Falling for the Illusion

Snapping back to reality, he growled.

"Why are you making me choose? You're both important to me," he sulked.

"Answer me!" I pressed.

His eyes flickered with hesitation. Then he spoke firmly. "I won't fire Yvette. She's young and promising. A few misunderstandings shouldn't ruin her future."

His words pierced my heart. It turned out that I meant less to him than an intern he'd known for weeks.

"I get it." I turned and left his office without hesitation.

That evening, I contacted my lawyer friend. "John, help me prepare a divorce agreement."

John Dupont was surprised. "Are you serious? You and Elliot seemed solid."

"Just prepare it. I need the agreement in three days."

"Alright, but you need to think it through. You still have the company shares to sort out."

"I know. I'll give up all my shares, but there's one condition."

"What condition?"

"The copyrights to all my creative works and proposals from the past five years. I'll take them back."

John gasped, "These are core assets."

"They're my creations. I'm taking back what's mine."

In the following days, I quietly gathered evidence to prove that those creative proposals were my original works.

I dug up all the drafts I'd created, organized the evolution of the design ideas, and even found testimonies from clients who initially chose to cooperate with Kline Creative because of my creativity.

I also contacted talented designers to join my new studio.

Yvette caught some traces and began badmouthing me in front of Elliot, claiming I was negative and hostile, dragging down her morale.

Elliot believed her and called me in for a talk, saying that my recent performance had disappointed him.

"Yvette says you've been very unkind to her," he started. "It's hurting the team."

I sat across from him, calmly looking at him. "What else did she say?"

"That you've been assigning her unreasonable tasks and belittling her abilities in front of everyone."

I couldn't help but laugh. Yvette was a master at twisting the truth.

"Do you believe her?" I asked.

Elliot avoided my gaze and muttered weakly, "I just hope you two can get along. We're a team here."

"Got it." I stood up to leave.

He stopped me. "Are you mad at me?"

I turned, a pang in my chest. "No, I'm fine."

"Good. I thought you were upset."

I left without another word.

That afternoon, John sent the divorce agreement draft. I reviewed it, found it solid, and decided to confront Elliot that night.

When I got home, he was busy in the kitchen.

In a good mood, he said, "You're back early today."

"I need to talk to you about something," I said.

He brought out a plate of food he'd just made. A big smile was on his face. "What's so mysterious?"

I took the divorce agreement out of my briefcase and placed it on the dining table.

When Elliot saw its cover, the plate nearly slipped from his hand.

"What is this?" His voice trembled, and his face turned pale.

"I don't see a future for us," I said. "Let's divorce."