Chapter 2

Suddenly, Chloe gasped, tumbling off the hospital bed. Her knees hit the hard floor with a loud thud.

Ignoring the pain, she crawled over and wrapped her arms tightly around my legs, her eyes red and tearful.

"Audrey, please! It's all my fault! Please don't divorce Julian. I can pack up and leave tonight!"

Julian’s face darkened instantly. He rushed over and carefully lifted her up, his eyes overflowing with heart-wrenching pain. Then, he glared at me with pure hatred.

"Audrey, I regret the day I married you! Chloe just gave birth, and you're forcing her to beg on her knees? Do you have any idea how much a scandal like this will tank our company’s stock price?"

I almost laughed out loud.

"You two did the dirty deed, and you're worried about the stock? I couldn't care less."

Looking at them, a wave of nausea washed over me.

I couldn't stand being in the same room with them for another second. I violently kicked my leg free from Chloe’s grasp, pulled out my phone, and dialed my lawyer.

"Arthur."

"About the divorce petition and the division of company shares we discussed—start the process immediately. I’ve already prepared all the documents on my end."

Hearing this, Julian let out a mocking sneer.

"Audrey, stop bluffing. Do you really think I believe you have the guts to divorce me? For years, you’ve done nothing but follow me around like a lost puppy. What, you think your wings are fully grown now just because you started a new project?"

He took a threatening step forward, his voice dripping with arrogant certainty.

"Even if you dare to file, you won't get a single share of the company! I have a thousand ways to make sure you leave this marriage completely penniless. Let's see how you survive with absolutely nothing!"

*Penniless.*

Hearing those words, I bit my lip so hard I almost drew blood.

Flashbacks of the past flooded my mind.

To secure our first major corporate project, I spent two weeks straight pulling all-nighters to revise our business proposals. I was so sleep-deprived I had to put myself on an IV drip just to keep going.

To secure our key investors, I forced myself to drink at corporate dinners until I got severe alcohol poisoning and had to be rushed to the ER for emergency stomach surgery.

When our cash flow was cut off by our competitors, I was the one who ran all over the city, begging for investments to save the company from bankruptcy.

All my years of sacrifice, and he wanted to make sure I left penniless.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the tears stinging my eyes.

Since he wanted to be this ruthless, I didn't need to show him any mercy.

We built this company together. If he thought he could kick me out with nothing, he was out of his mind.

Without giving Julian or Chloe another look, I stormed out of the hospital room.

I drove straight to the office.

Pushing open my office door, I picked up my phone and began contacting my core team members and major clients one by one.

Julian, since you love this company so much, you can keep it.

I’ll leave you and your mistress to rot inside an empty shell.

As for the multi-million dollar manufacturing equipment, the core research team, and the venture capital funding? I’ll be taking all of that with me.