Chapter 3

I handled every detail of this project myself, from beginning to end.

The big idea was all mine.

I took care of all the tech stuff.

The whole vibe and style were my work, too.

The professional production team was just carrying out my instructions.

Max thought he could kick me out with nothing and take over the company, expecting to reap all the rewards.

However, he forgot one thing. Technology was the real lifeblood of this company.

And that lifeblood had always been in my hands.

When I moved out, I just grabbed a few clothes and my laptop.

I opened the door to my parents' house. My mom was in the kitchen making soup, and the smell filled the whole place.

"Sabrina?" My mom's spoon clattered into the pot, splashing some hot soup. "Weren't things good between you and Max? Why did you suddenly get divorced?"

I went straight to her bedroom and dug out a bank card from the very bottom of the drawer.

Max never had a clue this stash even existed.

All these years, I'd quietly picked up freelance animation gigs and indie short film projects, funneling every cent I earned into my mom's account.

The sum was no joke, more than enough for me to make a comeback.

My dad came rushing out of his study, worry written all over his face. "Sabrina, what's going on? People are saying you were caught cheating in bed. I just can't believe my daughter would ever do something like that!"

My mom, her eyes rimmed red, grabbed my hand. "Please, Sabrina, tell me the truth..."

I took a deep breath. "Dad, Mom, do you believe me?"

"Of course, I believe you. You're my daughter," my dad said firmly.

My mom nodded hard. "We believe you, but the rumors are so detailed, and people are starting to believe them..."

"Max is spreading all those nasty rumors. He has had a side chick for ages, and now she's even knocked up," I said, my voice shaking with anger.

I told them everything, no holding back, about the spiked drink, the trap Max set to frame me, and how he couldn't wait to flaunt his new lover and make her his wife.

My dad's face turned stormy with rage. He stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and was about to rush out the door. "That bastard! After everything you did for him, this is how he treats you? I swear, I'll make him pay for this!"

"Dad!" I quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

"Let go of me! That heartless bastard cheated on you and then framed you, spreading filthy rumors. He's gone way too far!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fury.

My mom was crying, tears streaming down her face. "Honey, don't do anything rash."

"Dad, trust me. I'm not some pushover," I said, my voice steady and determined.

My dad stared at me for a long moment, then finally set the knife down. "Alright, I believe you. We're all behind you."

My mom wiped away her tears and headed into the kitchen. Soon, she came out with a table full of dishes. "Come on, eat. I made you some chicken soup to help you get your strength back."

My dad was silent for a while, then disappeared into his room. When he returned, he handed me a bank card, sliding it across the table. "Here, take this."

I froze, staring at him. "Dad, what's this?"

"Stay as long as you want. We'll always support you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

His voice trembled as he added, "If you need money, let me know. If this isn't enough, I've got more."

My mom came out with the soup, her eyes still red. "That's right. Even if the world falls apart, your dad and I will be here to hold it up for you. Just stay home and let us take care of everything."

Not in his wildest dreams did Max expect the company to crumble so quickly after I left.

My assistant secretly messaged me, [Sabrina, it's a madhouse at the office right now.]

She attached a few screenshots to the message.

Group chat was a warzone.

Someone snapped, [This rendering is a total disaster! Client shot it down three times already.]

Another person texted, [Then you fix it! Only Sabrina could tweak those settings. Nobody else knows her tricks.]

The real kicker was the client's email reply.

It read, [Is this what you call professional?]

[Why is the quality so much worse than before? Redo it!]

I stirred my coffee, a cold smile playing on my lips.

I used to check every storyboard and frame personally. Now that I was gone, the designers were all fighting, and no one was willing to listen to anyone else. The team had lost its backbone.

Some insisted on sticking to my original storyboards, some tried to make a name for themselves with new ideas, and a few just threw in the towel, muttering, "If only Sabrina were here."

Every day, the conference room was a circus of the same old mess.

Max sat at the head of the table, banging on it and shouting at everyone, but beyond throwing tantrums, he was totally useless.

His real talent was wheeling and dealing over cocktails, selling dreams, and making flashy promises about the company's future at business dinners.

The funniest part was Jolene, playing the boss's wife, sticking her nose into everything, and acting like she ran the show.