Chapter 3

I pushed open the door to the conference room.

Tiffany looked up immediately, her pupils shrinking in disbelief.

"It really is you!"

"I looked into you back then. I knew you two almost got married, but Julian cut ties with you the very next day. It’s been ten years, and now you're running the Hayes Group. Did you come back to the city... for Julian?"

Hearing that, I instantly regretted granting her an audience.

Some people genuinely treat garbage like treasure, assuming everyone else is dying to fight them for it.

I let out an amused sigh.

"Tiffany, in this circle, countless men try to get close to Chloe Hayes every single day. Even your father has to book an appointment a month in advance and wait to see if I'm in the mood."

"Do you ever think before you speak?"

Tiffany turned pale. She knew she couldn't afford to cross me right now.

Flustered by my ridicule, she hurried to explain:

"Ms. Hayes, that's not what I meant. It's just that Horizon’s projects were suddenly blocked, and my dad hasn't been able to sleep. I thought it through, and our family has never crossed anyone. Except... back then..."

I raised a hand to cut her off, refusing to waste another second.

"If a project isn't worth at least a billion, it doesn't even make it onto my desk."

"Block your family? You’re not that important."

"I’m a busy woman. I only spared you five minutes out of courtesy because you're pregnant. If all you have are delusional ramblings, you can show yourself out."

With that, I tapped the intercom on the table and instructed my assistant:

"Escort our guest out."

Seeing my icy indifference, Tiffany panicked completely.

She had assumed that I still carried a torch for Julian, that she could leverage her status as his "wife" to negotiate some terms. She never imagined that I didn't care about Julian in the slightest.

Losing all composure, she grabbed my wrist and pleaded frantically:

"I'm sorry! I spoke out of turn!"

"I know that with just one word from you, Horizon's crisis will vanish. I'm begging you, please help Horizon!"

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with desperate pleading.

Without even batting an eye, I let out a mocking sneer.

"And what’s in it for me?"

"Tiffany, you know me. I'm a businesswoman. I don't move without profit."

Tiffany wracked her brain, but she couldn't offer anything remotely equivalent. Her hand slowly slipped from my wrist in defeat.

Seeing her hesitation, I let out a low chuckle, my eyes dropping to her swollen belly. I made a casual, wicked proposal:

"How about this... divorce Julian."

"And hand him over to me?"

Tiffany looked up in utter shock.

Then, as if she had been subjected to the ultimate humiliation, she flared up in rage, screaming my name:

"Chloe Hayes! You really are... Don't even dream about it!"

"Julian isn't merchandise! He can't be traded back and forth! He is my husband, the father of my child! You might think everything in this world has a price tag, but not Julian and me!"

As she spoke, her voice grew louder, clinging to her moral high ground:

"Let me tell you, I will never give Julian up!"

"Ask Julian the same question, and he’ll make the exact same choice I did!"

"Chloe, you only know how to use money and power to step on genuine feelings. A vile woman like you has no idea what real love is!"

Tsk.

I hadn't even done anything, and suddenly I was the villain.

Faced with her righteous outburst, my expression remained completely flat. I even gave her an amused smile.

Tiffany trembled with rage at my nonchalant attitude. Giving me a vicious glare, she slammed the door and stormed out.

A few seconds later, my assistant quietly slipped into the room, offering an awkward grin.

"Well, Ms. Hayes, looks like I didn't need to escort her out. She left fuming."

I shrugged casually.

"When you ask someone for a favor, you need to show the proper attitude."

"Since Tiffany never learned that, I had to teach her myself."

The assistant nodded in understanding, then leaned in closer, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Ms. Hayes, that condition you just mentioned... you're not actually planning to force a divorce and take Julian back, are you?"

I rolled my eyes as I stood up, heading toward the door.

"Stop reading trashy romance novels."

"I'm just a little bored lately. Looking for some entertainment."

"Draft an offer letter. In my name, invite Julian Vance to become the CEO of Hayes Group's newly established asset management firm. Ten times his current salary, plus core equity. But on one condition—he must voluntarily forfeit everything at Horizon and sever all ties with the Miller family."

The assistant immediately caught my drift and sucked in a sharp breath.

I turned back, a cold glint of amusement in my eyes.

"Tell me... between love and ambition..."

"What do you think Julian will choose this time?"