Chapter 4

Selene had never been this humiliated in her entire life. She fled the scene as if chased by something unseen.

The memory of that banquet at Peter Manor was still fresh—how Spencer, in front of countless distinguished guests, had taken the initiative to approach her and discuss a potential collaboration. The eagerness in his expression, the way he seemed so keen to work with her—it wasn't something that could be faked.

She was on the verge of tears now, desperate to understand what had gone wrong. No matter how much she turned it over in her mind, she couldn't find an answer.

If the project failed, her status within the family would plummet, and worse, she would face financial ruin. Bankruptcy wasn't just a distant threat—it was looming over her.

Hadn't life after divorcing Scott promised to be better? Wasn't she supposed to be free and thriving by now? So how had things gone so terribly awry?

She wandered the streets, lost in thought, aimlessly drifting until exhaustion pulled her back home.

"Selene, how did it go?"

Carrie was busy packing Scott's belongings into garbage bags, throwing them out one by one. The moment she saw Selene step through the door, she rushed over anxiously.

"Mr. Reed said he didn't know me... and then he had me thrown out." Selene's voice trembled with disbelief. She still couldn't wrap her head around it.

"What?" Carrie's face drained of color. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the sofa. "Without his support, we're finished! Completely finished!" Desperation crept into her voice. "Isn't there anything else you can do, Selene?"

"No... there's nothing left." Selene shook her head helplessly. The high-end ceramic tiles they had invested in—there was no one else who could absorb that volume. Spencer was their only hope.

"Mom, why do you think Spencer changed his mind? He promised to help us—what made him suddenly turn away?"

"I... I have no idea." Carrie's voice quivered. In her panic, all she could do was repeat herself. She was good at berating others and putting on airs, but when it came to real crises, she was utterly clueless.

"It's all that worthless Scott's fault! His stuff is still here, spreading bad luck!" Having no better target, she vented her anger on the man who was no longer even in the picture. With a sharp kick, she sent one of his bags flying, then began flinging the rest of his belongings out the door.

"Stop! Mom, stop for a second!" Selene's heart jolted as her gaze fell on the scattered clothes. Something clicked in her memory—an image from the Peter Manor banquet. She hadn't wanted to go, but Scott had insisted. "You never know," he had said, "there might be a surprise."

A cold chill crept down her spine. Before their marriage, her career had been stagnant. She had been just another mid-level manager at the Wilson Group. But after she married Scott, everything changed. Her career skyrocketed as if some unseen force had smoothed her path.

And each successful deal—hadn't it always been Scott who nudged her toward it?

She had never given it a second thought, always dismissing him as a loser. But now, with him gone, her smooth-sailing life had capsized overnight.

And that elegant woman they had met—she and her mother had brushed her off as someone Scott had hired to put on a show. But where was the proof? What if she wasn't an actress at all?

Thinking back, Selene realized how little she truly knew about Scott's past. Who was he, really?

A wave of unease surged through her. Could it be that everything—her success, her rise to prominence—was all because of him? And now that he was gone, the foundation beneath her was crumbling?

But how was that possible? He was just a useless househusband, someone who spent his days cooking and cleaning. There was no way he had that kind of power.

Still unsure, Selene voiced her doubts to her mother.

"Selene, are you out of your mind?" Carrie snapped, shaking her head vehemently. She tossed another bag out the door with a loud thud. "If a man really had that kind of ability, he'd be ruling the household like a king! But Scott? That spineless wimp? Don't be ridiculous! It's all just a coincidence. Don't overthink it."

"But how could everything be such a coincidence?" Selene's voice trembled. She couldn't shake the sense that there was more to this than mere chance.

For a moment, even Carrie had no retort. She opened her mouth, then shut it again. Because, truly—what were the odds of everything being mere coincidence?

As silence filled the room, Selene's heart sank deeper and deeper. Was it really possible that everything she had achieved—everything she had taken pride in—was because of Scott?

She stood there, motionless, unable to accept the truth that was slowly closing in around her.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of Carrie's phone pierced the silence.

Seeing the caller ID, she hurried to the bathroom to answer it.

When she emerged, her face was flushed with excitement. "Selene, that was Calvin Parker! I told him about our situation, and guess what? He said Nalheim Group is willing to purchase our product!"

"Mom, are you serious?" Selene's eyes, once clouded with despair, brightened with a glimmer of hope.

"Of course!" Carrie said confidently. "He made it clear—we just need to go to their office and sign the agreement. It's as simple as that."

She took Selene's arm, her voice softening into a coaxing tone. "Selene, you know, this project isn't something the Nalheim Group actually needs. Calvin is doing this for you. He's willing to bear the pressure from his company just to help. It's obvious how much he cares. Now that you're divorced from that useless Scott, maybe you should consider giving Calvin a chance."

"I... I'll think about it," Selene mumbled.

In truth, Selene had never liked Calvin. He was the general manager of the company Scott worked at, and they'd met six months ago when Scott brought her to the annual company banquet.

After that, Calvin began to pursue her discreetly. To her, chasing after a married woman was both shameless and unethical, so she had always kept her distance.

But now, with Spencer suddenly terminating their collaboration, Calvin seemed like the only way forward.

And besides, she thought bitterly, even if Calvin wasn't a great person, he was still leagues ahead of Scott. Successful, ambitious—a man like that was worth considering.

"You're making the right decision, Selene." Carrie squealed excitedly. To her, Calvin was a dream match: successful and attractive. He wasn't only the General Manager at Scott's company, most importantly, he was the nephew of Steve Dunn, the CEO of Nalheim Group. Compared to Scott, who was nothing more than a wage slave, Calvin was a golden opportunity she had long hoped to secure for her daughter.

Even before the divorce, she had tried to push the two together. And now, with the path finally clear, she wouldn't let it slip away.

There was, however, one detail she chose not to mention.

Calvin had also promised to find an excuse to fire Scott the very next day. He would make sure Scott was left without a livelihood.

The thought of Scott flaunting himself with that woman in the McLaren still made her blood boil. If getting rid of him could restore her pride, she was all for it. She hadn't told Selene, fearing she might object. Some things, she decided, were better left unsaid.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, her excitement grew. Turning back to Selene, she added, "Darling, don't overthink things. Sometimes, coincidences are just coincidences. If you still believe Scott is hiding something, explain this—if he were really wealthy, would he live his life as a doormat, serving us without complaint? Can you make sense of that?"

"Mom, you're right. I won't dwell on it anymore. Scott is nothing but a loser." Selene exhaled softly, the tension in her face easing. No matter how she tried, she couldn't find a reasonable explanation. No man would willingly endure so much humiliation unless he was madly in love, willing to sacrifice everything. And Scott? He simply wasn't that kind of person.

Shaking her head, she chided herself for being so foolish. The very idea that her success was thanks to Scott was laughable.

Meanwhile, in the spacious living room of a luxurious villa, Scott sat on the sofa, his brows furrowed as he skimmed through a stack of documents sent by the family. His mind was elsewhere, lost in thought.

"Scottie, have you made up your mind about the acquisition plan?" A soft, sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up to see Amelia approaching. Amelia had just finished a workout, her delicate face was flushed, a few beads of sweat clinging to her skin. The low-cut black tank top she wore revealed soft, tantalizing curves.

Despite considering her as a sister, Scott couldn't entirely suppress his physical reaction. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus.

"Yes," he said finally, nodding. "Let's go ahead with the acquisition. As the family's principal heir, I need to build my own empire. My uncles have been watching for any sign of weakness, and if I don't take action, they'll seize the opportunity to undermine me."

His original plan had been to leave the country and clear his mind after the painful divorce. But the family, upon learning of his split from Selene, had immediately imposed new responsibilities on him, unwilling to give him any room to drift.

In the past, Scott had ignored their demands for the sake of love. But now, with nothing left to hold onto, he realized the family would always be his anchor.

And perhaps, he thought, immersing himself in work might numb the ache left by his broken marriage.

"That's the spirit, Scottie. We can't let them find any weaknesses to exploit." Amelia's face lit up with relief. She had worried he might remain stuck in the past, but his willingness to move forward reassured her.

Pushing her LOTOS glasses up the bridge of her nose, she shifted from her playful demeanor into a no-nonsense, businesslike posture. "The family suggested acquiring a company worth around a hundred million. I've been looking into Nalheim Group—it's in a growth phase, and based on my research, buying it would be a sure win. Plus, you already know the company inside out. Managing it would be a breeze."

"Then let's go with Nalheim," Scott decided without hesitation. Having worked there, he understood its potential. Securing the company now would offer both financial and strategic advantages.

A playful smile curved Amelia's lips. "I knew you'd agree. I already had Spencer reach out to Nalheim's owner. They're willing to sell 80% of the shares for a hundred million in cash. You can sign the transfer agreement tomorrow."

Her efficiency surprised him. In the year she had spent abroad, Amelia had transformed. Beneath her captivating beauty was a capable, decisive woman who could handle business with ease.

Since she had already paved the way, there was no reason to delay. Scott decided he would go to the Nalheim Group's headquarters tomorrow and complete the acquisition.

And he couldn't help but wonder how the people who once belittled him would react when they realized he now owned the company.

Previously, he had kept his identity hidden for the sake of a quiet and stable life with Selene.

But those days were over.