Chapter 1

Just as I was about to hit send, a glaring notification popped up.

"You've been removed from the group chat."

It took me a few seconds to process it.

I was the heir to the company. How could I get kicked out of the group chat for one of its subsidiaries?

On the phone, that man continued babbling, "If you sent the message to the wrong chat, you need to own up to it. Come to the office to sign your resignation! Make it quick. I've got to pick up my wife."

The exhaustion from the journey combined with these unexpected twists made my anger boil. I instinctively clenched my fists.

Fine. I'd like to see how the hell this company changed owners just because I was stationed abroad for two years.

On the way to the office, I tried calling my wife, Ella Spencer, but the calls wouldn't go through. Eventually, her phone was turned off.

Wonderful.

As soon as I entered the company building, I frowned.

The decor of my pharmaceutical company now looked more like a nightclub. It was tacky and tasteless.

As I entered, a young man walked out, talking on the phone. He didn't even look where he was going and stepped right on my suitcase, almost knocking it over.

"Watch where you're going! Are you trying to kill me?" he yelled as he staggered.

That's when I saw his face and couldn't help but exclaim, "Dexter?"

Dexter Brooks scowled and raised his voice. "What department are you from? How dare you call me by my name? I'm the HR manager! It's Mr. Brooks!"

Though he had grown more mature, I recognized him instantly. This was the guy Ella sponsored back when he was in college, before I went abroad.

I'd only seen his photo on my phone. Back then, Ella was so excited, telling me she was doing a good deed.

And now, he had become her husband.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to suppress my anger. "So, you're the one who's firing me?"

Dexter stared at me for a moment, then rolled his eyes in disdain. "So you're the rude employee, huh? Who the hell hired you? Get to HR and sign your resignation!"

He shoved me, and I instinctively twisted his arm away. "Who gave you the authority to fire me? Where's Ella? Ask her to come out and explain this to me."

Two years ago, before I left to study medical tech abroad, I clearly handed over the company to my childhood friend, Martin Clarke. Why wasn't Martin here? And how had the company ended up in Ella's hands?

Dexter scoffed. "You think you're important enough to see Ms. Spencer? Firing an employee is nothing. I can handle it myself."

Just then, a security guard rushed over at the sound of the commotion. He put on a flattering smile. "What's going on, Mr. Brooks? Do you need my help? Or did Ms. Spencer give any instructions?"

Dexter was clearly relishing the flattery. He smirked and replied, "It's nothing. I'm just teaching an uncooperative employee a lesson. Take him to my office."

The security guard quickly nodded, then turned to me with a completely different expression. "Did you hear that? Go to Mr. Brooks' office now!"

I stared at him without any expression. "Who gave you the nerve to speak like that in my company?"

I pointed at him and Dexter. "You two are both fired."

Both of them froze.

The next moment, Dexter burst into laughter. "What did he say? His company? Is he dreaming?"

The security guard joined in, laughing. "I think he's worked himself into a stupor and forgotten who the real boss is. Everyone in this company knows that it was Ms. Spencer who led us to where we are today. We're the best subsidiary under Zeltra Corp! You want to fire us? You must be out of your mind!"

I lowered my voice, my tone unyielding. "Dexter, with your college diploma, you couldn't even get into my company. What makes you think you can be the HR manager? And who gave you that confidence?"

Dexter's face turned pale. In a fit of rage, he kicked me in the stomach. "Shut up!"

Caught off guard, I fell to the ground. My hip slammed into the hard tiles with a sharp pain.

But Dexter wasn't done. He grabbed my hair and yanked it violently. "Who the fuck do you think you are? Trying to piss me off, huh? I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

I gritted my teeth in pain, barely managing to squeeze out the words. "Go ask around. I'm Ella's husband."

At those words, Dexter's reaching hand froze in midair, and he stared at me in disbelief. "What did you just say? Are you out of your mind?"

His eyes narrowed with menace, and he kicked me in the back. "Damn you! You're eyeing my wife? If I don't beat you until you're begging for mercy today, I'm not a man!"

The next moment, his fists began to rain down on me. The pain was blunt and relentless.

Biting my lip, I tried to stand, but the security guard held me down. "Stay still!"

Dexter was hitting harder and harder. I could already taste the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth.

Just then, a furious shout echoed from outside, "Stop!"