I Left My CEO Husband, and He Went Mad

Everyone says Scott Kennedy, the young heir to one of California’s most influential families, married a fool.

Unfortunately, I’m the so-called fool they can’t stop talking about.

I never truly understood the meaning of "first love" until someone said, "Scott’s first love is the love of his life. And you? You’re just the fool he was forced to marry."

I couldn’t hold back. I broke down, bawling my eyes out and throwing myself onto the floor like a tantrum-throwing child.

Because, really, what else could I do?

I am a fool—or at least that’s all anyone seems to think. But even after all that, he still brought her back.

"You’re so pure and kind-hearted," he said, almost pleading as if he were asking for a favor. "Please, let her stay. Okay?"

Everyone calls me a fool, but even a fool like me knows one simple truth—my husband is supposed to belong to me.

If Scott starts falling for someone else, then… I don’t want him anymore.

...

During dinner, Scott Kennedy kept serving plate after plate to his first love, Jessica Smith.

For the past month, this had become our routine—him lavishing attention on her while I remained on the sidelines. Despite witnessing it repeatedly, I couldn’t stop myself from admiring her. Jessica was breathtaking—sparkling eyes, flawless teeth, and jet-black hair that flowed like a waterfall.

Every smile, every slight frown, seemed to captivate everyone around her. As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, Jessica noticed me staring.

She smiled warmly, her voice as light as a breeze. "Nadia, why aren’t you eating?"

Then Jessica looked at Scot, who was sitting beside me, and said, "Don’t worry about me, Scott. I’ll get something if I need it. You should take good care of Nadia. What if she doesn’t eat enough?"

Scott glanced over at Jessica and said, "It's fine, Jessica. She can’t handle spicy food. She’ll just stick to her small bowl."

Then he turned back to me, the same indulgent look on his face, and ruffled my hair like I was a child. "Nadia, is something wrong? Don’t you like today’s dishes?" Scott asked gently, his voice tinged with concern. "If you don’t eat well now, there won’t be any desserts tonight, okay?"

The tone he used—soft and coaxing, as though speaking to a child—stung more than it should have. I kept my gaze fixed on the small bowl of food in front of me, the sadness in my chest growing heavier with each passing second.

There was a time when I didn’t mind the way Scott spoke to me. Back then, I found his care and attention comforting, even sweet. But now? Now it grated on me.

I didn’t want to be treated like a child anymore.

Ever since Jessica moved into this house, everything seemed to revolve around her, including the meals. The table was always filled with her favorite spicy foods that overwhelmed my palate.

I had grown up eating light, mild foods, and my stomach couldn’t handle anything too intense. Although we all sat at the same table from that day on, my meals were separate from theirs.

The sight of my small, plain bowl next to their vibrant, aromatic dishes only deepened the divide I felt between me and the rest of the household. It was as if the table itself mirrored my place in their world—apart, isolated, an afterthought.

Jessica raised an eyebrow, smiling playfully. "Auntie, you really don’t have to go all out for me. Nadia’s not used to this kind of food." She turned to Scott’s mom, Martha, and added, "Let’s keep it simple for Nadia. I like mild dishes too, so it’s no trouble."

Martha shot me a glance before looking back at Jessica. "You’re too kind, Jessica. What does a fool like her know, anyway?"

Then, with a sigh, Martha’s tone softened further. "I’ve always liked you, my dear. Seeing you with Scott makes me so happy." She let out a small laugh, dripping with thinly veiled affection. "I still don’t know what his grandfather was thinking, making Scott marry her…"

Scott slammed his utensils on the table with a loud clang, startling everyone.

"Mom," he addressed her sternly, his voice cutting through the room. "I’ve told you—stop calling her a fool. She’s my wife."

He then turned his attention to me, his gaze gentler. "And stop making vague comments. Nadia and I are married. That’s the end of it."

I bit down on my lip, fighting back tears. Without a word, I pushed back my chair and moved to the sofa, not wanting to stay at the table any longer. Martha’s dislike for me wasn’t new. I’d always known she didn’t approve of me.

But honestly, it wasn’t just her. Everyone around Scott said the same thing—that he married a fool. A genius and a fool. That’s how they saw us—a mismatched pair in every way.

And unfortunately, I’m the fool.

There was a time when Martha hid her disdain, at least in public. After all, my marriage to Scott was arranged by his grandfather, Donald Kennedy.

Ever since Jessica came back, Martha’s dislike for me had grown more blatant with each passing day. She completely disregarded Scott’s earlier outburst and shot me a cold, scornful look.

“Would you look at that, just look at it!” she sneered. “This stupid woman dares to show me attitude!”

As if that wasn’t enough, she kept going. “What, am I not even allowed to say a word about her anymore? Just look at that face—it annoys me just to see her!”

Her words hit me hard, a sharp sting spreading through my chest. I hadn’t shown her any attitude at all. It felt like my very existence at the table was enough to ruin everyone’s mood. Not wanting to cause more tension, I quietly got up and moved to the sofa.

Scott, as usual, ignored his mother’s sharp remarks. Instead, he followed me, crouching down in front of me, his eyes locking with mine.

"Nadia, what's wrong? Not feeling well?" he asked gently. "If you're not hungry, you don't have to eat. I'll get the maid to bring you some desserts later. Tell me if something's bothering you?"

I kept my gaze down, sulking, refusing to meet his eyes or say a word.

Jessica’s voice chimed in from the table. "Scott, please come back and eat. I'll stay here with Nadia," she said, smiling warmly. Then, with a sisterly tone, she added, "It's normal for her to have tantrums. Don't push her. I'll handle talking to her gently."

I glanced past Scott’s shoulder and saw Jessica rising from her chair.

‘I’m not a child. I’m Scott’s wife!’ I screamed inwardly.

Straightening up, I looked Scott in the eye and declared, “I want to attend tomorrow’s event.”

Scott froze, his surprise evident.

In the three years we’d been married, I had never attended any party—large or small. I knew I wasn’t the brightest, and the whispers about me always found their way back to my ears. So, I stayed in the background, away from public scrutiny.

But when Jessica mentioned it would be her first event since returning to the country, I couldn’t get the image of her and Scott standing together out of my head. They were so perfect—beautiful, poised, flawless. The thought of them together felt unbearable.

Scott stared at me for what felt like an eternity, his lips twitching like he wanted to argue.

But finally, he nodded. “Alright. If Nadia wants to go, then we’ll go.”

I noticed Jessica froze for just a moment before resuming her movements. But I couldn’t waste time worrying about her.

After Grandpa passed, Scott was the only person left in my world.

I couldn’t lose him.

...

When we arrived at the event hall, the room briefly fell silent.

Scott led me to a quiet lounge area, handing me a small plate with a delicate slice of cake. His expression softened as he smiled.

“Be good, Nadia,” he said gently. "I'm going to meet some people. Please stay close and don't wander off. I'll come back soon."

As soon as Scott left, a group of women approached me, Jessica at the center of them. My chest tightened as panic started to creep in, and I darted my eyes around the room, desperate for an escape.

One of the women crossed her arms, glaring at me with pure disdain.

“What are you looking around for? Do you even know what you’re seeing?” she sneered. “Honestly, I have no idea what Scott was thinking, bringing you here. People like you belong in a mental hospital. What if you lose it and start attacking someone?”

Her words hit me like a slap across the face. My hands instinctively clutched the hem of my dress, as if it could shield me from their cruel remarks.

"I… I’m not mentally ill," I stammered, my voice trembling. "Grandpa always said I’m just not smart, not sick. What are you doing right now? Are you trying to bully me?"

That only made them laugh louder, their mockery echoing in the room.

“Not smart? So you're just saying she’s a fool in a nicer way?” one woman mocked.

“Guess the gossip was spot on,” another interjected, smirking. “Scott’s wife really is stupid!”

“Look at her! She’s about to cry. This is hilarious!”

A chorus of laughter erupted, sharp and cruel, cutting through the elegant ambiance of the event hall.

Another woman stepped forward, looping her arm around Jessica’s like they were some sort of united front.

“Do you even know who this is?” she snapped, her voice filled with contempt as her eyes bore into mine. “This is Jessica—Scott’s first love. If she hadn’t left for abroad, do you honestly think you’d have stood a chance with Scott?”

She paused dramatically, relishing the moment before delivering the final blow. “Even a fool should know how to look in the mirror. What could you possibly offer to compare with Jessica?”

I felt my throat tighten and my eyes sting, but I swallowed hard, forcing the tears to stay put. I clenched my fists and held my ground, my voice trembling but steady enough.

“I have a name. My name is Nadia, not ‘fool.’” I straightened my back, meeting their sneering gazes head-on. “I’m Scott’s wife, and you can’t bully me. What you’re doing is rude!”

The words felt strange leaving my lips, almost mechanical, like reciting a lesson I’d memorized long ago. And in a way, they were—Scott had taught me those very words when we were kids.

Back then, when the other kids teased me, called me names, or pushed me around, Scott would always step in, shielding me like a tiny knight.

“You’re not a fool,” he’d say firmly. “You’re Nadia. They’re the ones being rude, not you.”

But today, when I tried to defend myself, my words only made the women laugh louder. Their laughter was cruel, echoing through the room like an oppressive cloud.

“Ha! Everyone, come look—this is Scott’s wife!”

“Oh my God, she’s as dumb as they say!”

“What was Scott even thinking? Marrying someone like her? How does he sleep at night?”

The taunts piled on, one after another until I couldn’t take it anymore. The weight of their ridicule pressed down on me like a suffocating wave.

I shot to my feet, my voice trembling with anger and desperation. “Stop it! Stop saying these things! You’re all horrible people!” I shoved them away, my hands shaking. “Why are you bullying me? I haven’t done anything to you!”

My voice rose higher, cracking under the strain. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll tell Scott to deal with you!”

The woman standing beside Jessica scoffed, her expression dripping with contempt.

“Ha, do you seriously think Scott would stand up for you?” she sneered.

“Everyone in town knows Scott is crazy about Jessica. He’d do anything for her.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper that cut like glass. “If Jessica hadn’t left for Europe and broken his heart, do you really think he would’ve ever listened to his grandfather and married you?”

Her words struck a nerve so deep that I lost all control. Grabbing the glass of juice in front of me, I hurled it at the floor. The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Go away!” I screamed, my voice raw. “Don’t talk to me, don’t crowd around me!”

Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably, my chest heaving with each breath.

“You’re all horrible people! Every single one of you!”

“Scott! Scott, where are you? Come save me!”

'I’m such a fool. I don’t know how to express my emotions.' The thought echoed in my mind as I sat there, my chest tightening with a familiar, overwhelming sense of helplessness. I didn’t know how to stop the spiral once it began. When anxiety crept in, wrapping itself around me like a vice, I had no idea how to handle it.

Right then, Jessica stepped forward and reached for my hand, her voice soothing, almost maternal. “Nadia, what’s wrong? Nadia?” she said softly. “Don’t cry. It’s okay, it’s okay. Everyone’s just teasing you—they don’t mean any harm.”

She crouched down slightly, trying to meet my tear-filled eyes. “It’s fine, Nadia. Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

But her comforting tone couldn’t drown out the murmurs spreading through the hall.

“Is that Scott’s wife? First time seeing her at an event, and she’s already making a scene," a woman commented.

Another one added, “You don’t know? That’s the woman Donald Kennedy forced Scott to marry. They say she had a high fever as a kid, and it left her… not quite right in the head.”

The one right behind Jessica and Nadia even remarked, “Wow, so it’s true. She really is a fool. What on earth was Grandpa thinking? Jessica seems so much better—reasonable, beautiful, kind…”

Their whispers felt like daggers, each one slicing into me, leaving me raw and exposed. But through my tears, I forced myself to look at Jessica.

At that moment, she leaned in close, her lips brushing against my ear. Her tone shifted, her voice low and dripping with venom, meant for only me to hear.

"You idiot, did you hear what everyone’s saying?" Jessica’s voice sliced through the low hum of conversation around us, sharp and deliberate. The cruel edge in her tone made my stomach churn, and the smirk on her lips only deepened the sting of her words.

"Do you really think dragging Scott to an event like this is going to help you hold on to being his wife?" she sneered, her voice thick with mockery.

She paused, letting her words settle in the air, the smirk on her face widening as if she were savoring the impact of each syllable. “Everyone here thinks you don’t deserve him. So, what are you going to do about that, huh?”

That was the final straw.

My patience snapped, and tears welled up in my eyes. I shoved her away—not hard, just enough to put some space between us. I didn’t want her so close to me.

But somehow, Jessica stumbled and fell to the ground, her graceful composure faltering just enough to make her look vulnerable. Her brows knit together slightly, as though she were trying to mask the pain.

“Jessica!” one of her friends cried, rushing to her side.

She turned her anger on me, shoving me hard enough that I stumbled back.

“You’re insane!” she spat. “Jessica was only trying to help you calm down, and this is how you repay her? Turns out you’re not just dumb—you’re downright vicious!”

I wasn’t expecting the push and lost my balance. My hip collided with the sharp edge of the coffee table, and I let out a gasp as pain shot through my stomach. Before I could steady myself, I felt something warm trickling down my leg. A wave of panic surged through me as I realized what was happening.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the commotion. “What the hell is going on here?”

Through my tears, I looked up to see Scott. Relief and humiliation crashed over me in equal measure.

“Scott, I…” I began, my voice trembling.

But before I could say anything more, Jessica’s friend jumped in, her finger pointed accusingly at me.

“Look at Jessica!” she cried. “Your wife pushed her! Jessica was just trying to help, and this is how she gets treated?”

She turned on Scott with indignation. “What were you even thinking, bringing her here? You know this is Jessica’s first event since coming back. Are you trying to humiliate her by letting this fool ruin the night?”

I glanced at Jessica, who now had tears pooling in her eyes, making her look heartbreakingly innocent. Her voice was soft, almost pleading.

“Scott, it’s okay,” she said, waving her hand as if to brush it off. “Nadia didn’t mean it. I wasn’t standing properly, and it’s understandable for someone like her to get overwhelmed.”

Jessica looked directly at me, her tone dripping with false kindness. “Please, don’t be angry with her. She didn’t mean any harm.”

Scott rushed to Jessica’s side, helping her to her feet, his face full of concern. His hand lingered on her arm as he made sure she was steady.

Then he turned to me, and his expression shifted. His brows furrowed, his jaw tightened, and his voice was laced with frustration.

“Nadia! I was gone for one minute! What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped. “Why do you always have to make a scene every time something doesn’t go your way? You're so stubborn!”

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. The humiliation, the pain, and now Scott’s anger—it was too much. My voice cracked as I tried to explain.

“I didn’t—! They were bullying me!” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Jessica said I wasn’t good enough for you. She called me an idiot!”

I turned to Scott, my eyes pleading. “They were the ones attacking me, not the other way around!”

Before I could say more, Jessica’s voice, soft and pitying, cut through the air. “Nadia, how could you lie like that?” she said, her eyes wide with hurt. “Everyone was just curious to meet you. Nobody said anything mean.”

She let out a small sigh, shaking her head. “And as for me? I’d never insult you like that. With all these people here, everyone heard what I said. I was only trying to help.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, the whispers growing louder with each passing second.

“Exactly! Look at her, throwing tantrums and making up lies.”

“Jessica was nothing but kind to her, and this is how she gets treated? What a mess.”

“She’s not just dumb—she’s downright dangerous. Poor Scott, having to deal with her.”

Scott’s face darkened further, his jaw clenched tight.

“Enough!” he snapped, his voice silencing the whispers around us.

He turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. “Nadia, stop it! Just stop! I’ve had enough of this today. I always thought while you might not be the smartest, at least you were kind and pure. But this?” He gestured to the scene around us. “This is just unacceptable. For the past month, what has Jessica done to you to deserve this kind of treatment?”

I stared at Scott, disbelief coursing through me like a tidal wave.

Just as I opened my mouth to explain, he cut me off, his voice cold and unyielding. “Apologize to Jessica. No matter what happened, there’s no excuse for your behavior.” His tone sharpened, each word landing like a blow. “You’re not exactly that smart, and everyone’s been letting you get away with things because of that. But that doesn’t mean you can act however you want.”

He paused, glaring at me with frustration etched across his face. “Ever since Jessica came back, you’ve been acting out in every way imaginable. I’ve been treating you like a child, letting things slide. But today? You’re going to apologize.”

My head spun as his words crashed over me. It was like the floor beneath me had disappeared, leaving me free-falling into some endless pit. My stomach twisted with pain, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.

“Scott,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute, “do you see me as a child? Or as your wife?”

I took a shaky breath, my hands clenched at my sides as I added, “They all call Jessica your ‘lost love.’ Tell me the truth—is that true?”

I felt my chest tighten as I pushed forward. “Even if I’m not the smartest person in the room, even if I’m a fool, I know one thing: as your wife, I’m supposed to come first.”

For a moment, I saw a flicker of guilt cross Scott’s face, like a crack in his otherwise impenetrable wall. But before he could respond, someone else in the room gasped loudly.

“She… she’s bleeding!”

“Oh my God, is she pregnant?”