Chapter 1

I couldn't believe my eyes as I looked at the two figures holding hands not far away.

The grueling 16-hour flight had left me dizzy and disoriented, to the point where I hoped I was just hallucinating.

"Isn't Henry supposed to be on a business trip in Sarovia? Coming back now is just asking for humiliation."

"He's a company veteran, and he just got replaced by some random newcomer. This is going to be a shitshow."

The hushed whispers of my former colleagues drifted over, accompanied by a barrage of judgmental stares.

Gabriel Watson strolled casually over to me with a smug grin.

"Henry! When did you get back? You should've told us so we could throw you a welcome party. But looking at you… I guess that overseas deal fell through, huh? Man, what a shame. But don't worry. Sharon and I won't hold it against you."

I slapped his hand off my shoulder.

His smile flickered, replaced instantly by a look of aggrieved innocence. "Are you mad at me for taking the position that was supposed to be yours? Look, I'll give it back. I just don't want any bad blood between us."

He reached up, making a show of taking off his executive badge.

My wife, Sharon Lloyd, who had been silent until now, rushed over and grabbed his hand.

"Gabriel, what are you doing? He's just a low-level employee. He doesn't have the right to question company promotions."

She turned her icy glare at me. "You lost the deal, and you actually have the nerve to show your face here? I told you not to go, but you just had to play the hero and run off to Sarovia. Now you've ruined our relationship with our biggest client, and you still expect a seat on the board?"

While listening to her baseless accusations, I almost wanted to laugh.

She was the one who had complained about how crucial and difficult the Sarovia account was and said she couldn't trust anyone else with it. That was the only reason I volunteered.

Before I left, she promised me that win or lose, my standing in the company wouldn't change. She said that the moment I got back, she would promote me to the board so we could run our business side by side.

And what did I actually come back to?

Gabriel was just a newcomer with a degree from some third-rate college overseas, hired out of nowhere into an industry he knew nothing about.

He never contributed to a single major project. He spent his days barking orders and throwing his weight around. Everyone kept quiet only because of his personal connection with Sharon.

Whenever things went wrong, he would spin some sob story, convincing Sharon that he was the real victim.

Meanwhile, my years of silent, thankless grind had earned me nothing but contempt—Just like now.

Gabriel muttered a soft explanation, "I just don't want the team to resent me."

He shrank back behind Sharon, nervously wringing his hands. Anyone else would have thought he was being horribly bullied.

Sharon's brow furrowed, and her voice turned razor-sharp. "Anyone who doesn't like it can pack their bags and leave!

"And Henry Palmer, let me remind you. I am the CEO of this company. If I want him on the board, he's on the board. You don't get a say."

The room went dead silent. No one dared to breathe, terrified of losing their jobs.

As I looked at her serious expression, a bitter smile suddenly broke across my lips.

When she first said she wanted to start a business, I cut ties with my family just to pour my entire life savings into her dream.

When we got scammed by a manufacturer early on and lost half a million dollars, I was the one who got down on my knees to beg investors for an extension.

Once the company finally got on track, I spent endless days and nights writing proposals and visiting factories.

I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this place, asking for nothing in return except to see Sharon happy.