Chapter 2
Chris's lips quivered.
He jabbed a finger at me, his knuckles so tight they turned white.
"How... How dare you?" he stammered, barely able to get the words out.
His mother, who had been gloating just moments ago, suddenly charged at me.
She tried to grab my hair, but the bodyguard behind me stepped in and blocked her.
"You bitch! Give us back our money!" Willow shrieked, her voice cutting through the quiet of the court.
I looked at her, my gaze icy.
"Your money? Did you ever invest a single dime in the company?" I shot back.
"That villa you live in, the luxury car you drive, the emerald jewelry you flaunt—every bit of it came from my hard work.
"Now, the game's over."
Willow was stunned.
She had never seen this side of me before.
Back then, I endured everything for Chris.
But now, I don't have to take it anymore.
Beata finally caught on and pulled out her phone, aiming it straight at me.
"I'm recording this and posting it online, so everyone can see what kind of crazy woman you really are!" she yelled.
I ignored her and turned my gaze to Tina, the one rocking a Chanel dress, her baby bump impossible to miss.
All the color had vanished from her face—she was staring at Chris, panic written all over her.
Chris looked like he'd lost everything; he slumped into the chair, drained and hollow.
He kept mumbling to himself, barely audible, "There's no way... This can't be real... Without me, the company's nothing but a shell."
I laughed, cold and sharp. "Chris, you're seriously overestimating yourself.
"You think you're the backbone of the company? The core tech patents are registered under my name. The most important sales channels are all controlled by my team.
"You're nothing more than a general manager.
"A general manager who could be replaced whenever I feel like it."
My words stabbed into him like daggers, each one piercing straight through his heart.
He snapped his head up, his eyes filled with hatred—and a hint of fear.
"Hazel, you can't do this to me. We've been together for ten years!" Chris shouted, his voice cracking.
"Ten years?" It was like he'd just told the world's biggest joke.
"The moment you showed up with your side chick and forced me to divorce you, whatever feelings we had died right then.
"And when you and your family watched me sign those papers like I was garbage, you blew away even the ashes of what was left."
I stood up and straightened the collar of my white shirt.
"Oh, by the way." I pulled a document out of my bag and tossed it in front of Chris.
"This is the board's latest decision from Origin Capital Partners.
"Starting today, you're fired. All your positions in the company? Gone.
"Oh, and the legal team will be digging through every cent you touched while you were in charge. If they find you stole a dime or abused your position..."
I paused, watching as Chris's face drained of all color. "Get ready to be served."
Chris wobbled in his chair, nearly collapsing.
Willow's cries and screams grew even more hysterical. "Damn you! Are you trying to ruin our whole family?"
Tina was holding Chris up, tears streaming down her face as she looked at me.
"Ms. Rhodes, please, don't be so hard on Chris. He just wasn't thinking straight," she begged, her voice shaky. "The baby... The baby needs a dad."
I looked at her pregnant belly, my eyes devoid of any warmth.
"Whether your child has a father or not, that's got nothing to do with me," I said coldly. "But my money? I won't let a single penny go missing."
With that, I turned and strode out.
Two bodyguards in black suits escorted me, opening a path as I left.
The staff and everyone else at the court watched the drama play out, their expressions complicated.
I didn't care.
At the door, I paused and turned back. "Chris."
He looked up, dazed.
"Don't forget to refund that first-class ticket to Newton.
"After all, you can't even afford a seat in economy anymore," I said.
With that, I didn't hesitate and strode out of the marriage registration office.
The sunlight outside was blindingly bright.
A black Bentley was parked by the curb.
The driver swung the door open for me.
My mom was inside, giving me a warm smile.
"Hazel, welcome home," she said softly.
I slid into the car, and finally, the tears I'd been holding back started to fall.
It wasn't sadness.
It was pure relief.
My mom handed me a tissue.
"Go ahead and cry, sweetheart. You'll feel so much better," she said softly.
"From today, you're reborn."
I nodded, wiping away my tears.
My phone rang.
It was Darell Griffith, my lawyer and longtime friend.
"Hazel, everything's taken care of. Origin Capital Partners has full control now, and Chris's access is locked down," Darell said.
"Well done," I replied.
"Looks like Chris has launched an emergency response. The PR team might start a smear campaign against you," Darell warned.
I let out a cold laugh. "Let him try.
"I want to see what kind of stunt he'll pull."
With that, I hung up and looked out the window.
The city scenery sped past in a blur, just like those ten wasted years of my life.
Chris, this is only the beginning.
You and your family owe me big time, and I'll make sure you pay it all back, with interest and then some.
Our home—Chris and I's penthouse duplex—sat atop the city center.
36 hundred square feet, with sweeping views of the city lights at night.
I'd poured my heart and soul into every detail of this place.
But now, just being here made me feel sick.
I told the driver to pull up outside the apartment building.
"Mom, you and Darell go to the office and keep things steady. I'll just grab a few things and be right there," I said.
My mom looked worried. "Do you want the bodyguards to go with you?"
"No need," I said, shaking my head. "This is my place. No one's going to mess with me here."
With my keys in hand, I stepped into the private elevator.
The elevator glided upward, and my cold face stared back at me from the mirrored walls.
I wasn't here to reminisce about the past.
I was here to sever everything, once and for all.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the entryway.
A pair of pink women's slippers was carelessly tossed on the floor.
They weren't mine.
A woman's laughter drifted out from the living room.
It was Tina.