Chapter 4

Eric looked at my pale face and seemed to decide this was the moment to go hard.

He stepped closer, trying to take my hand again.

"Charlotte." He leaned in close, his voice soft, like candy with poison hidden inside. "I know you're hurting, but what's done is done.

"Bring the money back and help the company pull through, okay? I promise I'll make it up to you later.

"Starlight Tech can't survive without you, and honestly, neither can I. Can't we go back to how things used to be?"

Grace jumped in right on cue, her voice gentle. "Ms. Goodman, I'm begging you. I'm carrying Mr. Shaw's first child, and Starlight Tech is his life's work.

"If you help us, I'll do whatever you want. From now on, I'll keep my distance. I swear I won't ever get in your way."

They were tag-teaming me perfectly, each playing their part.

They were convinced I'd soften up like I always did.

They thought I'd fall apart without Eric.

I looked at them, feeling nothing but disgust.

I spoke slowly, "Make it up to me? Okay."

Eric's eyes lit up. "Name it. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

I let out a laugh. "It's simple. Take yourself and your Starlight Tech and get out of my world."

With that, I didn't even bother to look at his face. I grabbed my suitcase, sidestepped them, and headed for the door.

Eric snapped back to reality and immediately blocked my path.

"Charlotte," he ground out through clenched teeth, "do you have to be so ruthless?

"Pulling your investment is a breach of contract. You remember the bet-on agreement?

"If the IPO tanks, you'll owe ten times the penalty.

"That's 100 billion dollars. Can you afford that?"

He thought he'd found my weak spot, a smug grin spreading across his face.

Yeah, the bet-on agreement was clear as day.

If I caused the company to suffer major losses, I'd be on the hook for a ridiculous payout.

He thought I'd be terrified.

I stared at him, a smirk curling at the corner of my mouth.

"Penalty? Fine. Do the math. How much?" I asked, my voice flat.

My calm attitude threw him for a loop. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy," I said, locking eyes with him. "But before you start counting up my penalty, shouldn't you pay up what you owe me first?"

"What do I owe you?" Eric looked baffled.

I didn't bother replying. I pulled out my phone, tapped a recording, and hit play.

A greasy man's voice crackled from the speaker. "Mr. Shaw, don't worry. We've run this shadow contract setup tons of times. It's airtight.

"On the surface, you and Ms. Goodman have a normal investment relationship. But behind the scenes, this proxy share agreement is the one with real legal power.

"Once Starlight Tech goes public, you can use this agreement to transfer all her shares to your name for free.

"By then, forget about 10 billion dollars. The whole Starlight Tech will belong to you alone."

Eric's familiar chuckle came through the speaker. "Thanks for your hard work."

As the recording played out, the color drained from Eric's face.

He stared at me, eyes wide, lips trembling. "How..."

"How did I get this?" I cut him off, shutting off the recording with a cool smirk. "Care to guess?

"Eric, after seven years, did you think I'd stay some foolish girl handing you money?

"When you and your lawyer were plotting against me in the VIP suite at Splendor Club, I was right next door.

"I've been waiting for you to make your move for a long time.

"But I didn't expect you to be so impatient and downright pathetic from the start."

I grabbed my suitcase and shot him a last cold glance, as if he were nothing but worthless rubbish.

I said, "I'll pay 100 billion dollars in penalties.

"But you, Eric, better get ready to rot in prison.

"Business fraud, illegal appropriation, forged documents... How long do you think you'll be locked up for all that? Want me to do the math for you?"

With that, I didn't bother with Eric or the trembling Grace. I headed straight for the door.

Just as my hand touched the doorknob, a piercing scream shot out from behind me.

I turned around.

Grace clutched her stomach, her face pale. She collapsed to the floor, a dark red stain slowly spreading beneath her skirt.

"It hurts. My baby..." she whimpered.

Eric panicked, dropping to his knees to help her. "Grace, what's wrong? Don't scare me."

He jerked his head up, his eyes locked on me like they were soaked in poison.

"Charlotte," he spat. "This is all your fault. You did this to my baby.

"I'm warning you. If anything happens to my kid, I'll make you pay for the rest of your life."

He scooped Grace up, stumbled out the door, and shouted frantically as he dialed 911.

I stood there, staring at the blood on the floor, feeling nothing but absurdity.

Now Grace's miscarriage was my fault?

I hadn't even touched her.

This was utterly outrageous.

I gave a cold laugh, dragged my suitcase, and walked out of this awful place.