Chapter 2

I pawned a vintage motorcycle Michael had left me, just enough to cover Scarlett's medical expenses.

Michael had hired Victoria as a professional manager during his lifetime, hoping to steer the family business onto the right track.

He practically orchestrated my marriage to Victoria.

I once thought this was Michael's grand plan, never imagining it was to aid Victoria.

In the years we were married, Victoria often said:

"Alex, I'll take care of the business. You just live your life."

I believed her. But she had schemed to steal everything I had.

I had to reclaim what belonged to my family.

The next day, I went to the company's headquarters.

Pushing open the door to Michael's top-floor office.

The scent of a distinctly high-end perfume—Victoria's favorite.

The office layout had completely changed.

Michael's beloved bookshelves and books were gone.

Replaced by sleek, minimalist decor of cold metal and glass.

Several cleaners were clearing out miscellaneous items.

Among a pile of discarded things, I saw a familiar framed quote.

It was a piece personally inscribed by Michael: "Family first, everything else follows."

I rushed over, pulled the framed quote from the trash, and carefully put it aside.

"What are you doing at the company?"

Victoria walked out, holding a report.

"This is my brother's office!"

Victoria glanced at the framed quote.

"Strictly speaking, this is the CEO's office. And I am the acting CEO."

She pointed to the pile of my brother's belongings.

"Outdated structures hinder growth."

She walked closer, reaching for the framed quote, but I stopped her.

"This sentimental clutter, which generates zero value, should be purged."

My heart clenched painfully. It hurt so much.

She called Michael's legacy trash!

She wasn't just after Michael's estate; she wanted to erase every trace of Michael's legacy here.

"Victoria, you ungrateful snake! Without Michael…"

"Silence!"

Victoria's face turned ugly, a flicker of disdain in her eyes.

"I've tripled the company's market value with my capabilities. What I've gained is my rightful reward."

"Sign this 'Overseas Licensing Agreement for Key Technologies'."

I opened it and saw that it would license several of the company's most valuable patents at a low price to an offshore company under her control.

"I will never sign it."

Victoria wasn't surprised. She pulled a medical report from her drawer.

She looked at the report, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

"I'm pregnant. We're having a baby."

She looked up at me, her eyes cold.

"Idiot, do you know how much risk this agreement mitigates for 'our future family'? Hundreds of millions!"

"My child deserves the best security!"

She framed draining the company as being for my own good.

"Victoria, you disgust me."

"Disgust?"

Victoria let out a short laugh.

"The business world only acknowledges winners."

She walked up to me.

"Sign it."

I snatched the agreement, throwing it forcefully at her feet.

"Get lost!"

The agreement scattered across the floor.

Victoria calmly smoothed her hair.

"You'll pay for your impulsiveness, Alex. Anger is the most useless thing in this world."

She turned, pressing the intercom on her desk.

"Security, please escort Mr. Alex out of the company. Finance, freeze all his spending permissions."