Discarded Husband, Unseen Genius

led with the sound of clinking champagne

was celebrating i

d at billions, and my wife, Sarah

by a service entrance,

spoke

n't see me or chose not to. I was just part of the back

had been Alex Chase

e ground up, a fortress that had never been breached. I did it to repay her father, Mr. Smith,

th family, and everyone he

microphone in her hand. Her eyes scanned the adoring

e," she began, her voice smooth and confident.

ll, cruel smile p

new beginnings. For cu

The room quieted slightly

y know my husba

k at me, their expressions

career on flattering her and tormenting me, stepped up

th disdain. "A small role in the IT department to keep him busy. Unfortunately, his perform

tured t

, ple

the letter held out like a weapon. The cameras, which had been focused

the CEO' s directive, your employment with SmithTech is terminated, effective

he letter i

t Sarah on the stage. She was enjoying this. This p

nto the microphone, "t

op I had placed on a nearby table. It was my p

ortant. Some 'custom-built' nonsense. It' s an eyeso

stillness se

thTech' s security. The entire system was keyed to it, a custom arch

commanded. "

to the table, picked up the laptop,

This is what our form

owd la

a step

id, my voice

r what? You'll what,

ho gave a slight nod. That was

laptop to the

stic and metal echoed in

Tech wasn't just termi

e broken machine on the floor. They

itement, others with derisive amusement. They saw

n't see

s public debut was also the beg

employees, the ones who had once asked me for

nd looked back at Sarah, who was

gh for Mark, who stood near the door,

real smile

without it, is w

leaving the celebration and the wrecka