Chapter 3

"Not done with me?" I immediately announced. "Even if the accounts are cleared, our management contract ends here. I'm afraid if we continue working together, I'll be left with nothing but bones."

Smash!

The whole room fell silent.

Marcus had actually hurled his champagne glass, shattering it at my feet.

"Ashley! That's enough!" His face was contorted with rage. "Did you take all my money?! Otherwise, how could tens of millions just vanish?! I truly misjudged you!"

His behavior was utterly disgraceful. David and my other partner snapped out of their shock. One shielded me, the other stepped forward to confront Marcus.

Marcus, seeing David approach, impulsively pushed him.

Seeing this, I rushed forward without thinking. "Marcus, what are you doing!"

Sienna saw me coming and tried to grab me, but David stepped in to block her.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

It only got worse. People from both sides initially tried to break it up, but the pushing intensified.

The room was filled with murmurs and shouts of warning.

Marcus even tried to lunge at me in the commotion.

Just as things spiraled completely out of control, the hotel manager burst into the ballroom with security guards.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please calm down! Or we will call the police!"

With the forceful intervention of security, the two sides were finally separated.

Marcus spat on the ground, pushing back his sweat-soaked hair, revealing a small cut on his forehead from the broken glass. "Ashley, I don't think we should let it get like this. We worked together for five years, how can we just end it? Right? How about this, the contract isn't expired yet, is it? Just pay me out the remaining money at the lowest percentage. I won't even ask for the breach of contract fee. Let's part ways amicably."

Part ways amicably? He just nearly threw a glass at me! Now he tells me to part ways amicably?

His calculations were written all over his face!

I shot back at him, "No way. Everything will be handled according to the contract."

Seeing my resolve, he dropped the act and yelled, "Fine! Ashley, you want to play hardball! Then give me what's mine right now, or I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person you really are!"

I clutched my arm, where I'd been pushed, and calmly replied, "I'm sending you all the relevant account statements right now. Take a good look. Not only do you not have any 'savings,' but your actions constitute a breach of contract, and the company will pursue legal action against you. I'll return your words: if this isn't settled by contract, we'll see each other in court. If you want to clear things up, let's do it now. If you don't understand anything, you can ask publicly."

With that, I directly displayed the relevant document pages from my tablet.

Marcus was about to look when Sienna suddenly rushed forward and smashed the tablet to the floor.

Marcus stared, stunned. "Sienna, what are you doing?!"

Sienna, unable to come up with an excuse, clutched her head and swayed to the side. "Oh, my head is spinning, Marcus, quick, take me to the lounge..."

Marcus took Sienna and left, but not before threatening me to "just wait."

Soon, the crowd dispersed, leaving only David and me.

David sighed. "Ashley, let's start legal proceedings now. Those two aren't going to back down."

I nodded, knowing that the real trouble was just beginning.