<b>.1 </b>


    Ryder’s “suicide attempt” blew up everywhere.


    Thousands of users started boycotting everything Shaw Enterprises touched.


    Our stock price plummeted.


    Several A–list celebrity endorsers tried to break their contracts.


    I shut that down fast.


    amed up


    But then those same celebrities with Ivy to st me online, saying I was ruthless and didn’t care if people lived or died.


    ?


    Our PR team’s statement got thepany ount banned within five minutes of posting.


    Then Ivy timelyunched a petition calling for my removal as CEO, saying I was dangerous with power in my hands–like a loaded weapon that could hurt anyone at any time.


    The petition quickly got shared over ten million times.


    Even our own employees were secretly reposting it.


    That’s when Ryder showed up at my office with Ivy in tow.


    The smug look on his face said everything.


    “Zara, why make this harder than it needs to be? Things are pretty ugly for you right now. I doubt the board’s gonna keep you around much longer.”


    “Why don’t you ask me nicely? Maybe I’ll help you out, for old time’s sake.”


    I leaned back in my chair and asked calmly, “Really? How exactly would you help me?”


    He raised an eyebrow, looking pleased with himself.


    “I can get a doctor to write up a depression diagnosis, prove that my behavior was just due to stress and wasn’t my fault. I’ll say I’ve been recovering this whole time.”


    “Ivy hasn’t been able to see me because you’ve been controlling me, so her onlinements were just her being worried. Problem solved.”


    “Nobody loses, everybody wins.”


    Listening to his airtight little n<b>, </b>all I felt was contempt.


    I stared at Ivy for a moment, “What’s it gonna cost me?”


    Ryder chuckled and pped his hands together. “Now we’re talking! I knew you were smart. This is so much easier when we’re on the same page.”


    “I want those ten percent <b>charoo </b><b>th </b>


    Chapter <b>3 </b>


    “Plus those two pieces you bought at auctionst month–the jade and that Victorian crown. Ivy really likes them.”


    My expression went ice cold.


    Those jade pieces were my family heirlooms. The crown was supposed to go with my wedding dress.


    He really had some nerve.


    “Ryder, your appetite’s gotten pretty fucking big. Six hundred million just like that? Aren’t you worried about choking on it?”


    Ivy shot me a shocked look, then quickly turned away before I could catch her vicious eye.


    Ryder just shrugged. “That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it.”


    .


    The moment Ryder left Shaw Tower, he went live online.


    His eyes were red–rimmed, and he looked like he was fighting back tearspletely different from the calm<b>, </b>calcting man


    who’d just left my conference room.


    “I’m sorry. I’m too weak to protect the people I love.”


    His voice was hoarse, clearly choked up.


    “All these years by her side, lived like a puppet. She used investments and family interests to control me. Even basic freedom became a luxury.‘


    “When she decided Ivy was a threat, she used every dirty trick in the book to destroy her, nearly ruining her career. She thought that would make mepletely submit.”


    At this point, he paused, letting the tears roll down his cheeks.


    “Today I worked up the courage to beg her–to leave me alone, leave Ivy alone, leave my family alone. I just wanted to keep some shred of dignity.”


    “But you all saw what happened. She wouldn’t even give me that. She’s using Montgomery Corp’s future and Ivy’s career to punish me for fighting back. She’s someone who’ll do anything to get what she wants!”


    The livestream exploded:


    [This is terrifying! So this is what goes on behind all that wealth and mour. Hang in there, Ryder!]


    [Now I get why he bailed at the wedding. Who could stand this?]


    [This is so messed up. I thought Zara was the victim, but turns out…]


    [Team Ryder! Threatening someone’s life is a crime! Zara needs to answer for this!]


    Ryder’s tearful performance was the perfect catalyst.


    Public opinionpletely turned in his favor.


    The controversy kept growing.


    But I had already screenshotted everything.


    I was waiting for exactly this moment.


    When the outrage reached its peak, I was going topletely destroy Ryder’s facade. <fn9c83> For original chapters go to Find_Novel(.</fn9c83>


    Bury him so deep he’ll never crawl back out!


    ev