Chapter 2

Martin caught me looking at him and gave me a disgusted look before turning back to Evelyn.

"There's no need to go to the hospital. You're too kind, Evelyn. That's why she keeps taking advantage of you. And if it weren't for what she did seven years ago, you never would've ended up in a coma.

"Donating part of her brainstem tissue doesn't make up for the seven years you lost."

I frowned. "Seven years ago? What did I do?"

Martin scoffed. "Willow, I only spared you the humiliation of being punished in front of everyone because you were still my wife. Did you really think no one knew what kind of person you were?

"Seven years ago, Evelyn was helping with one of your projects when she entered the wrong data by mistake and cost you the deal. You blamed the entire thing on her in front of everyone at a meeting.

"But that still wasn't enough for you. After work, you asked her to meet you somewhere without security cameras and pushed her down the stairs! So if anyone doesn't belong at this company, it's you!"

Before I could say anything, Joan frowned. "Martin, Willow spent two years on that project. Evelyn's mistake cost the company a contract worth tens of millions of dollars, and you're acting like it was nothing?

"And what happened afterward was investigated too. Evelyn claimed Willow pushed her down the stairs, but there was never any evidence to prove it. Willow's also the one who's been keeping this company running all these years. Without her, this place would've—"

Martin cut in coldly, "That's enough. This is my company. You're an outsider, so stay out of it. And at work, it's Mr. Gentry."

Watching him bend over backward to defend Evelyn, I clicked my tongue under my breath.

Apparently, he wasn't just a lousy husband. He was a lousy boss too.

If he let his personal feelings cloud his judgment when tens of millions of dollars were on the line, how was he supposed to run a company with hundreds of employees?

When I didn't respond, Martin clearly mistook my silence for guilt. A smug look crossed his face.

"Forget it. I didn't come here to argue with you. You donated part of your brainstem tissue to Evelyn, so at least you've tried to make amends. Apologize to her for what happened seven years ago, and I might go easier on you."

I shook my head and walked straight up to them. "There's no need, Mr. Gentry."

Martin smiled, apparently pleased that I was finally coming to my senses. "That's more like it. As long as you go back to being obedient, I promise there'll always be a place for you at this company."

Even now, he still thought I was the same woman he remembered. What he didn't know was that the surgery really had erased my memories.

I was no longer the wife who swallowed every grievance just to keep the peace. I was back to the person I'd been seven years ago, fresh out of college, full of dreams, and never afraid to stand up for myself.

I wasn't putting myself last for anyone ever again.

Before Martin could say another word, I handed him a document. "You misunderstood me, Mr. Gentry. I've already written my resignation letter. All you have to do is accept it.

"And as for the divorce papers, I don't care whether you sign them or not. I've already hired a lawyer and filed for divorce, so make sure you show up in court."

The moment Martin saw my resignation letter, his hand tightened around it, crumpling the page.

It wasn't until Evelyn spoke that he seemed to realize he'd lost his composure. His expression immediately hardened.

"Willow, are you threatening me? Do you really think that just because my family owes you for what happened back then, I'd be too worried about looking ungrateful to ever turn against you?"

"Owes me?"

Seeing my confusion, Joan quietly explained, "Seven years ago, the Gentry family was on the verge of collapse. You used your family's connections to help Martin. After his company went public, he married you because of everything you'd done for him."

Before I could even process that, Evelyn jumped at the chance to play the victim again. "Willow, I know you must resent me, but Martin and I are just friends. I used to work for him. That's all.

"He may have spent all these years praying for me and making sure I was taken care of every day, but he only did it because he cared about me as a friend. You're the one he's always loved."