Ryan lifted his glass above my head—then twisted his wrist.
Red wine spilled down my hair, tracing my face and soaking through my suit.
“This is your punishment.”
He tossed the empty glass behind him and stood proudly like he’d conquered the world.
Silence swallowed the entire hall.
My eyes on Ryan turned to ice.
Never in my life had I been humiliated like this.
“Ethan!”
Olivia rushed over, dress lifted in her hands, frantically wiping the wine from my face with tissues.
For her dignity, I took a deep breath.
After all, she brought Ryan into the company. If things got ugly, it would reflect on her too.
But I didn’t expect Ryan to go even further.
He jabbed a finger toward me.
“Ethan Carter, she’s spoiled you. You can’t even wipe your own mess? You need her to clean up after you? Clearly, all you do is take—never give. People like you are what’s holding this company back!”
Olivia’s expression darkened.
“Ryan, that’s enough. There are things you don’t understand—”
“Olivia!”
Ryan’s voice cracked with injured pride.
“Why are you defending him? What has he ever done for this company? Everything I do is for Evans Innovations!”
Olivia rubbed her temples in frustration.
“Ryan… this isn’t the time. I’ll explain one day.”
Ryan clenched his jaw.
“If you insist on protecting him… then I’m leaving. I quit.”
He turned to go.
I thought Olivia would let him.
I was her husband.
The one who built this company with her.
Surely she knew where her loyalty should lie.
But to my disbelief—she immediately grabbed Ryan’s arm.
“Okay, okay. It was my fault. I’m sorry. Stay,” she pleaded softly.
Ryan instantly snapped back to arrogance.
“Fine. Then what about him?”
Olivia hesitated.
Then she looked at me.
“Ethan… maybe you should apologize to Ryan? He really doesn’t mean harm. He’s just thinking about the company.”
I stared at her, speechless.
Those words—coming from my own wife—cut deeper than the wine.
Ryan was “doing it for the company”?
And me?
I had rejected my birthright—the Carter empire—so I could help her build her dream.
Using my family connections, I secured deal after deal for Evans Innovations.
Five years of sacrifice—
And tonight, Ryan humiliated me in front of everyone.
She didn’t defend me.
She wanted me to apologize.
So what were the last five years worth?
A joke?
“Ethan…” Olivia whispered again, eyes pleading.
And because I loved her, truly loved her—
I nodded.
Better me disgraced than her.
“I’m sorry, VP Cooper. I’ll do my best for the company moving forward.”
My fists were clenched so tightly my nails-dug skin felt numb.
Ryan puffed up like a victorious rooster.
“Good. Since you know your place, report to my office tomorrow. I’ll give you a new role.”
I assumed the worst he could do was demote me to logistics—anything but business development.
I was wrong.
