After I Jumped, My Ex Regretted Madly

Chapter 2

The housekeeper Felix had assigned to take care of me stepped forward to block my path.

"Mrs. Vaughan, wearing all black is a taboo in this house. When Mr. Vaughan first returned, he talked about you every day. He's just acting out of momentary confusion right now, so please don't be angry with him. As long as the affection from the past remains, there's always a chance to turn things around."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Affection from the past?

Back when I insisted that my father send Felix back to his family, Felix had already developed exceptional management skills within our family. He even held a pivotal position in Rourke Group. The board of directors collectively opposed the decision, and the chief financial officer literally slammed his hand on the table in the conference room.

They argued that letting him return to power would come back to haunt us and lead to endless trouble, fearing that Felix would eventually help his family steal our market share and drive us out of business.

But I refused to listen to anyone. I confidently promised all of them that he would never do something so ungrateful. My father had always had a soft spot for me. My crying and pleading made him agree.

After Felix returned to his family, Thea and I worked together to support him. I used my family's private resources to help him settle internal disputes, allowing his power to grow. Ultimately, of the four sons of the Vaughan patriarch, two were ruined, and he held the remaining two in a vice grip, firmly elevating himself to the position of CEO.

I thought he would keep his promise and marry me. But the very first blow he struck after taking real power at Vaughan Enterprises was aimed at Rourke Group.

I had treated Thea like a sister, sharing everything with her. Yet she stole my access keys and copied our core data. Vaughan Enterprises used this to set a trap, luring rival companies to aggressively short Rourke Group. Our company became a sacrificial lamb.

I had to marry Felix in a marriage of convenience, hoping he would remember our past affection and save the jobs of tens of thousands of employees. But as soon as I arrived at his estate, I discovered that Thea, who used to be so submissive in front of me, hadn't just betrayed the company; she had also betrayed our sisterhood. She and Felix had been sleeping together for a long time.

She paraded her slightly bulging belly in front of me.

"Olivia, your family's business is failing, so even if you marry into this family, you'll only be a wife in name only," she gloated. "Felix loves me, and I'm carrying the Vaughan heir. It's hard to say if your position will be secure in the future."

Furious, I raised my hand, but before the slap could land, Felix rushed over and grabbed my wrist. He slapped me across the face, his eyes blazing with fury.

"This is my home, not yours," he snarled. "Olivia, without your company, do you really think you can still throw your weight around like before?"

So, my reckless efforts to protect him in the past were nothing but throwing my weight around in his eyes.

I was locked in a storage room as punishment. The moment I was let out, someone told me Rourke Group was finished. Competitors vented all their frustration over the bankruptcy on our employees. The company was gone, and so was my family.

The cold wind whipped against my body, stinging my skin. Walking barefoot like a lifeless zombie, I took slow, deliberate steps toward the rooftop.

Just as I stepped out of the room, I bumped into Felix and Thea. Her eyes welled up with tears the moment she saw me.

"If you're angry, just take it out on me," she said pitifully. "Why must you wear all black and curse the baby in my belly?"

Felix's gaze instantly turned icy. "You b***h!" he snapped. "Thea was worried about you and kindly asked me to come check on you, yet you dare to curse my son! Olivia, if you dare push your luck again, I'll let your company rot, and I absolutely won't lift a finger to help!"

Another threat. In the past, I would have worried, panicked, and compromised, casting aside my pride to beg him. But now, with my heart completely numb to it all, I actually let out a soft laugh.

Seeing this, Thea let the tears fall right on cue.

"Are you still blaming me?" she sobbed. "I'll go get an abortion right now to make it up to you. I only ask that you don't push me or Felix away."

She cried as she spoke, tears streaming down her face, her glistening eyes looking utterly pitiful. Felix pulled her tightly into his arms, his tone a mix of heartache and gentle reproach.

"What nonsense are you saying? I promised to protect you and the baby, and I never go back on my word." He then looked at me, his brows furrowing at my black dress, his voice dripping with disgust. "Olivia, you're so ungrateful. It seems yesterday's lesson wasn't enough."

He turned and roared at the security guards. "Guards! Strip off those ugly clothes of hers!"

The security guards swarmed me, pinning me to the ground. Felix loomed over me.

"If you obediently apologize to Thea right now, I might just let you off the hook," he said.

I clenched my jaw. The company was gone, but my family's backbone wasn't.

Seeing that I refused to bow my head, Felix scoffed coldly, "Let's see how long you can keep up this stubborn act!"

He scooped Thea up in his arms and turned to leave. Her delicate voice drifted back toward me.

"Felix, she is Mr. Rourke's precious daughter, the apple of his eye. Isn't treating her like this a bit disrespectful to her family?"

Felix's voice was as cold as ice. "So what? I can't stand her arrogant attitude. Rourke Group is on the verge of collapsing, yet she still acts like some high-and-mighty heiress."

As their footsteps faded into the distance, my jacket was forcefully stripped off.