After Years, We Forget Each Other

“As a reward, will my husband give me a big gift today?” I asked playfully.

“Of course,” Tristan promised with a confident smile. “I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait. See you at home.”

The moment he left, the driver arrived with a beautifully arranged breakfast.

Five years ago, I would’ve been touched by the gesture. Tristan had faithfully ordered my favorite breakfast from the same luxury hotel every single day of our marriage.

Back then, I thought it was his way of showing love. Now, it felt like empty routine—perfunctory and soulless.

If he truly cared, wouldn’t he have learned to cook even a single dish for me in all these years? He had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep me from clashing with Zara. I dumped the meal into the trash without hesitation, grabbed my coat and walked out the door. It was time to end this five-year charade.

***

At the lawyer’s office, I discussed the division of assets.

“The longer the marriage, the more complex the property entanglements,” the lawyer explained. “It’ll take a couple of days to finalize the agreement.”

I nodded and handed over evidence of the countless luxury gifts Tristan had given Zara under the guise of company expenses.

“Let’s meet in three days to review the finalized terms.”

With that, I left the law firm without looking back.

On the way home, a notification popped up on my phone—Tristan’s company had just released a celebratory video.

The screen showed champagne spraying into the air as employees cheered wildly. Tristan stood at the center of the chaos, soaked in champagne, laughing with pride. I recognized the suit he was wearing. It was the anniversary gift I had given him last year—the one he had cherished so dearly back then.

This year’s gift? He had returned it without a second thought.

***

I arrived at the company just as the atmosphere reached its climax. Standing on stage before the entire office, Tristan made a shocking announcement.

“I’m officially transferring half of my shares to Zara,” he declared, his voice steady and triumphant. “Additionally, there’s a bonus of 13.14 million dollars.”

Gasps filled the room. The employees broke into murmurs.

“Wow, half the shares? Zara’s basically the boss’s wife now!”

“Careful what you say. Mr. Muller is married. If Mrs. Muller hears this, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Oh please, everyone knows Mrs. Muller is like a ghost—never seen at events. Zara is young and beautiful; no man can resist that. Poor Mr. Muller.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the company changes its name to Swan someday.”

Their laughter echoed around me, but I simply clapped my hands and smiled. The room fell silent as Tristan spotted me in the crowd. His face paled instantly. “Linda… Why are you here?” he stammered. “It’s not what it looks like. I was just handing out bonuses—nothing more.”

Zara stepped forward with a smug smile, waving the share transfer agreement in her hand.

“Mr. Muller really is a generous boss,” she purred mockingly. “Thanks to his ‘care,’ I can now afford a lovely river-view villa.”

A few employees snickered, eager to witness the drama unfold. I met Tristan’s panicked gaze calmly.

“Giving out bonuses is perfectly normal,” I said lightly. “Employees deserve their rewards—make sure they get every penny.”

“You’re not upset?” he asked, bewildered.

“Why would I be?” I shrugged. “I just stopped by to take a look. You’re busy—carry on.”

Relieved, he followed me outside, trying to explain himself. “Linda, it’s not what you think,” he insisted. “I was only rewarding the team. Please don’t misunderstand.”

I almost laughed at the irony of it all. This was the same man who had sacrificed our three children to please Zara.

Now that he had everything he wanted, who was he pretending to convince?

I kept my expression composed. “Don’t worry, I’m not unreasonable. I don’t understand business matters anyway. Just do what you think is right.”

He exhaled audibly, visibly relieved. Before I left, he gently took my hand.

“There’s a celebration banquet coming up,” he said earnestly. “I’ll bring you this time. I have a big surprise for you.”

I nodded without a word and walked away. But inside, I sneered bitterly. He had already given me more than enough surprises.