The Silicon Valley Queen's Gambit

The Silicon Valley Queen's Gambit

Gavin

5.0
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Ethan was Silicon Valley's golden boy, and I was his perfectly coiffed, publicly adored wife. He filled our gardens with rare orchids, a testament to his proclaimed devotion. Magazines called us "relationship goals," the epitome of a power couple. But my secret app, "Relationship Insight," painted a colder picture. For five years, Ethan's emotional score for me never wavered: a paltry, comfortable 60 out of 100. Just... comfortable. The facade shattered with an unexpected announcement. Ethan, citing a fabricated company crisis, declared a "strategic partnership" with his ex-girlfriend, Chloe. Chloe would move into our mansion, taking over my roles. My app now glaringly displayed Ethan's connection score for Chloe: a shocking, undeniable 90. He framed it as obligation, but I saw the end of my carefully curated reign. I played the supportive wife, inwardly calculating. The humiliations became daily occurrences. Chloe seamlessly usurped my philanthropic foundation, then our household duties. Ethan openly prioritized her, leaving me to face public scrutiny and pity. His mother, seizing her chance, bluntly questioned my lack of an heir. At dinner, knowing my severe almond allergy, Ethan theatrically shielded Chloe from nuts, ignoring my very real danger. My app briefly registered a 65 for him: not love, just a flicker of guilt. But the true betrayal, the one that broke me, came from overheard whispers. I listened as Ethan coldly confirmed to Chloe he'd deliberately sabotaged my fertility. His "fertility boosters" were designed to prevent conception, to stop me from having a child that might "complicate things" before Chloe returned. The man who feigned concern for my "delicate constitution" had systematically violated my body, my future. The app pulsed, showing his score for me at 90 again, this time for "Extreme fear. Guilt of exposure." His fear meant nothing. My decision was now carved in stone. I would not be managed. I would manage this. My way.

Introduction

Ethan was Silicon Valley's golden boy, and I was his perfectly coiffed, publicly adored wife.

He filled our gardens with rare orchids, a testament to his proclaimed devotion.

Magazines called us "relationship goals," the epitome of a power couple.

But my secret app, "Relationship Insight," painted a colder picture.

For five years, Ethan's emotional score for me never wavered: a paltry, comfortable 60 out of 100.

Just... comfortable.

The facade shattered with an unexpected announcement.

Ethan, citing a fabricated company crisis, declared a "strategic partnership" with his ex-girlfriend, Chloe.

Chloe would move into our mansion, taking over my roles.

My app now glaringly displayed Ethan's connection score for Chloe: a shocking, undeniable 90.

He framed it as obligation, but I saw the end of my carefully curated reign.

I played the supportive wife, inwardly calculating.

The humiliations became daily occurrences.

Chloe seamlessly usurped my philanthropic foundation, then our household duties.

Ethan openly prioritized her, leaving me to face public scrutiny and pity.

His mother, seizing her chance, bluntly questioned my lack of an heir.

At dinner, knowing my severe almond allergy, Ethan theatrically shielded Chloe from nuts, ignoring my very real danger.

My app briefly registered a 65 for him: not love, just a flicker of guilt.

But the true betrayal, the one that broke me, came from overheard whispers.

I listened as Ethan coldly confirmed to Chloe he'd deliberately sabotaged my fertility.

His "fertility boosters" were designed to prevent conception, to stop me from having a child that might "complicate things" before Chloe returned.

The man who feigned concern for my "delicate constitution" had systematically violated my body, my future.

The app pulsed, showing his score for me at 90 again, this time for "Extreme fear. Guilt of exposure."

His fear meant nothing.

My decision was now carved in stone.

I would not be managed.

I would manage this.

My way.

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