Chapter 2

The next day, right after the board meeting, I received a call from the project director.

“Ms. Blackwood, something’s come up with the Northbrook project!”

When I arrived on site, I found out that Amber Thorne had offended Commissioner Davies with her rude remarks.

This project, a city council initiative, was a joint venture between Blackwood Corp and Sterling Enterprises.

How could Leo entrust such a crucial meeting to an inexperienced intern?

I immediately apologized to Commissioner Davies. He let it go, out of respect for me.

But just as I was about to fire Amber, Leo burst into the conference room.

“Aurora Blackwood, Amber Thorne is my intern. You have no right to fire her!”

“You’re so irrational and blindly retaliating; it honestly disgusts me!”

He didn’t ask for reasons, just pointed at me and yelled.

The gentle, charming man he once was, now glaring at me for another woman.

I put down the documents and looked at him calmly.

“Mr. Sterling, please clarify your identity.”

“First, you are my husband. Where do you put my reputation when you stand up for another woman?”

“Second, you are the head of Sterling Enterprises. Do you really think Amber Thorne is qualified to handle such an important partnership?”

“Ask everyone here, am I being irrational?!”

Leo’s face went pale, his fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath.

I looked at Amber Thorne.

“Come on, tell us yourself. What did you do to Commissioner Davies during the meeting?”

Amber hung her head, unable to utter a word for a long time.

I pulled out the surveillance footage from that day and handed it to Leo.

The screen showed Amber Thorne yelling at Commissioner Davies, calling him a condescending jerk, and then pouring a cup of coffee over his head.

Amber quickly tried to defend herself, “Leo, he insulted me, that’s why I…”

I crossed my legs and looked up at her.

“You got several of the project data points wrong. He was kindly correcting you. You call that an insult?”

But Leo was still defending her.

“Amber is also new to such a major meeting. She might have been nervous and misspoke.”

“No harm was done. Just for my sake, give her another chance.”

I looked at Leo’s pleading eyes and suddenly found it incredibly laughable.

“You have two choices: either fire her, or Blackwood Corp withdraws from this project.”

Leo panicked. He knew this partnership was primarily based on my influence.

If Blackwood Corp pulled out, the project would definitely be lost.

Grandpa Sterling was already extremely displeased with him, and his six brothers were all waiting in the wings.

His position as CEO of Sterling Enterprises was likely at risk.

But just as he was about to make a tough decision, Amber started to sob.

“Leo, it’s my fault… I shouldn’t have acted on impulse and betrayed your trust.”

“But Commissioner Davies, he… he said you only got where you are by clinging to the Blackwood family, he said you were just a parasite…”

“I just couldn’t stand it, that’s why…”

“I know I caused you trouble. I’ll go to HR and resign now. Don’t make it difficult…”

She started to walk out, but Leo grabbed her arm. “Stop! I won’t let you leave!”

Watching this scene, my heart suddenly twisted with a sharp pain.

The man who once promised me a lifetime together was now confronting me for another woman.

I was in no mood to argue with them anymore. I called security and had them escorted out.