She Wants His Money, I Own the Company

Chapter 2

I got home and turned on my computer.

On the official Twitter page of Discovery Technology, promotion for the 10th anniversary is everywhere.

The latest post read: "Grateful for Ten Years, Stay True to Our Mission — the Dreamcatcher Student Aid Program is Officially Launched, Funding 100 Students Needing Assistance Every Year."

The comment section was full of praise:

[Samuel has a real conscience as a business owner!]

[Young, successful, and still dedicated to education. He's a real role model for us all.]

[His wife is so lucky to marry a man like this.]

I scrolled through the page, but my fingertips were ice-cold.

I opened the encrypted file Kevin sent me, and Discovery's internal employee file popped up on the screen.

Name: Nora Schmidt

Position: Executive Assistant

Date of Employment: August 19, 2021

Basic Salary: 5,600/month

Huh? August 19?

Just three days after Larry died, she was already sitting in Samuel's office.

And I, like a blindfolded fool, watched over Larry's empty memorial tablet and a hollow, fake marriage. I had to take the loss of my family and this long-premeditated betrayal alone.

I stared at the screen and suddenly burst into laughter.

You really couldn't even wait a single minute, could you, Samuel?

I closed the page and pulled up Discovery's latest equity structure chart.

Samuel holds 51% of the shares, and the rest is distributed among several early investors.

The 30% stake belonging to my mother is nowhere to be seen.

I took that yellowed share contract out from the bottom of the safe.

Samuel's signature from all those years ago was still clear; every stroke looked sincerely earnest.

How ironic.

The sound of a key turning in the lock came from the doorway.

It was Samuel.

He smelled faintly of alcohol, mixed with an unfamiliar perfume scent.

Sweet and bold—the kind I would never wear.

"Haven't gone to bed yet?" He took off his suit, his movements natural as ever.

"I'm just finishing up a draft." I came up with a random excuse.

I didn't turn my head, my gaze still fixed on the screen.

"Hey, I can support you now. There's no need for you to work this hard." He stepped closer, his hand reaching for my shoulder out of habit.

I stood up to get a glass of water, dodged him deftly without him noticing.

To avoid suspicion, I feigned concern for the company's anniversary. "How's the preparation for the 10th anniversary going?"

"Well, pretty smooth, dear." He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then pulled out his phone. The glow from the screen illuminated his face, forcing him to look casual. "By the way, I picked out a dress for you; it's the new Diro collection—take a look."

The dress in the photo was extravagant and dramatic, encrusted all over with tiny diamonds, looking just like a wedding gown.

"Do you remember Larry?" I set down my water glass and asked suddenly.

The air in the room instantly turned tense.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice tight with tension. "Why are you... Why bring him up all of a sudden?"

"I was tidying up the study today, and I found this." I pushed an old photo album across the table toward him.

The opening page showed our old family courtyard. Samuel was wearing a faded, washed-out shirt, with a thin, shy smile on his face. Larry had his arm hooked around Samuel's shoulder, both of them grinning carefreely, without a single worry in the world.

Samuel's trembling fingertip hovered over Larry's smiling face.

I said softly, my gaze locking firmly on him, "If Larry were still alive and saw what you've done now, what do you think he would do?"

He snapped his head up to look at me, his pupils blown wide. "What do you mean by that?"

What are you thinking, Sully?

I curled my lips upward, but there was no trace of a smile in my eyes. "I mean, he must be so proud of you."

Getting nervous already?

Just as I thought. Anyone with a guilty conscience hears every word as an interrogation.

He averted his gaze in panic, his voice flustered. "I'm tired. I have an early meeting tomorrow. Go to bed early too."

He turned and ducked into the bedroom.

The door clicked shut, cutting us off into two separate worlds.

I stood still, looked at the last sip of water left in my glass, and slowly tilted my head back to drink it all.

Nora, a life from the Jackman family wasn't enough for you, now you want to steal my marriage too.

Fine, two can play the game.