Chapter 4

I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned pale, a wave of nausea rising in my stomach.

Suppressing the disgust churning inside me, I looked at him. "Fine. I agree."

Ethan smiled in satisfaction.

He held the jade personal seal out toward me.

I reached for it, but he stepped forward instead, wrapping an arm around my waist as he leaned down to kiss me.

I turned my head aside and quietly stepped half a step back.

"I need to touch up my makeup. I can't show up to the gala looking this plain. Once I'm ready, I'll go with you."

I slipped the seal from his hand and walked quickly out of the CEO's office.

Back in the corridor, I headed straight into the restroom and locked myself inside a stall.

I pulled out the dozens of documents I had prepared in advance, flipped through them quickly, and stamped Ethan's seal heavily onto every signature line.

Half an hour later.

Ethan's voice suddenly echoed through the hallway over the intercom. "All board members report to Conference Room One immediately for an emergency board meeting. No one is allowed to be absent."

I gathered the documents, slipped the seal into my pocket, and pushed open the door to the conference room.

The conference room was already filled with people.

Ethan sat at the head of the table and tossed a document onto the surface.

"Nora caused a public scandal at the proposal ceremony today, triggering severe negative publicity and dragging down the company's stock price. As punishment, I propose confiscating all of the original shares in her possession."

Jake Hargrove, seated beside him, immediately tapped the table in agreement.

"I support Mr. Carrington's proposal. Those shares shouldn't go to waste. They could be transferred to a trust fund under the name of Ms. Langley's unborn child, securing the future heir's interests. After all, this is for the long-term development of the company."

I walked calmly to an empty seat in the corner and sat down.

My fingers moved rapidly across my phone screen as I sent Stella the final instruction. "Execute all liquidation procedures immediately."

Ethan picked up a freshly printed document titled Compulsory Share Confiscation Agreement and walked over to me.

He slammed the document onto my desk and pushed a box of red ink toward me.

"Press your fingerprint. Nora, I'm giving you one last chance. If you do it now, we can still remain husband and wife."

Those original shares were the last thing my late mother had left me.

They were also my final line.

I lifted my head and looked straight into Ethan's eyes.

My voice was icy. "Ethan, are you really determined to push this to the end?"

Ethan stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking down at me with complete arrogance.

"Nora, stop pretending you're stronger than you are. You can't live without me. Everything you have belongs to Chloe anyway. Today you're paying it all back, with interest. Sign the paper and you can still remain Mrs. Carrington. That's the best ending you're going to get."

The conference room door opened.

Chloe walked in, supported by Donna.

She stroked her stomach and looked at me smugly. "Ms. Whitmore, why don't you hand over the shares and leave already? Staying here like this is embarrassing. You've occupied Ethan for long enough. It's time you gave up the position."

Ethan immediately walked over and gently supported Chloe's arm.

He turned back to me with a frown. "Nora, are you blind? Get up and give your seat to Chloe. Don't you have any manners?"

My phone rang.

It was my father.

Ethan stepped over and pressed the answer button, putting the call on speaker.

My father's furious roar instantly echoed through the conference room.

"Nora! You brat! Hand over all your shares to Mr. Carrington immediately! If you dare drag the Whitmore family down with you, you're no daughter of mine! Do you hear me?"

I lifted my hand and firmly ended the call.

I stood up and picked up the compulsory share confiscation document from the table.

I gripped the edges of the paper and tore it apart.

The thick stack split cleanly into two halves.

I folded the pieces together and tore them again.

I threw the handful of shredded paper straight into Ethan's face.

The scraps scattered all over his head and face.

Ethan exploded with rage. "Nora, do you have a death wish?"

I opened my bag and pulled out the bankruptcy liquidation agreement stamped with his red personal seal.

I slammed the document onto the center of the conference table.

"Open your eyes and look carefully." I sneered as my gaze swept across everyone in the room. "Every available fund and core asset under the company has already been legally transferred."

I pointed straight at Ethan. "From this second on, Ethan, you're not only penniless, you're also drowning in tens of billions of dollars in debt. Take your mistress and the bastard in her belly and go beg on the street."