My Toxic Ex Stole Millions for Her Intern, So I Let Them Rot in Hell

At the high-end charity auction, I spent tens of millions of dollars on rare jewelry just to see my girlfriend smile. Brody, her male intern who tagged along, secretly changed the shipping address to his own apartment. Every single piece of priceless jewelry I won was delivered straight into his hands. When I angrily confronted him, Brody dropped straight to his knees right in front of me. "Chase, please, I had no choice! If I don't get this money, my entire family will be thrown out onto the streets!" My girlfriend, Vivienne, jumped in to defend him without hesitation: "Chase, it's just a few million dollars! You were going to give it to me anyway. Why does it matter if I gave it to him instead? Where is your basic human empathy?" "Let me make this clear. Get down on your knees and beg Brody for forgiveness right now, or you can forget about ever marrying me!" Looking at my furious girlfriend, every last trace of love inside me died. Fine. Let's see if you can still afford a single penny once I take back everything I ever gave you. Everyone in the office covered their mouths, their eyes darting toward me with mockery and schadenfreude. They were all waiting to watch me humiliate myself. A few of Vivienne's loyal lapdogs even chimed in from the sidelines. "Vivienne is right. Poor Brody is going through so much. Chase is filthy rich—what's the big deal about helping him out?" Hearing her minions back her up, Vivienne smirked. The way she looked at me was not how a woman looked at her boyfriend. It was the look you gave your bitterest enemy. "Look around, Chase. Everyone here has a heart and wants to help Brody. Why are you the only one standing there being so callous?" "Besides, we built this company together. Just consider those jewels a gift from me to him. What's wrong with that?" Looking at Vivienne's arrogant face, I didn't beg like I used to. I didn't shout, either. I just watched her in dead silence. This had happened far too many times. Ever since Brody joined our company as an intern, Vivienne had been infatuated with him. It was like she had lost her mind. She practically wanted to hand him the entire world on a silver platter. Brody, still kneeling on the floor, let the corner of his lips curl into a smug smirk. There was no fear in his eyes, only total confidence. And why wouldn't he be confident? Vivienne had never once chosen me over him. Brody kept his smirk hidden from the crowd, letting his voice crack with dramatic grief: "Mr. Vance, I know I messed up. Please forgive me! If you don't, I'll just stay on my knees forever!" Before I could even reply, he shifted his feet slightly backward, already preparing to stand back up. Every single time before, whenever he pulled this stunt, Vivienne's heart would bleed for him. She would force me to apologize and order me to help Brody back to his feet. Not this time. "Then stay on your knees. As for an apology? Keep dreaming." Without sparing them another glance, I turned around and walked straight out of the office. I went downstairs and got into my car. I told the driver to take the rest of the day off, reclined in the back seat, and stared blankly at my phone. On the screen was an email from the auction house containing pictures of a diamond necklace and a vintage ring. They were the items I had won earlier today. Vivienne and I had made a pact years ago. The day I bought her these two specific pieces of jewelry, she would agree to marry me. Back then, I didn't have enough capital and refused to rely on my family's trust fund. I had tracked those pieces for years, waiting for the right moment. Now, our company had finally gone public. Massive investments poured in, and I had more than enough money to buy them. I honestly believed today would be the day I asked her to be my wife. I had been ecstatic. I called Vivienne home to surprise her. I had arranged everything at my place: fresh roses, champagne, fairy lights, the entire romantic setup. All that was missing was the ring. When I called the auction house to check on delivery, they told me it had already arrived. When I asked for the delivery address, I discovered it had been sent straight to Brody's apartment. That was when I learned Brody had sneaked behind my back during the auction, persuaded Vivienne, and swapped the delivery address to his own. Millions of dollars' worth of jewelry had landed directly in his pockets. I stared at the sparkling diamond ring on my screen until the sun dipped below the horizon. Finally, I drove myself home. The moment I unlocked the front door, the scent of dinner drifted out from the kitchen. Had Vivienne finally realized how wrong she was? Was she cooking dinner to apologize to me? A faint flicker of hope rose in my chest. I pushed the door open. Vivienne stood by the kitchen counter in an apron. Brody was standing right behind her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. Hearing the door, Brody turned around. There wasn't an ounce of guilt or panic on his face—only the smug warmth of a host greeting an unwelcome guest. "Oh, Chase, you're back! Come on in, make yourself at home!" He acted as if he were the real master of this house. Vivienne glanced back at me, and her expression instantly froze into cold disgust the second our eyes met. The two of them stood pressed against each other like an actual couple. I, the official boyfriend, was treated like an intruder. I didn't take the slippers Brody offered. I didn't step inside. I just stared at Vivienne across the counter. "Vivienne. We're done. Let's break up.""What did you just say?! Say that again!" Vivienne finally dropped what she was holding and stormed over. She jabbed a manicured finger into my chest. "Chase Vance, who do you think you are? Say that again!" I locked eyes with her and enunciated every single syllable: "I said, Vivienne, we. Are. Over." Vivienne froze in utter disbelief. Her pupils dilated, her mouth parted slightly, and her fists clenched at her sides. "Chase! Have you lost your damn mind?!" Brody stepped forward right on cue, putting on his best puppy-dog face. "Vivienne, please don't fight. It's all my fault. I ruined your relationship. I'm so sorry!" "Chase, I'll return the jewelry. I'll figure out my family's debt on my own. Even if we end up starving on the streets, that's just my fate." Tears welled up in his eyes. Vivienne couldn't bear to see him like this. She pulled him into her arms and stroked his back. "It's okay, Brody. Keep the jewelry. None of this is your fault." Then she turned back to me, all warmth gone, replaced by pure venom. "Chase, are you ever going to grow up? Brody already forgave you for earlier today! What more do you want?" "Do you have a single shred of decency left in your miserable body?" "He" forgave "me"? A bitter laugh escaped my throat. The thief who stole millions from me was graciously granting me his forgiveness? "He stole my property, and I'm supposed to thank him for forgiving me—" Before I could finish, a sharp slap landed across my face, snapping my head to the side. Vivienne glared at me, her voice screeching: "You heartless bastard! You don't deserve to be my husband!" The next second, she slammed the heavy door right in my face. She locked me out of the very penthouse whose deed was under my name only. If I hadn't taken a step back in time, the door would have broken my nose. I could hear her breathing on the other side. She was waiting. She expected me to knock on the door, beg for mercy, and apologize like I had a thousand times before. It had always been like this. No matter who started the fight, I was always the one to bow my head. I had loved her so damn much. I chased her for three entire years. I confessed to her countless times before she finally agreed to date me. To keep this relationship alive, I spoiled her rotten. If she asked for the moon, I would build a ladder to the sky. If she wanted something expensive, I would work myself to the bone to buy it for her. I loved her and wanted her to be my lifelong partner. I indulged her every whim. Yet in Vivienne's eyes, my devotion was nothing more than a cage, a shackle holding back her free spirit. Fine. If my love and apologies were a cage to her, I was done holding the keys. I turned around and walked down the hallway without looking back. Behind me, the door clicked open. I knew Vivienne was cracking the door to give me an "out." In the past, I would have rushed back with tail wagging, offering gifts and apologies just to earn her forgiveness. Not anymore. I didn't need her forgiveness. I didn't turn around. I walked away.I checked into a five-star presidential suite. Without taking a moment to rest, I called my attorney and instructed him to draft a formal lawsuit. The jewelry from the auction house, my penthouse, all of it belonged to me. I was going to take back every single dime. After dispatching my team to gather evidence, I went back to the suite and showered. Just as I sat on the edge of the bed, my phone buzzed with an alert from a VIP contact. It was an Instagram post from Vivienne. She posted a photo showing her hand wearing the diamond ring I had bought. Her caption read: "A man who truly loves you will always be willing to get on his knees and apologize." I stared at the post and let out a cold scoff. I screenshotted the post for evidence, then blocked and deleted her from every platform. I used to love her, so I swallowed my pride. But what did that get me? Nothing but betrayal and humiliation. I had given her everything, and she used my love as a weapon to satisfy her twisted vanity, trampling it into the dirt. From this moment on, she wouldn't get another drop of my affection. The next morning, before I even got out of bed, Vivienne called from a burner number. "Chase! Where's the master key and passcode to your family's estate? I need to go inside and grab something!" The family estate? The words hit me like a bucket of ice water. That country house was where my grandmother raised me. When I was a boy, my parents were always away on business, so my grandmother was my entire world. She was the closest person to me in my life. After she passed away, I drove out there every weekend to clean the place myself, but I never moved a single piece of furniture. Every picture frame, every speck of dust held memories of my childhood. I kept all of my grandmother's love preserved inside those walls. That house was my sacred sanctuary. Even my parents weren't allowed to touch anything in it. "What do you want from that house? Everything in there belongs to my family! What right do you have to step foot inside?" Vivienne laughed coldly through the receiver. "Don't play dumb. Remember that vintage necklace your grandmother promised to give me? You refused to hand it over. So I'm taking it myself!" I had brought Vivienne to meet my grandmother once, and the kind old woman had adored her. She held Vivienne's hand and gently said: "Vivienne, my Chase can be stubborn sometimes. Please be patient with him." "I have an antique heirloom necklace passed down through generations. I can't recall where I tucked it away, but when I find it, I'll have Chase give it to you." My grandmother treasured that necklace dearly and had hidden it deep inside a cedar chest. The very next day, while searching through old storage chests for the necklace, she suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away. Drowning in grief, I never looked for the necklace again. Back then, Vivienne even told me to keep it safe as a precious memento of my grandmother. Suddenly, a violent metallic crunch echoed over the phone, followed by Brody's smug voice: "It's open, Vivienne. The crowbar worked." "You said this necklace is worth a fortune. Won't there be trouble if we just take it?" Vivienne chuckled, her voice dripping with malice: "It belongs to me anyway. I'm just reclaiming what's rightfully mine." The sound of the broken lock and Vivienne's mocking laughter completely shattered my sanity. "Vivienne! If you dare step inside that house, I swear to God I will destroy you!"I floored the gas pedal and raced toward the estate like a madman, running red lights and scraping past traffic. I was still too late. The wrought-iron front gates had been smashed open, hanging crookedly off their hinges. The manicured courtyard was completely wrecked, personal belongings strewn across the lawn. Seeing the wreckage outside, my heart sank into my stomach. Two voices echoed from inside the house—Vivienne and Brody. "Vivienne, is this the necklace? Wow, it's gorgeous. It looks stunning on you!" "Right? That stubborn old bag refused to give it to me while she was alive. I had to come dig it up myself. Hmph!" Hearing them insult my dead grandmother pushed me over the edge. I charged through the front door. The house I had kept spotless for years looked like a war zone. Every chest had been ripped open. Glassware and porcelain were shattered on the floor. Even an antique vase passed down through generations was reduced to shards. I picked up a broken piece of porcelain, my entire body shaking with pure rage. Even my childhood toys hadn't been spared. My favorite toy cars and model airplanes were smashed to pieces. The plush teddy bear my grandmother bought me had its cotton stuffing torn out. The place looked like it had been hit by a category-five hurricane. Blood roared in my ears, blinding my vision with fury. "Vivienne!" "I'm going to kill you!" Startled by my roar, both of them whipped around. Brody reacted instantly. He lunged at me, tackling me to the hardwood floor. His hands clamped tightly around my throat. My airways closed, oxygen drained from my lungs, and blood pounded behind my eyes. Vivienne stood right beside us, hands on her hips, looking down at me with a cold, triumphant smirk. "How does it feel, Chase?" "Since you refused to apologize to Brody, consider this your punishment!" I clawed desperately at Brody's hands, trying to pry his fingers off my windpipe. My face turned purple, my eyes bulging as I stared daggers at Brody. "Put... my grandmother's... necklace... down." Vivienne twirled the vintage emerald necklace around her fingers, an evil grin spreading across her face. "You want this necklace, Chase? Apologize to me and Brody right now, and maybe I'll show some mercy and leave it." I didn't answer. I stretched an arm out, desperately reaching for the heirloom. Vivienne deliberately held it just inches from my fingertips, then yanked it away the second I got close. Watching me struggle like a suffocating fish, she let out an arrogant laugh. She unclasped the necklace and held it suspended in mid-air right above the hard tile floor. A wave of icy dread washed over me. Seeing her fingers begin to loosen, pure terror seized my chest. "No! Don't! Don't do it!" The next second, Vivienne opened her hand. The necklace plummeted. "Crack!" The antique emerald shattered into a dozen fragments. My vision burned crimson. "Why?! Why did you destroy it?! Why?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, pinned under Brody's weight, thrashing violently. Vivienne burst into hysterical laughter at my helpless agony. "Chase Vance, you used your dirty money to humiliate me for three whole years! Now it's my turn!" "You and that dead old woman always acted so superior, treating me like a charity case with your money! Do you finally understand my pain?!" Humiliated her? When had I ever humiliated her? Giving her my heart, buying her everything she ever asked for, pouring my entire life into her—that was humiliation?! Tears of rage leaked from the corners of my eyes. Vivienne had taken every ounce of love I gave her and stomped it into the mud. If I survived this, I was going to take back everything. Brody's grip tightened. My vision went dark at the edges, my body growing cold as the life seeped out of me. Suddenly, heavy footsteps banged at the doorway. "Police! Get your hands off him! Right now!" Officers rushed in, ripping Brody off me. As an officer helped me sit up, a grim smile spread across my bruised face. "Officers... I want to press full charges. Attempted murder and aggravated burglary." Watching the color drain from Vivienne's and Brody's faces, I let out a breathless chuckle. "And officers? I will never accept a settlement."