Part 2The Partner's Clause

I drove to the restaurant and found the private room easily. The sounds of laughter and celebration spilled into the hallway.

“Mark, your eye for talent is unreal. You knew Chloe was a star the second she walked in the door.”

“Her very first case, and she beats Ava Caldwell. The sky’s the limit for this one!”

Chloe’s voice was bright and sweet. “I still can’t believe I actually won. It’s all thanks to Mark! He’s the best teacher.”

Someone’s voice lowered slightly. “Hey, Mark… Ava lost today. Are you sure it’s a good idea for us to be throwing a party for Chloe? You think she’ll be pissed?”

Mark’s tone dropped, becoming hard and cold. “What does she have to be pissed about? Does the world have to stop turning just because she lost? Is she the only one allowed to win around here?”

He let that hang in the air before continuing. “If she lost, it’s because her skills weren’t sharp enough. If she can’t handle that, maybe she should just stay home.”

The room fell silent for a beat, then a murmur of agreement rippled through the table.

“Mark’s right. We’ve all lost cases. Why is she so special?”

“Honestly, Ava’s always been hyper-competitive. Her kid is getting older, maybe it’s time for her to step back, take it easy. Make room for the new blood.”

Mark sighed, a theatrical sound of weary resignation. “I’ve told her as much. She just won’t listen.”

He added, “It would be for the best if she took this as a sign to gracefully bow out. She could finally be home to take care of Leo.”

Then, a small, clear voice piped up. My son’s voice.

“I don’t want Mommy to take care of me. Auntie Chloe is way nicer than Mommy!”

The room erupted in laughter.

My hand clenched around the strap of my purse. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head, so cold it burned. A wave of nausea rolled through my stomach.

I had no idea. No idea I was so disliked.

It wasn’t just my husband. It was my colleagues. Even my own son thought Chloe was better than me.

I smoothed my expression, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

The sight of me sent a wave of panic through the room.

People scrambled to their feet. Someone tried to take my bag, another rushed to stub out a cigarette and crack open a window.

“Ava! Hey!”

“Good to see you, Ava!”

“Ava, let me order a couple of your favorites.”

I ignored them all, my eyes landing on Chloe, who was seated in the place of honor right next to Mark.

A flicker of defiance crossed her pretty face before she stood up, a picture of awkward innocence.

“Ava, please don’t get the wrong idea. It’s just… since I won the case, they had me sit next to Mark.”

I arched an eyebrow, my voice dripping with ice. “Oh? So since I lost the case, I suppose my seat is at the end of the table?”

Richard, one of the senior partners, quickly grabbed Chloe’s arm and pulled her aside.

“Of course not, Ava, don’t be ridiculous! Come on, sit right here, next to your husband!”

Chloe shot a wounded look at Mark, but he said nothing. Defeated, she gathered her silverware and moved to the far end of the table.

Mark watched me, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t think you’d come. Figured you’d be in a bad mood.”

I ignored him, my gaze sweeping across the faces of my colleagues.

“Everyone’s here. I assume that means all your work for the day is done?”

I fixed my stare on a junior associate. “Li, didn’t you have a client meeting at the detention center today? Is that handled?”

I turned to another lawyer. “Liu, you were missing a piece of evidence for your filing. Did you track it down?”

The room was dead silent. The festive atmosphere had frozen solid.

Richard cleared his throat. “Ahem, you know what, I just remembered I have a call with a client. Mark, I’ve got to run!”

That broke the dam. One after another, they fled.

“Me too. Rick, wait up!”

“Oh god, I need to check in with the judge’s clerk about the hearing tomorrow. I should get back to the office…”

In less than two minutes, the only people left were Mark, Chloe, our son, and me.

I picked up my chopsticks and took a bite of food. It was delicious.

Chloe’s lip trembled as she looked at Mark, her eyes welling with tears.

His face was a mask of thunder. “Ava, what the hell is your problem?”

I raised my eyebrows. “I don’t have a problem.”

“I’m a partner at this firm. I’m just checking in on my team’s progress. Is that not allowed?”

Mark let out a derisive snort. “Don’t play dumb with me. At any other firm, the partners would be thrilled that a promising new associate won a major case.”

“But you? Because Chloe beat you, you have to come here and blow up her celebration. You have zero grace, you know that? Your reputation is bigger than your character.”

He leaned in, his voice low and vicious. “Is it really that impossible for you to lose?”

His words were a knife, twisting in my heart.

All because Mark had a dream of building the best law firm in the city.

After grad school, I’d turned down offers from every top-tier firm to start from scratch with him. When we were struggling, I took on endless pro bono cases just to get our name out there. I drank so much schmoozing potential clients that I gave myself an ulcer. I pulled all-nighters with him, buried in case law and evidence, fighting for a single victory.

For ten years, we had bled for this firm, turning a tiny, 150-square-foot office into one of the top four in the state.

I remember our wedding day. He stood at the altar and cried like a child. He told all our guests how much I’d sacrificed, and he swore he would never let me down for the rest of his life.

Apparently, his definition of a lifetime was only ten years.

In my career, in my life, I, Ava Caldwell, have never been a sore loser.

He could sleep with Chloe. He could have his affair. But he did not get to build her career on the ashes of mine.

My gaze hardened. “My character doesn’t match my reputation? Then who does? You?”

A soft sob cut through the tension. Chloe was crying, a perfect, tragic damsel.

“Mark, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten so carried away just because I won one case.”

She looked at me, her eyes pleading. “Please, don’t fight because of me!”

Mark’s jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, but a small voice interrupted him.

“Mommy’s a mean person. No wonder you lost to Auntie Chloe!”

My son, Leo, stood up and planted himself in front of Chloe, his arms spread wide.

“Don’t you bully Auntie Chloe!”

The innocent words of a child, sharper than any knife.

Seeing my son protecting her, a profound, bone-deep weariness washed over me. I couldn’t stay here a second longer. I grabbed my bag and walked towards the door.

As I pulled it open, I paused and looked back, my voice flat and cold.

“Tell your intern to prepare for the appeal. I’ll be filing the papers tomorrow.”