Chapter 5

Chloe’s chest heaved violently. Her face was flushed with anger.

Without another word, she pulled up her phone and approved my resignation on the spot.

"Ethan! Don't forget that your mother is in the hospital! Once you leave this company, once you leave me, don't come crying to me when she's dying on the street!"

Julian added with a sneer, pretending to be helpful:

"Exactly, Ethan. You're just an aging developer. Who else is going to hire you besides a generous boss like Chloe?"

"Don't let your petty pride ruin your mother’s life, and your own future."

I stared dead into Chloe’s eyes, my voice cold as ice.

"My mother? She’s already dead."

Chloe froze. A flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with a cold shrug.

"Oh, she’s dead? When? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"None of your business. Keep your fake sympathy to yourself."

Chloe’s face darkened completely.

Julian smirked, wrapping his arm around her waist. He looked at me condescendingly.

"Chloe, babe, let's go. I already set up a dinner with Mr. Sterling from Zenith Group tonight. Once we sign that deal, our company is going straight to the moon!"

"As for Ethan, let him go bury his dead mom."

Chloe’s eyes lit up with excitement. She glared at me one last time.

"Fine. If he wants to leave, let him. He’ll regret this soon enough!"

With that, she took Julian’s hand and they walked away, looking like the perfect couple.

Me? Regret? I’d love to see who regrets what.

I pulled out my phone and shot a quick message to Mr. Sterling.

That evening, I arrived at the VIP dining hall of the luxury hotel. Just as I stepped in, I heard Chloe’s voice from behind.

"Ethan? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Did you follow us here to ruin our deal with Mr. Sterling?!"

Julian immediately chimed in, dripping with sarcasm.

"Ethan, are you still mad because Chloe gave me your project?"

"Even if you’re jealous, you can't just crash a business dinner. Did you forget how you got kicked out of the wedding?"

I crossed my arms and smirked.

"Crash? What if I told you Mr. Sterling invited me?"

Julian let out a loud laugh.

"Chloe, you need to get your ex some mental help. He’s completely lost it. Do you have any idea who Mr. Sterling is?"

"Inviting a low-level tech grunt like him? In his dreams!"

Chloe’s face twisted in embarrassment. She stepped forward and slapped me again.

"Ethan, go play crazy somewhere else! Mr. Sterling inviting you? What a joke!"

"If it weren't for Julian's connections, even I wouldn't be able to get a meeting with him! You think you can just summon him with a text?"

I looked at her calmly. "Actually, yes. One text is all it takes. Unlike this useless fraud next to you."

"A fraud?"

Chloe laughed mockingly. "If Julian is a fraud, what does that make you? You’re just a parasite who lived off my company. You actually think you're hot shit? You’re insane!"

Julian stepped up, pointing a finger at me.

"Ethan, I can let your insults slide, but you do not disrespect Mr. Sterling! He could ruin our entire lives with a single word!"

Chloe raised her hand again.

"Did you hear him? Apologize to Julian right now, and get the hell out of here!"

I caught her wrist, looking at her smug, vicious smile.

"And if I don't?"

"Then I will blacklist you from the entire tech industry! I will make sure you never get a job in this country again!"

I laughed out loud. "Blacklist me?"

Chloe thought she had me cornered. Her smile grew wider.

"That's right! You're nothing but a nobody, Ethan! Julian has elite connections. He got us a meeting with Mr. Sterling. He can ruin you with one phone call!"

"Oh really?" I smiled. "Are you absolutely sure he's the one who got you this meeting?"

"Of course! If you get on your knees and beg Julian right now, I might ask him to be merciful. But you have to kneel!"

Chloe stood tall, her chest puffed out. Julian stepped in front of me, looking down his nose.

"Ethan, I really didn't want to do this to you. But this is what Chloe wants."

He waited, expecting me to drop to my knees.

Right at that moment, a booming voice echoed from behind him.

"Who wants him to kneel? Who dares make him kneel?!"

The room gasped.

"It's Mr. Sterling! The CEO of Zenith Group is here!"