My Wife's New Favorite

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The alcohol in my stomach burned like a ball of fire, making my temples throb.

When my phone vibrated in my pocket for the third time, I finally pulled away from the drinking table, my fingertips sticky with the smell of booze.

I'm at the parking lot entrance, the white car. Gillian Brady's voice came through the receivercold, nothing like her usual warmth.

I rubbed my heavy head and stumbled toward the parking lot.

A breeze blew, the booze hit me again, and the streetlights blurred into a mess before my eyes.

The white car was easy to spot, but when I opened the door, I froze right there.

A young man sat in the front passenger seat, barely in his early twenties, wearing a sharp, well-fitted white shirt, with bold eyebrows and eyes.

When he saw me get in, he lifted his eyelids slightly, the corner of his mouth curling into a half-smile.

"Who are you?" I frowned and asked, my eyes landing on Gillian Brady in the driver's seat.

Gillian was adjusting the navigation without looking up: "This is Casper Jackson, my new assistant."

Casper reached out his hand confidently, his fingers long and clean: "Hello, Mr. Stephenson, I'm Casper Jackson."

I didn't take his hand. The air seemed to carry a faint scent of his cologne mixed with the perfume Gillian always wore a strangely sharp blend.

"Assistant?" I repeated myself, the irritation in my voice pretty clear, "That's my seat, so how did your assistant end up sitting there?"

Casper pulled his hand back, shrugged with an innocent expression: "Mr. Stephenson, sorry, I get really carsick. Sitting in the front seat is more comfortable, and Gillian was just trying to be considerate."

I felt anger flare up instantly and turned to Gillian: "If I'm not mistaken, the front passenger seat has always been mine."

Only then did Gillian turn around, her face showing clear impatience: "Owen, what are you making a fuss about? Casper does get carsick what if he pukes in the back?"

I was stunned.

After five years of marriage, Gillian has never used this tone with me.

No matter how late I got home before, she'd always warm some soup for me. If I frowned, she'd nervously ask if I was feeling okay.

But now, just because of some assistant she just met, she actually said to me, "What are you making a fuss about?"

Casper was standing nearby with this half-smirk, and the challenge in his eyes was practically spilling over.

"I'm making a fuss?" I laughed bitterly and pointed at Casper, "Gillian, he's your assistant, not your ancestor!"

"Owen!" Gillian raised her voice, "Can you be a little more mature?"

"Casper is the capable assistant I hired. The company's been busy with projects lately, so don't let this little thing mess with our work."

Work? I don't think he's here to work at all.

Casper spoke up just in time, breaking the silence, but it felt like pouring gasoline on the fire: "Mr. Stephenson, please don't be angry. This is all my fault."

"Maybe I should just sit in the back. Even if it's a hassle if I get sick, at least it won't affect your relationship with Gillian."

He was about to stand up, but Gillian held his arm: "No need, just stay seated."

The car started and smoothly drove out of the parking lot.

I sat in the back seat, staring at the backs of the two in front, feeling a chill run through me.

Casper seemed pretty chatty, talking with Gillian about work stuff, from project planning to team management, like they'd known each other forever.

Halfway through, he suddenly changed the subject, his eyes dropping down to Gillian's legs: "Gillian, those black stockings you're wearing today look really nice; they make your legs look slim and straight."

My heart sank.

Gillian was wearing a knee-length business skirt with black stockings todayher usual work outfit.

But an assistant using such a flippant tone to comment on their boss's outfit? That's just not right.

Gillian Brady's cheeks flushed slightly as she shot him an annoyed look. "Don't talk nonsense."

That playful tone wasn't how a boss talks to an assistantit sounded more like a couple teasing each other.

"I'm just telling the truth." Casper Jackson smiled and added a pointed comment.

"Way more tempting than the nude stockings you wore to that party last time."

That party? How come I didn't know about that?

Last time, Gillian said the company had a social event, but I couldn't go with her because I had to travel out of town for a project.

Turns out that day, she was with this "assistant."

"Casper!" I snapped, barely holding back my anger. "Do you know who she is?"

Casper turned around, looking confused. "Mr. Stephenson, I know. She's Gillian."

"She's also Mrs. Stephenson!" I practically shouted. "She's my wife! And you, an assistant, talking to my wife in that toneis that appropriate?"

Casper Jackson raised an eyebrow, seemingly not scared at all: "Mr. Stephenson, I was just complimenting Gillian's outfit. Aren't you being a bit too sensitive?"

"Sensitive?" I sneered and reached out to grab his collar.

Gillian slammed on the brakes, the car jolting violently. Due to the inertia, I lunged forward, my fingers nearly brushing Casper's shirt.

"Owen! Are you out of your mind?" Gillian turned around and glared at me angrily. "What do you think you're doing causing a scene on the road like that?"

"Out of my mind?" I looked at Gillian, feeling my heart being squeezed tightly, the pain sharp and harsh.

"Gillian, just look at himhe doesn't even take me seriously!"

Casper leaned back in his chair, watching us calmly with that irritating smirk on his face: "Mr. Stephenson, you can be careless with food, but never with your words."

"My feelings for Gillian are just pure admiration."

"Admiration?" I was so angry I laughed bitterly, "Admiration enough to know what color stockings she wears? Admiration enough to sit in my front passenger seat?"

"Owen, that's enough!" Gillian Brady's voice cracked with tears. "Casper only mentioned it in passing, so why are you still hung up on it? You weren't like this before!"

I wasn't like this before?

I was gentle before because I trusted her. I thought our marriage was rock solid.

But now, she has this young, handsome assistant giving flirtatious looks right by her side, and she even takes her anger out on me because of him. How could I possibly stay calm like before?

"You know exactly how I used to be." I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions.

"Casper, I'll ask you againdo you know she's married, that she's Mrs. Stephenson?"

Casper Jackson's eyes flickered briefly, then he slipped back into that cocky look: "So what if I know?"

"Mr. Stephenson, feelings aren't something a marriage certificate can just tie down."

That sentence completely lit the fuse inside me.

I couldn't hold back anymore; I flung the car door open, walked around to the front passenger seat, yanked the door open, grabbed Casper Jackson by the collar, and pulled him out.

"Say that one more d*mn time!" I punched him right in the face.

Casper wasn't prepared and took a solid punch, blood instantly seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He got mad too, raising his fist to fight back, but Gillian rushed over and grabbed us: "Stop fighting! You both, stop it!"

"Gillian, don't hold me back!" Casper shook off her hand and glared at me fiercely, "Mr. Stephenson, do you think just because you're rich and powerful, you can hit me whenever you want?"

"I'm telling you, this isn't over today!"

"Not over?" I sneered, about to strike again, but Gillian held onto my arm tightly, crying, "Owen, please, stop. There are too many people here. It wouldn't look good if they saw."

Watching Gillian Brady with tears streaming down her face, I felt a mix of anger and a touch of disappointment inside.

All this time, she was defending that man.

"Not look good if too many people saw?" I pulled her hand away, my voice cold. "Gillian, when you brought another man in my car and sat in my front passenger seat, did it ever cross your mind?"

Gillian Brady's crying stopped abruptly. She looked at me, stunned, her eyes full of disbelief.

I know, I've never been this harsh with her before.

No matter what she did in the past, I'd always patiently soothe her, but this time, I really couldn't take it.

"Casper and I are just boss and subordinate. Why can't you believe me?" Gillian's voice was full of grievance.

"Boss and subordinate?" I pointed at Casper, "Boss and subordinate talk about stockings? Boss and subordinate let him sit in my front passenger seat?"

"Gillian, do you think I'm an idiot?"

"I'm not!" Gillian shot back, clearly upset. "You're the one overthinking, way too sensitive!"

"I'm overthinking?" I stared at her, disappointment growing, "Fine, even if I'm overthinking, then tell mewhy have you been coming home late recently? Why is your phone always on silent? Why do you delete your chat history with him?"

All the doubts from the past few days suddenly flooded up.

Gillian's face instantly went pale, and she avoided looking at me.

Casper stepped forward and stood in front of Gillian. "Mr. Stephenson, don't just throw out baseless accusations!"

"Gillian stayed late because of work, her phone was on silent to avoid disturbing clients, and she deleted chat records to protect company secrets!"

"If you keep slandering her, I'll call the police!"

"Call the police?" I laughed. "Go ahead and call. I'm curiouswhen the police show up, will they be there for you hitting on my wife, or for me teaching you a lesson for being so clueless!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Casper Jackson's face flushed with anger as he pulled out his phone to make a call.

Gillian Brady quickly held his hand back. "Casper, don't call the police."

She turned to me, her eyes carrying a hint of pleading: "Owen, let's talk at home, okay? I'll explain everything clearly once we're there."

Go home? I don't want to spend even a second with her right now.

But seeing her eyes all red, I couldn't help softening a bit.

Maybe, just maybe, I did misunderstand?

"Get in the car." I dropped those words coldly and was the first to sit back in the backseat.

Gillian Brady pulled Casper Jackson into the car. This time, Casper sensibly sat on the other side of the back seat, keeping his distance from me.

The atmosphere in the car was suffocating; no one said a word, only the robotic female voice from the Navigation announcing the route.

I leaned against the window, watching the night scenes fly by outside, feeling completely empty inside.

We used to be like thisdriving around after dinner. Gillian would lean on my shoulder and talk about our future plans and the kids we wanted.

Back then, there was a light in our eyes.

But now, everything's changed.

The car stopped downstairs in the complex. I got out first and headed straight for the elevator.

Gillian Brady and Casper Jackson followed behind, Casper's steps unsteadyprobably still feeling that punch from earlier.

In the elevator, I looked at the three of us in the mirror and felt the sharp irony.

Me, my wife, and her "assistant"heading back to our own home.

The moment I opened the door, I froze.

By the entrance were a pair of men's slippers that weren't mine. On the shoe rack hung a white shirtthe same one Casper wore today.

"What's going on here?" I turned to look at Gillian, the coldness in my voice nearly freezing over.

Gillian's face went pale instantly, and she stammered, "Casper... he's been working overtime a lot lately. Sometimes really late, so... he just stays in the guest room for the night."

"Stays for the night?" I walked into the living room and saw two cups on the coffee tableone hers, the other a stranger's. "Gillian, do you think just because I have a good temper, you can treat me however you want?"

"I'm not treating you badly!" Gillian got emotional too. "Owen, you're always busy with social events and your company. How long has it been since you actually spent any real time with me? Casper... he only talks to me when I'm feeling down, that's all!"

"Talk to you?" I pointed at Casper Jackson. "Does he really need to come to your place just to talk about the color of your stockings?"

Casper Jackson stood silently to the side, looking at me with pity, like I was the one destroying someone else's relationship.

"How many times do I have to say it? He's just a friend!" Gillian Brady's voice was trembling with tears.

"Friend?" I laughed, almost in tears. "Gillian, do you think I'm a fool?"

I raised my hand, ready to punch Casper Jackson again, but Gillian suddenly stepped in front of him.

"If you want to hit me, then go ahead!" She shut her eyes, like she was ready to die.

My hand hung frozen in the air, unable to come down.

This is the woman I've loved for five years, the one I once vowed to protect forever.

But now, she's standing in front of me, shielding another man.

It felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

I slowly put my hand down, my voice unnervingly calm: "Gillian, I'm asking you one last timeare you involved with him or not?"

Gillian opened her eyes, looked at me with a complicated gaze: "Owen, we..."

"I don't want explanations, I just want answers." I cut her off.

Gillian bit her lip and said nothing.

Her silence was the best answer.

"Fine. Very fine." I nodded and turned to walk to the bedroom.

I opened the closet, took out a suitcase, and started packing my clothes.

Gillian followed me in and grabbed my arm. "Owen, what are you doing?"

"Doing what?" I shook off her hand. "Gillian, I can't stay in this house anymore."

"You're leaving?" Gillian's voice trembled. "Just because of Casper? Owen, I know I was wrong. I won't see him again. Please don't go."

"Wrong?" I sneered, "Why were you wrong? Was it letting him into this family, or betraying me?"

Gillian Brady's tears fell again. "I was wrong, really wrong. Can you give me one more chance?"

"Chance?" I looked at her. "Gillian, in five years of marriage, I trusted you countless times. And what did you do with that trust?"

I kept packing my clothes, moving fast.

Every piece of clothing held memories of us, but now those memories stabbed like thorns, hurting like hell.

"Owen, please, don't leave me." Gillian knelt on the floor, clutching my leg, crying her heart out.

Casper Jackson came in too, frowning, and said, "Gillian, don't do this."

"Get lost!" I shouted at Casper, "You've got no say here!"

Casper's face darkened, but he sensibly backed out.

I helped Gillian to her feet, my tone icy cold: "Gillian, get up. It's over between us."

"No, it's not over!" Gillian shook her head. "Owen, how can you just end all these years like that?"

"All these years?" I looked at her. "From the moment things got messy between you and Casper, our feelings were already broken."

I pulled my suitcase and headed for the door.

"I'll have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement." I paused, then added, "The house was bought before we got marriedit's mine."

"As for the shares in the company, I'll cash out part of them for you, as compensation for these five years."

"I don't want compensation, I just want you!" Gillian Brady cried out.

I didn't look back. I opened the door and walked straight out.

The moment I shut the door, I thought I heard Gillian breaking down crying and Casper trying to comfort her.

I leaned against the door, took a deep breath, and finally my eyes got wet.

After five years of marriage, it's finally come to an end.

I dragged my suitcase and wandered aimlessly down the street.

The evening wind was freezing, cutting into my face like knives.

My phone rangLeon Zimmerman was calling.

Leon Zimmerman's this rich playboy I met in the capital; his family's in real estate, and we always got along well.

"Hey, Owen, where are you? Come to the capital for a few daysI'll give you a welcome party." Leon Zimmerman's voice was lively.

"The capital?" I paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I'm coming right now."

Better to go to the capital and clear my head than stay here feeling sad.

I booked the earliest flight, grabbed my suitcase, and headed straight to the airport.

As the plane took off, I watched the city grow smaller outside the window, feeling a jumble of emotions.

This place bears the marks of my struggle, my past happiness, but now, I have to leave in disgrace.

Three hours later, the plane landed at Capital International Airport.

Leon Zimmerman had been waiting for me outside the airport in his car for a while. When he saw me, he came over warmly, "Hey, isn't this Mr. Stephenson? Why do you look so terrible?"

"Don't even mention it." I patted his shoulder, "Let's find a place to settle first, then we'll talk."

Leon took me to a five-star hotel and booked a presidential suite.

"Tell me, what happened?" Leon handed me a drink. "Looking at you, it seems like someone just dumped you."

I took the glass and downed it in one go. The sharp burn of the liquor scorched my throat but cleared my head a lot.

I told Leon Zimmerman everything about Gillian Brady and Casper Jackson, down to the last detail.