Chapter 3
“You’re absolutely right!” Arabella let out a haughty laugh, her voice dripping with arrogance. “Griffin loves me deeply, he’s already promised that our first child will carry my sumame. That’s the difference between being loved and being tossed aside. You’ve spent years groveling at his feet, yet you still don’t measure up to a single strand of my hair.“N
Even the guests couldn’t help themselves; they burst into laughter as if they’d just heard the punchline of a cruel joke.N
“Celestine still thinks everyone’s like her, clinging to wealthy families like a lifeline, thinking the child must take the father’s sumame?“N “The Cavendish and Kingsleigh families are a perfect match. It doesn’t matter whose sumame the child carries.“N
“Chairman Cavendish only has one son. Whatever he says, that’s the final word.“N
Griffin glanced at me with utter contempt before declaring without pause, “Celestine, there’s no point pestering me anymore. You’ve been dismissed. From now on, Arabella will take your place as president of Cavendish Corporation.”
A cold laugh slipped from my lips, sharp as glass. “I already told you you don’t have the authority to fire me.“N
The moment those words left my mouth, the room erupted with muffled snickers. People pointed, whispered and laughed as if they’d just witnessed the most absurd thing in the world.
Arabella sneered, her voice filled with ridicule. “Stop bluffing, you wretched woman. You’ve offended the Cavendish Family, not only are you fired, but no one in this industry will dare to touch you again. Your good days are over.”
The crowd shook their heads, clicking their tongues at my supposed foolishness. They whispered that I could’ve walked away with a tidy settlement, but now I’d lost everything and burned my future to the ground.N
But I didn’t flinch. Instead, I stood tall, spine straight, confidence radiating from every inch of me.N
I swept my gaze across the room, locking eyes with every guest in attendance.N
“Tell me, do you really think someone with my ability deserves to be dismissed?“N
These weren’t strangers. They were representatives of companies that had built years of deep, trusted partnerships with Cavendish Corporation.
Griffin had always been nothing more than a spoiled heir, born to luxury, living for indulgence. The company had never interested him. It was first run by his father and then handed over to me.
Most of the people standing here barely even knew Griffin. But me, they had worked with. Closely.N
Some of their companies had stood at the edge of collapse. I’d seen value where others didn’t. I extended a hand, built partnerships and brought them back from the brink.
One of them once told me, with tears in her eyes, that I was like a second mother to her.N
There was a time when others looked down on me, assuming I was nothing more than a trophy wife who had clawed her way up through marriage. But after working with me time and again, they were forced to acknowledge my strength. Many of them even became trusted allies.
As for those who once fell over themselves to curry favor, there were far too many to count.N
Yet now, those same faces either avoided my gaze or sneered with open contempt.N
“Celestine, don’t look at me like that. If you’d left Cavendish Corporation quietly, I might’ve tossed you a bone, something to gnaw on.” “Your skills aren’t bad, but you overplayed your hand. There’s no shortage of talent out there. We’re not about to risk offending the Cavendish Family just to stand by you. Who do you think you are?“N
“You’re finished in this business. Maybe next time, try a little humility. Or find yourself another man to leech off, that’s your specialty, isn’t 11?”
By the end, the entire banquet hall had erupted into laughter, cold, mocking and merciless.N
The very people who once held me up high were now taking turns to kick me while I was down.N
It brought to mind something my father–in–law once told me back when I had just taken over Cavendish Corporation.&
He said that when the seas were calm, everyone would seem kind and loyal, but the moment a storm rolled in, their true colors would surface.
As I looked at the crowd of greedy, two–faced sycophants before me, I finally saw the truth behind those words. N
But as for surrender? That was never in my blood.
I lifted my chin and cast them all aside with a single glance. My voice rang low and steady.N
“Let me make one thing clear none of you here have the right to fire me”
“You worthless parasite! How long do you plan to keep clinging on?”
Arabella couldn’t hold back any longer. Her fury spilled through her clenched teeth.
“Griffin has already thrown you away! This is high society, you’re nothing but an outsider now!”
