After She Stole My Firm, I Crushed Her IPO

The day Clara's company prepared to go public, she held a lavish banquet and invited every major figure in the industry. "Ms. Hart is so young and accomplished. She built a company ready to go public in only five years!" "Our city's first-ever listed company. Truly impressive." I sat in the top-floor office, watching the spectacle below through the floor-to-ceiling windows. My assistant, Bella, stood beside me and spoke quietly, "Ms. Hart, they have called three times to ask whether the bell ringing ceremony can begin on schedule." Down in the banquet hall, Clara wore a crisp white suit, and behind her nine electronic screens flickered with photos of every branch. Grant Allen stood at her side. Over the past five years, he had become the city's largest food supplier. He carried himself with confidence, and the look he gave Clara was still full of tenderness. Clara tilted her head and whispered, "Grant, do you think Evelyn would blame me if she were still here?" Grant's brows knitted together. "If Evelyn can't get past it, that just proves she's petty." A sycophantic voice chimed in from the crowd below. "Ms. Hart is right. Evelyn may have been impressive once, but she simply ran out of luck. She's penniless now. How could she possibly compare to you?" Listening to that, I let out a cold laugh. Bella's face went ashen. At the scheduled time, the host cleared his throat and announced, "After five years in the industry, Clara Dining Group has met every benchmark and is now formally submitting its IPO application..." The words died mid-sentence as the giant screen suddenly went black. The application page flashed a row of blazing red letters: Clara Dining Group: Eligibility review failed. Listing application rejected. The color drained from Clara's face in an instant. My mom shot to her feet. "Impossible! My daughter's company is doing so well. Why did they block her?" Grant raised his head, his voice cold. "The committee owes us an explanation." He still wore that same expression, as if the whole world should bow to his every word. I took a slow sip from my cup, then reached for the microphone. "You want an explanation? Then tell Clara to come here herself. Alone. On her knees." The banquet hall erupted. My mom screeched, "This is outrageous! My daughter is about to become the CEO of a publicly listed company today, and you want her to crawl to you on her knees?" I watched her face through the screen. Five years ago, she had worn that exact same expression, jabbing her finger in my face and screaming, "Evelyn, how did I ever give birth to a daughter like you? Is it going to kill you to help your sister just once?" Now that her precious younger daughter was the one being humiliated, my mom suddenly knew how to feel heartbroken. "If she doesn't come, all listing applications from companies in the same industry in this city will be suspended for three years." The crowd that had been backing Clara just moments ago fell dead silent. The investors exchanged uneasy looks. "Ms. Hart, maybe you should go?" "Yeah, it won't kill you." My mom shook with rage. "You're telling my daughter to go kneel before someone?" The investors averted their eyes. "Well... it's for the greater good, isn't it?" Clara bit her lower lip and pushed through the crowd, stumbling twice in her stilettos as she left the stage. I watched her, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over me. Five years ago, when I'd been kicked out of the company, I was a complete wreck. Now, she was finally getting a taste of it. Perfect. Before long, Clara was kneeling at the foot of my building. Mom, Dad, and Grant trailed behind, their faces growing more embarrassed with every step. Bella came in. "Ms. Hart, should I call her up?" I glanced at the security feed. Her makeup was streaked with tears, and she looked utterly miserable. "No rush. Let her keep kneeling. Kneel until she remembers exactly how this company came to be." Clara knelt for three hours. At first, she held her back perfectly straight, determined to look like an innocent victim. After a while, though, she couldn't hold it anymore. One heel twisted, and her body swayed. My mom immediately lunged forward, her eyes reddening with fury. "She's my daughter! She's been delicate since she was little. If she ruins her knees, which one of you is going to pay for it?" In my office, I heard that and almost let out a laugh. Five years ago, when the company was snatched away, I'd passed out cold once too. My mom had someone fetch a basin of ice-cold water and splashed it right in my face. She'd said, "Evelyn, don't you dare fake it with me. The transfer only counts if you signed it clear-headed." Back then, nobody had been afraid something might happen to me. Now, Clara had barely been on her knees for three hours, and she was already frantic with worry. Grant stood downstairs, his expression dark and rigid. "Evelyn, you're behind this, aren't you?