Shine Like a Star after Divorce

Chapter 3 Returning to the Company

Oriana's neatly cropped hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. Dressed in a perfectly tailored beige suit, she exuded confidence and competence, drawing everyone's attention.

"Oriana? What are you doing here?"

Nichole's face was filled with surprise before turning wary. She glared sharply at Oriana, her tone cutting. "This is the company's shareholders' meeting. You have no business being here. Get out right now!"

"Miss Bexley, why the rush?"

At that moment, Cressida Greymore, the company's second-largest shareholder, spoke calmly, "Mrs. Bexley has been specially invited as our strategic consultant."

"Strategic consultant? Her?"

Nichole sneered, her gaze filled with disdain. "She's been a housewife for two years. What does she know about corporate strategy?"

As soon as she finished speaking, someone immediately retorted, "How could Oriana not understand corporate strategy? Without her, Skycrest Corporation wouldn't be where it is today!"

"So what if she was a housewife? Her knowledge and skills didn't magically disappear. Or did you lose all your abilities the moment you got married?"

Nichole was rendered speechless by the crowd's reaction.

She hadn't expected the shareholders to be so firmly on Oriana's side.

'Fine, Oriana. Humiliate me in front of everyone, huh? Have you forgotten that I'm your husband's sister?'

Fuming, Nichole shouted, "Oriana, you promised to give me the company, and now you're using these dirty tricks to take it back? You're shameless—just like my mother said! I'll tell Merrick, and he'll divorce you!"

A threat?

Oriana slowly stepped forward and, without a word, raised her hand and slapped Nichole hard across the face.

The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the room, plunging it into a stunned silence. No one dared to breathe.

This slap had been a long time coming.

When Nichole had taken over Skycrest Corporation, she had vowed to manage it well. Yet now, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, while she squandered the company's earnings without a shred of responsibility.

Nichole had never cared about the company's future or its employees. All her promises had turned out to be empty words.

"You... you dare hit me?" Nichole clutched her face, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Oriana had always been compliant, always trying to please her. But now? She actually dared to strike her?

Nichole immediately assumed Oriana was scared—afraid she would run to Merrick and report everything.

Divorce—that was Oriana's weakness.

With this thought, Nichole's confidence grew. She stood up, ready to retaliate, raising her hand to deliver a slap in return.

But she hadn't expected Oriana to have already made up her mind—never again would she fear anyone.

The moment Nichole's hand was raised, Oriana calmly and swiftly caught her wrist.

"What? Do you want another slap?"

Oriana's tone was icy as she forced Nichole's hand down, her eyes radiating authority and anger.

"Nichole, listen carefully. I built this company from the ground up, and I can just as easily destroy it. If you don't want to be left with massive debts, shut your mouth and sit down."

Nichole stared at Oriana in disbelief, her eyes wide.

Was this really the same woman who used to be so submissive and weak, who never dared to fight back?

Everyone in the room was stunned by what they had just witnessed.

At that moment, every shareholder realized—

The true mistress of Skycrest Corporation was back!

Nichole slumped into her chair, clutching her burning cheek, reluctantly shutting her mouth.

Although she didn't want to take on massive debts, she vowed to find a chance to return the slap Oriana had just given her.

Oriana had only rested for four hours the previous night. At dawn, she began thoroughly studying Skycrest Corporation's current projects and business operations. With her deep understanding of the company's situation and her professional analytical skills, she quickly developed a strategic direction for its future.

"Our most urgent priority is to stabilize the Seaview Resort development project. Tomorrow, I'll meet the partner's representative with Emrys. Please prepare a detailed report on their background."

After speaking, Oriana exhaled deeply, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

The late-night work, combined with the physical toll from yesterday's blood loss, left her feeling unusually fatigued. Nevertheless, she forced herself to remain composed, determined to appear calm and in control.

Emrys didn't notice Oriana's fatigue and was quietly impressed. Her sharp decisiveness was just like before, and for the first time in a while, he felt that there might be hope for the company's revival.

"As for the partner's representative, Mr. Bexley, he's elusive and rarely makes public appearances. To be honest, I haven't had much direct contact with him," Emrys reported as he stood up. "However, I've arranged a meeting with his secretary. It's set for tomorrow at 3 PM in his office."

Bexley?

Oriana's brows furrowed slightly as she pondered. It seemed she was destined to be entangled with people bearing the name Bexley—only this time, it might be another ill-fated connection.

"Alright, tomorrow afternoon, we'll meet this Mr. Bexley."

*****

Urban Heart Hospital. In the ward, Merrick's expression was grim, his hand clenched tightly around his phone.

What exactly is Oriana up to?

From last night until now, she hadn't sent him a single message.

He dialed Nina's number, only to be told that Oriana had left the house early in the morning.

"Oh, Mr. Bexley, by the way, Mrs. Bexley also told me to throw away the milk I prepared for you yesterday. I didn't toss it out, though—it still smells fine. Would you like to have it?"

Hearing this, Merrick's face darkened further. He hung up before Nina could finish speaking.

'Oriana, what kind of game are you playing?'

To him, Oriana's instruction to discard the milk was just a petty attempt to get his attention.

It was just some meaningless milk.

Krystal, lying in bed, noticed Merrick's pale complexion. She sighed softly and said in a gentle voice, "Merrick, are you worried about Oriana? Why don't you go check on her? Honestly, I'm a little worried about her too. I can manage on my own. Since I just had surgery, I can't get out of bed for now, and it's only a little inconvenient when it comes to eating."

Her voice was soft, tinged with weakness, making her seem especially pitiful.

Merrick quickly dismissed her suggestion. While he did feel a bit concerned about Oriana, it wasn't enough to matter.

"There's no need to worry about her. The nurse only drew a bit of her blood—she's not going to die. This is something she was supposed to do anyway."

Just as he finished speaking, his phone suddenly vibrated.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Merrick's mouth—had Oriana finally broken down and messaged him?