Part 2The Assistant's Provocation

“Me? Apologize to him?” Alex scoffed. “I’m Ms. Hayes’s executive assistant, and he’s just a client of you, a small sales manager. Does he deserve an apology from me?”

“You will apologize.” My words hadn’t fully left my mouth when I swiftly grabbed Alex’s hair. With a slight tug, I flung him away. Before he could regain his footing, I kicked him behind the knee, forcing him to drop to his knees with a thud before Mr. Thompson. I smashed a wine bottle, pressing a sharp shard of glass against his face: “Last chance. Apologize, or I’ll cripple you!”

“I’m… I’m sorry, Mr. Thompson!” Alex cried out in terror, even wetting his pants. Mr. Thompson said nothing. He stood up, adjusted his suit jacket, and gave me an appreciative look: “Mr. Hayes, my offer stands. You can contact me anytime. You should handle your family matters first.” With that, he left.

“Ah!” Katherine shrieked, rushing to Alex’s side and crouching down. She glared up at me, roaring: “Arthur Hayes, are you insane?! How dare you hit Alex?! Even if you’re jealous, there has to be a limit!”

“Jealous?” I sat in a chair, slowly wiping my hands with a silk napkin. “Katherine, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not jealous at all. I hit him because he offended my client. Every single one of my clients is a valuable connection. I must protect them, nothing more.” At this moment, I still felt no emotional fluctuation.

Did I not love Katherine? Of course not. Otherwise, after painstakingly building my company, why would I have made her CEO just to give her prestige? But I was also a very rational person. When impurity appeared in the marriage, I would cut it off immediately.

“Why aren’t you jealous?” Katherine asked, bewildered. I simply gave her a chilling look. “Katherine, when I loved you, you were the moon in the sky. Now that you’re tainted, you’re like filth in a pit. No one gets jealous over filth.”

“You called me filth?” “No, you mean… you don’t love me anymore?” Katherine’s eyes were wide with terror. I lit a cigarette, crossed my legs, and said, “Katherine, we’ve been together for seven years, haven’t we? You should know me at least a little. If my brother wears my clothes, I find them disgusting. What about a woman who’s been touched by another man? Do you think I’d find that clean?” With that, I stood up, intending to leave.

“I haven’t been touched by anyone else!” Katherine rushed over, embracing me from behind. “Darling, you’ve really misunderstood. Alex and I are nothing. I was just drunk, and he was just helping me.” I frowned in disgust, loosening my grip on the cigarette. The cigarette fell, touching her hand, and she cried out in pain, letting go. “You were embracing, and you still need to explain?” “I’ve been drunk on business deals countless times. Have you ever seen me being helped by another woman?” I scoffed, “I’ll notify my lawyer to draft divorce papers. Let’s get a divorce.” “No! I won’t divorce you!” Katherine sobbed, but lacked the courage to pursue me.

Alex rushed over, saying, “Don’t worry, Katie! You’re the CEO of the company. If he causes trouble, just fire him! What are you afraid of, a worthless good-for-nothing who lives off you?”