Chapter 2

2.

I went to the office, intending to announce that the merger meetings were suspended.

But Sutton had gotten there first. She had called a meeting before I arrived to announce the end of our engagement.

"I'm sorry to inform the shareholders, but Young Industries will not be merging with Rhodes Corp. My engagement to Foster Rhodes is officially over."

"I cannot allow my company to be associated with someone of such questionable character."

"Furthermore, I am announcing my engagement to Soren Miller. He will be stepping in as the Vice President of Young Industries."

I stood at the door, watching her hold hands with Soren at the podium.

Soren looked ecstatic, his arm around her waist.

"I want to thank CEO Young for this chance. She's given me a way to reach the top, and more importantly, the chance to marry the woman I love！"

Sutton stood on her tiptoes and kissed him right there in front of everyone.

The sight made my eyes burn.

I forced myself to stay calm and stepped into the room, interrupting them.

"Sutton, a merger meeting requires both of us. By what right did you call this without me？"

She looked at me as if I were a stranger.

"I am protecting my company by cutting ties with a disgraced man. Isn't that the right move？"

"As a businesswoman, I'm simply looking out for my interests."

Soren chimed in, sounding smug and loud.

"Sutton, why lie to him？ Just tell Foster the truth."

"I'm sorry, Foster. Sutton just wanted to blow off some steam for me. She called this meeting so everyone would finally treat me with respect."

His words sounded like an apology, but his eyes were full of triumph.

My chest tightened. I stared at her.

"I'm only asking you one thing. Did you ever once consider how I would feel―"

"Why should I care about your feelings？！ Our engagement is over, Foster！ I've been tired of you for a long time！"

"You treated our marriage as a marketing tool for your company. You calculated everything, even the engagement. Why should I care about you？"

Her accusations hit me one after another, dripping with hatred.

But she had forgotten how she once begged me to help her company get noticed.

I had spent all night designing a strategy, eventually deciding that a high-profile union would be the best way to help her.

Back then, she looked at me with adoration.

"Honey！ You're amazing！ This way, our companies get famous, and the whole world will see our wedding！"

"I'm the luckiest woman in the world," she had told me.

I laughed at myself. There was nothing left to ask.

As I turned to leave, she threw a stack of documents onto the table.

"Since the engagement is off, you need to return your twenty percent stake in Young Industries."

"I gave those to my fiancé. Soren is my fiancé now."

Soren helpfully handed me a pen, acting fake-sweet.

"Foster, you're so rich already. You won't miss these few shares, right？"

"Thanks for stepping aside. I'll be a great VP, and I'll take real good care of Sutton."

My hand shook as I took the pen.

I looked at Sutton's cold, impatient face. It was the polar opposite of the girl who had once excitedly gifted me those shares.

I signed the papers quickly.

I walked out of the office without looking back and called my secretary.

"The chairman's approval is ready. Pull all investment from Young Industries tomorrow."

"Do it as fast as possible. I don't want to see them in my sight for another minute."