I opened my mouth.
But Julian answered first.
“Meridian has always been my greatest supporter.”
I smiled politely.
He continued.
“She handles the home so I can focus on business.”
The journalist nodded.
“How wonderful.”
I looked at Julian.
He squeezed my waist.
Then whispered:
“Don’t complicate things.”
I froze.
That night, I confronted him.
“Why did you say I only handled the home?”
He shrugged.
“Because it’s simpler.”
I stared at him.
“Julian, I helped build the company.”
He laughed.
“Of course, darling.”
I swallowed.
“Then why not say that?”
His expression hardened.
“Because investors want a strong CEO, not a complicated story about husband-and-wife ownership.”
I looked at him.
“And what about the truth?”
He sighed.
“Meridian, don’t be so sensitive.”
I said nothing.
But I remembered.
Over the years, the insults became more frequent.
At dinners, Julian joked that I didn’t understand business anymore.
At conferences, he introduced me as his beautiful wife.
