Always felt I wasn't truly trying my hardest.
Just like this time—even losing the baby after months of overwork and sleepless nights only got me:
"Delilah, the workplace is that cruel."
"As the head of Stellaris Group, I have to keep work and personal matters separate."
"The capable rise. Even if you're my wife, I can't show you any favoritism."
At the time I believed every word. I threw myself into proving I deserved my place.
Now I understand. All of it was just an excuse.
He was stern with me, cold with me, so measured it cut like cruelty—simply because he didn't love me.
My legs gave out and I hit the floor hard.
People in the break room glanced over, one after another. The second they saw it was me, every single one of them turned away and left.
Drew was right about one thing.
The workplace really is that cruel.
Nobody extends a hand to someone who's about to be eliminated.
But at least, over the past eight years,
I'd already learned to face everything alone.
No matter how bitter, no matter how hard, I could clench my teeth and stand back up on my own.
There were no spare clothes at the office.
I put in a leave request with HR and drove myself home.
Maybe it was just getting older.