Chapter 2

Vivian looped her arm through Lesley's and strutted off with her usual arrogant gait.

I hung back for a moment, glancing down at her signature.

Bold, confident—scribbled without a second thought.

Vivian had no idea how to run a company. After we got married, she insisted on playing the part of a strong independent woman and started this business. But the moment things got tough, she'd pout and drag me in to act as her project manager.

Her mantra was always, "It's all marital property anyway—why be so particular?"

When I first stepped in, the company didn't have a single project worth mentioning. It was only by injecting capital from my own company and leveraging my connections that I managed to land this partnership deal.

And now? Her assistant had blown it all.

I wondered—when she finally realized everything was gone, would that smug smile still be on her face?

I sent out a company-wide notice: for any project-related issues going forward, staff were to contact Lesley directly.

The employees exchanged uneasy glances. Everyone had pinned their hopes on this project to turn things around. They'd poured in most of the company's liquid capital and even taken out bank loans. One wrong move and the company would go under.

But that was no longer my problem.

After leaving the office, I went to meet with the investors.

The moment I stepped out of the car, a message from Lesley popped up on my phone: [Thanks, Ethan, for working so hard to set me up. Now that you've handed this project over to me, you're facing bankruptcy and drowning in debt. What great news!]

I let out a cold laugh.

I'd still secure the investment—but I was done with Vivian.

…

The butler led me into the living room.

"Mr. Harrison, I'm truly sorry for all the trouble this has caused."

James Harrison didn't look angry, just disappointed—like he'd expected better.

"You owe me a favor, but your wife is far too irresponsible. I can't move forward with this investment. Ethan, I hope you won't hold this against me."

I kept my expression calm and let out a quiet chuckle.

"That was my mistake. The project plan is mine. From now on, any cooperation will be handled solely by me and my team—I promise you won't regret it."

By "my team," I meant my own company's employees. James caught my meaning, nodded approvingly, and signed off.

With the funds transferred, I returned to my office—only to run into Vivian and Lesley.

Lesley grinned and slid a flyer across the desk toward me.

"Your company must be desperate for cash right now. I found a wealthy woman looking to invest—you should give it a shot. Maybe you can use this money to make a comeback."

I turned coldly toward Vivian.

"Are you really going to let your assistant humiliate your husband like this?"

She frowned slightly, visibly annoyed.

"You couldn't even keep the company from going under on your own. Lesley's just trying to help. Do you really want to end up buried in debt—or worse?"

I paused, remembering how things started. When she first launched her business, she said she wasn't some delicate flower—that the company she built would be my strongest support.

But now, she was letting Lesley's incompetence destroy "my company" and letting him mock me. The disappointment hit me hard.

I asked, "We're married. As my strongest support, shouldn't you be helping me right now?"

Vivian's expression shifted instantly. Her face flushed with rage as she snapped back.

"Ethan! I knew it—you've been scheming this whole time, counting on my money like some kind of leech. What kind of man does that?"

She slapped her hand down hard on the flyer.

"Don't you know some skilled old-school doctors? Lesley was just trying to connect you with a wealthy investor. This is the last chance I'm giving you."

Her tone was commanding, dripping with superiority.

"Your incompetence has nothing to do with me. Don't think you can drain me dry. Go secure the client Lesley found for you and cut your losses. Otherwise... we're getting a divorce."