He Chose His Assistant Over Me / Chapter 5: Anniversaries and Aftermath
He Chose His Assistant Over Me

He Chose His Assistant Over Me

Author: Johnny Berry


Chapter 5: Anniversaries and Aftermath

After seeing Marcus’s smile in his office, I started watching him more closely. It was a strange, uneasy feeling, like eavesdropping on a conversation you used to be part of.

He seemed to tiptoe around me—gentle, careful, never letting his guard down. Maybe it was my illness, the way I’d withdrawn. But it was also more than that. We’d slipped into a pattern: he’d tell me less, smile less, share less. It was as if every funny story, every moment of joy, was reserved for someone else.

Once, he’d share the funny things that happened at work, finding light even when things were hard. He’d text me at 2 a.m. saying he missed my coffee, or that he craved my chicken noodle soup after a long day. He’d listen to me ramble about Hollywood gossip, patiently sitting through my wild stories of costars and contracts.

Now, there was only gentleness—polite, restrained, and empty. The black hole inside me had sucked away his joy too. I saw it every time we sat across from each other at breakfast, every time we curled up together at night but felt a thousand miles apart. There was a barrier between us, invisible but absolute.

Marcus’s easy laughter around Aubrey played in my mind on repeat. He hadn’t laughed like that with me in ages.

It was me who made him unhappy. Maybe if I changed, things could change too.

In a few days, it would be our wedding anniversary. I told myself maybe, just maybe, I could fix things—a bouquet of roses, a homemade cake, chicken soup, and coffee, just like the old days.

So on our anniversary, I called him. "Marcus, today I bought a bouquet of roses, a cake, cooked chicken soup, and made coffee. So, will you come home early for dinner?"

He sounded startled by my sudden enthusiasm. Silence, then: "There’s an urgent matter, I have to work overtime tonight, but I’ll be home before midnight. I have a gift for you. Wait for me, Rachel."

"Okay, I’ll wait for you."

I hung up, and the house seemed to shrink around me. Candles flickered on the table, illuminating the roses, the cake, the chicken soup—everything staged for a happiness I couldn’t summon. It all felt like a theater set for a play no one was going to watch.

Eventually, I grabbed the soup, the cake, the roses, and headed out into the humid Georgia night. The air was thick with the smell of rain. I told myself if I could just get to Marcus, if I could just see him, maybe the darkness would loosen its grip.

The kitchen filled with steam and the smell of thyme, just like when my mom used to make it on sick days. I drove through the night, headlights cutting through fog, music low and sad on the radio. I pulled into the underground garage at Marcus’s company just in time to see him step out of the elevator, moving with purpose. Before I could even call out, he peeled out in his car, taillights streaking red through the gloom.

He was in a hurry—urgent overtime, he’d said. But it looked like something more than that. Was he going home? Was he racing to join me for our anniversary? Or…

I followed, barely thinking, just reacting. Five minutes in, it was clear: he wasn’t heading home.

The further we drove, the heavier my heart grew. Deep down, I already knew what I’d find, but denial is a hell of a drug. Maybe, I told myself, maybe I was just overthinking again.

I pressed the gas, following his taillights, hands gripping the steering wheel. The urge to crash into him—end it all, make sure no one had to suffer anymore—flickered in the back of my mind. At a yellow light, a big truck thundered through the intersection. For a split second, I pictured ramming Marcus’s car into its path and disappearing into oblivion.

Then a deafening horn snapped me back. I slammed on the brakes, heart hammering. Someone yelled from the next lane, "Lady, if you got a death wish, don’t drag the rest of us with you!"

I let out a shaky, bitter laugh. My T-shirt was stuck to my back with sweat. Even my worst impulses had a dark, twisted logic.

The light changed. I pushed aside the urge to self-destruct and followed Marcus’s car into a condo complex on the edge of town. He jumped out and dashed inside, phone pressed to his ear. "I’m almost there," I heard him say.

I sat in my car, engine idling, headlights reflecting off wet pavement. Rain had started, the heavy southern kind. I watched Marcus vanish into the building.

The elevator was out of order—yellow caution tape, blinking red light. But the stairwell light was on. Marcus must’ve taken the stairs, so I followed, my footsteps echoing through the empty hallways.

One flight, then another. I listened for his hurried steps above me, the stairwell lights clicking on and off with each movement. My sneakers squeaked against the concrete, and the stale air tasted like old cigarettes and rain. By the time I reached the thirteenth floor, my lungs were burning.

The lights on the fourteenth floor were off. Marcus’s destination was the thirteenth.

I climbed a few more steps and collapsed on the landing. Then I heard footsteps, urgent and uneven.

Marcus’s voice: "Hold on, I’ll take you to the hospital right away."

I peeked over the edge and saw Marcus carrying Aubrey, who was doubled over in pain, down the stairs. His face was carved with worry; he didn’t notice me at all.

One by one, the motion-sensor lights snapped on as he passed, then faded out behind him. I sat in the dark, the emergency exit sign glowing faintly, swallowing the world around me. It was like all the light had drained out, and the darkness settled in for good.

My phone chimed. Midnight. It was officially our anniversary.

"Happy anniversary, Rachel," I whispered to no one.

This chapter is VIP-only. Activate membership to continue.

You may also like

He Chose Her—So I Chose Me
He Chose Her—So I Chose Me
4.9
A car ride was all it took to shatter twenty years of sacrifice. When I, a devoted single mother, dared to sit beside my son, his girlfriend unleashed accusations that turned my world upside down—and my own child sided with her. I’d saved, planned, and dreamed for his future, only to be cast out and humiliated. As family lines blur and loyalty is tested, I’m forced to make a choice: cling to the son who betrayed me, or finally put myself first. Will my heartbreak become my freedom, or will the past pull me back in? When love turns to war, who gets the front seat in your life?
His Assistant’s Resignation Shook the CEO
His Assistant’s Resignation Shook the CEO
4.5
For four years, Natalie was Nathan Reed’s right hand—respected, envied, and always replaceable. When a new assistant who looks just like his first love arrives, Natalie’s world unravels: is she valued for her work, or just a shadow of his past obsession? As Nathan toys with her heart and career, Natalie must decide—will she finally walk away, or will his twisted affection pull her back in?
He Chose Her Over Me—Again
He Chose Her Over Me—Again
4.7
Emily always thought she’d be the Howell bride, until Chris shattered her trust—sacrificing her happiness for his mentor’s orphaned daughter. Humiliated, overlooked, and expected to give up everything for Lily, Emily finally refuses to play the gracious loser. When Chris announces his own engagement to Lily out of duty, Emily must decide: will she keep living in someone else’s shadow, or claim her own future—even if it means breaking every rule of Chicago high society?
He Chose His Mistress Over Me
He Chose His Mistress Over Me
4.8
Rachel lost her family and clung to Ethan, the only man who ever showed her kindness—until the day he declared his secret lover would become his second wife. Humiliated and cast aside, Rachel is forced to plan their wedding, all while the whole town watches her heartbreak. But with the annulment papers signed, she realizes she doesn’t need anyone’s pity—least of all Ethan’s—and vows to reclaim her life, no matter how many rumors or rivals stand in her way.
He Chose Her Over Me
He Chose Her Over Me
5.0
Natalie always believed her childhood love with Derek would last forever—until a wild outsider named Aubrey crashes into their lives, stealing his affection and her family's loyalty. Betrayed and replaced, Natalie must fight for her place in a small town where secrets, jealousy, and heartbreak simmer beneath the surface. She’s about to prove she’s nobody’s backup plan.
Humiliated by My Boss, Desired by Her Rival
Humiliated by My Boss, Desired by Her Rival
4.9
After five years of loyal grind and humiliating rejection by his boss Rachel, Derek finally snaps—quitting the job and the woman he secretly loved. But when Rachel's icy cruelty gives way to jealousy and regret, Derek finds himself caught in a dangerous new office war—one where his dignity, his heart, and his future are all on the line. Will Derek finally get the respect—and love—he deserves, or is he destined to be just another office casualty?
Stolen by My Trainee
Stolen by My Trainee
4.7
Matt clawed his way to the top of sales, only to have his $15,000 bonus handed to a cocky new hire with family ties. Betrayed by his boss, backstabbed by HR, and humiliated in front of the whole office, Matt refuses to back down. With everything on the line, he'll risk his job—and his pride—to take back what’s his.
He Chose Me to Defend His Crime
He Chose Me to Defend His Crime
4.6
Amy Bennett, a rookie lawyer with zero criminal experience, is handpicked by a confessed killer to defend him in a brutal murder case. The evidence screams 'guilty'—but Derek Harris swears he’ll reveal a secret that could turn the entire case upside down. With her career and conscience on the line, Amy must decide if the truth is worth risking everything for a man everyone already hates.
He Chose My Rival Over Me
He Chose My Rival Over Me
4.8
Natalie Carson thought marrying Derek would finally make her whole, but a shocking twist gives her a second chance—and a glimpse at the betrayals lurking behind small-town smiles. Now, with only twelve days to reclaim her future and her family's legacy, she must defy the man she once loved and the rival who stole everything. Will Natalie break free, or is her fate already sealed?
The Chief of Staff's Fallen Heir
The Chief of Staff's Fallen Heir
4.8
Once Washington’s golden boy, I’m now forced to beg the ruthless Chief of Staff I once humiliated—offering my body to save my dying mother. Lucas Ford toys with my pride, taking revenge for every slight, while my family legacy crumbles and the man I secretly crave destroys me piece by piece. In a house built on secrets and betrayal, will I ever reclaim my power—or am I destined to be his captive forever?
He Chose Her Over Our Baby
He Chose Her Over Our Baby
4.9
Natalie’s world shatters when her husband, Gavin, abandons her and their newborn to chase after his ex in a war zone. As everyone expects her to save him, Natalie must decide whether to rescue the man who broke her heart—or finally put herself and her daughter first. Torn between betrayal and freedom, she faces the ultimate test of love and self-worth.
He Cheated With My Best Friend While I Was Pregnant
He Cheated With My Best Friend While I Was Pregnant
4.7
Three years into my marriage to Chicago’s golden boy, I found out I was pregnant—then caught him in bed with my best friend. Humiliated, betrayed, and blamed by everyone, I faced an impossible choice: keep a baby for a man who never truly loved me, or finally break free. This time, I’m divorcing him and choosing myself, no matter what anyone says.