Eloped with the Neighbor's Brother

The next day, it was no surprise to see Everly at the company again.

A loud female voice began to come from Owen's office.

The most gossip-loving graphic designer quietly walked to the door and leaned in to listen.

She mouthed what she overheard to everyone.

"Ms. Turner said she likes Mr. Allen!"

Everyone had a knowing look on their faces.

"Mr. Allen said he has a wife!!!"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock.

I didn't even have time to react.

Owen had already opened the door.

Everyone exchanged looks. They were awkwardly rubbing their noses, feeling guilty for being caught eavesdropping.

Owen walked straight to my side. He wrapped his arm around my waist and coldly said to Everly, "Ms. Turner, please stop bothering me. Let me introduce you to my wife, Natalie."

Someone gasped, "Wow!"

Everly threw down her coffee in anger and stormed out.

Owen called for cleaning to tidy up the mess Everly left behind with a stern expression.

I didn't let go of his hand. Moments like these always made a woman feel sweet.

Owen took a call. Before leaving the company, he kissed my forehead in front of everyone. "Honey, I'm going to sign a contract first. Be good."

After Owen left, we all burst into conversation. After getting along for half a year, no one held back their words.

"Natalie, you're Mr. Allen's wife! And here I was, fangirling over him in front of you every day."

"Natalie, you're sneaky. Don't forget us when you're rich. When the company gets funded, you better give me a raise."

"Natalie, how are you so lucky to be dating such an unbelievably handsome guy? I'm jealous!"

Everyone teased me. I smiled and promised, "Once the company expands after the funding, I'll definitely get everyone some perks!"

I wasn't sure if Everly was seeking revenge after being rejected.

The expected funding was halted, which disrupted Owen's plans. The users who had become active due to the funding were starting to drop off.

Owen began to stand by the floor-to-ceiling window, lighting one cigarette after another.

I hugged him from behind, pressing my face against his well-defined back. "Owen, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so jealous."

I knew he publicly rejected Everly because I had been insanely jealous that night.

Owen turned around. He bent down to tap my nose and chuckled. "Silly, that's just business. You can't be soft-hearted in battle, and you can't make money by being righteous. The Turner Group just wants to take over the partnership."

I didn't understand much of this. But I knew that if he hadn't publicly embarrassed Everly, things might not have become so difficult.

The Turner Group was a giant. Even though Owen was highly skilled, he still couldn't outlast their financial power.

The company was eventually sold.

Owen started a new company in the west of the city.

He often smoked through the night and started working on extremely aggressive plans.

He craved success. He wanted to crush the Turner Group, who once wasn't even worthy of standing before him, under his feet.

I advised him not to take too many risks.

He said I didn't understand.

I was startled. Did I really not understand anymore?

Since we had some savings, he told me to stay home and relax instead of stressing over work.

I was happy to take care of all his needs and became a full-time housewife.

Occasionally, I'd bring freshly baked cookies to visit him at the office and add some new employees on WhatsApp.

Owen secured a deal, and the profits were enough to establish the new company in Tanaxes. He often worked late into the night because of it.

He treated everyone to a late-night snack at the convenience store downstairs.

The accountant took a picture of everyone happily gathered outside the convenience store and posted it on WhatsApp Moments with the caption, "As long as the boss is handsome enough, staying late isn't so bad."

The photo showed a group of young men and women, some standing, some sitting on the street curb.

I didn't think much of it and just swiped past. I didn't even open the thumbnail to take a closer look.

Later, one day while Owen was in the shower, he asked me to send a contract photo to legal.

I picked up his phone to find the contract. As I scrolled, I came across a very familiar photo.

I quickly realized it was the same photo the accountant posted on WhatsApp Moments.

Owen's gallery had a saved version of that photo from someone else's Moments.

This was totally out of character for Owen.

I held Owen's phone, unsure whether to ask him where the photo came from.

In that photo, the man was looking at the woman who was laughing with her head tilted back. The tear mole at the corner of her eye radiated happiness.

The woman was the company's sales rep, Claire Morris.

The way Owen looked at Claire tore a cold, painful gash in my heart.

How could he look at another woman like that?

His gaze was full of admiration, concern, and affection.

He had even saved that photo from someone else's Moments.

Why did he save it?

Did he want to admire the charm of a woman fighting on his behalf occasionally?

The next day after seeing the photo, I was eager to meet this exceptional saleswoman, Claire.