3
When I got home, all four of my brothers were there.
Fourth Brother came right up, handed me a glass of champagne, and clinked it against mine. "Cheers! Happy divorce. And, here's your reward."
He handed me a car key. A Cullinan, and the latest model at that.
"When did you buy it?"
"It just arrived today. I was actually going to drive it myself, but since my sweetheart finally left that good-for-nothing moocher, I'm giving it to you." After he finished, Fourth Brother even gave me a wink.
'A little cringey.'
'But as expected of a top-tier race car driver, even Fourth Brother's gifts are cars...'
'So unoriginal.'
"I prepared a gift, too." Third Brother handed me a manila envelope.
I took it and opened it. Inside was the deed to a plot of undeveloped land.
Third Brother raised an eyebrow. "You can build a house on it or use it for a development project. It's up to you."
'That's right, Third Brother is a real estate tycoon.'
'Also not very original.'
I looked over at Second Brother.
'The lot of them have been waiting for me to get divorced for ages. They must have been shopping for divorce celebration gifts this whole time.'
Second Brother also handed over a manila envelope. This one was even more over-the-top—it was a small island.
"My latest design. It's yours now."
I quietly accepted it but couldn't help asking, "Second Brother, come on, you're a world-renowned architect! A designer! Couldn't you have gotten me a gift with a little more originality?"
Second Brother asked, "Then what do you want?"
"I want something original. Something personally designed by you, Second Brother."
'Now for my eldest brother.'
'If Second Brother's gift was this extravagant, what about Shen Asher?'
I walked up to Shen Asher. "Shen Asher, what gift did you get me? The stars from the sky?"
Shen Asher's gaze was dark and heavy. "You wanted shares? I could give you the whole company. Was it worth putting yourself through so much just for his 10% of the company's shares?"
A small smile played on my lips. 'So that's what had Shen Asher so upset.'
"With Gresham Corp going public, I've poured my heart and soul into it over the past few years. I have no intention of letting someone else reap the rewards of my hard work."
'What I'm taking back is everything I've invested. After all, Wyatt Gresham doesn't deserve it.'
Shen Asher slowly rose to his feet and walked over. "Ashlyn, you've finally grown up. I can finally hand over the company to you with peace of mind."
"..."
'Second, Third, and Fourth Brother's gifts may not have been original, but at least they were tangible. And then there's Shen Asher, who actually wants me to run the company.'
'Just as you'd expect from a top-tier billionaire. Offering up the company just like that.'
'But the family company is huge. That just sounds exhausting.'
'He's not giving me a gift; he's trying to put me to work.'
"I don't want it. I'm the vice president of Gresham Corp now, and I'm going to manage *my* company."
'My goal is to take over all of Gresham Corp. I'm going to kick Wyatt Gresham to the curb.'
Shen Asher was silent for a moment, as if he'd seen right through me. A smile finally touched his lips. "That's not a bad idea. I approve."
...
I went upstairs to my room.
News of the incident spread online quickly. It was obvious that even though Wyatt Gresham had come forward in a desperate attempt at damage control, and I had even played along and helped clear his name, Gresham Corp's celebration banquet had still become a laughingstock in our circle.
In reality, anyone with eyes could see that Wyatt Gresham had cheated on me during our marriage; he was just desperately trying to save face.
I, on the other hand, was getting a wave of public praise.
"If I were Ashlyn Asher, I'd take the shares too. What good are men anyway?"
"You're doing the right thing, Ashlyn Asher! Let's just be fabulous by ourselves!"
My lips curled into a smirk. I dialed Wyatt Gresham's number. "We're filing for divorce tomorrow."
Wyatt Gresham was silent for a moment. "Ashlyn, do you really have to be so ruthless?"
'I wanted to puke.'
'Who gave him the right to call me Ashlyn? He already has a child with another woman, and he has the gall to turn around and say *I'm* the ruthless one?'
"See you at City Hall tomorrow."
