Chapter 3

After leaving the villa, I checked straight into the penthouse suite of the Celestial Heights Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in New York.

The entire building was under my name.

When the general manager saw me, he almost dropped his walkie-talkie in shock.

I waved my hand to cut off his formal greetings.

Sinking into the plush sofa, I sent a direct text to my assistant.

"Cut off all premium seafood supply chains to Barlow Seafood."

"Also, find me a young guy. Must be extremely handsome, sweet-talking, and very poor."

Since Ethan didn't want to pamper me anymore, I needed someone else to do the job.

This time, I wasn't going to hide my wealth. I refused to believe money couldn't buy me absolute emotional satisfaction.

The next morning, I went to Barlow Seafood to sign the final paperwork to withdraw my shares.

To protect Ethan's fragile ego back then, I had only taken a symbolic 5% non-voting equity.

As I approached the conference room, Patricia’s exaggerated laughter echoed through the door.

"Oh, Miss Vance, this emerald-cut diamond bracelet you gave me is gorgeous!"

"Unlike that Seraphina, who only knew how to spend Ethan's money and never bought me a single decent gift."

I pushed the door open, showing no expression.

The room fell dead silent.

Tiffany was sitting at the head of the table, playing with her manicured nails.

Ethan stood beside her, staring at some financial reports with a deep frown.

Seeing me, Ethan immediately put down the documents.

"Sera, why are you here?"

"The money for your shares has already been wired to your account by accounting."

I walked to the table and tossed my pen onto the documents.

"I’m just here to grab my personal files."

Tiffany leaned back in her chair and let out a scoff.

"Seraphina, you got your money, so learn to behave."

"Coming to the office today—are you trying to play hard to get?"

"Ethan is very busy. He doesn't have time for your games."

Patricia quickly jumped in.

"Exactly!"

"Sera, don't be ungrateful."

"The Vance family is about to invest a hundred million dollars! Ethan is a rising star in New York now!"

"If you keep harassing him, Miss Vance will make sure you can't even find a job in this city!"

I looked at Patricia’s brown-nosing face and found it incredibly pathetic.

"A hundred million dollars?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked at Ethan.

"Mr. Barlow, has Miss Vance’s wire cleared yet?"

"Because I heard your largest seafood supplier suddenly cut off your inventory this morning."

Ethan’s hand froze over the files.

"How do you know about the supply shortage?!"

He was indeed losing his mind.

That supplier controlled eighty percent of the premium seafood imports in New York.

Once they cut the supply, Barlow Seafood's reputation would be ruined by tonight.

Tiffany’s face shifted slightly, but she forced a cold sneer.

"So what if they cut us off?"

"Once my family's hundred million clears, we can find any supplier we want!"

I gasped dramatically, mocking her.

"Oh, wow. Miss Vance is so powerful."

"Then you better hurry. Seafood rots very quickly, you know. It’s going to stink up the place."

I leisurely packed my personal documents into my bag and turned to leave.

Ethan rushed out after me, grabbing my arm.

"Sera, stop playing games!"

"Do you know someone at that supplier?"

He looked into my eyes, his voice filled with exhaustion and desperation.

"Please, put in a good word for me."

"We were married, after all. Do you really have the heart to watch my life's work go down the drain?"

I shook off his grip without a second thought.

"You must be joking, Mr. Barlow."

"How could a useless girl like me know a top supplier?"

Seeing Ethan's crushed expression, my mood instantly improved.

Down in the lobby, a young guy in a crisp white shirt was leaning against a pillar, waiting for me.

He had a jawline that could cut glass, but when he smiled, he had this look of pure, innocent charm.

"Hey, beautiful. Are you done with your business?"

He ran over and naturally took the bag from my hand.

I looked at Julian Montgomery, the "poor boy" my assistant had found according to my exact specifications, and smiled with satisfaction.

"Let's go. I’m taking you out for a feast."

Behind us, Ethan, who had chased me down to the lobby, stood there with a face as black as coal.