Chapter 2

In a fraction of a second, the entire room stared at me in absolute disbelief.

They all thought I had snapped from rage and was making empty threats.

After all, every single person in the office knew how much blood and tears I had poured into this company to get it where it was today.

"Clara, don't be reckless! If you walk out, years of your hard work will be gone!" one colleague whispered anxiously.

Hearing that, Ethan assumed I was using a resignation threat to manipulate him. He barked angrily:

"Clara, what the hell is this tantrum? I'm the CEO! Am I not even allowed to critique you anymore?"

I let out a soft, mocking laugh.

Isn't this exactly what he wanted?

I was letting his beloved first love inherit everything that belonged to me.

From my affection to my status, and every trace of me in his life.

Shouldn't he be popping champagne?

Beside him, Chloe clutched the equity transfer document. Her eyes were burning with raw greed, yet her voice remained dripping with false modesty.

"Clara, are you mad because of what Ethan said? Please don't misunderstand! I truly just wanted to help!"

"You're the Design Director and the company's backbone. Everyone respects you. How could a newcomer like me dare accept company shares?"

She made a slow, hesitant gesture to hand the paperwork back to me, moving at a snail's pace, clearly unwilling to let go of the fortune in her hands.

Seeing through her act, I gave her hand a gentle push forward with a calm smile.

"Why would I be angry? I couldn't be happier."

"With a brilliant 'Yale' graduate leading our design department, the company will reach unprecedented heights. You're the perfect fit."

Ethan looked at me with deep suspicion, eyeing me up and down before scoffing coldly:

"Chloe, if she's handing it to you, take it. With your talents, you would've become a shareholder sooner or later anyway."

"Since the whole team is here today, let's make it official: the company has a new Design Director."

Dropping her sweet façade, Chloe beamed with delight and tightly clutched the signed equity papers to her chest.

I smiled inwardly.

Ethan had been so busy playing house with Chloe that he had no idea the competition for this project was fiercer than they could ever fathom.

The only reason we were picked was that the veteran director of the Institute personally approved my unique blueprints.

Those blueprints were still solely in my hands, known to me and me alone.

More importantly, Chloe had no clue that holding the title of Design Director came with full legal and professional liability.

Standing by, Ethan noticed my icy composure after giving up both the project and my executive seat. Perhaps feeling a prick of guilt, he cleared his throat:

"Fine. Since you're being so cooperative, I'll let you join our celebration banquet today."

"Just make sure you pour Chloe a few respectful glasses of wine later."

Chloe immediately furrowed her brows in fake distress:

"Oh, I assumed Clara was on sick leave, so I didn't reserve a seat for her. How about she takes mine?"

Ethan immediately looked at her with tender concern.

"You're the star of the show today! How could you give up your seat?"

Turning back to me, he dismissed me like an afterthought. "Clara can just stand and drink a couple of toasts later. She's used to it anyway."

Hearing his callous words, I let out a sharp, cold sneer. "No need."

Chloe's eyes flashed with venomous mockery, but her voice was pure victimhood.

"Clara, you're not still mad at Ethan, are you? If it makes you feel better, I'll apologize to you!"

Saying this, she leaned toward me with a pitiful, whining expression. Sickened by her theatrical drama, I raised a hand to block her approach.

Yet the moment my fingers barely brushed her sleeve, Chloe acted as if she had been hit by a freight train, stumbling backward and tumbling dramatically onto the floor.