Chapter 4

I didn't expect Melanie to give Zack the watch as compensation. When I snapped back to my senses, I glared at her and said, "I'm the CEO of the company. Why didn't you consult me before naming Zack as the global ambassador? Also, he's not qualified for the job. Swap him out right now."

Zack immediately fixed a pitiful expression on his face and gripped Melanie's sleeve.

Melanie shot an affectionate look at him before saying coldly, "I'm the head of the department, which gives me the right to call the shots when it comes to the department's internal decisions. I'll use actual results to prove that I made the right choice."

She then moved to leave the office, pulling Zack along.

I scoffed, prompting a few bodyguards to block the door.

"Do you really think that I'll allow a thief to leave? Hand over the watch right now."

Melanie was briefly stunned. Her voice was colored with guilt as she explained, "Zack's the ambassador now, which makes him the representative of the company when he's out and about. I'm just letting him borrow your watch for the time being. I only did it for your and the company's sake.

"Think about it. The watch Zack used to wear was a cheap product that cost only a few dozen dollars. If he continues wearing that, the public will ridicule our company."

I wasn't convinced by her excuses in the slightest.

"You've got the wrong idea, Melanie. This isn't a discussion."

I grabbed the dagger that was hanging from one of the bodyguard's waists and stabbed it into the desk.

"I'm giving you ten seconds. Either you return the watch to me right now, or I'll cut off his hand and take it back myself."

Melanie assumed that I was just being stubborn and hastily said, "It's just a watch. I'll buy a better one for you to compensate you."

I pretended that I couldn't hear her, staring at the clock in the office as I counted down.

"Nine… Eight… Seven…"

Realizing that I was being serious, Melanie hastily removed the watch from Zack's wrist and threw it at me. "Y-You've gone crazy, Clive! I've returned your watch. Are you satisfied now?"

I nodded upon hearing her words. I had indeed gone crazy. I had been crazy enough to help someone as ungrateful as her. I had also been crazy enough to believe her fake promises.

I threw the watch into the trash, saying, "Sorry. I think second-hand items are filthy. Of course, the same applies to you."

I shot a look at one of the bodyguards, prompting him to hand Melanie a divorce agreement.

Melanie's eyes widened when she got a good look at the contents. "Y-You want to divorce me?"

"That's right," I said, looking at her coldly. "If you behave, sign the divorce papers, and resign from the company of your own volition, I might consider letting you and your family live. You and the Perries should learn how to conduct yourselves properly from now on."

Leaving the divorce agreement with her, I left the office with my bodyguards in tow.

Unfortunately, Melanie didn't cherish the last chance at survival that I had given her at all.

…

That night, I received a call from the hospital right after I ordered the household staff to throw all of Melanie's belongings to the curb.

I thought the doctor would tell me that Cindy's condition was improving. However, he sounded extremely panicked when the call connected, exclaiming, "Bad news, Mr. Sherwood! Did you offend someone? Someone barged into Ms. Sherwood's room and abducted her!"

I crushed the wine glass that I was holding. Fresh blood oozed from where the shards of broken glass had embedded themselves into my hand, but the pain was nothing compared to the overwhelming pain in my heart.

Cindy was the only family that I had left. She was also my pillar of emotional support throughout the years.

To avoid the possibility of her getting involved in my business disputes, I never made it public that Cindy and I were related, which led many to believe I was an only child.

There was only one other person in the world who knew that Cindy was my weakness and the location of her hospital room—Melanie Perry.

It was obvious that she planned to use Cindy as a bargaining chip to control me. However, she should have known better than to drag someone innocent into our feud.

Melanie had crossed the line this time.

"Contact all the reporters in the city. Expose all of Melanie's and the Perry family's dirty laundry and strip her of all her authority!" I ordered.