Chapter 2

In that instant, a collective gasp filled the room.

Samuel glared at me for a few seconds before letting out a cold, derisive laugh. "You can have it your way, then, Charlotte. I hope you don't forget that our companies' merger contract signing is happening tomorrow at 10:00 am. You'd better be there on time, Charlotte."

He reminded me through official matters that our interests were still intertwined.

I looked at him and asked, "You actually still remember, huh?"

Samuel reacted as if he had heard a joke. "When have I ever gone back on a promise I made to you, Charlotte?"

Just then, Naomi suddenly grabbed her chest and started coughing uncontrollably.

Samuel quickly turned toward her and asked, "What's the matter, Naomi?"

Naomi looked pale as she shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm just feeling a bit short of breath."

Samuel, without any hesitation, grabbed his suit jacket and put it over her shoulders, supporting her as he walked her out. He paused briefly when he reached me. He didn't even look at me as he said through gritted teeth, "You'd better know when to stop, Charlotte."

Nathan looked at my expression and sighed. "You should stop overthinking this, Charlotte. You're the one Samuel is going to marry, and Naomi is just our childhood friend, someone who's like a younger sister to us."

I looked at him and asked, "You only think of her as a younger sister? What kind of sister would calmly accept the marital home her brother prepared for his fiancee? What kind of sister would let her brother destroy his fiancee's career?"

Nathan's gentle expression finally collapsed. "Do you really have to be so hostile, Charlotte?"

"What if I am?" I suddenly didn't want to explain myself anymore. I was aware that in this whole setup, the only acceptable response after being humiliated was to smile and admit defeat. I refused to do that, though. I couldn't understand why I should be the one to do that.

In the end, the banquet ended in disaster.

Samuel rushed Naomi to the hospital, claiming that her asthma attack was triggered by her emotional state.

Nathan stayed behind to send me off. He took off his coat in the parking lot and placed it over my shoulders, saying, "It's windy tonight, so be careful about catching a cold."

I looked down at the familiar coat, thinking that Nathan had always behaved in such a manner. He would offer me just the right amount of tenderness right when I was on the brink of despair. He would then push me away ruthlessly and drag me back to reality a moment later.

Just as I expected, he opened the car door for me and then said, "You shouldn't dwell on what happened today, Charlotte. Samuel has always been like this. You know he doesn't mean anything by it. He just acts on impulse sometimes.

"He'll sign the agreement with you tomorrow, and the wedding next month will still happen as scheduled."

He paused for a moment before saying in a condescending tone, "You've already won, so stop fighting Naomi for these worldly possessions. It's pointless, Charlotte."

I looked up at him, my gaze unnervingly calm. "What exactly have I won, Nathan?"

Nathan was caught off guard. He tried to speak, yet he couldn't get a single word out.

Nathan's reaction made sense.

I had lost the marital home, the relationship I had treasured had become meaningless, and I had been humiliated before everyone at the banquet. In addition, even the business I built up over three years became leverage they could hold over my head. What exactly had I won in this situation?

I arrived at the company alone the following morning. In the conference room, the other company's legal team had already arrived, while Samuel's seat remained empty.

It was then that my assistant whispered, "Is Mr. Hill still showing up today, Ms. Gardner?"

I fell silent for a moment before replying, "Give it a bit more time."

It was the last time I would maintain his pathetic dignity in front of others, but by 10:00 am, he still hadn't arrived.