Part 3Family KPI System

I had hesitated, unwilling to give up my career.

He held my hand, his eyes sincere. "I can't do this without you," he'd said. His profession required a supportive partner at home. But he didn't want me to be an undervalued housewife.

"This KPI assessment, it will make all your labor tangible. I promise, every contribution you make will be seen, will be quantified."

He had used a set of seemingly fair rules to put a price tag on my worth, manipulating me into willingly sacrificing myself to become a convenient tool in his life. All so the woman he truly loved could soar, unburdened.

They laughed as they walked towards their car. The moment Mark opened the door, he saw me. He froze, and then his expression darkened.

"What are you doing here? Stalking me? Is it about that necklace? Do you really have to have it?"

Zoe looped her arm through his, tilting her head as she looked at me with a sweet, venomous smile. "Oh, that's just how housewives are. They don't earn money, but they sure know how to spend it. And they're so clingy. Don't be mad, Mark."

Mark frowned at me, issuing a command. "Go home. You're not getting the money. This month's non-essential spending is already three percent over budget. If you want the necklace, you can wait until next month."

Leo watched the drama unfold, whispering to the others. I felt a wave of shame so intense I wanted to run.

But then I clenched my fists. My fingertips brushed against the familiar roughness of my skin, a testament to three years of daily immersion in cold water and harsh chemicals.

Suddenly, I found my courage. I was not the one who should be ashamed.

Love is not a KPI. Marriage is not a transaction.

I looked at the man I had loved for so many years, my gaze hardening.

"Let's get a divorce, Mark."

He scoffed. "Now you're just being hysterical."

The car sped off, leaving me standing alone in the biting wind.