Chapter 4

I stood up, filled with anticipation, but the next second, Ashley stood in the light, smiling brightly.

The entire hall erupted in murmurs.

I froze, my ears buzzing.

Except for Ethan and her, almost all the employees looked bewildered, then started whispering to each other.

"No way, everyone knows this new product is Miss Samantha's achievement."

Ethan's face didn't change. He lavishly praised Ashley's contributions to the media, even announcing on the spot:

"Effective immediately, Ashley will take over as Director of Product Development, replacing Samantha."

My nails dug deep into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the suffocating feeling swelling in my chest.

Ashley stood beside him, her triumphant smile almost impossible to suppress.

As soon as the launch ended, before the crowd had fully dispersed.

I walked straight up and delivered a hard slap across Ashley's face. "Aren't you ashamed to steal someone else's hard work and claim it as your own?"

Ashley clutched her face, her lips pressed tight, saying nothing. Ethan's reaction was even more intense than hers.

He shoved me hard, the force making me stumble back a step.

"Sam! Why are you yelling at her? This was my decision!"

"You kicked her out, she's homeless. How is an assistant's salary supposed to support her in LA?"

His self-righteousness made me laugh out loud.

"Her contributions? Do you mean when the coffee she ordered gave the entire team diarrhea, or when her electrical use caused a power outage on the entire floor?"

I bit down hard on my teeth, afraid that if I lost control, my voice would break into sobs.

"How dare you hand over a year's worth of my hard work like that? Ethan, how could you?"

Ethan looked disappointed, as if I was the unreasonable one.

"Sam, when did you become so bitter?"

"It's just a patent. Everything I do is for you."

"Before, you used to run around researching technology. But after we get married, I just want you to live a comfortable life as Mrs. Ethan. Do you only feel satisfied if you work yourself to exhaustion?"

With that, he coldly pulled Ashley away, leaving without looking back.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. It was my father's lawyer.

"Miss Samantha, we've found some things. You should come back as soon as possible to discuss them in person."

I watched their retreating figures, gently wiping away the dampness from the corners of my eyes.

"Okay, I'm coming back right away."

I was the only daughter of New York's wealthiest man.

This secret, I had planned to tell Ethan myself on the day we got married.

Unfortunately, I would never have that chance.

After the plane landed in New York, I was supposed to see my dad first.

But his secretary informed me he had an important board meeting soon and asked me to come later.

I nodded and turned towards the legal department.

At the corner of the corridor, I unexpectedly ran into Ethan and Ashley's group.

So, when he said he was coming to New York for a business trip, he was actually coming to my dad's company.

Seeing the documents in my hand, his eyes darkened.

"Sam, are you really going to make such a fuss? You came all the way to New York to look for a job? Can't you just wait for me to come home?"

I almost laughed out loud.

Did he not know this was my home?

After being promoted to director, Ashley even dared to chime in.

"Sam, throwing a tantrum needs to have its limits."

"Today's partnership with the Adrian Group is crucial for Angel Group's future. Please don't come to cause trouble."

Before I could respond, the hurried secretary urged them,

"The Chairman is about to meet an important guest. You only have half an hour."

Inside the legal department, the lawyer, looking serious, slid a document across the table.

"According to our investigation, Ethan is not single. He's already married."