Chapter 2

"Life was hard, and people bullied me all the time. I was hungry most days. But as long as I could stay alive and see you once in a while, that was enough for me."

A single tear slid down her cheek at exactly the right moment.

Grant looked heartbroken.

His gaze hardened, and his voice rang across the hall.

"Enough! That incident was explained long ago. It was an accident. Chloe admitted her mistake and paid for it. Over the past year, she has changed a lot, and her abilities have improved. I believe she is qualified to serve as vice president.

"I do not want to hear anyone use that incident to attack her again. If I catch anyone doing it, you will end up the same way as Natalie Shaw."

The room fell silent.

The people who had still wanted to argue slowly lowered their heads.

Grant nodded with satisfaction. Then he turned to Chloe and said softly, "Don't worry. I will never let you go hungry again.

"Things are different now. I endured hundreds of days of humiliation for this moment. I will get justice for you.

"Everyone who framed you and hurt you back then will pay."

His tone grew colder with every word.

Then his eyes landed on me.

I met his stare and felt a chill crawl up my spine.

He hated me that much?

All because I fired Chloe in front of everyone a year ago?

If I had not done it, he would not be standing here celebrating his promotion. He would have been thrown out of the company right along with her.

Chloe had been his assistant. He was responsible for her conduct. Back then, the board's original decision was not just to fire Chloe. It was to fire Grant too.

I had personally guaranteed his future to the chairman and signed a performance pledge to win him a chance to redeem himself.

Even so, he had punished me with three months of cold silence.

Later, when I promised I would help him become executive CEO, his attitude toward me finally softened.

Now he had barely taken the seat before he rushed to fire me and claim justice for Chloe.

How ridiculous.

Seeing the cold smile on my face, Grant frowned and walked down from the stage.

"Natalie Shaw, if not for you, Chloe would never have been fired. She would never have suffered all those things.

"You owe her a public apology."

I ignored him, picked up the termination agreement from the floor, and turned to leave.

Grant had security block my way.

Chloe hurried after us, still wearing the expression of someone wronged beyond measure.

"Grant, look at her. She doesn't want to apologize at all.

"I just came back to the company and this is already happening. Who will listen to me after this? Instead of helping you, I'll only drag you down.

"Rather than watch that happen and make things difficult for you, I might as well leave now."

As she spoke, she moved closer to Grant instead of leaving.

Her reddened eyes fell perfectly into his line of sight.

Grant grabbed her wrist at once, as if terrified she might actually go.

"I told you I would get justice for you. Do you trust me that little?"

Chloe did not answer. She only lowered her head.

Grant coaxed her for several more sentences, and only when the corners of her mouth lifted did he finally relax.

The sight of them together was painful to watch.

In six years with Grant, I had never seen him this gentle or this patient.

Not even when we were supposedly in love.

In daily life, even basic kindness from him had become a luxury. Most of what existed between us was argument, cold war, sudden disappearances, and nights when he never came home.

So whenever he showed the smallest sign of softness, I would mistake it for a change of heart.

To keep that tiny bit of warmth, I fought for anything he casually asked for.

Even when he once said, "Then let me have the CEO's seat."