Chapter 1

On the day my game won the biggest award in the industry, my wife went behind my back. She let her precious first love take the stage to claim the trophy, all to make him famous.

I stormed into the company's after-party, and everyone expected me to explode in a silent rage. Instead, I just smiled and walked up to her.

I shoved my Lead Designer badge into her arms. "Don't stop at just the award. Let him have the title too. I quit."

The star producer they worshipped was a fraud. Every detail of the project in his hands was my work. Without me, he couldn't even figure out how to make a cheap mobile cash-grab!

1 "Today is the day we finally hit the big leagues!" Gwen Vaughn shouted, raising her glass. Her face was flushed with a happy glow as she gazed at Leo York.

"To celebrate Vortex Games' historic breakthrough, let's toast to our star designer, Leo York!" The room erupted in cheers.

Leo finished his drink, his cheeks bright red as he looked back at Gwen. "The success of this game isn't just my hard work. It's thanks to Gwen's incredible support!"

"Let's give it up for our CEO, Gwen!" he added. The atmosphere was electric. We were a rising studio, and winning a world-class award had put us on the map for players everywhere.

The crowd started chanting for them to do a cross-arm toast. Gwen turned bright red, but she didn't pull away.

Leo grabbed another glass and shoved it into her hand, shouting to the room. "Don't you dare tell Gideon about this!"

Jeers and whistles broke out among the staff. "He's just the boss's boy toy anyway!" someone yelled.

"Yeah! In our eyes, you're the real man of the house, Leo!" Another voice added, "Gwen, just get a divorce already and marry Leo!"

My wife didn't say a single word to stop them. Instead, she shyly buried her face in Leo's chest.

A cold wind blew rain into the venue as I pushed open the heavy doors. I had only found out about the award when the committee sent an official invitation to the office.

I was ecstatic. I hadn't even taken off my work badge before hopping on a red-eye flight to Los Angeles.

I ignored my exhaustion and searched for them in the pouring rain. But when I reached the hotel where the team was staying, the lobby was empty.

I called Gwen dozens of times, but she never picked up. Finally, an old employee who had been with me since the start tipped me off about the party.

I arrived soaked, clutching a bouquet of flowers. Tucked inside was a ring I'd prepared long ago, hoping to finally propose properly on this big day.

I never expected that my reward for flying through a storm would be this scene.