My CEO Husband Cheated, I Wed a Ruthless General

Chapter 3

Charlotte went home to take a shower. After going home to shower, Charlotte arrived at the company and was immediately notified to attend a meeting.

Leon had long been waiting for her in his seat.

Seated at the head of the table, Leon looked at her as she entered. With a hypocritically gentle tone, he spoke, "Charlotte, why are you late? You've been working too hard lately, I know. You're preparing for pregnancy right now and shouldn't overexert yourself. So here's what we'll do: I'll have Rachel take the position of deputy head of the R&D team to share the management workload with you. You can just focus on the experiments."

What?

Charlotte's mind went blank for a second with a buzzing noise. She stared in disbelief at Leon at the head of the conference table, only to see the cold authority of a man used to having absolute power etched across his face.

For a moment, countless gazes, a mix of shock and sympathy, fell on her face.

"Mr. Lancaster, even though Rachel is also a top graduate from Herald Medical, she has no research experience. It might not be appropriate to have her fill in for Charlotte in managing the team, don't you think?"

"That's right, Mr. Lancaster. This core drug research breakthrough is the result of Charlotte's blood, sweat, and tears. She pulled countless all-nighters to push the project toward success, leading us through one challenge after another to bring the project this far. How can we replace her at such a juncture?"

But faced with his team members' objections, Leon's face merely darkened, exuding the intimidating aura of someone in power. "This is an order! All you need to do is say 'yes'!"

With that, his eyes landed on Charlotte's face, still twisted with stunned devastation. "Charlotte, you stay. Everyone else is dismissed!"

Everyone left quickly, leaving only the two of them in the spacious conference room.

"Dear…" The authoritative coldness in Leon's tone vanished completely, replaced by softness. "I'm doing this all for your own good."

Charlotte only lost her composure for a moment before regaining her calm.

Since Leon was set on sidelining her and having Rachel take her place, she was bound to be schemed against sooner or later. She might as well secure enough benefits for herself first. Her voice was steady as she spoke, "Alright, I'll follow your arrangement, Mr. Lancaster, but under one condition."

Leon froze for a moment. He had expected her to make a scene, to throw a tantrum, not to react so calmly. He frowned, a vague feeling that something was off pricked at him, but he couldn't figure out what.

What is the condition?

This core drug research is the product of years of my hard work. If you want me to step down as research lead, transfer the 50-million-dollar trust fund you hold at the bank to me.

"What?"

Leon's tone grew a little graver. "Charlotte, this is no small sum. You know how important this fund is to the development of the group..."

Charlotte turned her head, gazing at his dark eyes clouded with hesitation and conflict. "So which is more important: the position as research lead or this fund?"

Leon pressed his thin lips together.

After a moment of silence, he finally nodded. "Fine. I'll transfer it to you."

He picked up his phone, held it to his ear, and gave an order to his bank contact, "Transfer the entire 50 million trust fund under my name to my wife, Charlotte Sawyer."

Very soon, Charlotte received a text message on her phone notifying her that the funds had been transferred into her account.

She lowered her eyelids, hiding the storm of the turmoil in her eyes.

She guessed that the only reason Leon had transferred the fund to her so easily was that he still thought she was deeply in love with him, a naive fool he could manipulate however he wanted. But he had no idea that she had snapped out of it and was determined to take this money to leave for good and get her revenge on him!

At the same time, another text message popped up on her phone, from Hannah.

Hannah: Charlotte, congratulations! Your application materials have been personally reviewed and approved by Major General Timothy Hollander. Someone will escort you out of the Lancaster residence before the end of the day!

"Since there's nothing else, I'd like to go home and rest first. The doctor said I have to take good care of my body for the fertility treatment." Charlotte made the excuse to go back and pack her things. Leon, not suspecting anything, agreed immediately.

At the end of the workday, Leon was just about to contact his mistress to celebrate when he suddenly received a call from his assistant.

"Mr. Lancaster, something's wrong. Your wife's lawyer has submitted her divorce application, and he notified the group."

Leon flew into a rage instantly and raced back to the mansion.

The moment he stepped through the door, he saw Charlotte standing in the living room with a suitcase.

He grabbed Charlotte's wrist hard, his eyes dark and menacing. "Charlotte, you actually want a divorce from me? How dare you?"

His gaze fell on the exposed red mark on the side of her neck, and his eyes instantly flashed red with rage. His grip was so fierce that he almost crushed her bones. "A hickey? How dare you cheat on me? Who is that cheater?"

Charlotte winced in pain, but there was not a trace of fear in her. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"Leon, I know you've been cheating for seven years, slipped me birth control pills for seven years, and used me as a tool to make money. What right do you have to question me?" Her voice was icy cold. "I've signed the divorce agreement. Starting today, I'm leaving the the Lancaster family, and you'll never find me again."

Stunned by the slap, Leon stared at her in disbelief. This was not the woman who used to obey his every word and love him with every fiber of her being. He laughed in a fit of rage, shoved her onto the sofa, and started tearing at her clothes. "You want a divorce? In your dreams! You belong to me for the rest of your life! If I don't agree, you won't get to leave me! Never! Oh, you wanted a baby, didn't you? I'll give you one right now!"

Charlotte struggled with all her might, but she was no match for the man's strength. Just as her clothes were about to be torn open, she grabbed the water glass on the table and hurled it at him with all her force.

The glass struck Leon's forehead, splitting the skin open and leaving blood streaming down his face. He froze for a second, then flew into a furious rage. "Charlotte, are you insane?"

He raised his hand, about to slap her back.

All of a sudden, the mansion's front door was kicked off its hinges with a deafening crash.