Chapter 6

Once the decision to leave Apex Tech was made, I acted quickly.

I didn't contact any industry magnates who had connections with Julian. Instead, I secretly reached out to several out-of-state venture capital firms and competitors.

My shares were tempting, but taking them on meant potentially offending Julian, so negotiations were not smooth.

To expedite the sale, I proactively lowered the price, seeking only a swift resolution.

Half a month later, I finally reached an agreement with a conglomerate from Hong Kong.

On the day of signing, the Hong Kong representative looked at me, somewhat puzzled.

"Ms. Hayes, Apex Tech's momentum is excellent right now. You're cashing out at this price, which is a significant loss."

I signed my name, capped my pen, and smiled faintly.

"Some things are more important than money."

Like freedom, like a bottom line that could no longer be manipulated.

The moment the funds were transferred, I let out a long sigh of relief.

I returned to Apex Tech one last time, placing the share transfer agreement in front of my partners.

They looked at the official seals on the document, their faces turning pale.

"Audrey Hayes, you actually sold your shares? You sold us out to outsiders!" Michael, the senior partner, angrily pointed at me.

"I gave you a choice; you chose Julian," I said, calmly looking at their angry faces. "Now I'm out. You can rest easy clinging to Thorne Corp.'s leg. I wish you all the best."

I didn't take a single thing from the company, only my personal laptop.

Stepping out of the office building, the sunlight was a bit dazzling.

I glanced back at the "Apex Tech" logo atop the building, feeling no regret, only liberation.

Now, between Julian and me, only a marriage certificate remained.

I found a quiet coffee shop, preparing to call my lawyer to restart the divorce proceedings.

Just as my coffee arrived, the chair opposite me was pulled out.

A pungent scent of perfume wafted over.

I looked up and saw Serena Bell.

Today she was dressed in a Chanel haute couture suit, her makeup flawless, completely devoid of the helpless, depressed patient appearance she'd worn that night.

"Audrey Hayes, you certainly have a lot of free time on your hands," Serena said, taking off her sunglasses, looking down at me with blatant provocation in her eyes.

I took a sip of my coffee, not even sparing her a direct glance.

"Ms. Bell, what can I do for you? If you're here to discuss your condition, there's a psychiatric hospital around the corner to your left; it's more suitable for you."

Serena's face stiffened for a moment, then she let out a cold laugh.

"You don't need to be so sharp-tongued with me. I came here today to ask you, when exactly are you going to divorce Julian? Don't you feel ashamed monopolizing the position of Mrs. Thorne?"

I put down my coffee cup and looked at her with interest.

"No, I don't feel ashamed. After all, I'm legitimate, protected by law. As for you, running here in broad daylight to make demands, what's wrong? Did Julian not satisfy you last night, leaving you feeling frustrated?"

"You!" Serena's chest heaved with anger, and she gritted her teeth. "Julian spent the whole night with me! He doesn't love you at all, so why are you clinging to him so shamelessly?"

"Is that so?" I chuckled lightly, my tone full of mockery. "Then you'd better try harder to get him to sign the divorce papers soon, instead of just sitting on it. After all, he's the one who refused to sign, even threatening my company to make me move back. If you've got the guts, get him to come to court with me today."

Serena's face turned from green to pale as I hit a nerve.

She glared at me, then suddenly started laughing, her smile twisted with a cruel triumph.

"Audrey Hayes, you're truly pathetic. Do you really think Julian won't divorce you because he can't bear to let you go?"

She leaned forward, lowering her voice.

"Do you really think a privileged golden boy like him would take an interest in an orphan like you, who had nothing? Do you think your meeting, his salvation of you back then, were all mere coincidences?"

I frowned slightly, a bad premonition rising in my gut.

"What do you mean?"

Serena looked at me, her eyes glinting with malice.

"Want to know? Then beg me."

I looked at her smug, petty face, and my disgust reached its peak.

"If you don't want to say, then don't. It'll just choke you."

I stood up, picked up my bag, and prepared to leave.

"Audrey Hayes, stop right there!" Serena cried out, scrambling up to block me. "Don't you want to know how your brother, Ryan Hayes, really died?"

At the mention of that name, my steps froze.

My blood seemed to turn to ice.