Chapter 5

I moved back into the hillside villa.

The moment I stepped through the front door, that suffocating sense of oppression washed over me again.

The piano in the living room was still in its original spot, silently mocking my helplessness.

I didn't take my luggage into the master bedroom. Instead, I walked directly to the most secluded guest room on the first floor.

Julian followed me. Seeing my actions, his brows immediately furrowed.

"What are you doing?"

"Sleeping," I pushed my suitcase into a corner, then turned to face him. "Mr. Thorne, you only asked me to move back; you didn't specify which bed I had to sleep in, did you?"

Julian's face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.

He strode over, grabbed my wrist, and tried to pull me out.

"Go back to the master bedroom! What would it look like if a married couple slept in separate rooms?"

"Is there any dignity left between us?" I struggled against his grip, glaring at him coldly. "That bed is full of your disgusting lies; I find it repulsive. If you're unhappy, you're welcome to bankrupt Apex Tech right now!"

Julian's actions froze.

He looked at the undisguised disgust and resolve in my eyes, his jawline clenched to the extreme.

They stood there, locked in a stalemate, for a full minute.

Finally, he roughly flung my hand away and scoffed.

"Suit yourself."

He turned and strode off, his retreating back radiating furious irritation.

I locked the guest room door, then slid down the doorframe, collapsing onto the floor, completely drained.

First round, I had lost completely.

But I knew this was only a temporary compromise.

Over the next few days, Julian and I lived under the same roof but existed in two separate worlds.

I left early and returned late, trying to avoid him.

When we occasionally met in the dining room, I treated him as if he were thin air, not even sparing him a glance.

Julian tried to mend things in his usual condescending way.

He would have his assistant send expensive jewelry, have the kitchen prepare my favorite dishes, and even knock on the guest room door at night.

But my response was always a locked door and icy silence.

He was accustomed to my obedience. Faced with my unyielding attitude, his patience was rapidly running out.

And I wasn't idle either.

I returned to the company and called a meeting with a few key partners.

"I plan to bring in new investment firms, dilute Thorne Corp.'s shares, and gradually strip Thorne Corp. of its control over Apex Tech."

I pushed a detailed financing plan in front of them.

The conference room fell silent.

The partners exchanged glances; no one reached for the plan.

"Audrey," Michael, the eldest senior, rubbed his hands, looking troubled, "actually, Mr. Thorne has already reinstated the cooperation, and the funds are in place. To provoke him now would be too risky."

"That's right," another partner chimed in. "Thorne Corp.'s resources are unparalleled. Besides, husband and wife make up in bed. Since Mr. Thorne is willing to compromise, you shouldn't be too stubborn."

I looked at their evasive eyes, a wave of sadness washing over me.

"He's not compromising; he's using you to threaten me." I took a deep breath, trying to make them understand the gravity of the situation. "As long as Thorne Corp. is involved, Apex Tech will always be his puppet. Today he can cut off our funding; tomorrow he can kick us out!"

"It's not that serious, is it?" Michael forced a dry laugh. "What man doesn't have a few flings? Mr. Thorne is just playing around. As long as he hasn't committed a cardinal sin, you can just turn a blind eye. It's not worth jeopardizing the company over this."

Turn a blind eye.

So, in their eyes, my dignity and boundaries were worthless in the face of profit.

I looked at this group of comrades who had once stayed up all night coding with me, eaten instant noodles, and vowed to build a great business. Suddenly, they felt utterly foreign.

Our paths diverged.

I retrieved the plan and stood up.

"Since we disagree, I won't force it." I looked at them calmly. "I will sell all my shares and withdraw from Apex Tech."

The conference room instantly erupted.

"Audrey, are you crazy? This is your life's work!"

"If you leave, what will happen to the company?"

I ignored their pleas and accusations, turning to walk out of the conference room.

What if it was my life's work?

If this hard-earned achievement became the shackles Julian used to trap me, I'd rather destroy it with my own hands.

I would sever all ties to him, leaving him completely and cleanly.