Chapter 2N
Before I could say anything, the call ended with a sharp click A
The atmosphere in the conference room buzzed with excitement. Everyone was eagerly watching, waiting for me to crumble in embarrassment &
Anne swayed toward me, her posture full of arrogance. “I told Leonard a long time ago that you weren’t competent enough to be in this company With our current scale and industry standing, we only keep top talent.“M
“It’s better this way. You should go home, do the laundry, make soup, and work hard at being a full–time wife.“)
Then, she smirked and added, “After all, you wouldn’t want a situation where your work skills aren’t good enough, and you can’t even keep your husband, would you? That would be a real joke.”
Anne’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and the people around her eagerly chimed in, jeering along.N
Lifted the comers of my lips ever so slightly and looked at her, pretending to be confused.N
“What do you mean? So, what you’re saying is, the company doesn’t need me…. and neither does Leonard?”
Anne burst into laughter as if she had just heard the most ridiculous joke.N
Her laughter was so exaggerated that even the flowers on the table seemed to tremble.N
“In this company, you arrive late, leave early, and show no respect for leadership. You spend your days applying makeup instead of working, and your tasks are never completed.“N
“At home, you neglect your husband, refuse to bear children, and don’t even bother checking on him when he drinks himself sick after socializing
“What use do you even have? Do you bring any value at all?“N
I curled my lips into a cold smile, my voice indifferent.N
“My value? It’s ensuring that people like you and Leonard have food to eat.“N
“If I leave, the Stanford Group will crumble,“N
My words dropped like stones into a still lake, causing waves of laughter to erupt around the room.N
They mocked me and ridiculed me, but none of them understood what I truly meant to Leonard or to the Stanford Family.
Years ago, Leonard’s grandfather, Nelson Stanford, had come to my father, holding a bloodstained photo in his hands.
He claimed that he and my grandfather had fought side by side in the same trench and that he had once saved my grandfather’s life.N
Using that old debt as leverage, he pleaded for a marriage between me and his grandson, Leonard.N
At the time, I was still studying abroad. I had never believed in love, and I had long accepted that marriage was inevitable.
Since I had to marry eventually, why not use this chance to repay my grandfather’s debt? Besides, back then, Leonard was fair–skinned and well–mannered, and his appearance suited my taste.N
Luckily, my father was a veteran in the business world, so he was not one to be easily swayed. Before agreeing to the marriage, he had Nelson sign a prenuptial agreement.N
If Leonard ever betrayed me, then everything the Stanford Family gained through me would be forfeit.N
With my support, the Stanford Family rose to prominence in just two years.N
A ten–year development plan was accomplished in just one.
But looking at things.. it seemed I let the Stanford Family grow a little too fast. Having tasted success, Leonard had begun to think he could stand on his own.
11:37 AM
