manager?"

"You mean that sexy Camille?"

"Yes, exactly. Camille became the finance manager today. How did that happen? I've been working here longer than her."

"Don't you know? Everyone in the company knows Camille is close to our financial director, Marcel."

"Oh, right. Last week, I spotted Marcel and Camille entering a hotel room while fetching my brother for vacation."

"I'm not surprised. I've witnessed them kissing in the elevator."

"Doesn't that imply that Camille secured her promotion through inappropriate means? As far as I know, Marcel is engaged to a lawyer."

"I’m pretty sure there are skeletons in their closet."

Damian couldn't help but overhear these conversations, their words vivid in his ears. This was not the first instance when Damian had come across news of his wife's affair at the company. Damian remained skeptical about it despite the passage of time, as he hadn't witnessed it firsthand.

"What are you doing here?" Camille demanded.

"I heard that you've become a finance manager.”

"Yes, today I became the finance manager. Everyone envies me," Camille smiled with satisfaction as she recalled the surprised reactions of her coworkers.

Some of Camille's coworkers took the time to gossip when they saw Camille talking to Damian in the lobby. 

"Camille, who is that? Is he your driver?"

"It can't be, someone as beautiful as you dating a shabby bookworm like him?"

"A lunch box? Are you still eating that old-fashioned food?" replied another coworker. 

"Congratulations, Dear. You're amazing." Damian hugged Camille, pleased with her achievements in the company. However, Camille quickly let go of Damian's embrace. It was evident that Camille was uncomfortable with her husband's touch.

Camille felt embarrassed every time Damian spoke or acted. Just his mere presence in the world made Camille sickened. Camille delivered a resounding slap to Damian's face.

" Don't dare to touch me. You have to leave. Don't you dare come here again. I'm occupied, not unemployed like you." Camille pretended to be busy with her cell phone and hurriedly left, leaving Damian behind.

Damian stared at Camille as she disappeared from view, entering the elevator. "How dare she slap me?"

Before entering the elevator, Camille threw the lunch that Damian had lovingly prepared into the trash. Camille was sure Damian would not notice. However, this time, Camille was wrong. Damian witnessed the entire incident.