Chapter 3

That company was called "StarGlow Tech," my old rival. The boss, Nathan Chen, had been fighting me for years.

On the TV, Nathan was personally welcoming Bianca at the company entrance.

Behind them was a massive banner that said, "Welcome Home, Family."

He shook Bianca's hand, grinning with smug satisfaction in front of the cameras.

"At StarGlow Tech, we always open our doors to outstanding women, especially mothers with courage and responsibility!"

"Here at StarGlow, we not only offer top industry pay, we also offer love!"

Behind him, inside the building, an entire floor-to-ceiling window area had been converted into a dreamlike children's playground.

Slides, ball pits, art boards—it had everything.

Bianca's toddler was inside, giggling, sunlight shining on his face like he was a little angel.

Bianca covered her mouth, tears streaming, bowing deeply to the cameras.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen. Thank you, StarGlow. Thank you to all my friends online who supported me..."

"Now I finally know that a mother can also be treated with kindness by the world."

The live chat went insane again.

[Now that's what I call vision! That's a businessman with a conscience!]

[Look at Mr. Chen! Then look at that venomous snake, Emily! A world of difference!]

[I'm literally crying. This is the workplace environment we women want!]

[Ladies, let's all quit and apply to StarGlow! Boycott SummerGlow!]

My dad turned off the TV and let out a long sigh.

"Nathan Chen's move is ruthless."

He had already used up my last bit of liquid cash trying to plug the holes with our retail partners.

And Nathan, without spilling a single drop of blood, used my dead company as a stepping stone to boost his reputation. He even poached my core tech team while he was at it.

The following week was a highlight reel for Bianca White and StarGlow Tech.

Bianca became StarGlow's "Chief Experience Officer." Her daily job was to livestream on Twitter and TikTok.

Streaming her daily "bring your kid to work" life.

Mornings: she "focused" on work in the bright, clean office while her kid played nearby in the dreamy playground, watched by a professional nanny.

Lunch: she brought her kid to the company's family restaurant for a nutritionally balanced meal.

Afternoons: she clocked out early because she had to take her kid to an enrichment class.

Her follower count hit five million in a single week.

She became the idol of all online moms, the ultimate spokesperson for independent women.

And StarGlow Tech became the dream company for every job seeker.

People flocked to them. The company's stock price and reputation hit an all-time high.

My mom walked in with a bowl of bird's nest soup, carefully placing it beside me.

"Emily, have some."

She paused, hesitant.

"StarGlow... just posted a new recruitment announcement. They're specifically targeting our people."

I picked up the spoon and stirred the soup.

"Mom, do you think it's cheap for a high-growth tech company to support an influencer and her kid?"

My mom was taken aback.

"It must be... very expensive, I assume."

"Then what is Nathan getting out of this?"

"He gets reputation, he gets... to crush us."

I smiled.

"Yeah. What he wants is me, dead."

"But what happens when he finds out he invited Death herself into his home?"

I put down the bowl, my eyes calm.

"All we have to do is wait."

"For the day they can't keep up the act."

I waited half a month.

In those fifteen days, SummerGlow officially declared bankruptcy.

I became the biggest cautionary tale in the startup world.

In those fifteen days, Bianca White landed eight endorsement deals, from baby formula to diapers, raking in cash.

In those fifteen days, StarGlow Tech's image began to show strange cracks.

It started with anonymous complaints from inside StarGlow.

[That so-called kid's playground? No one dares to go in there anymore. Toys everywhere, screaming loud enough to shatter the ceiling!]

[Family restaurant? It's the prince's private dining room. We'd get death-stared by Bianca if we even tried to peek in.]

[Chief Experience Officer? She's just a livestream influencer. She can't do anything except cry on camera, but she needs three assistants to wait on her!]

[Only the boss can tolerate this, I guess! Since she makes him money, the rest of us ordinary employees just have to steer clear!]

The posts were quickly deleted.

But the sparks had already been lit.

Until day sixteen. StarGlow Tech's new product launch livestream.

Nathan Chen, who should have been riding high, looked utterly drained.

He opened his mouth on stream and said:

"I am announcing that StarGlow Tech is officially terminating Bianca White."

"And furthermore, I am suing her. I'll sue her until she's bankrupt and behind bars!"