Chapter 3

"I'm not apologizing."

I clenched my fists, my gaze cold. "If you want to break up, then let's break up."

The air froze.

All the color drained from Vanessa's face. Then she screamed hoarsely.

"Evan! What are you pretending for?

"Break up with me? You're just a lapdog who follows me around. You won't be able to leave me in this life."

I lowered my eyes. It felt as if a knife had been carved through my chest.

I was not surprised Vanessa would say something like that.

After all, ever since college, I had followed behind her.

Later, I even gave up an eight-figure offer to stay and build this company with her for years.

Almost everyone knew I loved her to the bone.

But that love had become a blade used to wound me until I could barely breathe.

"Evan, stop being stubborn."

Ryan sighed deeply and advised me in a low voice.

"Think about how well Vanessa usually treats you.

"Besides, with your background, where else will you ever climb up to a rich heiress like her?"

His words were full of mockery, and they gave Vanessa more confidence.

"Did you hear that?" Vanessa straightened again, her face returning to that condescending sneer.

"Evan, everything you have is something I gave you.

"To put it plainly, you're a useless kept man. What right do you have to talk about breaking up with me?"

I snapped my head up, filled with absurd disbelief.

A kept man.

What a joke.

Had she forgotten that headquarters paid me more than $10 million a year?

Only to keep her happy, I never kept a cent of it. The moment my salary came in, I handed everything to her.

So in her eyes, all of that had become her money.

And I had become a kept man.

Even more ridiculous, what kind of rich heiress did Vanessa Sloane think she was?

The company she managed was nothing more than the least important subsidiary under Russell Group.

If I had not hidden my identity to accompany her supposed self-made journey, she would never even have had the chance to meet me.

But when she saw me standing there in silence, she thought I had softened and become afraid.

She took my hand, her voice coaxing.

"Evan, it's good that you can understand.

"I'll be honest with you. Women at our level can afford to be a little playful. Ryan is young and adorable. I like him, and I plan to keep him by my side. But he won't threaten your position.

"From now on, as long as you're obedient and do what you should do, you'll always be my official partner."

Crack.

I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled my hand free and slapped her hard across the face.

The sound of the slap rang through the room, and everything went silent.

"Evan! You dare hit me?"

Vanessa clutched her cheek and shrieked in disbelief.

My eyes were filled with naked disgust.

"Hit you? You deserved it.

"A woman with no shame like you is lucky all you got was a slap.

"If it were up to me, you'd be run out of town for what you've done."

Vanessa's face went white as paper. Her lips trembled, but she could not form a single sentence.

"Evan, you've gone too far!"

Ryan rushed over to support her, then turned and glared at me.

"Vanessa, look at him. You've spoiled him rotten. If he dares raise a hand today, he'll dare turn the whole company upside down tomorrow."

As he said that, a vicious light flashed in his eyes.

"Looks like I need to teach him a lesson for you."

He turned toward the employees who had frozen in place and shouted, "What are you standing around for?

"Evan has lost his mind. Hurry up and teach him a lesson!

"Whoever beats him into submission today gets a bonus from Vanessa. Double year-end bonuses!"