Lost and Found

Ever since that day, Julian began showing up at the office with increasing frequency, even inserting himself into high-level strategic meetings.

Though an official executive decree hadn’t been formally published yet, the underlying intent was glaringly obvious to everyone.

Even so, he still afforded me a shred of final dignity.

He didn’t force an immediate dethroning, continuing to consult and respect my opinion on matters.

Yet those closed-door meetings he held exclusively with the corporate veterans left me feeling profoundly unsettled.

Had this happened in the past, I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

Presently, however, my entire psychological state had warped.

It felt as though a Sword of Damocles hovered perpetually above my head, leaving me devoid of peace.

I tacitly signaled Leo and several loyal confidants to quietly lay down an exit strategy; retaining proactive control was the ultimate truth.

Since Julian’s physical stamina hadn’t fully recovered, Vivienne dutifully reported to the office twice a day.

Delivering health tonics and massaging his legs.

On that particular day, carrying an urgent contract requiring immediate sign-off, I walked over to his office.

Pushing the door open, the scene that greeted my eyes struck like a direct blow to my nerves.

Vivienne was kneeling on the carpet massaging Julian’s calves, while he looked down at her with gentle warmth, murmuring quietly in an atmosphere of utter harmony.

That junior assistant whom I thoroughly despised down to my bones had once again brazenly triggered a wave of raw nausea within me.

The sensation of one’s personal territory being pawed at by outsiders drove me up the wall.

In truth, back when Julian first returned from abroad following his surgery, I had also completely and voluntarily humbled myself to play the role of a caregiver.

During that period, his legs were withered and weak, requiring rigorous massages three times daily to stimulate muscle recovery.

Yet I was far from a professional nurse; my hands were sometimes too heavy, sometimes too light, utterly clumsy in technique.

Even so, he had gently assured me he was fine.

Wearing headphones to attend company meetings while learning physical therapy exercises from specialists; clumsily nursing Julian on one hand while pulling all-nighters reviewing proposals on the other.

Julian, deeply empathetic, had once told me earnestly: “Clara, you are exceptionally talented. Your capabilities belong in arenas worthy of your stature, rather than turning yourself into a high-end nurse earning a monthly salary of thirty thousand.”

He had tenderly kissed my forehead.

“Wife, the company needs you more. As for this end, let professional personnel handle it.”*

I had once been profoundly moved by Julian prioritizing the bigger picture; yet at this very moment, I found that exact concept of “professional personnel” sickeningly revolting.

Back then, he stripped away my chance to personally care for my husband.

Now, it had devolved into an excuse for another woman to infiltrate our marriage!

I knocked sharply on the door three times, causing the two cozy figures to snap their heads up.

Vivienne showed zero guilt or panic; instead, her eyes flashed with defiant triumph as she delivered a sweet, saccharine report:

“Mr. Julian, this is the technique I just learned from the physical therapist. Does it feel a bit more comfortable now?”*

“Very good.”

Standing tall and commanding from an elevated vantage point, I looked down coldly at the pair.

“Assistant Vivienne, CEO Julian and I have official business to discuss. You may step outside.”

I barked the order as if commanding a menial servant. True to expectation, Vivienne instinctively looked up toward Julian waiting for authorization.

Only after Julian gave a slight nod did she sluggishly rise to her feet.

Before leaving, as she gathered her belongings, Julian suddenly called out: “Take the document bag on the coffee table with you. You know who it goes to—have old Zhang drive you.”*

“Yes, Mr. Julian.”

Julian’s vague, contextless order immediately set off alarm bells in my head.

The thick brown paper document bag clutched tightly against Vivienne’s chest was met with a sweet, innocent smile: “Mr. Julian, I’ll be going now.”

Vivienne turned toward the exit, pausing just long enough to toss out a final remark:

“Mr. Julian, the roses in the greenhouse are blooming splendidly. Shall I pick a few to place by your bedside?”*

“Do as you wish.”

Vivienne finally cleared out, leaving behind a mess of unresolved turmoil in her wake.

With just the two of us left in the office, I couldn’t help complaining: “This is a corporate office, and Vivienne acts without a shred of discipline. You really ought to exercise more discretion.”

Julian sat composedly as if nothing untoward had occurred: “Precisely because I wanted to avoid misunderstandings, I deliberately left the door wide open.”

“Wife, she’s merely my assistant.”*

Suppressing my rage, I pivoted back to core business: “The ShengYue project is essentially wrapped up. My proposal is to redistribute the new business units under the subsidiary framework—what are your thoughts?”

Julian narrowed his eyes, offering a flat rejection.

“Unnecessary. Subsidiaries have their own distinct operational targets. Once a project concludes, it concludes; there’s no need to forcibly prop up the corporate headquarters’ metrics.”*

I reasoned with him logically: “But the headquarters isn’t sustained by a single project alone. The new venture is still in its growth phase, simultaneously burning cash and generating revenue. Vance’s business lines are vast; we cannot afford to neglect one aspect at the expense of another.”

“Rest assured, I have my own calculations.”

Facing Julian’s obstinate gaze, I knew instantly he wouldn’t easily back down.

Julian pulled me down to sit beside him.

“Wife, the new venture was personally spearheaded and built step-by-step by you following your ascension, while ShengYue was likewise founded by you two years ago.”

“Carving up business units like this—are you attempting to draw a hard line of separation between us?”*

An invisible wave of oppression radiated downward from his position of dominance.

“How could that be? I merely caught wind that you intend to monopolize the entire microchip sector, and feared you’d exhaust yourself right out of the gate upon returning to the country.”

Julian leaned in to press a tender kiss to my forehead.

“Silly girl, right now, nothing in this world can tie me down anymore.”*

I offered a gentle, submissive smile, leaning obediently against his chest while my eyes remained entirely hollow, devoid of a single ripple of emotion.