Chapter 1

Brandon Hayes slammed a hundred-million-dollar check right across my face.

For the twenty-eighth time, he was demanding a divorce—all to give his precious mistress a legal title.

"Serena, a hundred million in cash is enough for you to live in luxury for ten lifetimes."

"Chloe is pregnant. I will not allow my firstborn child to enter this world as a bastard."

Disgust dripped from Brandon’s eyes, his tone laced with venomous impatience.

"Don't be ungrateful."

I looked at this man—the very man I had spent eight agonizing years building up from literal dirt into a corporate CEO—and I smiled.

"Brandon, my answer remains the same."

"You want a divorce? Over my dead body."

He flew into a murderous rage, screaming that I was an insatiable, greedy lunatic.

What he didn't know was this: my refusal to sign had nothing to do with wanting him back.

"Serena, Brandon just arrived with that woman."

My assistant, Lynne, pushed open the VIP lounge door, her voice trembling with righteous fury.

"Tonight is Ascend Group's eighth-anniversary gala!"

"And he actually brought Chloe as his official date!"

"The media outside is going wild with photos!"

My hand holding the coffee cup paused for just a fraction of a second.

The dark liquid rippled.

"Let him."

My voice was so calm it surprised even myself.

"Serena!"

"You're the co-founder of Ascend Group!"

Lynne stomped her foot in sheer desperation.

"You were the one who sold your late parents' estate to give him his initial seed capital!"

"Now that the company is about to go public on the stock market, he wants to kick you to the curb?"

"How can he get away with this?!"

I didn't answer. I just turned to gaze out the floor-to-ceiling window.

The grand ballroom was bathed in dazzling chandeliers.

Brandon stood there in a bespoke tuxedo, looking like a triumphant king at the peak of his life.

Clinging tightly to his arm was Chloe Davenport, looking frail and delicate.

She was wearing the one-of-a-kind designer gown that was originally tailored for me.

She smiled sweetly, preening like a proud peacock.

Around them hovered a sea of groveling investors and executives.

Not a single soul remembered eight years ago today.

Back then, Brandon was just a broke boy who couldn't even make rent.

I was the one who sat in a moldy basement eating instant noodles beside him.

Line by line, code by code, I built the foundation of Ascend Group with my own bare hands.

BAM!

The lounge door was kicked open violently.

Brandon walked in, his face set like stone.

Chloe remained glued to his side, clinging like a leech.

"Serena, why the hell are you playing dead in here?"

The moment Brandon opened his mouth, his raw contempt filled the room.

"Did you sign the equity transfer agreement I ordered you to sign, or not?"

I set my coffee cup down and looked at him coldly.

"No."

Brandon's expression darkened instantly.

He stormed over, towering over me and jabbing a finger inches from my nose.

"Serena, how much longer are you going to throw this tantrum?"

"I already announced it to the press outside."

"Chloe is the only true love of my life."

"If you have any shred of dignity left, sign the papers, take the cash, and get the hell out!"

"Don't drag this out and embarrass us all!"

Looking at his familiar face, I felt only a chilling sense of alienation.

Years ago, when he got down on his knees before my dying parents, swearing he would protect and cherish me forever—he had worn that exact same self-righteous expression.

"Brandon," I said, my voice dangerously soft.

"I am your legal wife."

"Half of this corporate empire was conquered by me."

"Who the hell are you to tell me to get out?"

Hearing that, Chloe’s eyes welled with tears on cue.

She shrank into Brandon’s chest, her voice sickeningly sweet and helpless.

"Brandon... is Serena still mad at me?"

"I know I shouldn't be here."

"It's just..."

"Our baby missed his daddy so much."

As she spoke, she made a show of stroking her completely flat belly.

At the mention of the baby, the disgust on Brandon's face instantly dissolved into boundless adoration.

He wrapped his arm around Chloe’s waist, cooing softly.

"Hush, Chloe."

"This isn't your fault."

"She’s just biting the hand that feeds her."

He snapped his head back toward me, his glare sharp as a poisoned blade.

"Serena, do you see this?"

"Chloe is carrying my flesh and blood!"

"I will never allow my heir to bear the stigma of being born a bastard!"

"This is my final offer: one hundred million dollars, plus the luxury penthouse downtown!"

"If you dare stall any longer, I have a thousand ways to strip you bare and leave you with nothing!"

Listening to his delusional arrogance, a laugh burst from my lips.

"What the hell are you laughing at?!" Brandon snarled, infuriated.

"I'm laughing at how pathetic you are."

I rose to my feet, locking my eyes straight onto his.

"A hundred million?"

"Brandon, do you think I'm a beggar on the street?"

"Ascend Group is currently valued at over a billion dollars."

"My shares alone are worth over five hundred million."

"You want to buy out half my life and my entire company for a mere hundred million?"

"Keep dreaming in your pathetic fantasy world!"

"You—!"

Rage consumed Brandon. His hand flew through the air.

SLAP!

A crisp, brutal strike landed squarely on my face.