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YOU CROSSED THE LINE #shortmax
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00:00I was quite satisfied with my arranged marriage husband.
00:02He was always well behaved.
00:04He was a nice man.
00:05I walked into the private dining room that evening.
00:07A young lady was offering Arthur a seared scallop from her fork.
00:10I smiled.
00:11I greeted the executives at the table.
00:13I glanced at the girl.
00:14She didn't bother to give up her seat.
00:16The sales director shot her a sharp look.
00:18This is Mrs. Vant, our CEO's wife.
00:21Hello Mrs. Vant.
00:22I'm Chloe, the new executive secretary.
00:24It's so nice to meet you.
00:25I gave her a polite, faint smile.
00:27I said nothing.
00:27I took the nearest available seat.
00:29I made small talk with the table.
00:30My eyes stayed on Arthur and Chloe across from me.
00:33I watched Arthur casually chew the scallop.
00:35Then I watched Chloe pick up half a grilled lobster.
00:38She stared at it with a helpless expression.
00:39Then shot Arthur a pleading look.
00:41Arthur frowned slightly.
00:42He took the lobster from her plate,
00:44peeled it with his bare hands,
00:45then placed the meat back onto her plate.
00:48I narrowed my eyes.
00:49I lowered my head and texted my housekeeper, Martha.
00:51Mrs. Vant, I'm just so jealous of how lucky you are.
00:54To marry someone as successful as Mr. Vant,
00:56you get to just stay home and be a loving wife.
00:58It must be wonderful.
00:59Not like the rest of us who have to work so hard every day just to get bought.
01:03I looked up.
01:04You really are new.
01:05You have absolutely no manners.
01:07Cut the nonsense.
01:08You think Mrs. Vant is just a housewife?
01:10We call her Mrs. Vant here as a courtesy to her husband.
01:12But outside this room, she's Miss Sterling,
01:15CEO of the Sterling Group.
01:17I'm so sorry, Mrs. Vant.
01:19I just speak my mind.
01:21Please don't hold it against me.
01:24I just can't help feeling a little sorry for Mr. Vant.
01:28Watching you spend so lavishly.
01:30He sacrificed so much to build Vant's corporation into what it is now.
01:35The Vant's are a power cup couple from two legendary families.
01:39She's the only heir to this Sterling Group.
01:43Apologize to her.
01:44Right now.
01:45Chloe's face went pale.
01:46She bit her lip.
01:47Her large eyes filled with tear as she looked helplessly at Arthur.
01:53Apologize to my wife.
01:55From now on, watch your mouth and know your place.
01:58If you don't know something, ask.
01:59If you don't understand, learn.
02:00I'm sorry, Mrs. Vant.
02:01I have another engagement.
02:03I shall take my leave.
02:04Excuse me.
02:05My other event ended at 10 p.m.
02:07Arthur was already waiting for me at the parking garage.
02:10He opened the car door as usual.
02:12We chatted casually on the drive home.
02:13The atmosphere was mild.
02:14Once we got home, Arthur went to shower.
02:16When he stepped out,
02:17ten massive boiled lobsters were laid out on the dining table.
02:20I smiled warmly at his confused expression.
02:23Darling.
02:25Peel them for me.
02:26Arthur looked stunned.
02:27Didn't you not eat well at dinner?
02:28You can't possibly finish all this.
02:30He turned to call Martha to clean it up.
02:32I stopped him.
02:33I want you to peel them for me.
02:36With your own hands.
02:38Natalie, you know I'm a germaphobe.
02:40I smiled gently.
02:41Are you?
02:42Because tonight,
02:43you seemed perfectly fine getting your hands dirty,
02:46peeling a lobster for your new young assistant.
02:49So you're jealous over that?
02:53It's rare to see you jealous.
02:55I thought Mrs. Van was always above it all.
02:59She's just a new intern.
03:00Fresh out of college.
03:02She has no filter because she's young.
03:04If it bothers you,
03:06I promise it won't happen again.
03:07He denied so fast.
03:09I looked up at his handsome face.
03:10We'd been married three years.
03:12In his thirties,
03:13time hadn't aged him.
03:14Only refined his quiet dominance.
03:16I reached up and gently touched his cheek.
03:19Arthur,
03:21do you know why I picked you
03:22over every other eligible heir?
03:25You're quiet,
03:26decent,
03:27keep to yourself.
03:28Your parents told me you don't like
03:30unnecessary physical contact with strangers.
03:32That you hate people invading your space.
03:36Coincidentally,
03:36so am I.
03:38Our marriage is a strategic arrangement
03:40between our families.
03:41We've been fine these three years.
03:43I want us to keep this clean and steady
03:45for both our sakes.
03:47Don't disappoint me.
03:52Peel all these lobsters.
03:55Consider it your punishment
03:56for crossing a line with another woman.
03:59This is your first and last warning.
04:02Behave yourself.
04:03I didn't check what time
04:05Arthur finally came to bed.
04:07I did my skincare routine
04:08and went to sleep.
04:09When I woke up the next morning,
04:10the dining table was full
04:11of neatly peeled lobster.
04:13Arthur had already left for work.
04:15Martha stood quietly to the side.
04:18Martha, you've got a big family
04:19to feed, don't you?
04:20Take all this home with you.
04:21My husband peeled it himself.
04:22It's perfectly clean.
04:23Enjoy.
04:25After that day,
04:26Arthur and I went back to normal.
04:27That little unpleasantness
04:28was just a minor blip.
04:30Harmless and soon forgotten.
04:31If anything,
04:32he treated me even better than before.
04:34I had no interest in babysitting him
04:35or tracking which women he spoke to.
04:37As the head of the Sterling Empire,
04:39I had a company to run.
04:40Then, one month later,
04:42he pulled up to take me
04:43to a Vance family dinner.
04:44The car window rolled down.
04:45Chloe sat in the passenger seat
04:46looking faintly smug.
04:48I frowned.
04:49Hello, Mrs. Vance.
04:51You look stunning today.
04:53Chloe smiled brightly.
04:55Her pretty face was innocent and naive.
04:57She acted as if she couldn't sense
04:58my displeasure at all.
05:00Arthur also looked completely unfazed,
05:02as if nothing was wrong.
05:03My expression got cold.
05:05Get out.
05:07Chloe's smile froze.
05:10Mrs. Vance,
05:10Mr. Vance was just dropping me off
05:12on his way.
05:13I get terribly carsick.
05:14That's why I'm in the front seat.
05:16She shot Arthur a desperate,
05:18pleading look.
05:18Arthur looked at me helplessly.
05:20Knowing my temper,
05:21he didn't try to defend her.
05:22I repeated it,
05:23my voice colder.
05:25Get out.
05:28Get out.
05:31Let my wife sit.
05:32Chloe bit her lip
05:33and climbed out reluctantly.
05:35As she reached to open the rear door,
05:36I cut her off.
05:39Who said you could get back in?
05:41Chloe froze.
05:41I took a slow breath.
05:45Can't you even afford an Uber?
05:46Things must be tough.
05:48I'll cover your fare.
05:50Go home.
05:51Be safe.
05:52Arthur watched awkwardly
05:53and tried to intervene.
05:54Arthur, this is your fault.
05:56If your employee's gays
05:57can't even afford a cab
05:58and have to hitch a ride with the CEO,
05:59you're failing as a leader.
06:02Starting tomorrow,
06:03transport dippings
06:03for all mid-level
06:04and above staff
06:05at Vance Corp
06:05and Sterling Group
06:06go up 10%.
06:07Charge it to Sterling accounts.
06:09Chloe's eyes reddened,
06:10tears swirling.
06:11Mrs. Vance,
06:13I may be poor,
06:14but I won't let anyone
06:16trample on me.
06:18What gives you the right
06:19to insult my dignity
06:20with your money and status?
06:22I laughed.
06:24You're so broke
06:25you have to beg
06:25your married boss for a ride,
06:27yet paying for your cab
06:28insults your dignity?
06:28Does your dignity
06:30only stay intact
06:30if the CEO drives you home himself?
06:32That's some expensive dignity.
06:34In just the two minutes
06:35you've delayed us,
06:36Arthur and I
06:37could have made millions.
06:39If he wastes more time
06:40detouring to your place,
06:42how will you compensate us
06:43for the loss?
06:45With your dignity?
06:46I ignored her face,
06:47got into the car,
06:48and slammed the door.
06:49Arthur silently started the car.
06:52The silence in the car
06:53was heavy.
06:54I wasn't going to be
06:55the first one to break it.
06:56Arthur cleared his throat.
06:57Her apartment isn't far
06:58from my parents' estate.
06:59It really wasn't out of the way.
07:00There was no need to.
07:03Arthur,
07:05I told you,
07:06I like you because
07:08you're decent.
07:09You're not the only one
07:10who values cleanliness.
07:11I require boundaries.
07:13First, you peeled a lobster
07:14for another woman.
07:15I let it slide with a warning.
07:17Today, you let her sit in my seat
07:18and adjusted it for her.
07:20I give everyone in my life
07:21exactly three chances.
07:22Today was your second.
07:23My demands aren't high.
07:24Keep a professional,
07:26appropriate distance
07:27from other women.
07:27It isn't that hard.
07:28My demands aren't high.
07:30Keep a professional,
07:31appropriate distance
07:32from other women.
07:33It isn't that hard.
07:35Arthur,
07:37don't disappoint me.
07:38He didn't say another word.
07:40The car fell into
07:41a suffocating silence.
07:42I didn't care if he was upset.
07:44I've never tiptoed
07:45around anyone.
07:46The car pulled into
07:46the van's estate.
07:47When we got out,
07:48I linked my arm through Arthur's
07:50like nothing was wrong.
07:51You know our marriage
07:52isn't just about us.
07:54Smile if you don't want
07:55our stocks crashing tomorrow.
07:57We're adults.
07:58Don't act like a child.
08:00Understood?
08:01I smiled brightly
08:03for the staff.
08:05Natalie.
08:07Natalie, you get more beautiful
08:08every time I see you.
08:09Come, sit next to me.
08:10Arthur sat on my other side.
08:12The Vance family
08:13was big and wealthy.
08:15The dining room was lively.
08:16Throughout dinner,
08:17old Mrs. Vance
08:18chatted affectionately with me
08:20and told the servers
08:21to give me the best dishes.
08:23That joint venture
08:24between our companies
08:25is going wonderfully.
08:27You're truly brilliant, Natalie.
08:29We're family, Mother.
08:30It's our shared success.
08:31What's wrong with you?
08:32Not a word.
08:33Not even tending to your wife.
08:35Arthur's smile was tight.
08:37You two were
08:38so caught up in conversation
08:39I didn't want to interrupt.
08:41I heard you hired
08:42a new executive assistant.
08:43She seems rather out of line.
08:46I already called HR
08:48and had her fired.
08:49Just a junior intern
08:51with no skill or sense.
08:53I gave her three months
08:54separation
08:54and told her to find another job.
08:56Arthur slammed his fork down.
08:59Mother, I'm the CEO now.
09:01If you fire my staff,
09:02you go through me.
09:03Okay?
09:04Old Mrs. Vance
09:05calmly placed a shrimp
09:06on my plate.
09:07The Vance-Sterling alliance
09:08is everything.
09:09You inherited the company
09:10over your brothers
09:10because you were rational
09:11and saw the bigger picture.
09:13Don't throw away
09:14your greatest advantage.
09:15As soon as we got back
09:16to our place,
09:17Arthur leaned against
09:18the doorway
09:18and watched me
09:19kick off my heels.
09:23Natalie,
09:24we need to talk.
09:25I walked to wash my hands.
09:29The light cast shadows
09:30across his face.
09:31Did you really have to
09:32drag Mother into our marriage?
09:34I paused,
09:35dried my hands on a towel
09:36and looked at him.
09:38You think I complained
09:39to your mother?
09:40His eyes were dark.
09:41In all the years
09:42I'd known him,
09:43he had never looked at me
09:44with such coldness.
09:45Didn't you?
09:46Natalie,
09:47I put up with your spoiled act
09:48but you've targeted
09:49Chloe again and again.
09:50You have no empathy.
09:52Your jealousy
09:52is out of control.
09:54I narrowed my eyes
09:55studying the man
09:56I'd lived with for years.
09:57I realized that my judgment
09:58hadn't always been perfect.
10:00This time,
10:01you crossed the line.
10:03You ran to Mother
10:04and made her fire my employee.
10:06You know how much
10:07I hate people
10:07interfering with my company.
10:09Are you finished?
10:10Are you mad because
10:11Mother challenged
10:12your fragile authority?
10:14Or because your precious
10:15assistant lost her job
10:16and you feel sorry for her?
10:18My cold tone
10:19pushed him over the edge.
10:20You really think
10:22you've done nothing wrong?
10:23What did I do wrong?
10:25Was I wrong to not
10:26stay quiet while you
10:27crossed lines with
10:28your subordinate?
10:29Was I wrong to not
10:31stop your mother?
10:32Or was I wrong
10:33not to divorce you
10:34the second you peeled
10:34that lobster for her?
10:36Arthur's pupils shrank sharply.
10:37I took two steps back
10:38looked him up and down
10:40and shook my head
10:41in disappointment.
10:42Arthur,
10:43I told you,
10:44everyone gets three strikes.
10:46You just used your third.
10:47No one can stand
10:49your arrogance!
10:50The argument ended
10:50in disaster.
10:51Furious and humiliated,
10:53Arthur stormed out that night
10:54starting a cold war.
10:55I didn't have time
10:56or energy for his games.
10:58Sterling Group was in the middle
10:59of a huge overseas expansion
11:00and I was swamped with work.
11:02A week later,
11:03I saw the headlines.
11:04Arthur had attended
11:05a high-profile charity gala
11:06with Chloe as his date.
11:07The photos were perfect.
11:09A handsome billionaire
11:10and a beautiful young woman
11:11in a custom gown.
11:12A diamond necklace
11:13glowing around her neck.
11:14I stared at the photos
11:15for about 10 seconds.
11:16Then I nodded,
11:17picked up the phone,
11:18and told my secretary
11:19to hire the best legal team
11:21in the country.
11:21A divorce between our families
11:23involved billions in assets.
11:24The clauses had to be precise,
11:26airtight,
11:26and final.
11:27While I was reviewing
11:28the drafts with my lawyers,
11:29old Mrs. Vance called.
11:34Natalie, what's all that
11:36in the newspaper?
11:37Did you and Arthur fight?
11:38Her voice was tight with panic.
11:39You could call it that.
11:40I don't know the gala details,
11:42but it seems Arthur
11:43has shown his hand.
11:44Natalie, he's completely
11:45lost his mind.
11:46Don't worry.
11:47I'll make him apologize properly.
11:49That won't be necessary,
11:51old Mrs. Vance.
11:52I'm already drafting
11:52divorce papers.
11:54Once finalized,
11:55I'll send them to the estate.
11:56You and Arthur can review them
11:57and inform my lawyers
11:58if you plan to contest anything.
11:59She froze.
12:00Then she cried out,
12:01You can't do that!
12:02I stayed silent,
12:03listening to her ragged breathing.
12:05Natalie, Arthur is in the wrong,
12:07but this marriage
12:08affects two empires.
12:10You can't throw it away
12:11over a mistake!
12:13I smiled.
12:14Old Mrs. Vance,
12:14this is no small error.
12:15I gave Arthur three chances.
12:17He wasted them all.
12:18I won't bend my rules for him.
12:20Natalie!
12:20A sudden divorce
12:21will crash both companies' stocks!
12:23Arthur's father
12:24was a playboy too.
12:25He had mistresses.
12:26All the men in our circle
12:27are like this.
12:28As long as you're
12:29the official Mrs. Vance,
12:30what does some girl matter?
12:31A corporate marriage
12:32isn't a game.
12:33You can't be reckless.
12:35Even if you don't care
12:36about Vance Corp,
12:36what about Sterling Group?
12:38How will you explain this
12:39to your father?
12:41Old Mrs. Vance.
12:43When you step out,
12:44people call you
12:44Old Mrs. Vance
12:45out of respect
12:45for your husband.
12:46When I step out,
12:47they call me Miss Sterling.
12:48You chose to take
12:49your husband's name
12:50and live as
12:50the Vance matriarch.
12:51That's your choice,
12:52not mine.
12:53The day I took over
12:54Sterling Group,
12:55I became the one in charge.
12:56I answered to no one.
12:58As for the risks
12:58and financial fallout
12:59of my decision,
13:00I already have
13:01countermeasures.
13:02You don't need to worry.
13:03I hung up.
13:04The papers were ready.
13:05I took the folder
13:05and had my driver
13:06take me straight
13:07to Vance Corp headquarters.
13:09I walked smoothly
13:10onto the executive floor.
13:12Employees bowed
13:13and greeted me.
13:14No one dared
13:14block my way.
13:15I headed straight
13:16for Arthur's office
13:17and pushed the door open.
13:18Arthur was at his desk
13:19reviewing a contract
13:20and right outside
13:21his inner office
13:22sat Chloe,
13:23secretly taking photos of him.
13:24They both looked up
13:25when I entered.
13:26A flash of smug triumph
13:27crossed Arthur's face.
13:28What are you doing here?
13:29Well, look who it is,
13:30Mrs. Vance.
13:31It's extremely rude
13:32to burge in without knocking.
13:33As Mr. Vance's
13:34executive assistant,
13:35I must announce you
13:36before you...
13:36Before she finished,
13:37I lifted two fingers.
13:39Two large men
13:39in sharp black suits
13:40stepped out behind me.
13:42She's loud.
13:43Shut her up.
13:44One guard clamped
13:45a gloved hand
13:45over her mouth.
13:47What the hell are you doing?
13:49I strolled casually
13:50toward his desk,
13:51smiling calmly.
13:51Don't panic.
13:53I'm here on business.
13:54A random obstacle
13:55blocked my way,
13:56so I handled it.
13:57Review the terms.
13:58If you have objections,
13:59have your lawyers call mine.
14:00Arthur's eyes fell
14:01on the bold words
14:02stamped on the cover.
14:03Divorce agreement.
14:04Staring at me
14:05in utter shock.
14:06You want a divorce?
14:08I do.
14:09Just because I took
14:10Chloe to a gala?
14:11Natalie,
14:12when will you stop
14:12acting like a spoiled brat?
14:13I told you.
14:15Three strikes.
14:16The gala was strike four.
14:17I keep my promises.
14:18I'm not signing this.
14:19Arthur,
14:20pour the divorce papers in.
14:21This marriage is too important
14:22to throw away
14:23over over a tantrum.
14:24You're jealous
14:25and cold.
14:26You're a terrible wife.
14:27The sound of my hand
14:28across his jaw
14:29echoed through
14:30the huge office.
14:31Arthur,
14:32did your little assistant
14:34inflate your ego so much
14:35that you forgot
14:36who you're talking to?
14:37The Mad Men era
14:37is long over.
14:38Why are you still
14:39expecting me to play
14:40the 1960s housewife?
14:42A good wife?
14:43You mean someone
14:44like your mother
14:45who lets her husband cheat
14:46while she defends
14:47a worthless title
14:47to save face?
14:48I don't know
14:49how to be that woman.
14:50I am the sole heir
14:51of the Sterling Empire.
14:52I was raised to rule,
14:54not serve.
14:54My net worth
14:55is in the tens of billions.
14:57I hold absolute power.
14:59What on earth
14:59made you delusional enough
15:01to think I would
15:01ever submit to you?
15:03Chloe and I
15:03didn't do anything.
15:04I never cheated.
15:05I just wanted
15:06to teach you a lesson.
15:07I wanted you to be
15:08softer, more obedient.
15:09Our marriage was fine.
15:10Every couple fights.
15:11How can you throw
15:12divorce around so lightly?
15:14First,
15:14I don't care
15:15if you slept with her.
15:16The second you paraded
15:17her in front of the press
15:18and let the media
15:18humiliate me,
15:19you sealed your fate.
15:20Second,
15:21calling me a good wife
15:22is no compliment.
15:23I have no wish
15:24to be molded into one.
15:25I am who I am.
15:26I don't need a title
15:27to define me.
15:27Third,
15:28don't flatter yourself.
15:29I liked you because
15:30you were clean
15:30and respected boundaries.
15:31Now you're dirty
15:32so I'm discarding you.
15:33I don't break my rules
15:34for anyone.
15:35Don't ever think
15:35you're the exception.
15:36Lastly,
15:37it's just a divorce.
15:39I'm fully prepared
15:40to handle the fallout
15:41on my end.
15:42Whatever financial damage
15:43it costs you
15:44is no longer my concern.
15:46I turned
15:47and walked out.
15:48My bodyguards
15:49released Chloe.
15:50She collapsed
15:50onto the carpet,
15:51trembling.
15:52gasping for air.
15:53As I walked past,
15:54she suddenly snapped
15:55her head up.
15:56Natalie Sterling,
15:57you think you're so great?
15:59You act so high
16:00and mighty
16:00but you're just lucky.
16:02Born with a silver spoon
16:03in your mouth.
16:04Without your father's money,
16:06you're nothing.
16:06You have no right
16:07to look down on me.
16:09I snapped.
16:10Little girl,
16:11being born into a wealthy family
16:12is a skill in itself.
16:14My family built
16:15a business empire
16:15with generations
16:16of hard work,
16:17which gave me
16:18my current status.
16:19and I inherited
16:20this legacy,
16:21doubled our profits,
16:22and became
16:22a world famous CEO.
16:24I don't have to chase
16:25after married men,
16:26nor do I have to use tricks
16:27to rely on other women.
16:29Your jealousy
16:30is pitiful
16:31and completely useless.
16:33I walked to the elevator
16:34without a backward glance.
16:36News of our upcoming divorce
16:37swept the internet.
16:38Gossip spread like wildfire.
16:40A few older Sterling Group
16:41board members
16:42worried about the stock drop,
16:43but none dared to challenge me,
16:44so they kept quiet.
16:45Arthur refused
16:46to sign the papers.
16:47I heard he fired Chloe again.
16:49This time,
16:50she ran out of the Vance building
16:51sobbing hysterically,
16:52and not one employee
16:53went to comfort her.
16:54Old Mrs. Vance
16:55desperately tried
16:55to arrange meetings with me.
16:57My office turned
16:57every request down.
16:59I was busy.
17:00The Sterling Group's
17:00long-awaited new product launch
17:01was only days away.
17:03I had no time for people
17:04no longer relevant to my life.
17:06I stopped.
17:07Just as I was wrapping up,
17:09the auditorium doors
17:10burst open.
17:11A crowd of uninvited
17:12paparazzi flooded the aisles.
17:14Cameras rolled.
17:15Flash bulbs exploded.
17:16Security rushed
17:17to stop them.
17:18But a fragile figure
17:19pushed through to the front.
17:21Chloe.
17:21She wore a simple
17:22white dress,
17:23no makeup.
17:23Her eyes were red
17:24and swollen.
17:25She looked utterly broken,
17:27like a victim.
17:28She stepped right to the edge
17:29of the stage
17:30and dropped to her knees.
17:31CEO Sterling,
17:32I'm begging you,
17:33please leave me alone.
17:34Mr. Vance and I
17:35didn't do anything wrong.
17:36I was only his assistant.
17:38You can't use your money
17:39and power
17:39to make him fire me
17:40and ruin my life.
17:41I'm just an ordinary girl,
17:43but I have dignity too.
17:44You can't crush me
17:45just because you're rich.
17:46Paparazzi ate it up.
17:48Reporters pulled out
17:48their phones
17:49and went live
17:50for millions of viewers.
17:51Security moved
17:52toward the stage.
17:53I held up a hand.
17:54It's fine.
17:55Let her talk.
17:56You were born
17:57with everything.
17:59I fought my way
18:00out of a small town
18:01just to get a job
18:02in this company
18:03with one word.
18:04You destroyed
18:05years of my hard work.
18:06It's not fair.
18:08I looked down at her
18:09from the podium.
18:10Are you done?
18:13Chloe,
18:13since you brought
18:14these accusations
18:15out in public,
18:16I'll answer them
18:16in public.
18:17First,
18:17I know full well
18:18nothing physical
18:19happened between you
18:19and my soon-to-be ex-husband.
18:21You just love
18:21overstepping lines
18:22with married men.
18:23Sitting in my seat
18:24in his car,
18:24letting my husband
18:25peel lobster for you,
18:26hanging on his arm
18:27at black-tout events.
18:28Second,
18:28you were fired
18:29from Vance Corporation
18:30twice.
18:31The first time
18:31by Arthur's mother,
18:32old Mrs. Vance,
18:33because she found
18:33your motives repulting.
18:34The second time
18:35by Arthur himself
18:35because he knew
18:36you helped destroy
18:37his marriage.
18:37I'm CEO of Sterling Group.
18:38I never touched
18:39Vance's HR.
18:40You're blaming
18:40the wrong person.
18:41That's a lie!
18:42You just hate me!
18:43You're jealous
18:43I got to work
18:44so close to Arthur!
18:45You turned his family
18:46against me!
18:50Jealous?
18:51Of you?
18:52Your entire outfit
18:53today costs less
18:54than my weekly
18:55hair and makeup.
18:56Exactly what am I
18:57supposed to be jealous of?
18:58That you're an assistant
18:59fetching coffee
19:00while I run
19:01a billion-dollar empire?
19:02The crowd
19:03burst out laughing.
19:04A female reporter
19:05in the front row
19:06actually snorted.
19:09Tears of real humiliation
19:11spilled down
19:12Chloe's cheeks.
19:14Chloe,
19:14your foundation
19:15isn't waterproof.
19:16The whole natural
19:17no-makeup look
19:18isn't really landing today.
19:20Chloe wiped at her face
19:21frantically,
19:22realizing her victim act
19:23was ruined.
19:24So what if you're rich?
19:25If I had your family,
19:27Arthur would have picked me
19:28over an old hag
19:29like you!
19:30Maybe.
19:31Because right now
19:32you have nothing to offer
19:33but your fleeting youth.
19:34Like that's all
19:36a woman is worth.
19:37But let me remind you
19:38something.
19:39When I was your age,
19:40I took over
19:40a failing empire,
19:42cleaned out the board,
19:43and took full control
19:44of the market.
19:44Now I'm ten years
19:45older than you.
19:46My youth might be fading,
19:47but I have wealth,
19:49power,
19:49and respect
19:50beyond anything
19:50you can imagine.
19:52When you reach my age
19:53and your youth is gone,
19:56what will you have left?
19:57You just got lucky!
19:58You walk all over
19:59normal people
20:00and think you're
20:00some kind of god!
20:01Just wait and see!
20:02Shut up!
20:03Who do you think you are?
20:04Running your mouth
20:04like some ignorant brat?
20:06Under Mrs. Sterling's leadership
20:07creating even tens
20:08of thousands of jobs,
20:09the charities we've given
20:09thousands of children
20:10in education,
20:11our employees get some
20:12of the best pay
20:13and benefits
20:13in the industry.
20:14Do you really think
20:15Mrs. Sterling wastes her time
20:16on petty, pathetic drama
20:17like you?
20:18I waved him off
20:19and turned back.
20:21You think you've won?
20:23Millions are watching
20:24this livestream right now.
20:25People hate greedy elites
20:27and stand with regular workers.
20:28You're gonna get
20:29torn apart online.
20:30Really?
20:31Why don't you check
20:31the comments?
20:33My PR team
20:34had already sent me
20:35the updates through my hands.
20:37The livestream was
20:38top trending.
20:39People were eating up
20:39the drum
20:40and public opinion
20:41which had first favored
20:42the moral work in birth
20:44had flipped completely.
20:46Suddenly,
20:47the back doors
20:48burst open again.
20:49Arthur,
20:49I hadn't seen him
20:50in this.
20:51He looked terrible.
20:53Are you out of your mind?
20:55What are you doing?
20:56Arthur,
20:56I knew it!
20:57I knew you still
20:58cared about me!
21:01Natalie,
21:02can you please
21:02forgive me?
21:03I never wanted
21:04a divorce.
21:05I swear I never
21:06slept with her.
21:07I only took her
21:07to the gala
21:08to put you
21:08in your place.
21:09I didn't think
21:10you'd go this far.
21:10I'm sorry.
21:11I'll never talk
21:12to her again.
21:12Let's just call
21:13off the divorce,
21:14please.
21:14No,
21:14I don't accept excuses.
21:15The second you tried
21:16to humiliate me
21:17to feel in control,
21:18our marriage was over.
21:19Why are you ending
21:20everything over one mistake?
21:21We were happy before this!
21:23Because it wasn't a mistake.
21:24It showed me that you
21:25don't respect your partner.
21:27You don't see me
21:28as your equal.
21:28You saw me as something
21:29to be tamed and controlled.
21:31Sign the papers,
21:32Arthur.
21:33Have a good night.
21:34A week later,
21:35Arthur's lawyers
21:36delivered the signed
21:37divorce papers.
21:38The chaotic press conference
21:40didn't hurt
21:40Sterling Group's launch
21:41at all.
21:42Cliffs of my speech
21:43went viral
21:44across every platform instead.
21:46The public picked
21:47through the whole story,
21:49dragging Chloe nonstop
21:50as a homewrecker
21:51and Arthur
21:52for his toxic ego.
21:53I was widely praised
21:55for walking away
21:56without hesitation.
21:57Chloe was fully blacklisted.
22:00Not one respectable company
22:01in the city
22:02would hire her,
22:03with no options
22:04and no money left.
22:05She packed her bags
22:07and slunk back
22:08to her hometown.
22:09As for Arthur,
22:10the fallout
22:11was catastrophic.
22:12The PR disaster,
22:13plus Vance Corp
22:14cutting ties
22:15with the Sterling Empire,
22:16sent Vance stocks
22:17plummeting.
22:18The board rebelled.
22:20Old Mrs. Vance
22:21couldn't save him.
22:22The family stripped him
22:23of his CEO position
22:24and his inheritance.
22:26In a family that big,
22:27there was always
22:28another brother
22:29waiting in the wings.
22:30I walked to the
22:31floor-to-ceiling windows
22:32of my penthouse office
22:34and stared out
22:35at the glittering skyline.
22:36A skyline I owned
22:37a piece of.
22:38I breathed in slowly.
22:40A woman should never
22:41be tamed or controlled
22:43in a marriage.
22:43Luckily,
22:44I learned that lesson
22:45a long time ago.
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