Chapter 3

Marcus's knees were trembling, but Mira grabbed his wrist firmly.

"Stand up."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a leader's authority. "From today on, you're with me. I, Mira, always keep my word. The villa, the Porsche, the bonus—you won't miss a penny."

Focus returned to Marcus's pupils.

He first stole a glance at me, confirming I wasn't stopping him, before using Mira's strength to straighten his spine inch by inch.

The moment he stood straight, as if Mira had given him tremendous courage, his voice boomed loud enough to lift the roof:

"Everyone, I've been with this company for five years. From a street peddler to three-time champion—it wasn't luck. It was Mira giving me resources, backing me up all the way."

"Today Henry's using Mira as a prize, making a fool of me. I accept it. But you all saw—even Mira can't stand watching this."

"Who still wants to follow someone who goes back on his word and uses his own wife as a bargaining chip?"

He suddenly raised his hand, pointing at me, his fingertip almost touching my nose.

"I, Marcus, am putting it out there—whoever wants to follow Mira, come over now. Bonuses—Mira will sign right here, doubled. Those who don't want to—stay with Henry and see what he uses you for in next year's lottery."

The crowd seemed to have a stun grenade thrown into it.

The team leader from Sales Division Two smashed his wine glass with a "crack" and was the first to walk over.

The finance girl clutched her folders, jogged a few steps, then turned back to bow ninety degrees to me.

Even John from supply chain, usually the most silent, sighed and hesitated whether to remove his badge.

Mira watched the line rapidly expand, her red lips curving into a curved blade.

She raised her hand in a gesture for silence. Applause, footsteps, whispers were instantly cut in two.

"Henry..."

For the first time, she looked down at me from a superior position, like viewing prey pinned to a cutting board. "See that? Once hearts grow cold, it's hard to win them back."

I shrugged, too lazy to respond.

She took my silence as agreement and pushed further, her high heel clicking onto the stage edge.

The light stretched her shadow long, like a spear at my throat.

"I'll give you two choices..."

"First—now, immediately, right away—hand over the company seal, legal seal, equity documents, everything. If I'm in a good mood, I might leave you five percent so you can buy a decent tie with your year-end dividend."

"Second..."

She paused, smiling victoriously. "Tomorrow I'll call an emergency shareholders' meeting and initiate a special resolution to remove you as chairman and general manager."

"Oh, and we'll sign the divorce agreement too. I'll note the husband's major fault. Don't worry—you won't get a penny."

"Henry, which one?"

Below the stage, her new camp erupted in unified cheering:

"Step down! Step down! Step down!"

The sound shook the chandeliers.

I lowered my head and methodically unfastened my cufflinks.

When I looked up again, I raised one finger at her and gently shook it.

"Mira, you seem to have gotten something wrong."

I raised my eyes, my gaze sweeping past her, past Marcus, past those faces shouting "step down."

"I built this company from scratch. It's not me begging anyone to stay—it's me allowing people to stay and share the pie."

Mira looked displeased. "Henry, you've already lost everyone's support. You still want to act tough?"

I didn't respond, just smiled and pulled out a black USB drive from my pocket.

"Everyone, aren't you curious why I'd give my own wife to an employee?"

I waved the USB drive in my hand. "Once you watch this, you'll understand."