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Chapter 167
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Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 168
Aspen scoffed coldly, her voice full of disdain. "You're acting like I'm the one clinging to this marriage. Let's be real, Colinâthings between us ended long ago. We both know exactly why we haven't divorced, and if you know what's good for you, you'd stay in your lane. Otherwise, push me far enough, and I swear I'll take us both down with me."Her expression turned sharp, nearly feral, as she added, "You're threatening me now? What exactly do you think you can do to me, huh? What power do you think you have?"She had finally come to terms with the fact that her life was already wrecked, and she had nothing left to lose. So, why not go all in?"Aspen, what the hell happened to you? Gwen was rightâĶ You really are a damn good actress! Now, hand over the keys to the safes. You don't deserve those things, and you were never meant to have them!" Colin barked, reaching out a hand to her.Aspen almost burst into laughter at the absurdity of it. Without flinching, she smacked his palm so
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 169
"I'm not staying. I'll leave her alone so she can reflect on her behavior," Colin said as he straightened his tie, snorting arrogantly.Anyone unaware might think he was truly giving Aspen the cold shoulder. In reality, Aspen couldn't even be bothered to look at him now. Martha held the door open. "Goodbye, sir."The dismissal couldn't have been clearer. Looking at Martha's deferential expression, Colin suddenly laughed. He thought Aspen was something alrightânot only had she seemingly become a new person, but even those around her had changed. He silently mocked that her skills were indeed impressive. With that, Colin snorted and strode out directly. He had thought his anger would elicit fear from Martha, but instead all he got was the loud slam of a door."It's outrageous! They've all rebelled!" Colin stood outside the door hopping mad, yet no one cared about his fury nor watched his performance....By the window, Aspen held Dottie and coldly watched Colin rage at the air
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 170
Niall exclaimed, "This is exactly what I've been looking forâit's perfect! They must have brought in top talent. I want to meet the lead developer behind this demo."He pocketed the USB drive and ordered Miles, "Have the project lead come to discuss the next steps with me personally."Miles was equally delighted. "Mr. Wheeler, are you saying you're willing to cooperate with Fuller Group?"Niall immediately nodded. "Yes. Only this person can handle this project." He didn't care what under-the-table dealings might have occurred. As long as they could deliver satisfactory results, everything else was irrelevant. ... Soon, the news reached Fuller Group. Riley rushed joyfully into the office. "Mr. Fuller, good news! The tech department has received a response about their demo. Mr. Wheeler was extremely satisfied and wants the one who developed the demo to discuss the next steps! This project is ours!""Are you serious?" Colin shot to his feet, eyes wide. "Quickâgather the tech
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 171
Colin gave Gwyneth's hand a reassuring pat and nodded gently. "The tech department did a solid job this round. But we've got to keep the momentum going. We can't afford to let Crescent Holdings down."This is our biggest client of the year, so I'll handle the negotiations personally. Ms. Sanders will come with me."Colin understood exactly what Gwyneth was angling for and deliberately included her.The previously lively atmosphere instantly chilled, and the team stared at him in disbelief. After all, Niall had made it very clear that he wanted to meet the software's creator to discuss technical details. So, why were two people with zero technical background going to meet them? It made no sense.Every pair of eyes slowly drifted toward Aspen, their expressions laced with pity. It was obvious to everyone that Gwyneth was trying to snatch the credit and claim the glory.Aspen could feel the weight of their gazes, but she simply smiled and spoke with measured calm. "I think Mr. Full
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 172
Gwyneth had only managed to stay by his side because she happened to align with his whims. However, her position had always been precarious, hanging by a thread.She replied, "I understand. I won't speak out of turn again. Colin, don't be angry with me. I have nothing left except you."Gwyneth clutched at Colin's sleeve, tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes brimming with desperate attachment. The sight softened Colin's resolve. He gently wiped her tears away and took her hand, leading her out with him. ...Back in the tech department, Zephyr handed Aspen a cup of coffee and muttered, "We all know you're the developer behind the software. No one can steal that credit!"Aspen simply smiled as she said, "From the moment we chose this field, glory, spotlights, and applause were never meant for us, were they? "I remember Ms. Castillo telling us in schoolâthose in tech can't afford to be flashy. The background stays in the background. Step into the limelight, and it's a straight
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 173
Gwyneth hadn't expected Niall to be so blunt. Caught off guard, she instinctively glanced at Colin, then shrank back behind him and muttered, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that."But Colin didn't defend her like he usually did. Instead, he just gave Niall a polite smile and said in a calm tone, "Our lead developer is working overtime right now and really doesn't have the time, but if you're serious about this partnership, I can call her in.""I'll only speak with the developerâthe one leading this project," Niall replied firmly, making his stance crystal clear.From Niall's attitude alone, Colin could already tell that if Aspen didn't show up in person, this deal was probably not going anywhere.Colin had never been brushed off like this in a business meeting before. It was only now he realized that Fuller Group's money meant very little in a place like Ertonfieldâit was a drop in the ocean. Still, Colin knew this was how business worked. He desperately needed this opportunit
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 174
Once she ended the call, Aspen packed her things and headed out. After giving it some thought, she decided to call Aren."I'm flying to Ertonfield for a work trip. Can you stop by my place and feed Dottie while I'm gone?""Me?" Aren stiffened on the other end, already tensing up at the thought of that fluffy little creature. "Don't you have someone else at home?""I don't trust anyone else with her. Please, Arenâpretty please?" Aspen instantly shifted into a sweet, pleading tone.Sure, Martha was at home, but she wasn't around 24/7. If she missed a mealtime, Dottie would go hungry. It was a lot more reliable to leave Dottie in Aren's care.Her sweet voice was all it took for Aren to push aside his fear and agree without hesitation. "Don't worry, Dottie will be safe in my care. Promise."With that reassurance, Aspen finally relaxed and let out a soft, silly laugh. "Thanks. You're the best. I'll bring you back something delicious!" Before Aren could say another word, Aspen had al
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 175
"How dare you treat me like this? Are you insane?" Gwyneth stared at Aspen, bewildered.She couldn't wrap her head around the fierce, intimidating look she received from the woman who had always been so timid and soft-spoken.Could losing a child really change someone so drastically?Aspen snapped back without hesitation, "Why wouldn't I dare? Gwyneth, I'm warning you right now that this deal is critical for Fuller Group and Colin. You better keep your little schemes to yourself, or trust me, you won't even know what hit you."Aspen roughly shoved Gwyneth aside, grabbed her suitcase back, and strode out. It had taken so much hard work and effort to bring the project this far, and all she could think about was how to secure this deal. Anything else was just meaningless background noise.Gwyneth watched Aspen storm off, her face twisting with resentment. After a moment's hesitation, she pulled out her phone and quietly sent off a quick text message.When they finally reached the
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Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 189
Aspen didn't say much else when faced with this rare moment of leniency from Chester. She simply stood and walked out.The world was all the same now to her. People could do whatever they wanted, as long as it didn't interfere with her or her plans.Her life and pride didn't really matter to her anymore. She would go willingly if she could settle everything and then be with Sophie.Watching Aspen's retreating figure, Chester's expression shifted slightly. He picked up his cup of coffee and chuckled softly. "What an interesting woman.""Chester, if we just let her go like this, how are we supposed to answer to the client?" Kian asked, his face full of concern.Chester looked at Kian with something akin to affectionate pity, as if staring at a fool. "Do you know who we are? Since when do we owe her explanations?"Besides, after pulling a stunt like this, she'd be scrambling to cover her own tracks. You think she'd dare demand answers from us?""But doesn't this break the rules?" K
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 188
"Get me a computer."Aspen was caught between amusement and frustration. When she designed the alert system, she had never anticipated needing to cancel it mid-process. Now, it was proving to be a real hassle.Chester didn't waste time arguing. He ordered one of his men to bring her a laptop.Aspen's fingers flew across the keyboard, and she successfully disabled the alarm within five minutes. She looked up at Chester with wide, almost pitiful eyes and whispered, "Just so you know, this alert system was really expensive to develop.""Are you trying to die?"Chester had reached his limit. Ever since this woman had regained the freedom to speak, her words had been like tiny knives, jabbing at him relentlessly. It was infuriating!Seeing him get angry, Aspen sighed and lowered her voice. "Shouldn't we move somewhere else to discuss this? This place isn't exactly... ideal.""Fine. Follow me," Chester agreed. What they needed to talk about next didn't exactly suit this place.âĶS
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 187
"He doesn't love you?" Chester stared at Aspen in disbelief, suddenly realizing he might have targeted the wrong person."No, he doesn't. His heart belongs to someone else. I was just a pawn in his family's arrangements. We might have muddled through, but he got my daughter killed, and that's unforgivable. I will make him pay!"Aspen clenched her fists. "You want to reclaim everything the Shaffer family lost? Let's work together.""With you? Why should I?" Chester snorted, his face full of disdain.He wasn't a foolâhe could tell she was stalling for time."I own 51% of Fuller Group's shares. If you need them, they're yours." Aspen said it casually, as if they were discussing the weather.None of it mattered compared to her life. She would give up anything if it meant walking out of here alive. Her words truly caught Chester off guard."You've got 15 minutes to decide. Soon, this place will be surrounded. I won't be offering any deals once that happens."Aspen smiled cheerfully
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 186
Aspen shrugged, and her expression seemed resigned. "Nothing else really matters compared to staying alive. Since we're meeting for the first time, let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point.""You really are sharp. I'm Chester Shaffer. Someone paid me two million dollars to have you killed. But now, I'm starting to think keeping you alive might be more interesting."With that, Chester pulled out a stack of IOUs from his pocket and tossed them at Aspen's face. The slips of paper fluttered down like snowflakes, scattering across the floor in front of her.Aspen lowered her head to examine them, and her vision darkened for a second when she saw the name "Joseph Nicholls" signed at the bottom. She couldn't help but laugh."Can't even cut ties cleanly, huh? Even when he's locked up, he's still dragging me into his mess. What a wonderful uncle I have."A cold smirk curled her lips. The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.Chester studied her reaction, finding it odd. He
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 185
Aspen sat on the floor for so long that her legs grew numb. As she struggled to stand, the door suddenly burst open with a violent kick, sending her flying backward. She crashed to the ground, staring in shock at the four burly men who stormed in."Who are you people? What do you want?"The pepper spray flew from her hand from the impact. She instinctively grabbed a piece of broken wood nearby, ready to fight back.But the men didn't utter a word. One strode forward and kicked the wooden plank from her grip, then yanked her up by her hair to drag her out.Aspen felt like her scalp was being torn off. Tears streamed down her face as she thrashed, but it was useless. This was supposed to be a five-star hotelâyet now, no one came to her aid."Let me go! What do you want? Do you know this is illegal?" she screamed through clenched teeth as she struggled.Her shouts only seemed to irritate the men. One decided to silence her with a brutal punch to the face, knocking her unconscious.
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 184
That single wordâPenâsent shivers of disgust down Aspen's spine. She stared at Colin before her in disbelief, unable to comprehend how such nauseating words could come from his mouth.Her brows furrowed tightly as she gritted her teeth. "My daughter is dead, and you still think everything I'm doing is just some tantrum? Where do you get that confidence? Colin, can't you afford a mirror with all your money?""I know the child's death is a wound for you. We can just have another if you like children that much."Colin spoke with forced patience. He had seen Aspen's brilliance and was now determined to keep her by his side.Aspen felt nothing but utter ridicule as she watched his self-assured and entitled expression. She didn't blame Colinânot really. She blamed her past self.There was a time when she thought Colin shone like the sun. But now? He was just an ordinary man. It had been her love that gave him that glow in her eyes.Now that the love was gone, so was the halo. He was ju
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 183
Meanwhile, a hidden camera in the restaurant had captured the entire scene. Before long, Gwyneth received the video. Its contents were crystal clear.She immediately took it to Colin. "Colin, look! Ms. Nicholls is trying to sell her shares in Fuller Group!"The footage was obviously edited. Gwyneth knew Colin wouldn't care about the earlier parts, but Fuller Group was his lifeline.Colin's demeanor shifted instantly after watching the video. His hands clenched into fists, and he hurled his phone to the ground with a snarl before storming out.Gwyneth stood motionless as she stared coldly at the shattered phone. A smirk curled her lips. She had known all along that emotional entanglements were trivial. Only core interests could truly wound Colin. Aspen had struck a fatal nerve this time.Back at her hotel, Aspen promptly reported the cleaning lady who had entered her room that morning. She ensured the woman lost her job after presenting surveillance footage and evidence, and she
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 182
Though Aspen had mentally prepared herself beforehand, hearing this made her realize her preparations were far from adequate. She nearly sprayed out the red wine in her mouth as she stared at Niall in disbelief."Aren't you being a little too direct?""Why beat around the bush? You want Fuller Group to crash and burn, and we're just waiting to carve it up!" Niall grinned at her, his eyes gleaming with excitement.Watching him, Aspen instinctively turned to Aren, her gaze filled with confusion. Noticing this, Aren flushed with embarrassment and smacked Niall's arm. "Can you not sound like a villain?""Am I wrong? This is the reality. A golden opportunity is right in front of usâwhy not lay our cards on the table?"Back in the office, Aspen hadn't pegged Niall as someone so brutally straightforward.She chuckled, then nodded. "Fair point. Fuller Group is a prime target right now. But you know how business is. If it's valuable, we won't be the only ones eyeing it, right?"Niall's
Kicking Him to the Curb   Chapter 181
Aspen deliberately studied Niall's expression as she spoke, wanting to gauge his reaction. Sure enough, his face showed no trace of tension or surprise. That was clear proof that this had likely been planned between him and Aren."Two peas in a pod," she thought wryly.Yet strangely, this realization eased her mind. Before this, she had worried Aren might be fighting an uphill battle alone. She felt like she could relax now that she knew he had a formidable ally.Before long, Niall drove them to a restaurant. Aspen frowned at the unexpected detour as she stepped out of the car. She raised her brows and asked, "Why are we here?""I figured your useless husband wouldn't bother feeding you. My treat," Niall bluntly remarked without hesitation. After all, there was no need for formalities, given they were batchmates in university.Aspen made no pretenses either. She flipped open the menu and immediately picked the most expensive dishes. She fixed Niall with a pointed look after slammi
