2
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Scarlett went further, jabbing her finger at my forehead imperiously. “Are you a dog, just barking nonsense? While your brain still works, hurry up and hand over the project. I’ll be in charge of Hughes Corp from now on!”
I swatted her hand away without hesitation. “You think just any stray cat or dog can handle this project?”
“Olivia, have you completely lost your mind?”
Alexander shoved me roughly, then held Scarlett’s hand tenderly. “Does it hurt, darling?”
Scarlett gritted her teeth. “Alex, since she refuses to back down gracefully, don’t be polite anymore.”
Alexander nodded gravely, looking at me with contempt.
“It doesn’t matter if you cooperate with the handover or not. If someone like you could handle this project, of course a brilliant overseas graduate like Scarlett can too. Besides, my father will help Scarlett.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What makes you so confident your father will accept her?”
Alexander looked at me like I was an idiot, his hand resting lightly on Scarlett’s belly.
“Scarlett is the mother of my child, the mother of the future Hughes heir. Just based on that alone, you’ve already lost completely.”
Seeing his arrogant, self–righteous attitude, I couldn’t help but warn him kindly: “Being with her doesn’t guarantee your child will have the right to the Hughes name.”
“You’re right!” Scarlett laughed triumphantly. “Alex loves me so much, he’s already agreed our first child will take my surname, Evans. See the difference? This is what happens when you’re loved versus unwanted. You’ve sucked up for years, but you still can’t compare to a single hair on my head!”
The guests couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Olivia thought everyone was like her, desperately trying to marry into money, with children who could only take the man’s name?”
“The Hughes and Evans families are equally matched. The child’s surname is open for discussion.”
“Mr. Hughes only has this one son. Of course he’ll let him do as he pleases.”
Alexander looked at me with disdain, announcing rudely: “Olivia, no matter how much you cling on, it’s useless. You’re fired. From now on, Scarlett will be CEO of Hughes Corp.”
I laughed coldly, completely unfazed. “I told you, you don’t have the authority to fire me.”
Hearing this, everyone reacted as if they’d heard a joke, pointing and whispering about me.
Scarlett didn’t bother hiding her mockery and contempt. “You stupid bitch, stop putting on a brave face. You’ve offended Hughes Corp. Not only are you fired, but no one in this industry will dare hire you again. Your good days are over!”
People were shaking their heads, saying I was foolish. I could have gotten compensation before, but now I’d lost everything and ruined my future prospects too.
But I didn’t care. Instead, I stood tall with complete confidence.
I looked around at each guest in turn.
Do you really think someone with my abilities deserves to be fired?”
Everyone attending this celebration had deep business ties with Hughes Corp.
Alexander had always been a spoiled playboy, only interested in enjoying life, with zero interest in management.
Previously, Mr. Hughes ran the company, then handed it over to me.
1:01 PM
<
The guests didn’t know Alexander well, but they’d all dealt with me personally.
Some had companies on the brink of bankruptcy, but I saw potential in their projects. Through collaboration, I’d given them a lifeline. Afterwards, they’d gratefully said I was like a parent giving them a second chance at life.
Some had initially been prejudiced against me as a trophy wife who married into money. But after working together repeatedly, they came to respect me wholeheartedly and became close friends.
As for those who actively tried to curry favor with me and maintain good relationships, they were too numerous to count.
But now, they were all either avoiding my gaze or openly showing contempt in their eyes.
“Olivia, it’s no use looking at me. If you’d agreed to part ways amicably with Hughes Corp earlier, I might have considered taking you in, thrown you a bone.”
“Your abilities are decent, but you’ve burned your bridges. There’s plenty of talent out there, we don’t need to offend Hughes Corp for your sake. Who do you think you are?”
“You’ll never work in this industry again. Next time, remember to keep your head down. If not, go find another man to suck up to. After all, that’s your real expertise!”
By the end, waves of unrestrained laughter echoed through the ballroom.
The very people who once put me on a pedestal were now kicking me while I was down.
This scene reminded me of what Mr. Hughes said when I first took over the company.
He said when things are going well, everyone around you seems nice. But once you fall into hardship, it’s a different story.
Looking at these fickle, hypocritical faces, I truly understood what he meant. Too bad for them, I wasn’t going to play along.
I stopped giving them any attention and spoke firmly: “I’ll say it again – no one here has the authority to fire me!”
“You gold–digging parasite, how shameless can you be?”
Scarlett gnashed her teeth, shouting at me uncontrollably.
“Alex has abandoned you! You don’t belong in high society anymore!”
But I treated her outburst like a dog’s barking. Instead, I calmly took a glass of champagne, swirled it gently, and began to sip.
Perhaps because I looked so composed, the crowd’s expressions turned uncertain. They started to wonder if I really did have an ace up my
sleeve.
In the huge venue, not a single person dared to force me out.
But Alexander didn’t believe for a second that I could turn the tables. He glared at me impatiently, repeatedly glancing towards the entrance.
Suddenly his eyes lit up. “Mom, Dad, you’re finally here!”
“Olivia, you said no one here could fire you. But surely my father has that authority, right?”
Alexander smugly took his father’s arm as he spoke arrogantly.
He wasn’t wrong. Although I was CEO of Hughes Corp, I still worked for Mr. Hughes as the Chairman. He did have the power to decide whether I stayed or left.
“Dad, I know Olivia is good at sucking up and you like her. But I’m miserable with her. I only love Scarlett, and she’s already pregnant with my child. Please give us your blessing!”
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes.”
1:01 PM
<
Scarlett put away her arrogant expression, smiling demurely.
Mr. Hughes had never liked Scarlett, especially since she’d dumped Alexander before.
But now, looking at her pregnant belly, Mr. Hughes held his tongue and said nothing.
Mrs. Hughes seemed to want to speak but hesitated, asking Scarlett: “Are you… really carrying Alexander’s child? Are you feeling alright?”
“I was fine until Olivia upset me so much my stomach started hurting.”
Seeing Mrs. Hughes’s concern, Scarlett immediately took advantage, complaining coquettishly.
Hearing this, Mr. Hughes looked at me gravely, his eyes full of complex emotions.
The guests had wavered a bit due to my confident attitude earlier.
But seeing Mr. and Mrs. Hughes’s care for Alexander and Scarlett, they no longer doubted. They were convinced I had just been bluffing. Countless scornful gazes stabbed at me like knives.
Alexander’s lips curled in a smug smile, certain of his victory.
“Mom, Dad, I want to divorce Olivia. I know you like having someone fuss over you and massage your feet, but you can just hire some attentive housekeepers for that. Normal women don’t do such undignified things. Once you get to know Scarlett better, I’m sure you’ll love her.”
The disgust in Alexander’s eyes was undisguised. Hearing that I’d even massaged feet, the crowd stepped back, acting like they couldn’t get away fast enough, as if I were something filthy.
Seeing I had no chance of a comeback, Scarlett laughed gleefully. “So what’s the use of sucking up? Without status or leverage to back it up, you end up with nothing in the end!”
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were about to speak, but I waved them off.
Alexander looked at this in surprise, then immediately berated me angrily.
“You used to not dare breathe if Mom and Dad told you not to, but now you dare stop them from speaking! Since you’ve given up hope with me, are you trying to burn all your bridges? You really are rotten to the core!
“Mom, Dad, how can you bear to see me with such a vicious person? I want a divorce. Please agree.”
Scarlett immediately chimed in: “Father, Mother, you wouldn’t want your first grandchild to be born out of wedlock, would you? As soon as Alex divorces, I’ll marry him right away.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes looked steadily at me, then at Alexander and Scarlett’s tightly clasped hands. They let out a long sigh.
“What a pity. It seems you’re not meant to be family after all. We can’t force it.”
“Alexander, do as you wish.”
Alexander was overjoyed and immediately had someone bring the divorce papers.
“Olivia, you could have gotten compensation, but you were too greedy. Once you sign this, we’ll have no connection, and you’ll no longer be CEO of Hughes Corp. You brought this on yourself!”
Around me, the guests‘ mocking laughter filled the air as Alexander impatiently urged me to hurry up.
At this point, I decisively signed the divorce agreement.
“Now that we have no more ties, it’s time to let you know where my confidence comes from.”
I tossed down the pen and spoke to Alexander word by word.
oment and carefully checked my signature
1:01 PM
<
Alexander ignored what I said. He picked up the divorce agreement and carefully checked my signature.
