"Ladies and gentlemen, listen closely; I don't just look down on the Mancini Family. I look down on every single one of you here."
I might not have been well-versed in business, but I knew how to be a decent person.
Yet, from the moment I stepped into this venue, these so-called business elites hadn't been discussing philanthropy or progress. No, they had been too busy groveling at Clyde's feet.
The moment I spoke, I became the enemy of the room. A wave of hostility surged toward me and even the host could no longer mask his disdain.
"Madam, people like you are not welcome at this auction."
Slowly, I lifted my head, my gaze locking onto the stage.
"Oh? And what kind of person am I, exactly?"
Before the host could answer, a sudden movement caught my eye. The secretary stormed onto the stage, snatching the microphone in a fit of rage.
"Azalea, you're nothing but a worthless nobody!"
Everleigh's voice rang through the speakers, echoing in every corner of the hall.
The so-called elites shot to their feet, their applause like the crackle of a roaring fire. Their faces brimmed with satisfaction as if they had just witnessed a great spectacle.
Even Clyde, who had been silent all this time, leaned back in his seat, watching me with smug amusement, relishing in my supposed downfall.
As I took in the scene before me, a bitter realization settled in my chest: how foolish I had been to pull the Mancini Family out of their crisis back then.
Noticing my silence, Everleigh assumed I was backing down. Smirking, she lifted the microphone again.
"Hey, Azalea, do you get it now? Do you finally understand why President Mancini doesn't want to sit with you?"
She suddenly raised her voice, her words sharp and cutting.
"Because… you're not worthy."
I swallowed the anger rising in my throat, my voice turning cold.
"From the way you're talking, it sounds like you want me to divorce your President Mancini?"
Everleigh's lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.
"Since you're so self-aware, I won't bother pretending anymore." She let out a light laugh. "That's right; I believe I'm far more suited to be President Mancini's wife than you are."
I met her gaze, my expression unreadable and spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
"Go on. And then?"
Everleigh scoffed, her eyes filled with contempt.
"President Mancini wants to divorce you!"
For a moment, I simply stood there, the words hanging in the air. Then, slowly, I turned to look at Clyde.
"Is that true? Do you really want a divorce?"
Clyde arched an eyebrow, his expression laced with disdain.
"Secretary Everleigh is right. I've wanted to divorce you for a long time, but I held off because of my father's pressure."
His voice grew louder, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.
"But now that all these esteemed guests are here, they can serve as my witnesses."
"I, Clyde, am divorcing you!"
I met his gaze with chilling indifference, my voice calm, unreadable.
"Are you sure about that?"
I took a step forward, my tone sharpening.
"Clyde, have you really thought this through?"
Before my words had even fully settled in the air, the fool before me yanked a divorce agreement from his pocket, shoving it toward me as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Azalea, don't waste your breath. I've never had even the slightest bit of affection for you."
I studied him for a long moment before letting out a slow, measured sigh.
"Clyde, looks like you've had this planned for quite some time, haven't you?"
He gave a careless nod, his indifference almost theatrical.
"That's right! You hit the nail on the head. I've been waiting to divorce you every single moment!"
"In the past, in the present and even more so in the future!"
The moment those words left his lips, Everleigh wasted no time in leading the applause and the guests followed suit, clapping and cheering as if they were enjoying a grand performance.
I swept a glance around the room, my lips curving slightly, amusement flickering beneath my calm exterior.
"Since the stage has already been set, it'd be a shame if I didn't play along."
"In that case, I'll listen to you. I agree with the divorce. However..."
The moment I uttered those words, Clyde visibly brightened, excitement flashing in his eyes.
Before I could even finish, he cut in eagerly.
"Azalea, as long as you agree to the divorce, everything else will be easy!"
