Seeing this, Ember picked up the cup of water beside her and hurled it straight at me. It struck my head with a sharp thud.
Pain shot through my skull as cold water drenched my hair and seeped into my clothes.
“Killian, Mateo kindly offered you an opportunity, and you dare humiliate him? You’ve forgotten your place!”
“Apologize to Mateo right now, or I’ll make sure you won’t even get the chance to scrub toilets!”
Everyone watched me with mocking eyes.
Mateo wore the smug grin of a petty man savoring victory.
“Forget it, Sister Ember. Brother Killian is so old, it’s no surprise he wouldn’t lower himself to apologize to me.”
“You sold his car last night to buy me one. Just treat that as his apology.”
At those words, I turned to Ember with a cold stare.
She didn’t flinch. Instead, she sneered. “Killian, that car was in my name long ago. So it was mine to sell.”
“Besides, you offended Mateo yesterday. You should be grateful he likes the car I gave him. Otherwise, I would never forgive you.”
That BMW, though not some top-tier luxury car, had accompanied me through every struggle of building my business. It was one of the things I treasured most. Later, Ember said she wanted it, so I transferred the ownership to her name.
I never imagined she would sell it just to please Mateo.
At that moment, Mateo suddenly put on a look of feigned surprise and stared at my wrist.
“Brother Killian, why are you wearing the watch I threw away?”
“Sister Ember gave it to me, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t expect you to pick it up. So you enjoy wearing my discarded trash?”
As soon as he said that, the people around me erupted in mocking laughter.
“Wearing someone else’s trash like it’s some precious treasure, how pathetic is he?”
“He really loves being a simp. Knowing Director Ember doesn’t even care for him, yet still clinging on, he’s asking to be humiliated.”
“Some people just can’t help groveling. It’s pitiful to watch.”
At that moment, I was seething with fury. I fixed a cold, steady stare on Ember.
“Do you even remember how you got into this company? How did you climb to where you are now?”
“Oh please, spare me the bragging. Are you really going to say everything I have is thanks to you?”
Ember sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. She was just about to retort when the company’s General Manager finally walked in.
He swept his eyes across the room.
“Today is a grand occasion. Our company is going public. It’s also the day we recognize the employees who have made outstanding contributions.”
“But before that, there’s something I must share. I am not the true owner of this company. That title belongs to someone else. And today, he has chosen to return and reclaim control.”
After he spoke, he paused and looked in this direction, nodding with a faint smile.
Everyone assumed he was acknowledging Ember and began calling out excitedly, “Director Ember!”
While Ember was still basking in her smug pride, Mateo leaned close to my ear, his tone dripping with arrogance.
“Let me tell you a little secret: Sister Ember is about to divorce you. Someone like you doesn’t deserve her.”
Ember leaned even closer to him, her eyes cold as she looked straight at me.
“Killian, Mateo is right. I’ve already become someone far beyond your reach. Once I’m named Vice President, I’ll hand you the divorce papers myself.”
Then she curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“That’s the surprise I prepared for you. So? Do you like it?”
I let out a faint smile.
“What a coincidence; I have a surprise for you, too.”
With that, I rose slowly and walked toward the stage.
