Chapter 7

To celebrate landing the deal, I invited everyone out for drinks.

My colleagues know how to read the room. To curry favor with me, they kept forcing drinks on Ethan.

After a few glasses of wine, Ethan stumbled drunkenly into the restroom with Olivia following close behind.

Curious to see what would happen, I trailed after them.

The alcohol had loosened Ethan's tongue as he whined pitifully:

"Olivia, you're so heartless. Do you know how I've spent these past few years?"

"While I was in hiding, eating dry ramen in basements, you were having your dream wedding with James."

"When I was hit by a car while delivering food, hovering between life and death, you were in the hospital giving birth to James' child."

Olivia was overcome with sympathy, comforting Ethan with kisses.

Soon Ethan stopped complaining and started ranting indignantly:

"And James, he just got lucky, born with a face your grandfather liked. He used that to climb the ladder and reach the top in one step."

"I don't care about the money, but how dare he steal your heart? I can't accept it!"

In the scuffle, Olivia's phone crashed to the floor.

The cracked screen flickered, showing the family photo of the three of us as the wallpaper.

I smiled.

My plan to drive a wedge between them had succeeded.

Olivia completely broke down.

She clung desperately to Ethan, apologizing over and over, begging him to forgive her and the Wilson family.

"Everything James has, I'll make it up to you."

Olivia pleaded with him through her tears:

"I'll make James give you his position as general manager. I'll repay everything the Wilsons owe you!"

I was eager to dump this pile of garbage on Ethan.

But unexpectedly, Ethan wasn't satisfied and made a new demand:

"The Wilson Group's debt ratio is too high, it's not worth investing in. Cash out your shares and use that to start a new company for me."

Hm, he has some brains after all.

But not much.

Olivia hesitated.

Ethan immediately threatened to break up with her. In her panic, she hastily agreed to his request.

After leaving the restroom, Olivia came to lay it out for me:

"James, can you buy all the shares I own?"

"This is what I owe Ethan. I want to liquidate the assets under my name. You don't have any objections, right?"

Under my manipulation, the Wilson Group's stock price had plummeted. Buying back all the shares now would be like picking up a bargain at rock bottom prices.

"Are you sure?" I raised an eyebrow at her, feigning reluctance:

"You're spending money on your lover like I'm already dead, is that it?"

"I can buy the shares, but that means buying out our relationship too. We break up - do you agree?"

Olivia shook her head. She explained with a wronged expression that the belt was just a misunderstanding, that she still loved me, that she didn't agree to breaking up.

After some back and forth, I "reluctantly" agreed to buy her shares.

Olivia had no idea that in a month's time, the Wilson Group's stock price would hit a record high.

At this moment, blinded by love, she was secretly promising Ethan behind my back:

"Take this money first as startup capital for the company. Once Grandpa's inheritance comes through, I should be able to get at least $50 million..."

I leaned against the doorway, eavesdropping.

The corners of my mouth curved up involuntarily.