The Return of The King Steven

Chapter 3

Two days after that conversation, the house no longer felt like home to Steven. Nora began to come home less often. 

Even hen she came home, she just picked up her things, changed her clothes, and left again. 

Without speaking or looking at Steven's face.

That morning, when Steven went down to the dining room, he saw a large envelope on the table. 

No name or note. Just a plain white envelope.

He took it and opened it. Inside was:

Divorce Petition.

Without further discussion. Without trying to defend anything.

Steven took a deep breath. He had expected it, but it still felt like a big hammer hitting his chest.

A few minutes later, the front door opened. Nora appeared with a blank expression. 

He wasn't surprised to see Steven holding the letter.

"Oh, you've seen it," she said, walking past Steven without stopping. "The sooner the better."

Steven looked at her. "You really don't want to talk first?"

Nora paused, glanced back, her voice cold. 

"About what? About the accusations that you clearly lied about? I don't have time."

"Nora," Steven tried to hold back, "at least listen to me—"

"I've listened to you for too long," Nora interrupted. "Now I want to start listening to myself."

And Ryan she meant, of course. Steven didn't say it, but they both knew.

***

In the afternoon, Steven received a message from Nora's office:

Requested to attend for clarification regarding the misuse of funds.

He left. He knew Ryan was behind this.

When Steven arrived at the meeting room, he saw several directors already seated at the long table. 

Nora was present there and Ryan sat next to her—as if he held an official position. 

Even before the meeting began, Steven already felt like a defendant who had no chance to defend himself.

One of the directors said, "Mr. Steven, we have received reports that you have taken company funds for personal use."

Steven didn't waste any time. 

"I never did it."

Ryan leaned back casually, as if enjoying the show. 

"Really? Because the data shows the opposite."

Steven looked at Ryan. 

"You created that data."

Ryan smiled slightly. "That's a serious accusation."

Nora added, "I checked it. The numbers match the date Steven picked up the form from the office."

Steven tried to remain calm. 

"I left the office at that time to check on your project. You know that."

Nora crossed her arms. "Ryan said there were no projects that day."

Steven felt something break inside him. 

"So every word I say has to be validated by Ryan first?"

No one answered, but that was the answer.

One of the directors said, "Mr. Steven, we just need clarification from you. If there is a logical explanation, we will listen."

Steven showed evidence from his cell phone—meeting schedules, emails, locations, project photos. 

Everything was clear and accurate.

The director looked hesitant. "This... is quite powerful. I think—"

"Photos can be manipulated. Locations can be changed. Emails can be faked," Ryan interjected.

Nora nodded quickly. "That's right. We can't just trust digital evidence."

Steven finally said in a low but firm voice:

"You just believe everything that comes out of his mouth."

The room fell silent.

Nora stared at Steven sharply, as if he had just committed a grave sin. 

"Don't bring your feelings into professional meetings."

Steven felt his blood boiling.

It was only Nora's feelings that were at work here. Old feelings that Ryan had reawakened.

The director finally closed the brief meeting. 

"Okay. We will postpone the decision until the investigation is complete."

Ryan stood with a satisfied expression. 

"Relax, Steven. The truth will come out."

Steven understood what he meant, Ryan's version of the truth.

After the meeting, Steven chased Nora down the hallway. 

He had to try again even though he knew the result would be the same.

“Nora, can we talk? Just the two of us.”

Nora didn't turn around. "I'm busy."

"Please."

Nora's steps slowed. She glared at Steven. 

“What else do you want to explain?”

"This is all wrong. You know that. You know I couldn't possibly have done the things I'm accused of."

"I don't know anything else," Nora replied quickly. "Every time I want to trust you, something suspicious always happens."

"That's because Ryan made it happen!" Steven's voice rose slightly. "Why don't you realize it, Nora? He has an agenda!"

"I don't need you telling me what to think!" Nora shouted for the first time.

Some staff members turned their heads. 

Steven lowered his gaze. He was humiliated in public, by his own wife.

Nora continued in a lower but more painful voice, "I... can't trust you. I think I've been blind for too long."

Steven nodded slowly, enduring the pain. 

"In that case... let me open your eyes."

Nora frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I will withdraw all my support from your company."

Nora laughed briefly, mockingly. 

"What support? Do you think this company grew because of you?"

Steven stared at her. For a long time. "Unfortunately, yes. You just don’t know."

Nora looked back—confused, angry, disbelieving.

"You don't know anything, Nora," Steven continued. 

"Because I chose never to demand thanks from you. But remember this: without my financial injection, your company wouldn't have lasted a year."

Nora froze.

Ryan, who had just approached, immediately interrupted with a mocking smile, "What kind of nonsense is that?"

Steven refrained from smiling. 

"Check it yourself if you want to know."

Nora immediately looked at Ryan. There was doubt in her eyes. Doubt that had been buried all this time.

Ryan froze for a split second—long enough for Steven to know this conversation had hit the right weak spot.

But Ryan quickly covered it up. 

“Don't listen to him. That's the last tactic of a cornered person.”

Nora nodded quickly, closing her mind again. 

"I don't have time for drama. If you want to withdraw your support, or anything else as you say, go ahead. We'll find other investors."

Those words hit Steven harder than the lost confession of love.

"Nora," he said softly, "I never wanted to be your enemy."

"Too late," Nora replied as she walked away. "There have been too many lies."

Steven stood in the hallway for quite a while after the two of them disappeared.

For the first time, he realized:

He didn't lose his marriage. He lost someone who never truly stood by him from the beginning.

***

When night fell, Steven returned home. 

The house felt emptier. More unfamiliar. More like a temporary shelter for someone who was no longer wanted.

He sat in the living room, staring at the divorce papers.

Then he smiled bitterly.

"I've been fighting alone all this time."

No one answered.

However, Steven had already decided one thing:

If Nora wants to follow Ryan, let her go. If Ryan wants to take everything away, let him try.

Because Steven knew something that no one else knew:

Being stripped of one's honor is not the same as being stripped of one's power.

He had held back for too long.

To Nora and the marriage that turned out to be full of lies.

And at that moment, in the quiet living room that no longer felt like his own, Steven whispered something to himself:

"I'll let you see who you're really looking down on."