Chapter 2

"Mom, Dad, I don't want to marry Zoe anymore."

Seeing me speak, their eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Mom hugged me, sobbing uncontrollably, asking over and over if I had fully recovered.

My parents had never wanted me to follow Zoe around since childhood, let alone marry her, so they readily agreed to my request.

Although I had practiced hard for a long time, my voice was still hoarse and strained.

My parents immediately contacted doctors abroad.

I nodded in agreement, "I'll go abroad for treatment in a week, after I've sorted everything out."

Years ago, when I saved her, I was nearly choked to death by the enraged kidnappers in an abandoned warehouse.

When I woke up, I couldn't make a sound. Zoe was crying heavily by my side, her tears falling like broken strings onto the hospital bed, soaking the sheets.

After years of unsuccessful treatment, Zoe grew discouraged. Not wanting her to exhaust herself, I simply gave up.

Zoe said, "Ryan, don't be afraid. I won't look down on you."

When I returned home, there was no sign of Zoe. It seemed she had left eagerly as soon as I was gone.

My friend William sent me a message with a video attached.

[Ryan, is this Zoe?]

[Why is she cuddling with a guy in a bar? Aren't you two getting married soon?]

[The guy looks familiar. I think he's Xavier Quinn, the new intern at the company.]

In the dimly lit, flashy bar, it was the same young college student from last night. Zoe and he were dirty dancing in the crowd, kissing passionately.

Her slender arms climbed up his shoulders, emotionally embracing his neck.

In the past, she had never even deigned to give me a kiss. At our engagement party, I was only allowed to kiss her hand.

She told me she preferred to take things slow, and that we should wait until the wedding for a real kiss.

But with him, whom she had only known for a short time, she could hug, kiss, and sleep together.

I was truly a complete fool. Zoe had never liked me for a moment. Back in school, she was the adored princess, ignoring my feelings for her.

It was only after I was injured saving her that she deigned to give me a glance. As she said, she was willing to marry me just to settle a debt.

She just didn't want to be seen as ungrateful.

I contacted William and met with him, bringing the share transfer agreement.

He looked at me in surprise, utterly confused. "Ryan, wasn't this supposed to be your wedding gift to Zoe?"

In the company we three founded, William and I each owned 33% of the shares, while Zoe had 34%.

I had always planned to gift my 33% shares to Zoe at our wedding, as a token of my sincerity in marrying her.

But now, it was no longer necessary.

After some consideration, I spoke, "She doesn't need it anymore. I'm transferring these shares to you at the lowest price. From now on, you'll have veto power and won't be controlled by her anymore."

William stared at me in shock as my mouth moved, unable to react for a long time.

His voice trembled with joy, "You... you're better? Ryan, you can speak!"

I nodded and signed my name on the share transfer agreement.

William is my best friend, and I feel confident leaving the company in his hands. In the past, because of my love for Zoe, I often turned a blind eye to her unreasonable actions in running the company, ignoring William's complaints and accusations.

But that won't happen anymore. The company will surely develop better under William's management.