The pair of Italian handmade leather shoes I had specially chosen for him were missing from the entryway. In their place sat a pair of mud-caked hiking boots and a pair of bright red high heels—Chloe’s favorite brand.

Only then did I realize Julian and Chloe were inside. Weren’t they supposed to return from Paris in two days?

As I wondered, Chloe heard the commotion and walked over. She was wearing my silk morning robe, holding my coffee cup, her posture languid and relaxed, as if she were the true mistress of this home.

“Sister Elena, why are you back at this hour? Isn’t it still work hours?” she asked casually.

As she spoke, she took a bite of a cookie and then, with extreme naturalness, shook the crumbs onto my Persian rug—which I might never be able to restore. I recognized the cup—a one-of-a-kind piece I had brought back from a research trip to Japan.

I had once treated it like a treasure, washing it with the utmost care. Just then, Julian walked out of the living room. He watched Chloe ruining my things with a look of pure indulgence.

When he saw me, his expression flickered. Surprise at first, followed quickly by a darkening gloom.

“Skipping work again? Elena, even if you are a partner, you can’t be this willful!

“That is a firm, not a playground. If you don’t lead by example, what will the designers below you think?”

Lead by example? I almost laughed out loud. If we were talking about breaking rules, who could compete with Julian?

Two years ago, just as the firm was finding its footing in the industry, Julian broke recruitment standards to hire Chloe, who couldn’t even use drafting software proficiently.

Naturally, I was confused. But when Julian said she had a unique aesthetic intuition, I chose to believe him and taught her hand-in-hand myself.

But Chloe’s days at work consisted of scrolling through social media and having afternoon tea. After wasting the workday, she would deliberately stay late into the night, then post a selfie on Instagram with the caption “Working hard for the dream.”

I reported this to Julian. He brushed it off, saying perhaps she was just in an adjustment period and needed encouragement.

I asked him to check her drawings; he said he had no time. I suggested sending her to the construction site for experience; he claimed it was too dirty and tiring.

Later, a series of design errors led to client complaints. Even then, Chloe continued her ways. When I could bear it no longer and demanded her dismissal, Julian firmly opposed it.

In the end, he even asked me, “Are you jealous? Are you afraid Chloe’s youthful vitality highlights your dullness?”

So Chloe stayed—and step by step, cannibalized my achievements and took over the clients I maintained. Julian saw it all, yet said nothing.

On the contrary, he praised Chloe as the firm’s “fresh blood” while treating me as a nitpicking relic. I became a menopausal woman harboring resentment out of jealousy toward a newcomer.

I used to feel aggrieved. But thinking about it now, if I had applied this level of endurance at any other top firm, I would likely be a Design Director by now.

At this moment, I remained silent. Chloe gently hooked her arm through Julian’s and said softly, “Maybe Sister Elena knew you came back early and came home specifically to surprise you.”

Julian evidently bought her nonsense, a look of smugness even appearing on his face.

“Fine, just this once. But how did you know I was returning today?”

Chloe laughed. “Julian, did you forget? Your itinerary was booked by the admin department; maybe they told Sister Elena.”

Julian snorted dismissively. “Elena, you don’t care about serious design, but you’re certainly keen on this kind of petty surveillance. But don’t think I’ll forgive you for freezing the cards just because of this.

“Because of your little tantrum freezing the accounts, I almost couldn’t pay the bill in Paris. In the end, it was Chloe who used her personal savings to cover the cost.

“It’s not that I can’t forgive you. But before that, we need to give Chloe the compensation she deserves.

“The landlord of her apartment suddenly took the property back, so she has nowhere to live. Clear out the guest room and let her stay here for a while. If you do that, I won’t pursue the matter.”

I shook my head. “But I’ve already sold this apartment.”

“Sold it?” Julian’s eyes widened as if he had heard a fairy tale.

Before he could press further, Chloe interjected, “Sister Elena must be planning to sell this old place and upgrade to a villa as an apology to you, right?”

Julian found this reasonable, and his expression softened immediately.

“True. We’ve lived here for five years; it really is time to move to a bigger place, preferably with an independent studio. I’ll contribute some money too.

“But don’t rush to hand over this unit yet. It’s perfect for Chloe to stay in temporarily.”

“That’s too much trouble. I’ll pay rent at market price,” Chloe said hurriedly, though her eyes were already sizing up the living room layout.

“What rent?” Julian’s face darkened. “I am your boss; how can I take rent from you?”

“No, I must pay. I should contribute something.”

“Then just give two hundred bucks as a token gesture.”

The two of them sang back and forth in perfect harmony, Julian acting as if this house belonged to him.

Yet, this apartment was in the core of Manhattan; market rent was nearly five thousand dollars a month. And he could waive it so casually?

I recalled when we first started the business, splitting a single Starbucks to save money. The difference between being loved and unloved... was cruelly obvious.

“Well? If you agree, I might reconsider the divorce.”

“There’s no need to reconsider...”

“What do you mean no need? If I forgive you too easily, you won’t learn your lesson. What if you drop the ball at a critical moment again in the future?”

Julian interrupted me, assuming as always that I wanted him to change his mind and call off the divorce.

Chloe giggled from the side. “You’re right, Julian. But for my sake, just forgive Sister Elena, won’t you?

“Besides, you and Sister Elena are the industry’s model couple. Wouldn’t it be a pity to give up now?”

Julian pretended to ponder. Chloe leaned in, gently shaking his arm, clinging to him like a spoiled child. He told her to stop teasing, but his face bloomed with a smile.

“Fine.”

He finally turned to me, clearly satisfied. “Since Chloe is pleading for you, I’ll let it go this time.

“You really should thank her properly. After all the terrible things you’ve done to her, she’s willing to let bygones be bygones and speak up for you.

“So it’s settled, the divorce is...”

“You misunderstood.” Before he could finish, I interrupted him calmly, placing a photocopy on the marble coffee table in front of him.

“What I meant to say was... we are already divorced.”