I Made Him CEO, I’ll Take Back My Empire

Chapter 3

After hanging up the phone, I fired off a reply message to Jocelyn.

Chloe: Thanks. That photo made Zachary feel terribly guilty just now. He just gave me a luxury manor worth two hundred million as compensation. Keep sending those photos to show off. Every time he shells out money for me, I'll count it as your commission. Keep up the good work.

As soon as the message was sent, I blocked her.

I could easily imagine Jocelyn's furious face on the other side, smashing her phone in a fit of rage.

*****

In the months that followed, I played the role of a calm, calculating mastermind to perfection.

Whenever Jocelyn complained of stomach aches and begged for Zachary to stay by her side, I would promptly pack his bags and send him off without a word of protest.

When she claimed morning sickness had ruined her appetite and demanded limited-edition Hermès bags to cheer herself up, I even urged Zachary to swipe his card and praised her great taste.

Zachary was utterly touched. He told everyone what a generous, sensible and devoted wife I was.

I was far from idle during this time. I hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Jocelyn, and asked my lawyer to draw up formal divorce papers.

As Jocelyn's belly swelled larger, Zachary grew more and more reckless. My overly accommodating behavior over the past months had fully lulled him into lowering his guard. He even fell for an absurd delusion: he thought I had truly accepted this twisted arrangement, and that I would swallow every humiliation just to hold onto the title of Mrs. Larson.

One weekend afternoon, he openly held Jocelyn's hand and walked straight into our villa.

"Chloe, Jocelyn says the riverfront penthouse feels too lonely, and loneliness can easily bring down a pregnant woman's mood. This place has fresher air and plenty of staff to take good care of her.

"Besides, the baby will end up in your care sooner or later. She can move in early to get used to the house and bond with the little one."

Zachary spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if he were simply giving me an order.

Jocelyn stood there with her pregnant belly protruding. Her eyes scanned every piece of decor in the villa with a critical look, before turning her gaze to me. She spoke in a soft, simpering voice.

"Chloe, Zachary insisted on bringing me here. He says you're so good at taking care of others. I'll have to rely on you for everything from now on."

I sat on the sofa, staring quietly at their intertwined hands. A cold, polished smile curved my lips.

"If Zachary says so, then please make yourselves at home."

My compliance only emboldened them to push their luck further.

The very next day after Jocelyn moved in, she started stirring up nonstop trouble. Worse still, Zachary indulged her every whim, and his behavior was downright disgusting to watch.

At dinner, Jocelyn whined that the bird's nest soup the chef made was not tender enough. She pouted and wiped fake tears at the table.

Zachary was so distressed that he lost his appetite entirely. He turned to me and spoke in a commanding tone.

"Chloe, I remember you always get the simmer just right when making bird's nest soup. Jocelyn has a delicate palate now that she's pregnant. Go to the kitchen and make her a fresh bowl. Bear with it for the sake of the Larson family's child."

I stared at his brazen expression, nodded, and walked into the kitchen.

Through the glass door, I coldly watched what was happening in the dining room.

Jocelyn perched right on Zachary's lap, while he picked out a piece of boneless fish and fed it to her. The two flirted and laughed openly, acting as if I were nothing more than a highly-paid live-in maid.

That night, things went even further.

Jocelyn held her stomach and nodded toward our master bedroom.

"Zachary, that room has the best natural light, and the mattress is custom-made. I can only fall asleep on a bed like that. But... it's Chloe's room. I don't dare go in there."

Zachary wrapped an arm around her waist without a second thought and comforted her.

"What's there to be afraid of? You're carrying my child. Chloe is reasonable. She won't mind."