Chapter 47

Ethan stood face-to-face with Lily in the meeting room, tension crackling in the air. Mia and Rachel stood in the corner, their expressions a mix of concern and anticipation. Just then, Sarah walked in, her presence adding another layer of intensity to the already charged atmosphere.

Ethan’s anger boiled over as he pointed an accusatory finger at Lily. “How could you replace Sarah with another model? Do you really think you own the entire Gray industry? It’s your first day, and you’re already seeking revenge on her just because you’re jealous!”

Lily stood her ground, her posture confident and unyielding. “I have no interest in kicking your mistress out of my company,” she shot back, her voice steady. “She violated the rules, and she deserves this.”

Ethan, taken aback by her defiance, narrowed his eyes. “What did Sarah do?” he demanded, his voice rising in frustration. The room fell silent, all eyes on Lily as she prepared to respond.

Lily abruptly threw Sarah's contract onto the table, the sound echoing in the tense silence of the room. “Just read Clause D, Rule No. 1.5,” she said, her voice sharp and unwavering. “I don’t think I need to explain further.”

Ethan shot her a furious glare, his anger palpable as he reached for the contract. He picked it up, his hands gripping the edges tightly. Sarah stepped closer to him, her curiosity piqued as she leaned in to see what he was about to discover.

With a mix of apprehension and determination, Ethan opened the file and began scanning the contents. As he reached the section Lily had pointed out, both their eyes widened in shock. The revelation hit them like a thunderclap, the weight of the clause sinking in. Ethan’s expression shifted from anger to disbelief, while Sarah’s face mirrored his astonishment as they processed the implications of what they had just read. The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with the realization of the gravity of the situation.

Lily leaned over the table, her eyes locked onto Ethan’s with fierce determination. “When Dad was president, he took care of everything. The company was listed in the top 10 in the whole country. Now, under your leadership, Gray Enterprises isn’t even in the top 100,” she said, her voice steady and unyielding. “Do you need any more reasons to understand what you’ve done in the past three years? All the projects have failed, and all the major clients and investors have left. And here you are, babysitting your mistress.”

Ethan’s anger flared, his face reddening as he glared at her. “ENOUGH!” he shouted, the force of his voice reverberating off the walls.

“Don’t shout at me,” Lily shot back, her tone unwavering. “Don’t forget, my share is worth more than yours. If I wanted to, I could make you just a simple employee here. There are so many people out there who could take care of this company better than you.”

The tension in the room escalated, the air thick with confrontation. Ethan’s jaw clenched as he processed her words, realizing the weight of her threat. Lily stood her ground, her confidence radiating as she challenged his authority, making it clear that she was not afraid to take drastic measures if necessary.

Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as Lily’s words sank in, the gravity of the situation becoming increasingly apparent. Ethan stood rigid, clenching his jaw in anger, the tension in the room palpable.

Lily continued, her voice unwavering. “You should have thought about all the consequences of your actions.” She turned to look at Mia and Rachel, who had proud smiles on their faces, clearly supportive of her stance. However, when Rachel caught sight of Ethan’s furious expression, her smile quickly faded, replaced by concern.

Lily seized the moment, her tone commanding. “I want the new model shoot completed today. Prepare the product launching event, and change all the advertisements and posters again. I don’t want to see Sarah in anything, and cancel all her contracts.”

Rachel nodded, her expression shifting to one of determination as she acknowledged Lily’s demands.

With that, Lily strode confidently toward the door, Mia following closely behind her. As they exited the room, the door clicked shut, leaving Ethan and Sarah in a charged silence. The weight of Lily’s orders hung heavy in the air, and Ethan felt the full impact of her defiance. He turned to Sarah, frustration boiling within him, unsure of how to navigate the fallout from this confrontation.

As the door closed behind Lily and Mia, the silence in the room felt deafening. Sarah stood there, tears glistening in her eyes, a mix of hurt and anger swirling within her. She turned to Ethan, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Why are you silent?” she demanded, her frustration spilling over. “Do you even care about what just happened? She’s trying to erase me from this company, from your life!”

Ethan’s expression was a tumult of emotions—anger, confusion.

“You just stood there while she dictated everything,” Sarah continued, her voice rising with each word. “I thought you were on my side! Are you really going to let her do this to me?”

Ethan turned to her, his expression hardening with anger. “You know about Clause D?” he shot back, his voice sharp.

Sarah’s anger faltered, and she fell silent, the weight of his question hanging heavily in the air. “Do you?” he pressed again, his tone demanding.

She gulped, her bravado slipping away. “Yes,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s frustration boiled over. “You know, and still, you got yourself pregnant? You signed the contract after reading everything! It was clearly written that you can’t get pregnant while under contract. How the hell could you neglect this?”

Her eyes flashed with defiance, but beneath it lay a flicker of vulnerability. “Because I thought you would be in power! It’s your child, not mine alone. You got me pregnant, not any other man. If I had known your parents gave all your shares to that Lily, I would never have gotten into a relationship with you. The child was far from my thoughts. You are nothing but ZERO!”

With that, she turned on her heel, storming out of the room, her anger echoing in the silence that followed. Ethan stood frozen, the sting of her words hitting him like a physical blow.