Chapter 2

A stinging heat exploded across my cheek.

The taste of metallic blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

"Serena!"

Lynne gasped in horror and rushed forward to shield me.

Brandon shoved her violently aside.

"Get out!"

"You're just a hired dog, you don't speak here!" he bellowed.

Lynne gritted her teeth, refusing to budge.

I held up a hand, motioning to her gently.

"Lynne, step outside for a moment."

With tears in her eyes and a murderous glare aimed at Brandon, Lynne reluctantly stepped out and shut the door.

Only the three of us remained in the room.

Tucked safely behind Brandon, Chloe let a smug, cold smirk slip onto her lips.

"Serena, Brandon is only doing what's best for you."

"You're a broken, barren woman who can't even give him a child."

"What's the point of clinging to the title of Mrs. Hayes?"

"Take the money. Go abroad. Maybe find a specialist to fix your dried-up womb."

"Who knows? Maybe a miracle will happen in your old age."

My gaze snapped to Chloe, pinning her like an executioner's target.

Three years ago, I was pregnant.

I drank myself into a gastric hemorrhage at a dinner banquet while securing a vital funding round for Brandon's fledgling company.

I lost the baby on the operating table.

After that nightmare, doctors told me I would likely never conceive again.

That trauma was the deepest, most agonizing scar of my entire existence.

And now, they wielded it like a dagger to butcher my dignity.

"Chloe Davenport."

I stepped toward her, step by deliberate step.

My eyes were as cold as a morgue.

"Say that again."

Intimidated by the sheer venom in my demeanor, Chloe took a startled step back.

"Brandon... look at her..."

Brandon instantly stepped in front of her, puffing his chest out like a territorial beast.

"Serena! If you lay a single finger on her, I swear to God I'll ruin you!"

"I'm warning you."

"If you don't sign today, I'll call an emergency board meeting tomorrow morning to strip you of your title and terminate your position!"

"I will make sure you have no place left in this company!"

Looking at Brandon’s face, contorted with petty fury, I suddenly felt completely drained of emotion.

It wasn't even anger anymore. Just absolute detachment.

Eight years of youth, sacrifice, and devotion—all wasted on an ungrateful stray.

"Go ahead," I said, wiping the smear of blood from my lip with the back of my hand.

"Call the board. Try it."

"Let's see if the board answers to you... or to me."

Without giving either of them another glance, I turned on my heel and walked out.

As the heavy door swung shut behind me, the sound of glass shattering echoed from inside.

Followed by Brandon’s hysterical roar:

"Bitch! You’ll regret this!"

A cold smile tugged at my lips.

I took out my phone and dialed Marcus Reed, our Chief Financial Officer.

"Hello, Serena."

"Marcus, those personal unlimited liability guarantee forms I asked you to draft..."

"How are they coming along?"

On the other end of the line, Marcus lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Everything is set, Serena."

"I slipped them into the massive stack of bridge loan documents needed for the upcoming IPO."

"The moment Brandon signs them, every single hidden debt of the company transfers completely under his personal name."

"And it carries unlimited personal liability."

"Even if he liquidates every single asset he owns down to his underwear, he will never pay it off in this lifetime."

My lips curled into a razor-sharp smirk.

"Perfect."

"Bring them to him first thing tomorrow morning."

"Tell him they are urgent fund-verification papers needed to finalize the acquisition of Horizon Tech."

"Right now, his skull is packed with visions of ringing the stock exchange bell and playing house with Chloe."

"He won't read a single line of fine print."

"Understood, Serena."

Hanging up, I peered down through the corridor window at the glittering, champagne-soaked banquet hall.

Brandon Hayes, you want Ascend Group?

You want your picture-perfect happily-ever-after with your gold-digging mistress?

Fine.

I will give you everything.

I'll hand you the company—along with its three-hundred-million-dollar financial abyss.

Consider it my ultimate wedding gift.