Divorced, She Became a Powerhouse

Chapter 4 To Make Garrett Go Bankrupt

The moment Garrett heard those words, his expression turned cold, a flicker of disdain for Anastasia passing through his mind.

'So, everything she did yesterday was just an act to get my attention,' he thought bitterly.

"Anastasia, my patience is running thin. Stop spouting nonsense!" he snapped, his voice hard.

Anastasia rolled her eyes at him, clearly unbothered by his anger.

"Are you stupid? It wasn't me stopping you. Your girlfriend wouldn't let me leave, and now you're pinning the blame on me?"

Her words drew the attention of those around them, causing Delilah's face to flush with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed Garrett's arm, her eyes wide and innocent, playing the part of the victim to perfection.

"Gare, this is all my fault," Delilah said softly, looking up at him with teary eyes. "I misspoke and upset Anya. Please, don't argue because of me."

Anastasia's lips curled into a smirk as she shot Delilah a mocking glance. 'She really knows how to put on a show,' she thought.

"You've been dying to marry her, haven't you? Why don't you hurry up and sign those divorce papers already? Or are you afraid she'll get tired of waiting and run off abroad?"

Without giving Garrett a chance to respond, Anastasia feigned shock, her hand flying to her mouth in mock surprise.

"Oh! Don't tell me... you still love me, and that's why you've been dragging your feet on the divorce?"

*****

Tessa, standing off to the side, stifled a laugh, her eyes full of sympathy as they landed on Delilah. "Poor Ms. Brooks," she said, her voice low but loud enough to stir the pot.

Delilah's hands clenched into tight fists. She shot a quick glance at Garrett, but his expression remained impassive, as if Anastasia's words hadn't fazed him. A fresh wave of hatred surged inside her.

"You!" Garrett began, his voice trembling with fury.

He wasn't about to admit, in front of all these onlookers, that the real reason he hadn't signed the divorce papers was that he didn't want to hand over fifty million dollars to Anastasia. His pride wouldn't allow it.

"I'm sure Gare has his reasons," Delilah chimed in, her voice calm and composed despite the anger bubbling inside her.

Garrett's gaze sharpened as it settled on Anastasia. "Anastasia, my assistant will be in touch," he said, his tone clipped.

"Fine, I'll be waiting."

Satisfied with how things were going, Anastasia hooked her arm through Tessa's and started to leave.

She paused in front of Garrett and Delilah, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Why don't you take your girlfriend and get out of my way?"

Garrett frowned as he watched her walk into the Waterside Inn, deep in thought.

*****

The image of Garrett and Delilah huddled together still lingered in Anastasia's mind, gnawing at her insides.

"How can I make Garrett go bankrupt?" Anastasia's voice trembled with determination.

She couldn't stomach the thought of Delilah benefiting from the success Garrett had built, success that wouldn't even exist without her help.

Tessa looked at her in shock, then tentatively reached out to touch Anastasia's forehead, as if checking for a fever.

"Anya, did those two bastards make you lose your mind?"

Sure, Anastasia came from a wealthy background, and Pearl was a renowned investment expert, but Garrett had grown stronger over the years. The Stone Group had become a major player in Veridale.

Bringing Garrett to his knees would mean total war. It'd be a fight to the death.

Anastasia grabbed Tessa's hands, her gaze unwavering. She spoke slowly, enunciating each word, "I believe I can do it."

When she became powerful enough, she would make sure the Stone family went bankrupt. She would force Garrett to kneel before her, begging for mercy.

Tessa blinked, still trying to process what Anastasia had just said, "But, Anya... can you really do it? Back then, you cut ties with your family just to marry him. If—"

"You saw how he treated me. Do you think I'm still hung up on him?" Anastasia interrupted, her voice cold and devoid of any lingering affection for Garrett. "Tessa, you know me. I've never been the type to soften up."

*****

The Waterside Inn was the most exclusive private restaurant in Veridale.

The two of them followed the server to a private room and pushed the door open, only to be greeted by a man, who quickly stood and bowed apologetically to Anastasia.

"Ms. Langley, I'm Lee, Mr. Beaumont's assistant. I'm afraid Mr. Beaumont had to leave half an hour ago due to a family emergency."

"Mr. Beaumont left?!"

Anastasia wasn't pleased by the sudden change of plans, but she could understand if it was truly a family emergency.

"Ms. Langley, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. To express Mr. Beaumont's goodwill, we're willing to increase your company's profit margin by two percent as a token of his sincerity."

Anastasia exchanged a glance with Tessa, both of them clearly surprised by the offer.

"Before he left, Mr. Beaumont also arranged dinner for you both. I hope you enjoy your meal."

After Lee left, Anastasia finally broke the silence, still a bit in disbelief. "Wow... Mr. Beaumont certainly knows how to throw money around. Two percent more in profit? Is he a philanthropist or something?!"

"No kidding, Anya. And this is your first day on the job! You've already brought in a huge deal. You're definitely a lucky charm!"

Anastasia sat down, eager to indulge in a meal from a restaurant so exclusive that reservations had to be made three months in advance. She planned to savor every bite.

The service was surprisingly fast, and before they'd had a chance to chat much, the dishes were already on the table. Anastasia glanced at the food and smiled.

"Tessa, have you ever met this man, Adrian Beaumont?" she asked, curiosity piqued by the mysterious man.

"Nope. All I know is he's a rising star who moved to Veridale last year from overseas. Hardly anyone's seen him in person."

"Intriguing..." Anastasia mused, her thoughts already wandering to this elusive figure.