I Approved My Husband’s Wedding Leave to Marry His Assistant Chapter 01

I Approved My Husband’s Wedding Leave to Marry His Assistant Chapter 01

Without telling my husband, I joined his company as an HR specialist.

On my third day at work, I found a time-off request marked for a wedding in the company system.

When I opened the details, the names on it were my husband, Michael Shaw, and an employee named Claire Dawson.

Using my HR access, I pulled up Claire’s employee file.

The woman in the photo looked sweet and innocent. Her position was Michael’s assistant.

I searched for her on Instagram right away.

Her account was public, and her latest post had gone up yesterday.

It was a wedding portrait.

In the photo, Michael was wearing a white suit with his arm around her.

The caption underneath read, [Forever starts now, Mr. Shaw.]

I scrolled down the screen until my finger stopped over the “Approve” button on their wedding leave request.

Then I clicked it.

[Approved.]

Michael Shaw, I approved your wedding leave myself. You’d better make it one hell of a wedding.

…

A notification popped up in the company-wide Slack channel. It was from Claire.

She had posted an elegant digital wedding invitation.

Under it was another wedding portrait. Michael stood beside her in a white suit, holding her close as he smiled brightly.

The chat exploded.

Coworker: [Congratulations, Mr. Shaw. The bride is gorgeous.]

Coworker: [You two are perfect together.]

Coworker: [Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and a house full of kids.]

Blessing after blessing filled the screen, and every single one made my chest ache.

I scrolled through the messages without a flicker of expression, watching my coworkers flood the chat with congratulations.

My husband, Michael Shaw, was going to marry another woman in front of everyone we worked with.

Just then, the door to HR opened.

Claire walked in carrying a tray of little chocolate wedding favors, glowing with happiness.

“Hi, everyone. Come grab a favor and celebrate with me.”

Her voice was sweet, and the joy on her face was impossible to hide.

My coworkers crowded around her, laughing, congratulating her, and picking up chocolates from the tray.

Claire handed them out one by one until she stopped at my desk.

She placed a formal wedding invitation card and a handful of chocolates in front of me.

“Lena, you have to come.”

I looked up and met her blissful face.

“Congratulations.”

I picked up a piece of chocolate, unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth.

It was so sweet.

“Claire, that bracelet is beautiful. Did your boyfriend give it to you?” a sharp-eyed coworker asked, pointing at the diamond bracelet on Claire’s wrist.

Claire smiled shyly and touched the bracelet.

“Michael gave it to me. He said it looked beautiful against my skin.”

I looked at that bracelet, and the chocolate in my mouth turned bitter and chalky.

That bracelet had been Michael’s first-anniversary gift to me.

Three months ago, Michael told me he had gone on a business trip. When he came home, he said he had accidentally lost the bracelet.

He had looked guilty for so long afterward and promised he would buy me something even better.

So the bracelet had never been lost.

He had given it to her.