A Wife's Worth in Shares

The comments froze for a few seconds before filling with question marks.

"What does she mean? Does Mr. Waterson's wife not have any shares?"

"Didn't he just say they built the company together?"

"Natasha is already a co-founder. So, how many shares does his wife have?"

The host gripped the , unable to continue with the congratulatory speech she had prepared.

Derrick reacted quickly, putting an arm around my shoulders and smiling naturally at the camera. "She doesn't like handling these matters. We're married, so does it really matter whose name the shares are under?"

I had heard those words for eight years.

When our first shop couldn't afford the next month's rent, I closed my own studio and transferred all my savings to him. He held me and said married couples shouldn't keep score.

Then, Natasha joined the company. She received 5% in the first round, 12% in the second, and now had 35% sitting pretty.

I had never questioned it because I was his wife.

"If it doesn't matter whose name the shares are under, then why does hers have to be under her own name?" I asked while pointing at Natasha's co-founder badge.

Derrick's smile faltered.

She quickly took the microphone and replied, "Lydia, the shares are just part of my job. I meet with investors every day, so how am I going to convince them I'm a partner if I don't own anything?"

She made it sound perfectly reasonable. Then, she smiled at me and continued, "You and Derrick are married. You don't need shares to prove your relationship."

Some people in the audience even applauded her.

Derrick immediately changed the subject. "Today is our eighth anniversary. Let's not get into family affairs."

Family affairs, huh?

Natasha's 35% was company business, but it suddenly became a family affair when I asked how many shares I owned.

His smile disappeared as soon as the livestream ended and the lounge door closed.

"Lydia, did you really have to embarrass me in front of everyone?"

I took off my name badge and tossed it onto the table. "I only asked about my shares. How did I embarrass you?"

"Did you have to ask that in front of everyone?"

"You also told them that you wouldn't be where you are without me."

Derrick loosened his tie and took a few sips of water. "I was talking about marital property. You know what I meant."

Just then, the door swung open, and Natasha walked in carrying a stack of documents.

"Come on, you two. Don't fight because of me." Then, she set the top document in front of me. "The 5 million financing deal needs final approval tomorrow. Once you sign the guarantee, the funds can arrive by the end of the month."

I recognized the words on the cover.

"Personal Joint and Several Liability Guarantee."

I had seen that document countless times in my previous life.

I had signed it in that life. Six months later, the company went bust. Natasha took her shares and clients, while Derrick moved every asset he could.

And so, the bank came after me.

I flipped to the last page and said, "I won't sign."

Derrick had been looking at his phone, so he slammed his phone onto the table upon hearing my firm refusal.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I won't sign this guarantee."

Natasha softened her voice as she spoke. "Lydia, please don't let a little disagreement during the livestream affect the company."

She pulled another document from her bag.

"I'm willing to put my entire fortune on the line for Derrick. You're his wife, so there's really no need to make this complicated."

Derrick pushed her document toward me.

"Look at her. She's an outsider, yet she's still willing to take this risk with me. You're my wife, so why are you being so skittish?"

In my previous life, his words had made me feel ashamed. I had genuinely thought that I was being selfish for asking about those shares.

This time, I turned both documents to their final pages.

Natasha's was titled "Shareholder Risk Commitment." If the company went bankrupt, the most she could lose was the value of her shares.

However, mine was very different.

If the company couldn't repay its debts, the creditors had all the right to pursue me personally. My savings and property would all be at risk.

I placed the two documents side by side and drawled, "If the company goes down, she only loses her shares. If the company can't repay 5 million, they come after me."

Natasha's smile faded. "Lydia, shareholders and guarantors naturally have different responsibilities."

"How are they different?" I shot back.

She paused before saying, "I'm a shareholder."

I picked up my "Mr. Waterson's Wife" badge and set it beside her document.

"Then, what am I?"

Derrick swept the badge aside, knocking it into a cup and sending it rolling onto the floor.

"Enough!" He pushed the guarantee agreement toward me again.

"Natasha is an outsider. If I don't give her shares or some kind of security, why would she bother working so hard for me? You're my wife. Do I really have to give you shares just to convince you to stay with me?"

I didn't argue.

Instead, I picked up the pen and handed it to Natasha. "If you're so willing to take the risk with him, then you're more than welcome to sign it."

She didn't reach for the pen.

Derrick's voice turned cold. "Lydia, stop making trouble."

I set the pen back on the table. "She gets 35% of the company, while I get saddled with 5 million dollars worth of debt. Yet, you're asking what I'm afraid of? Really?"

Just then, someone knocked on the door to remind them it was time for the group photo.

Derrick growled with what little patience he had left, "We'll talk about this at home tonight."

"Don't bother." I pushed the guarantee agreement back into his hands. "I won't sign this."

Before I left, I casually snapped a photo of Natasha's so-called commitment to risk her entire fortune.

In my previous life, I believed she'd put everything on the line for Derrick when the creditors came pounding on my door, just as I had.

However, my second lease of life proved that it wasn't true.

She would get the shares and the glory if things worked out. If she lost the gamble… Well, she'd only lost her shares.

On the other hand, I'd been drawn and quartered.