Chapter 3

Lucas borrowed Winona's phone, found my number in her contact list, and sent me a message.

"Natania Simmon, are you done with your tantrum? Just stop with the nonsense already! I'm giving you three days to calm down. If you come crawling back to apologize to me, then I'll let this matter go!"

Meanwhile, I was sitting in the wine cellar with Caleb, listening to a progress report on my plan to take down Lucas while sampling a bottle of '82 Lafite.

When my phone vibrated, I picked it up and checked it, only to see that message. Scoffing, I simply replied with a concise, "Fuck off."

Then I took a picture of Caleb and me clinking glasses and sent it to Lucas on a whim.

In the photo, the wine racks behind me were filled with countless expensive vintage wines. The sheer lavishness of the sight stung at Lucas' eyes.

He stared at his phone, a crack finally appearing in that blind self-confidence of his as a sense of unease and helplessness welled in him like never before.

…

Caleb swirled the red wine in his glass and spoke in a mild tone, as though he were talking about the weather.

"How many minutes will it take to freeze all of his credit cards?"

Taking a sip of wine, I answered placidly, "Three minutes are enough. Then, let him get a taste of what it means to be cut off at the source. All his major clients only signed with him on account of the Simmon family, so cut them loose."

Calen snapped his fingers, and the assistant standing off to the side instantly nodded and went off to do as ordered. He then turned to me, smiling. "Tania, your decisive ruthlessness really reminds me of Dad in his prime."

However, I didn't return the smile. This was only the appetizer.

…

Lucas brought Winona to a five-star hotel to book an executive suite. He wanted to use this way to tell himself that he could still live a good life without me.

The receptionist accepted his card and swiped it.

"Excuse me, sir, but your card has been frozen."

Surprised, Lucas handed her another card.

"This one has been frozen, too.

"Sir, this one as well."

He brought out every card in his wallet, and with every failed attempt, the receptionist's smile grew increasingly cold and professional.

The other hotel guests were also staring at Lucas, their gazes feeling like needles on his skin.

By then, Winona's expression was rather dark. She discreetly took a small step back to distance herself from him.

"How is this possible? My card limits are all very high!"

Cold sweat dotted Lucas' forehead, and he decided to call the bank's customer service right there and then, in front of everyone. He even put the call on loudspeaker mode.

"My apologies, Mr. Gardner, but your account has been placed under risk control. Your overall credit rating has been downgraded to the lowest level, and all credit services under your name have been suspended."

The call ended with a beep, which rang out particularly loudly in the dead silence of the lobby.

For the first time ever, the way Winona looked at him took on a disdainful edge.

Just as Lucas was at his wits' end, the CEO of the company called him and exploded in a rage like never before.

"Lucas Gardner, what the fuck have you done? Global Universe, Cosmos Science, and Oceania have all unilaterally cancelled their orders! Do you have any idea of the extent of the losses our company has incurred? Get the hell back here right now! If you fail to retain our clients, then you can kiss your job goodbye!"

Lucas was thoroughly dumbfounded. Those few companies were his most stable and core clients, the ones that landed him the sales director position. How could they have suddenly decided to abandon him overnight?

Nearby, Winona's eyes took on a speculative gleam. She comforted Lucas with fake sincerity, "Luke, don't panic just yet. There must be some kind of misunderstanding…"

At the same time, she stealthily took out her phone and searched my name on the internet. She had finally realized that there was more to me than met the eye. I wasn't just some daughter of a farmer from the countryside, as I claimed.

Meanwhile, under the guise of a mysterious overseas investor, I met Jeremy Luther, a collaboration partner whom Caleb had arranged for me. We were dining at a restaurant that Lucas and I used to frequent last time.

I also informed my team to contact Lucas' business rival. I wanted to acquire the company, then slowly have fun with my revenge.

As I expected, Lucas was staking out the restaurant in hopes of seeing me. He had likely set aside all pride to come here, thinking that as long as he surrendered, I would forgive him just like how I used to.

He got to see me, alright, and also the man with me.

I was smiling as I toasted Jeremy, not even sparing Lucas a glance.