Chapter 3
596words
He even stepped on my reputation, demeaning me to prop up Madison’s popularity.
I looked at her design drafts. They were just slight modifications of my original work. But it was precisely those small changes that made the whole piece a disjointed mess.
Industry experts could spot it right away.
As expected, during the live broadcast of the finals, the head judge bluntly pointed it out.
"Miss Hill, with all due respect, is this design entirely your own work?
"The overall concept is creative and shows talent. However, the diamond-studded details are completely out of place. It’s like putting dirt on a masterpiece."
The judge’s harsh words made Madison’s face turn bright red.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she said indignantly, "Professor, even if you don’t like my design, you shouldn’t insult me like that!"
But she never directly answered his question.
The judge understood.
In the end, Madison came in last place.
I felt a surge of satisfaction and decided to treat myself to a nice dinner.
But then Felix came home, with a tearful Madison trailing behind him.
Felix stormed over to me, furiously demanding, "Lexie, when did your standards drop so low? Your design draft made Madison lose the competition!"
Madison had stolen my work, altered it beyond recognition, and now she was blaming me for her loss?
What kind of twisted logic was this?
I sneered and retorted, "Didn’t the judge already say? It’s her lack of skill that ruined my good design, turning it into a mess. It’s like putting dirt on a masterpiece!"
"I’m the masterpiece, and she’s the dirt!"
Felix’s face froze, and Madison’s sobs grew even louder.
He pressed on, "Then give her your other drafts so she can enter another competition."
I almost laughed out loud.
First, they sent me away and stole my designs, and now they were planning to rob me outright?
I crossed my arms and let out a mocking laugh.
"Sorry, the moment I found out you messed with my drafts, I burned them all. I didn’t want them tainted."
Felix’s eyes widened in rage, and he walked up and slapped me hard across the face.
My head spun, and my cheek burned with pain.
Felix actually hit me for Madison.
He stood tall in front of me, his broad frame looming over me.
Once, this same tall figure had shielded me from rumors and gossip. Now, it was pressuring me to hand over my designs.
I bit down on my lip, tasting blood as it spread through my mouth.
Felix looked at me with utter disappointment.
"Lexie, you’re not yourself anymore."
Disappointment and despair overflowed inside me, turning into tears that fell to the ground.
Yes, I did not feel like myself anymore either.
I used to be so proud and brave, but this man in front of me had turned me into someone weak and insecure.
Felix said Madison reminded him of how I used to be, and now he said that I was no longer myself.
In the end, he was just chasing a perfect memory, an idealized version of the past that no longer existed.
He did not love me, and he did not love Madison either.
He only loved himself.
I took off my wedding ring, placed it on the table, and said calmly, "Felix, let’s get a divorce."
