Chapter 3 · My Divorce Destroyed His Empire

I leaned back in my chair and asked, "Richard did that?"

Zoe replied, "Yeah."

"He acted fast."

"Too bad it's way too late. Madison's post is already out there. Hotel suite, fancy watches, jewelry, everything. Now that Foster Healthcare's running out of cash, all the suppliers are keeping an eye on them."

I scrolled through my social feed.

Madison had posted a new pic. She was linked arm-in-arm with Helen.

The caption: [Helen spoils me like her own daughter.]

Someone commented: [Andrew's got some serious clout. He just got divorced and already whisked the whole family overseas.]

Madison replied: [Andrew's always been amazing. He just got held back before.]

I stared at it for a couple seconds, then saved a screenshot.

Just as I was about to exit, Andrew's call popped up.

I picked up.

He sounded like he was about to explode. "Charlotte! What did you say to your mom?"

I said, "I told her I got divorced."

"Don't play dumb! Why did Greenfield Capital pull out? Why is the bank checking our accounts? Did you set this up from the start?"

"Andrew, we're divorced. Your family's company is none of my business."

Andrew snorted coldly. "None of your business? If it really had nothing to do with you, would your mom suddenly yank the funding? Charlotte, how did I never see you were this calculating?"

I set my glass down and said, "There's a lot you never noticed."

He went silent.

I added, "For example, you never realized your sports car was paid for with a bonus from a Greenfield-backed project."

The line went dead quiet.

After a few seconds, his voice shot up. "What are you talking about?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Charlotte, don't think you're hot stuff just because your mom's got your back. Foster Group isn't something you can mess with."

"Then don't get so worked up."

He gritted his teeth and said, "Is this your way of making me beg you to come back?"

"You wish."

"Then what do you want?"

I glanced out the window. "I want you all to stop acting like ignorance is something to be proud of."

Andrew let out a bitter laugh. "Charlotte, you really think you're all that?"

I asked, "Did you pay the hotel deposit yet?"

The line went quiet again.

I said, "International calls aren't cheap. Save your money."

I hung up.

Not long after, Helen called.

I picked up.

She started yelling as soon as I answered, "Charlotte, you heartless thing! When did the Foster family ever treat you badly? You get divorced and still try to screw us over!"

I waited for her to finish.

Then I said, "Mrs. Foster, first, I'm not your daughter-in-law anymore. Second, Greenfield Capital withdrawing its investment is just business. Third, if you keep yelling, my lawyer will send you a legal notice."

Helen got even angrier. "You dare threaten me?"

"I'm just warning you."

"What does your mom even do? Who does she think she is, yanking our funding like that?"

"Mrs. Foster, didn't you say my family was a small fry?"

She went quiet.

I added, "Keep shopping for jewelry, wouldn't want to disappoint Madison."

"Charlotte, just you wait! When we get back, I'll make you answer to me in person!"

"Alright."

I hung up.

Zoe's message popped up right away. [The hotel is asking the Foster family to cover the outstanding charges. Andrew's card was declined.]

Zoe: [Madison paid part of it, but she's almost maxed out her card.]

Zoe: [Richard already told them to get back home immediately.]

I replied with just one word. [Good.]

The Foster family was always obsessed with keeping up appearances. I would let them drag all that fake glitz they flaunted online back home in utter embarrassment.

*****

On the fifth morning, the Foster family finally dragged themselves back home.

Zoe sent me a message. [They had to fly economy.]

Zoe: [They ended up arguing at the airport because their luggage was overweight.]

Zoe: [Richard had to pick them up himself, no chauffeur this time.]

I'd barely put my phone down when Ethan called.

He said, "Ms. Evans, Richard's trying to get in touch with your mom through someone else. He wants a meeting."

I asked, "What did my mom say?"

"She said if he wants to talk, Andrew has to give you a proper apology first."

I laughed. "You really think he'll do it?"

Ethan said, "Foster Group's got no other choice."

At three in the afternoon, Andrew texted me. [7 pm tonight, at the family estate. Everyone will be there. I'll apologize to you.]

I replied: [I'll pick the place.]

He took half a minute to reply. [Where do you want to meet?]

I sent back: [Foster Healthcare, first-floor conference room.]

He replied almost instantly: [Don't push it.]

Me: [You don't have to come.]

Ten minutes later, he replied with just one word. [Fine.]

At seven that evening, I arrived at Foster Healthcare. The first-floor conference room was packed.

Richard, Helen, Emily, and Madison were all there. Several Foster Group executives were there too.

Andrew was standing at the front. When he saw me, his face darkened.

Helen was the first to speak. "Charlotte, do you really have to air our dirty laundry at the company?"

I stood at the doorway and replied, "Wasn't it you who said you wanted to apologize?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Andrew is actually willing to apologize, and you should count yourself lucky. Yet you still get to pick the place? Who do you think you are, anyway?"

I looked at her and asked, "Didn't you post on social media that I was finally out of your family?"

Emily was speechless.

I pulled out my phone. "Want me to read it out loud?"

Richard growled, "Emily, shut up."

Emily shot back, "Dad, she's doing this on purpose!"

Richard looked at me, his tone softening. "Charlotte, this was Andrew's mistake. But your personal issues shouldn't affect the partnership between our families."

I smiled. "Mr. Richard Foster, that's not quite right."

He frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"There were no 'relationship issues' between Andrew and me."

I looked at Andrew. "He cheated on me while we were married."

The conference room went dead silent.

Madison jumped to her feet and said, "Ms. Evans, please watch what you say. Andrew and I only got close after you two broke up."

I tapped my phone screen. "This is a video you posted six months ago."

Chapter 3

I leaned back in my chair and asked, "Richard did that?"

Zoe replied, "Yeah."

"He acted fast."

I scrolled through my social feed.

Madison had posted a new pic. She was linked arm-in-arm with Helen.

The caption: [Helen spoils me like her own daughter.]

Someone commented: [Andrew's got some serious clout. He just got divorced and already whisked the whole family overseas.]

Madison replied: [Andrew's always been amazing. He just got held back before.]

I stared at it for a couple seconds, then saved a screenshot.

Just as I was about to exit, Andrew's call popped up.

I picked up.

He sounded like he was about to explode. "Charlotte! What did you say to your mom?"

I said, "I told her I got divorced."

"Don't play dumb! Why did Greenfield Capital pull out? Why is the bank checking our accounts? Did you set this up from the start?"

"Andrew, we're divorced. Your family's company is none of my business."

Andrew snorted coldly. "None of your business? If it really had nothing to do with you, would your mom suddenly yank the funding? Charlotte, how did I never see you were this calculating?"

I set my glass down and said, "There's a lot you never noticed."

He went silent.

I added, "For example, you never realized your sports car was paid for with a bonus from a Greenfield-backed project."

The line went dead quiet.

After a few seconds, his voice shot up. "What are you talking about?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Charlotte, don't think you're hot stuff just because your mom's got your back. Foster Group isn't something you can mess with."

"Then don't get so worked up."

He gritted his teeth and said, "Is this your way of making me beg you to come back?"

"You wish."

"Then what do you want?"

I glanced out the window. "I want you all to stop acting like ignorance is something to be proud of."

Andrew let out a bitter laugh. "Charlotte, you really think you're all that?"

I asked, "Did you pay the hotel deposit yet?"

The line went quiet again.

I said, "International calls aren't cheap. Save your money."

I hung up.

Not long after, Helen called.

I picked up.

She started yelling as soon as I answered, "Charlotte, you heartless thing! When did the Foster family ever treat you badly? You get divorced and still try to screw us over!"

I waited for her to finish.

Helen got even angrier. "You dare threaten me?"

"I'm just warning you."

"What does your mom even do? Who does she think she is, yanking our funding like that?"

"Mrs. Foster, didn't you say my family was a small fry?"

She went quiet.

I added, "Keep shopping for jewelry, wouldn't want to disappoint Madison."

"Charlotte, just you wait! When we get back, I'll make you answer to me in person!"

"Alright."

I hung up.

Zoe's message popped up right away. [The hotel is asking the Foster family to cover the outstanding charges. Andrew's card was declined.]

Zoe: [Madison paid part of it, but she's almost maxed out her card.]

Zoe: [Richard already told them to get back home immediately.]

I replied with just one word. [Good.]

The Foster family was always obsessed with keeping up appearances. I would let them drag all that fake glitz they flaunted online back home in utter embarrassment.

*****

On the fifth morning, the Foster family finally dragged themselves back home.

Zoe sent me a message. [They had to fly economy.]

Zoe: [They ended up arguing at the airport because their luggage was overweight.]

Zoe: [Richard had to pick them up himself, no chauffeur this time.]

I'd barely put my phone down when Ethan called.

He said, "Ms. Evans, Richard's trying to get in touch with your mom through someone else. He wants a meeting."

I asked, "What did my mom say?"

"She said if he wants to talk, Andrew has to give you a proper apology first."

I laughed. "You really think he'll do it?"

Ethan said, "Foster Group's got no other choice."

At three in the afternoon, Andrew texted me. [7 pm tonight, at the family estate. Everyone will be there. I'll apologize to you.]

I replied: [I'll pick the place.]

He took half a minute to reply. [Where do you want to meet?]

I sent back: [Foster Healthcare, first-floor conference room.]

He replied almost instantly: [Don't push it.]

Me: [You don't have to come.]

Ten minutes later, he replied with just one word. [Fine.]

At seven that evening, I arrived at Foster Healthcare. The first-floor conference room was packed.

Richard, Helen, Emily, and Madison were all there. Several Foster Group executives were there too.

Andrew was standing at the front. When he saw me, his face darkened.

Helen was the first to speak. "Charlotte, do you really have to air our dirty laundry at the company?"

I stood at the doorway and replied, "Wasn't it you who said you wanted to apologize?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Andrew is actually willing to apologize, and you should count yourself lucky. Yet you still get to pick the place? Who do you think you are, anyway?"

I looked at her and asked, "Didn't you post on social media that I was finally out of your family?"

Emily was speechless.

I pulled out my phone. "Want me to read it out loud?"

Richard growled, "Emily, shut up."

Emily shot back, "Dad, she's doing this on purpose!"

Richard looked at me, his tone softening. "Charlotte, this was Andrew's mistake. But your personal issues shouldn't affect the partnership between our families."

I smiled. "Mr. Richard Foster, that's not quite right."

He frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"There were no 'relationship issues' between Andrew and me."

I looked at Andrew. "He cheated on me while we were married."

The conference room went dead silent.

Madison jumped to her feet and said, "Ms. Evans, please watch what you say. Andrew and I only got close after you two broke up."

I tapped my phone screen. "This is a video you posted six months ago."