Vengeance Is Best Served Cold

After recording the video, I went to work. To secure the Quinn Venture project, I worked late into the night. "Willow, give up on the Quinn Venture deal. If I win, it's for us. If you win, it's for your boss," Sam said, nuzzling against my neck. His tactics hadn't changed. Whenever we competed, he always used his charm to sway me. And back then, I had foolishly fallen for it. "I'm working hard to support Mom and Irene. I can't expect you to shoulder everything alone, can I?" Swallowing my disgust, I kissed him on the cheek. Then, I stepped into my heels, grabbed the proposal I had spent all night perfecting, and strode out. Sam would be groveling beneath my feet soon enough. At Quinn Venture's office, five competing firms gathered. As the first to present, I walked in confidently. I shot Sam a glance before stepping through the door. This proposal was the culmination of all my efforts. In the past, Sam had often made me draft plans for him behind the scenes,

The next morning, Sam called out to me after breakfast. "Willow, are you that short on money? I heard you didn't give Mom the card that you deposit your salary to," he said gently, his tone masking the dark schemes lurking beneath his perfect facade. "That's right. I'm planning to buy Irene a house worth a few hundred thousand. Want to chip in?" I said with a smile, noticing Irene's eyes light up at the mention of a house. Sam paused, then said, "Willow, the company is still in its early stages. Once I've got the money, I'll buy her one. Why don't you come work for my company? I'll give you a salary of 10 thousand," he added, clearly feeling threatened by my growing success. Ten thousand? My commission from a single deal was worth far more than that. His empty posturing wasn't worth my time. I grabbed my bag and walked out without a word. That evening, I attended a gala with Sonia Presley, my boss, dressed to the nines in an elegant gown. The room was filled with prom

I quietly followed behind. "Sam, how dare you fool around behind Willow's back!" Irene stormed in, kicking the door open in a fit of rage. It wasn't surprising—powerful men in business often surrounded themselves with beautiful women. Inside, Sam was cozying up to a group of scantily-clad women. Irene wasted no time, storming over and slapping him hard across the face, twice in quick succession. Sam staggered, seeing stars. Honestly, that felt good to watch. Fred raised a hand, and someone immediately pulled Irene away. "Fred, she's my sister-in-law. Please, there's no need to take this too far!" Sam, realizing how dire the situation had become, quickly pleaded for mercy. "How dare you make trouble in my territory!" Fred, now infuriated, didn't care who Sam was. He delivered two sharp slaps of his own, each louder than the last. Irene froze, her face paling as she stood silently in the corner, too terrified to speak. Fred approached her, gripping her chin roug

"Are you really going to let them tarnish your reputation like this?" Sonia asked, shaking her head as she watched the viral video. "I underestimated you before, Willow. You're more ruthless than I thought." I casually took her phone and set it aside. "What's there to worry about? Even bad publicity is still publicity. The company's profile has skyrocketed, and the transition with Archer is complete. All that's left to do is collect the profits." Raising my wine glass, I clinked it against hers before gazing out at the bustling city lights below. The next day, Sonia and the PR team launched a campaign announcing my suspension. Officially, I was on a break, so I spent the time enjoying a few peaceful days with Ronnie. If they were bold enough to make a mess, I had every intention of returning the favor. I met with Archer personally and proposed a deal he couldn't refuse. Then, I headed back to Sam's house. "Where's my baby? Where's my little Ronnie?" Irene demanded ang

Soon, we moved into our new home, bringing a nanny along with us. My company capitalized on the buzz and secured several new contracts. Meanwhile, after I asked Sonia to mediate, Fred and Sam smoothed things over. Sam's company started to stabilize as well, and he became busier by the day, barely spending any time at home. Through the surveillance cameras, I watched Irene act like she owned the place. "Don't worry," she said, clinging to Sam while her hands wandered over him. "With that idiot threatening Willow, she'll hand Ronnie over for sure." Hearing her call my mother an "idiot" felt strange. For years, my mother had given her everything, yet Irene showed no gratitude. It was then I realized that she bore no resemblance to my mother. A suspicion began to take root in my mind. Sam, irritated by her chatter, brushed her off with an excuse about work and left. Angered, Irene used the location tracker on Sam's phone to follow him to a hotel. There, she fo