Chapter 5

Lena POV

The scandal hit trending searches at lightning speed.

#MissLancasterDominantlyAnnulsEngagement

#ColdBeautyPersonaCollapses

#GigoloEatsHardSoftRice

When Kai burst into my office, I was having the legal department audit his accounts.

He didn't knock. Just kicked the door open.

His face was dark enough to drip water, his neck still bearing scratch marks, disgusting to look at.

"Lena, take down the trending searches immediately!"

He leaned on my desk, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Have you made enough of a scene? Is this what you wanted to see? How does ruining me benefit you?"

I sipped my coffee without even lifting an eyelid.

"Benefits?"

I put down my cup and looked up at him.

"The benefit is feeling cheerful and having a great appetite."

"You!"

Kai choked with anger. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his fury and put on a look of deep affection.

"Lena, I know you're angry. But I did this for the company. That project is at a critical stage. If my reputation is ruined now, the company's stock price will drop too."

"For my sake, can you just endure it? Once this blows over, I'll definitely make it up to you."

Even now, he still thought I was that fool who obeyed his every word.

He still thought that with just a crook of his finger, I would forgive him for everything.

"Endure it?"

I laughed so hard tears almost came out.

"Kai, do you think you're the only man in the world?"

I stood up, walked around the desk, and approached him.

Without warning, I slapped him hard across the face.

Kai's head snapped to the side. He stared at me in disbelief.

"This one's for your shamelessness."

I backhanded him again.

"And this one's for treating people like fools."

Kai covered his face, his eyes instantly turning vicious.

"Lena! You dare hit me?!"

He raised his hand to strike back.

"You can try."

I looked at him coldly.

"This is Lancaster Corporation, not your slum. If you dare touch a single hair on my head, I'll make sure you come in standing and leave horizontal."

At the door, four security guards walked in expressionlessly.

Kai's hand froze mid-air, finally lowering it with hatred.

He was an extremely sensible person. Or rather, extremely cowardly.

"Fine. Very well."

He ground his teeth.

"Lena, don't regret this. Without me, that core project won't move forward at all! The entire technical team are my people. By driving me away, you're cutting off your own arm!"

"You want to take the team?"

I raised an eyebrow, not only unworried but actually wanting to laugh.

"Then take them. A bunch of useless people-keeping them is just a waste of food."

Kai's expression changed.

"What did you say? That's an industry-leading team!"

"Leading?"

I threw a stack of documents from my drawer.

"You mean this group of 'elite talent' who take the company's high salaries while secretly helping you sell core code to competing companies?"

The documents contained evidence of his and the team's private transactions.

Kai's pupils dilated violently.

He panicked.

"You... how do you have these..."

"If you don't want people to know, don't do it."

I sat back in my chair and looked at him.

"Kai, you really think you're so clever? In my eyes, your little tricks are as clumsy as a clown's."