him out.
True to my word, I left the company in his hands, then packed my bags and headed for Xenthos–the place I had once dreamed of us spending our honeymoon.
I had imagined countless times what it would be like to come to this city with him, driving through the streets together.
But now that I was here alone, I realized I didn’t need anyone to enjoy it.
I explored new places, embraced different cultures, and indulged in local delicacies. The journey turned out to be everything I had hoped for, and more.
Two months later, I returned. By then, Hank’s company had crumbled under the weight of scandal and mismanagement, and he had declared bankruptcy.
Just as I had planned, I swooped in to buy it back at a fraction of its value. This way, someone else bore the brunt of the public backlash, and I was able to reclaim the company at a bargain.
When I next saw Hank, it was in the CEO’s office–the very office that had once been his. But this time, I walked in not as an employee, but as the new owner.
“Hank, long time no see,” I greeted him with a casual smile.
The man in front of me was a shadow of his former self–thin, humbled, and visibly worn down by the two months of chaos.
“Pearl…” he began, but I cut him off, my tone commanding
“You should address me as the CEO now,” I corrected him.
I saw a flicker of emotions flash through his eyes–anger, regret, sorrow–but he quickly suppressed them.
Under my orders, Hank moved out of the company within three days.
With swift action and decisive management, I quickly revived the company’s operations. However, to fully restore the brand’s reputation, I had no choice but to release the provocative videos that Susie had sent me in the past.
As soon as those videos went public, the internet erupted in outrage.
Susie was bombarded with insults, with countless people flooding her old posts flaunting her affair, calling her shameless for knowingly becoming a mistress.
Chapter 7
+25 BONUS
As for Hank, the mastermind behind it all, he didn’t escape the storm either. His phone number was leaked, and his private information was plastered all over the web. Forced to disconnect from the world, he shut off his phone and retreated from the internet entirely.
Over time, the relentless pressure took a toll on his mental health.
What started as a fear of leaving his home spiraled into a crippling anxiety that left him unable to face anyone. His parents tried to suppress the media frenzy as fast as they could, but the ever–resourceful internet users soon uncovered more secrets–details of bribery and corruption that had gone unnoticed for years.
Public outrage poured into official channels, and in the end both of his parents were fired from their positions just as they neared retirement.
Meanwhile, my company soared to new heights. The scandal had inadvertently bolstered our image, and our profits skyrocketed–surpassing previous records by leaps and bounds. My net worth, too, multiplied several times over.
As for Hank, I hadn’t seen him since our divorce. I only heard rumors that his mental state had deteriorated. He either stayed locked inside his home or roamed the streets aimlessly.
His parents tried countless times to intervene, but he ignored them, instead choosing to lose himself in the digital world.
And Susie? Her family had always relied on Hank’s support, so with his downfall, her fortunes crumbled too.
During the divorce proceedings, I had filed a claim to recover all the money spent on her during our marriage. Although Hank hadn’t bought her anything of immense value beyond a diamond bracelet, it was enough to leave her financially ruined.
At the company’s annual party, the venue was ironically chosen at the very place where I had once held my wedding. This time, however, I wasn’t left behind by anyone. Instead, I was escorted to the stage like a queen, surrounded by admiration and respect.
What I didn’t expect was to see Hank again after my speech.
It was the dead of winter, with snowflakes gently drifting through the air. He stood outside, shivering in tattered clothes, a far cry from the confident man he once was.
Several veteran employees recognized him and started whispering among themselves as they pointed at his pitiful figure.
I watched from the stage as he, with sudden excitement, rushed towards me. But just as he was about to reach me, the security guards intervened, stopping him in his tracks.
Desperate and unhinged, he stretched out his hand toward me, pleading in a frantie voice, “Pearl, Pearl, I truly know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Forgive me, won’t you?”
I didn’t go to him. Instead, out of consideration for our past I had someone call his parents and ask them to come take him away.
As the event wrapped up, I chose not to have the driver take me home. I preferred the solitude of driving myself, slowly making my way down the mountain road.
Passing along the familiar route, my heart no longer felt weighed down by the memories. The scenery remained the same, but my perspective had transformed entirely.
When I was close to home, I noticed a new neighbor had moved in across my
house.
2/3
Chapter 7
As I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by a bright and cheerful voice. “Hello, miss! I’m your new neighbor Would you mind exchanging contacts?” (1)
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