Chapter 2

"Divorce?" Carl jerked his head up, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He probably thought I would at most make a scene, vent my emotions, and eventually compromise for the greater good.

After all, the venture capital firm "Cloudius Capital" under our names was the only legacy my father had left me and the fruit of our joint efforts so far.

The company was now in the critical financing stage before going public, and any negative news could ruin everything.

He was certain I wouldn't gamble with my father's lifelong achievement.

"Leyla, calm down," he walked over, trying to grab my hand again, his voice extremely gentle. "I know you're angry. It was my fault. I apologize. But don't keep mentioning divorce. It's bad for the company."

I stepped aside to avoid his touch, my heart turning ice cold. "Bad for the company? When you kept your mistress and illegitimate child right across the hall, why didn't you think about how bad that would be?"

Jenny heard this and exploded again. "What mistress and illegitimate child? You're making it sound so ugly! That's my grandson! Leyla Fuller, let me tell you, if you want a divorce, fine. The company was left by your father, true, but without my son holding it up these years, it would have collapsed long ago! If you want a divorce, you'll leave with nothing!"

I sneered. "Fine, I'll leave with nothing. We'll handle the paperwork tomorrow."

My decisiveness completely panicked Carl.

He grabbed me and dragged me inside, slamming the door shut with a bang, blocking Jenny and Cara from view.

"Leyla, what exactly do you want?" His eyes were bloodshot. "I already said it was just an accident with her! The person I love is you! Can't you understand just this once? I just made a mistake that any normal man would make!"

"Understand you?" I looked at his familiar face and felt only utter strangeness and disgust. "Understand that you can't control yourself, or understand that you've treated me like a fool for so long?"

"I didn't deceive you!" he defended eagerly. "I originally planned to wait until the company stabilized after going public, then cut ties with her completely, give her some money, and have her take the child far away. I swear! I never thought about shaking your position!"

He spoke with such sincerity that his eyes reddened.

In the past, I might have softened.

But now, I only found it ridiculous. "So you're saying I should thank you for not bringing her straight home and leaving me that last bit of dignity?"

"Leyla..."

"Don't call me. I'm sick of you." I walked to the liquor cabinet in the living room and pulled out a dusty bottle of aged whiskey from the very back.

It was the brand my father loved most when he was alive.

After he passed, I had never touched it again.

I twisted off the cap, poured myself a full glass, and drank it down in one gulp.

The sharp liquid burned my throat all the way to my stomach, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Carl saw me like this and had no idea what to do, standing helplessly to the side. "Don't do this... You can hit me or yell at me, anything, but don't hurt yourself."

I set down the glass and wiped my face. "Carl, do you remember how my father placed my hand in yours on his deathbed?"

His body stiffened, and his face grew even uglier.

My father had been his boss back then and his mentor.

He had risen from a poor recent graduate to a company executive, all thanks to my father's promotion.

When my father was gravely ill, he held Carl's hand and almost begged him to take good care of me and protect the company.

Carl had knelt by the bed, crying and swearing to the heavens that he would guard me like his own life and manage the company like his own child.

I looked at him and asked word by word, "Is this how you guarded me? Is this how you managed the company?"

His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.

I turned and walked into the study, opened the safe, and took out a yellowed document inside. "This is the original equity certificate for the company. It clearly states in black and white that I hold fifty-one percent absolute controlling interest. You've worked hard these years. As compensation, I won't pursue the thirty percent shares in your name."

I slapped the document on the desk. "Tomorrow morning at nine, meet me outside the city hall. If you don't show up, we'll see each other in court. Then whether you can keep that thirty percent will depend on your lawyer's skills."

With that, I didn't glance at him again, picked up my phone and car keys, and walked straight out of this suffocating home.