The Promotion Built on My Broken Hands

My executive boyfriend, Marcus Winters, had always wanted the regional president seat. Then his favorite protégée, Sophie Moresby, complained that I always got the spotlight, and he deliberately sabotaged my car. The crash broke both my hands, leaving me unable to compete in the design contest that could decide the board vote. He handed my entry slot to Sophie and expected me to accept it quietly. When I confronted him, he said it was only one competition and that, as design director, I should give younger employees a chance. To prove his "fairness," he stripped me of my director title and docked six months of my pay to compensate the team. Everyone waited for me to fight back. Instead, I nodded, calm and silent. Marcus was pleased. He promised that once his promotion came through, he would restore my position and publicly announce our relationship. I smiled coldly and told him we were done. I had already submitted my resignation. What Marcus did not know was that the board and I had made a private agreement: if I won the championship and secured the decisive vote, the person I named would become regional president. I had been preparing to name him. Now he had not only replaced me with Sophie, but also encouraged her to submit a fraudulent design. Once the contest ended, the only thing waiting for him was termination, a ruined career, and a bill he could never afford. Chapter 1 The moment I said it, my boyfriend, Marcus Winters, slapped me twice across the face. He frowned and snapped, "What are you making a scene for now? "Everything I did was for your own good. And now you're using resignation to punish me?" The sharp sound of the slap drew every eye in the room. Marcus's favorite protégée, Sophie Moresby, immediately stepped forward to defend him when she saw his expression darken. "I honestly don't know what else you want. Marcus has already done so much for you. Why are you still not satisfied? "If Marcus hadn't vouched for you in front of the board chair, do you think you'd still be standing here after abusing your authority and monopolizing the department's only competition slot year after year? You should know better than to be ungrateful." Then she turned to Marcus, full of righteous anger. "Marcus, I really don't think you should keep protecting her. Look at her face. Does she look sorry at all? "Your kindness is completely wasted on her." Her words were almost laughable. Was Marcus's so-called kindness meant for me, or for her? She knew the answer better than anyone. Yet she had the nerve to stand there and accuse me in public. If not for Sophie, why would Marcus have sabotaged my car just because she said, "If Julia keeps taking the spotlight every time, what about the rest of the department's rising talent?" He caused an accident so I would break both hands and miss the competition. Then I could only watch as he handed my place to Sophie. That was not all. Marcus also demanded that I give Sophie my design draft so she could "study" it. When I tried to stop him, he raised an eyebrow in displeasure. "Julia, you're a designer. Your hands are broken now, so you can't compete. If Sophie takes your design onstage, I'm helping you. Someone else will simply accept the award for you." Chapter 2 "Besides, to you, it's just one lost championship. It's not a big deal. But for Sophie, this competition is crucial. "You've won the design championship so many times. It's time to make room for younger talent, isn't it? "They're the future of this company. I'm thinking about the company. Stop being so unreasonable." After saying that, he shoved me aside, opened the drawer, and took my design files. The force sent me crashing to the floor, fracturing my already injured hands a second time. I looked down at my arms wrapped in bandages and gave a bitter laugh. I had fought for the championship year after year only to raise my value, negotiate with the board chair, and secure Marcus's promotion. Now he was accusing me of being selfish. The department employees saw what happened and immediately joined in, scolding me without caring who was right or wrong. "An ungrateful person like her isn't worth another word." "Exactly. She only cares about herself. As long as she's here, no one else in the department will ever get a chance." "Anyone who damages team unity should be pushed out of the company." Someone picked up a broom and swept it aggressively near my feet, as though they meant to drive me out right there. I was about to speak when someone shoved me from behind. I stumbled and almost fell. The movement pulled at both injured hands, and a piercing pain shot through me. I clenched my teeth, cold sweat breaking across my back. Seeing sweat bead across my forehead, Marcus finally spoke up. "Enough. Stop messing around. "Her hands are broken. She's still a patient. The competition is over anyway. Everyone say less. "Don't talk about firing her again. If she can give up one competition slot, she can give up a second. That's good for everyone in the department." On the surface, Marcus was defending me. In truth, he had just handed the department a reason to hurt me again. If my hands kept being injured before competitions, someone else could always replace me. Then they would not have to work hard to earn a slot, nor resent me for winning every year. Marcus could use that to win loyalty and establish his authority. What a clever calculation. The fake concern on his face only made my heart colder. I no longer wanted to argue. The pain in my arms reminded me that if I delayed treatment any longer, my hands might never heal properly. But when I turned my head, I saw the usually proud Marcus personally pouring tea for Sophie. He peeled an apple for her, then carved the pieces into little rabbits before handing them over. The people around them immediately exchanged knowing looks. Sophie blushed and said, "Don't look at me like that. He's only taking care of a junior designer." That was what she said, but everyone around her smirked with obvious understanding. The sight pressed against my chest until even breathing felt difficult. I had no desire to keep watching. Under the strange gazes of the crowd, I fled the office. Chapter 3 Sophie had never been qualified to join the company in the first place. She had simply been lucky enough to run into Marcus when he was heading out. They had not seen each other in years, yet after one meal, Marcus arranged everything for her. Just like that, she became a member of the senior design team. At first, I thought she was honest and hardworking, only a little weak in technical skill. Then I asked her to help organize a draft and discovered she did not even understand basic color correction. From that day on, I realized Sophie's problem was not that her design ability was weak. She had no design ability at all. I told Marcus many times that she could not pass the monthly review and that keeping her there would only hurt her. Every time, Marcus agreed. Every time, he did nothing. Then I caught him secretly giving my drafts to Sophie. Only then did I understand. It was not that he refused to listen. He simply had no intention of removing Sophie. Even after I caught him, he did not stop. Instead, he asked if I had any better preliminary designs. After all the years we had been together, the first time he begged me for anything was for Sophie, a useless opportunist who could not design. When I refused, he pleaded. "Sophie can't leave the company yet. Her younger brother is seriously ill and in the hospital. He needs a huge amount of money every month for treatment. "I'm her mentor. I can't abandon her. "You understand, right?" I softened when I heard that and handed over a design I had just finished. Only later did I learn there was no sick brother. It was just another lie Marcus had used to manipulate me. The elevator reached the first floor. I walked outside and hailed a cab to the hospital. At my request, the driver opened my contacts and dialed a number that had been buried for years. As the phone rang, my heart tightened. The next second, a familiar teasing male voice came through. "Well, if it isn't our little star. What made you remember your old mentor today?" Hearing that familiar tone, the tension in my chest finally loosened. "Dean, does the offer you made me back then still stand?" He fell silent for several seconds. Just when I thought that was the end of it and was about to hang up, his excited voice burst through the receiver. "Julia, do you have any idea how many years I've been waiting for you to ask that? "I'll book the ticket right now. Pack your things. When you land, Carla will pick you up." Hearing long-lost concern, my nose stung and my vision blurred. But I could not leave yet. My resignation process was not complete, and there were things I still had to settle with Marcus. I interrupted Dean's rapid-fire instructions. "I'll come in a few days. I still have handover work to finish." After agreeing on a deadline, I hung up. Dean was now a well-known figure in the design world. He had opened a thriving design firm with several other former classmates and mentors. Back then, they all told me not to leave, that I should stay with them and grow steadily. Design required focus and energy. I had known that. But I touched the plain ring Marcus had given me, and my decision hardened. I could not let Marcus struggle alone in a strange city while I enjoyed stability. Chapter 4 Against everyone's objections, I had followed Marcus to this unfamiliar city. I thought that if we could survive the distance and the hardship, life would finally settle into something smooth and lasting. Then Sophie appeared. At first, I did not take her concern for Marcus seriously. I saw it as the bond between a mentor and his junior colleague. Then one night, because Sophie casually said she wanted dessert, Marcus drove across half the city to buy every flavor he could find. That was when I realized something was wrong. I had a high fever that night and could barely be left alone. Yet he went out without hesitation. At the entryway, he finally turned back to look at me. I thought he had remembered I was sick and needed him. Instead, he only said coldly, "Fever medicine is in the TV cabinet drawer. Remember to take it." Then he left without looking back. Only when I heard the car start outside did I slowly come back to myself. Thinking of that, bitterness rose in my chest. The cab happened to stop at the hospital entrance. I had just reached the ward door when I ran straight into Marcus. He was carrying a fruit basket filled with oranges, the one fruit I was allergic to. He sat down, peeled one, and held it out to me. When I did not take it, he frowned. Then he looked down and saw both my hands wrapped in bandages. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes. "Is it that serious? You can't even move them?" He set the orange on the table. When I remained silent, he continued as if it did not matter. "I know I wronged you this time, but I can promise you I truly did it for your own good. "You've occupied the department's only competition slot for years. People already had complaints. Two days before the contest, I heard that some employees wanted to jointly report you for design fraud, so I stopped them. "Of course, I believe your character. With your talent, you'd never do something like that. But if it reached the board, even a false accusation would cause trouble. It would damage department unity, and it would be bad for you. "You know how people in the company are. They love rumors. Once this got out, it would be even harder for you to stay here." He paused deliberately, looked at me, and continued. "That's why I had no choice. Julia, you understand me, right?" I could not help laughing softly. He had said so much, but in the end, it was still for Sophie's sake. If that rumor spread, the board would investigate. What he feared was that Sophie's faked assessment work would be exposed. If he had really been protecting me, he should not have stopped the report. He should not have made a decision on his own, sabotaged my car, and broken both my hands. What a wonderful boyfriend I had, willing to destroy me so his protege would not be forced out. When I said nothing, he continued. "I asked the doctor. Your hands should recover in a little over a month. "You can take this chance to rest. You've worked so hard for the company all these years..." Chapter 5 Before he could finish, I cut him off. "Marcus, we're breaking up." He froze. The words he had been about to say vanished. When he reacted, he asked in shock, "Why? "I don't accept this!" Then he remembered the rumors from the office that he and Sophie were together and assumed that was what bothered me. He immediately explained, "Don't listen to the department gossip. Sophie and I are only close because I mentored her. "If anything were going to happen between us, would we have waited until now?" I had heard that excuse so many times I was tired of it. Every time, he used it to silence me. And every time before this, I believed him. I thought their relationship was just unusually close. But every incident after that made doubt impossible to ignore. What happened today only gave me a chance to say what I should have said long ago. Seeing the reluctance in his eyes, I exposed him coldly. "Isn't it exactly what you want if I break up with you first? "Then you can openly treat Sophie well without coming up with excuses every time. "And you won't have to argue with me or give me the silent treatment over her anymore." As soon as I finished, Marcus's face darkened. He stood and slapped me again. "How many times do I have to say it? Sophie and I have nothing going on! "Why do you never believe me? How many times do I have to repeat myself? "After all these years together, do you have no trust in me at all?" I looked at him coldly and said nothing. He gritted his teeth. "Fine. If you don't trust me, then we'll break up. "Julia, don't regret it." With that, he knocked over the fruit basket and slammed the door on his way out. I looked at the oranges scattered across the floor and smiled bitterly. He could not even remember that I was allergic to oranges. What trust was he talking about? There was no place for me in his heart. Why should I keep torturing myself with affection he no longer deserved? The pain in my arms reminded me that I could not let him and Sophie get away with breaking both my hands. They had to pay. I asked the nurse to help me dial a number. Not long after, the board chair's assistant, Mr. Collins, pushed open the door. After giving him a few instructions, I asked him to retrieve what I had left in my drawer. Inside were the evidence of Sophie's design fraud and Marcus's cover-up. Once those documents were made public, both of their careers would be over. The executive seat Marcus had dreamed of would disappear, and he would be left with a bill large enough to crush him. On the day the announcement was posted, I had just received approval for my resignation. Only the handover remained. As soon as I entered the company, I heard several opportunists already congratulating Sophie. "Congratulations, Sophie. I saw the competition entries. None of them were as good as yours. You're definitely winning this time." "Exactly. You've really made the younger designers proud. Otherwise, who knows when any of us would ever have a chance?" Sophie basked in the praise, flushed with triumph. Then she glanced at me, pretending to be modest. "My results aren't mine alone. If the director hadn't given up her slot, even someone with my ability would have been buried in the department." The moment she saw me, she steered the conversation toward me. With one sentence, she reignited the department's resentment, reminding everyone that I had taken every major competition and kept them from showing themselves to the board. Chapter 6 After Sophie's words, the department looked at me with disdain and resentment. When they noticed my bandaged hands, someone sneered. "Looks like karma finally opened its eyes and taught a lesson to the person who has been suppressing us all." Laughter immediately rippled through the crowd. A moment later, Sophie's phone chimed. She checked it, then smiled brightly and waved at Marcus. "Marcus, I just received news from the board. The regional president appointment list is out. Congratulations. You got what you wanted." Marcus was instantly thrilled. He thought he had been right. Even without my help, Sophie's board connections had secured the president seat for him. He no longer needed the competition to strengthen his leverage. Everyone rushed to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Mr. Winters. Our department has two happy events today. We must celebrate properly." Marcus glanced at me, then nodded. "After work, go straight to the hotel. I'll book the place." The office erupted in cheers. Some of the fence-sitters began pledging loyalty on the spot. "Mr. Winters, if you ever need anything from me, just say the word. I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly." The rest quickly echoed him. I laughed coldly. "The official appointment hasn't been released yet. Celebrating this soon might turn into quite a show if the stone you throw lands on your own foot." Before Marcus could speak, Sophie snapped back. "You really can't stand seeing him do well, can you? You're just jealous. "If you apologize to every colleague today, maybe I'll ask Marcus to let you join the celebration." She lifted her chin, waiting for me to apologize. I ignored her and returned to my desk to pack. At that moment, my phone lit up with a message from Dean. "Tonight's flight is booked." I smiled and turned off the screen. Seeing my indifference, Sophie grew embarrassed and angry. "Julia, don't say I never gave you a chance. One day you'll regret this." I did regret something. I regretted not waking up sooner and exposing her true face before she became this arrogant. Fortunately, it was not too late. The board chair's decision should arrive soon. She would not stay proud for long. As her words faded, Mr. Collins approached with a group of people behind him. The entire office turned to look. Whispers rose at once. "There he is. Mr. Collins must be here to announce Mr. Winters's appointment." "Let's see what Julia can say after this." Marcus's expression filled with expectation. The next second, Mr. Collins frowned at him and spoke coldly in front of everyone. "Marcus Winters violated company policy and encouraged another employee to commit competition fraud. "By unanimous decision of the board, effective immediately, Marcus Winters is removed from all executive duties and terminated from the company."