Chapter 2

When I returned to Sterling Group's headquarters, loud laughter and lively banter drifted out from the 28th-floor executive suite.

"Julian, this is the office your fiancée set up for you? An entire floor to yourself!"

"No wonder you turned down those lucrative offers abroad to come back. Turns out the Executive Director chair was already waiting for you!"

My chest tightened. I reached out to swipe my keycard at the door.

The scanner let out a shrill, piercing error beep.

Before I could try again, the door opened from the inside.

The young guy standing before me flashed a bright, sunny smile. He was dressed impeccably, right down to the designer cufflinks that easily cost five figures.

Pampered with Vivian's wealth and devotion, he certainly carried himself with unearned confidence.

Julian was surrounded by a bunch of young interns and associates. One of them immediately frowned at me.

"Julian, is this the janitor you hired? What's with the sour face?"

"He reeks of stomach medicine. It's making me nauseous."

Julian didn't correct them, happily letting them mock me.

My voice was dead cold. "Vivian and I haven't even finalized the divorce papers yet, and you're already in such a hurry to play director?"

"Get out of my office before I call security."

I pulled out my phone.

Julian clapped his hands lightly. Before I could dial, the security guards behind him snatched my phone and pinned my arms behind my back.

Among them were the very people who had once helped me run background checks for Vivian.

"Lucas, you must be joking."

"Didn't the door scanner already give you your answer?"

Julian stepped forward, grabbed my limp hand, and pressed my thumb against the biometric pad.

The loud rejection chime rang across the entire floor again.

"Whoever can unlock the door is the director."

I clenched my fists.

"I built this company from the ground up alongside Vivian! My name is on the executive appointment letter!"

"You think wiping my fingerprint lets you steal what's mine?"

Hearing that, Julian's smile widened.

He signaled the HR supervisor, who brought over an official appointment document. He flipped it open.

Under the appointee section, the name had already been printed: Julian Vance.

"I liked this office, so Vivian gave it to me."

"Lucas, right now, you're the one trespassing in the director's office."

My breath hitched.

Six months ago, Vivian had brought home a stack of corporate paperwork for filing, slipping in a few blank personnel adjustment sign-off sheets.

I hadn't thought twice before signing them.

Turns out, she had planned to wipe me out of her life all the way back then.

The sycophants around him chimed in with sneers. "Janitors these days really think they own the place! Making wild claims like that!"

"Of all people, you picked a fight with Ms. Sterling's fiancé! Talk about a slap in the face!"

I looked around and realized all the furniture had been completely replaced.

My personal belongings had been carelessly shoved into cardboard boxes sitting in the hallway.

I ripped myself free from the guards' grip and stormed into the office.

A sharp pain stabbed my shoe as I stepped on broken glass.

My hospital discharge records from my stomach bleeding had been ripped to shreds, scattered across the floor in a mess.

"I didn't really like looking at that scrap of paper, so I had admin clean it up."

"Though looking at that diagnosis, you almost died of a perforated ulcer back then, didn't you, Lucas?"

His eyes brimmed with cruel amusement. "Too bad Vivian couldn't care less whether you live or die."

My vision burned with red rage. Just as I raised my hand to shove him away,

a squad of corporate security officers marched in.

"Mr. Graham, we received a report of unauthorized entry into the executive suite. Please come with us."

Before I could even speak, Vivian rushed in, instantly shielding Julian behind her back. Her eyes flared with fury as her palm cracked across my face.

"Lucas Graham, did I not warn you never to touch what isn't yours?"