Chapter 3

I stumbled back a step, then slowly turned and walked away.

Ten years. A full decade.

Damian and I built this empire from nothing.

I thought we were partners fighting side-by-side, a loving couple.

And he, he used the memories of our shared hardships as an excuse to coddle another woman's "innocence" and "ignorance."

Skylar Reed had been with the company for three months, and Damian had already made countless exceptions for her.

He'd not only spent millions on her but also alienated many long-standing clients, causing indirect losses of at least a hundred million.

I'd warned him, but he just told me not to overthink it.

"Young people need a chance to make mistakes. Some clients are indeed too demanding; if they leave, they leave."

Left with no choice, while Skylar made one blunder after another, I was left to clean up her messes.

If it weren't for me, the company would have faced a major crisis long ago.

But what did all my hard work get me?

I suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh, realizing how foolish I'd been.

I took a deep breath and pressed the intercom button.

"Book me and Chloe Vance tickets to Sea City. We're leaving tonight."

The next morning, as I was getting ready in my hotel room, my phone rang. It was Damian.

"Ellie Vance! Where the hell are you? Skylar's project is a disaster! The client is furious, threatening to cancel the contract and blacklist us in the industry! Get over here and fix it for her, now!"

He roared, completely out of his mind. I held the phone slightly away from my ear.

"Didn't you say some clients were too demanding? That if they leave, they leave? Why the change of tune now?"

Damian paused, stumped, then immediately started yelling again.

"Is this client the same as the others? He's a long-term partner who brings in twenty million annually! Are you out of your mind? Do I really need to remind you of this?"

His words changed faster than the weather.

I forced myself to keep my temper in check.

"I'm in Sea City right now, pretty swamped."

"Damian, didn't you always say I was too overbearing, hogging projects and not giving new people a chance to grow? Well, I think now's the perfect time. Let Skylar handle it herself; she'll learn faster."

Damian grew even more enraged.

"You're her mentor! It's your job to guide her! How can you just abandon her? I'm telling you, if this project falls through, you'll be held responsible!"

I chuckled softly.

"Oh? Is that so… And if, by some miracle, this project *does* get secured, will the bonus and credit be mine?"

Damian clearly hadn't expected me to state my terms so directly. He paused, then spoke with clear dissatisfaction.

"Ellie! Why have you become so petty? Competing for credit with a newbie?"

"You're a long-standing employee and a shareholder; you should have the generosity to support new talent! You can't hog all the frontline resources forever, can you? You should step back and start thinking about having a family; that's what truly matters!"

He finally said what was on his mind.

Everyone in the company respected me. Whenever there was a problem, they mostly came to me for advice, not him.

He had long resented me for sidelining him.

He was desperate to tie me down with my identity as his wife, force me out of the company, and clear the path for him and Skylar.

My eyes turned utterly cold.

"Damian, you're right. Mentoring new talent is crucial. So why don't you personally guide Skylar Reed? You're the boss; your direct instruction will surely be more effective than mine."

Damian was completely furious now, his voice suddenly rising.

"That client only trusts you! No one else will do any good! I don't care where you are or who you're meeting, fix this immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for revoking your shareholder status!"