My husband, James Woods, asked his secretary, Holly Green, to take me to a restaurant for a business discussion.

At the dinner table, the secretary deliberately made things difficult for me and even encouraged the client to force me to drink.

I stood up, planning to leave, using my alcohol allergy as an excuse. But before I could go, the secretary stopped me.

"Eleanor, you're just nothing but a trophy wife! When I tell you to drink, you’d better drink! Why are you making such a fuss?"

I smiled slightly, tore up the contract on the spot and then called my husband.

"I heard from your secretary that the Woods Family doesn’t need me anymore, is that right?"

——

Before my husband could respond, the secretary snatched my phone away.

"Oh, you’re just a weak bitch! Do you really think complaining to Mr. Woods will help?"

The secretary then sneered as she said, "I’m putting my foot down today. You have to drink this wine."

I looked at the woman coldly before asking her, "And what if I refuse?"

"I've never been threatened by anyone in my life," I said, my voice steady.

I added, "You can be the first to try."

The phone call was still connected and soon, my husband's voice came through.

"Eleanor, stop being unreasonable, okay? Holly is doing this for the good of the company. Just listen to her."

James' words made me laugh.

Since when did I need a secretary to tell me how to handle business?

The partner hadn't even spoken yet, yet Holly had already given away 20% of the company's profit. But even that wasn’t enough, the disgusting man still wanted to force me to drink an entire bottle of champagne before signing the contract.

Everyone in the company knew I was allergic to alcohol. And besides that, this contract was filled with problems. I was about to call James out on it, but Holly hung up the phone.

"Did you hear that?" the secretary asked as she smirked.

"Even your husband told you to listen to me. What more do you have to say?"

I slowly raised my head, my tone devoid of emotion as I answered, "He doesn’t get the final say."

As soon as I spoke, the business partner stood up.

"If I’m not mistaken, you’re Mr. Woods’ trophy wife, right?"

The man then looked at me provocatively.

"Some people just aren’t cut out for business. All I asked was for you to have a drink and you tore up the contract."

He chuckled as he said, "If your husband hears about this, he’ll probably divorce you the moment you get home."

I smiled slightly.

"Mr. Dash, you and Miss Green seem to be working together, aren’t you?"

As a competent businesswoman, keen observation was a necessary skill. The moment I walked in, I noticed the two of them flirting. Holly, the chairman’s secretary, wasn’t negotiating for the company’s benefit. Rather, she was actively siding with the client to target me.

It was clear now. This dinner had never been about business. It was a setup.

For a brief moment, Mr. Dash looked startled, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Ridiculous," he defensively responded, then scoffing.

"I’m just stating facts. Everyone here today earned their success through hard work. But you? You’re just a pretty face."

"As a client, I hold the power. If I ask you to drink, you drink. Do you understand?"

Laughter erupted around the table.

I glanced at the people around me before speaking coldly, "Mr. Dash, I admit I’ve kept a low profile for years, but I don’t appreciate being called a decoration. Don’t ever use that word again."

"Otherwise, you’ll see what happens when I get angry."

At those words, my gaze sharpened.

"And if I do, I guarantee that no one here will leave happy."

As soon as I finished speaking, Holly, the secretary, shot up from her seat.

"Eleanor, stop pretending!" she sneered.

"Others might not know your capabilities, but I do. Mr. Woods told me long ago that the only reason you married into the Woods Family was because of the friendship between your parents. From the beginning, he never liked you."

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her coldly.

"Oh? Did James really say that?"

Holly nodded smugly, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

"Of course. Mr. Woods has wanted to divorce you for a long time, but you kept clinging to the marriage."

Her words stunned me. For a moment, I couldn't tell what was true and what was just her fabrication. But one thing was clear. A mere secretary wouldn't dare humiliate me in public unless someone powerful was backing her.

I needed to get back to the company and confront James immediately.

But just as I stood up, a pair of strong hands shoved me back into my seat.

"You haven't finished your drink yet. Where do you think you're going?"

I slowly lifted my head, raising an eyebrow in defiance.

"I can go wherever I please. You, a mere secretary, have no authority over me."

Holly scoffed, her gaze filled with arrogance.

"With me here, you’re not going anywhere."

I studied her in surprise, wondering where she got this audacity.

"Miss Green, I’m officially notifying you that you’re fired."

Instead of backing down, Holly smirked and folded her arms.

"You want to fire me? Do you even have the authority?"

She let out a mocking laugh as she shamelessly responded, "Do you really think your position means anything?"

I pushed her away and stood up.

"Holly, you’ve provoked me again and again. Do you think I’m someone you can bully?"

Her smirk vanished as her face changed, twisted in rage. After that, she grabbed my collar.

"Eleanor Hawking, you’re nothing but a dog raised by the Woods Family, yet you dare to act superior to me?"

She tightened her grip around my collar as she said, "Let me make this clear, Eleanor! No one in the entire Woods Corporation can fire me except Mr. Woods himself."

If I hadn’t been so furious, I would’ve thought I was hearing things. A mere secretary, daring to shout at me in front of everyone? It seemed I had been far too low-profile all these years.

"Holly, I’m warning you. You’d better let go of me. Otherwise, no one will be able to protect you," I said, my voice laced with restrained anger.

But she didn’t back down. Instead, she tightened her grip. Her bloodshot eyes were filled with hostility.

"Are you threatening me?" she asked, hissing.

"I am the CEO’s secretary, Holly Green. Everyone respects me. You should be the one begging me!"

Before I could reply, the clients at the table chimed in, eager to flatter her.

"That’s right. Everyone in San Diego knows Miss Holly Green is the reason the Woods Corporation is so successful."

"Eleanor, you only got your position because you're Mr. Woods’ trophy wife. What’s so impressive about that?"

"Exactly! She can’t even handle being called a vase without getting upset."

At that moment, I realized the truth.

To these people, my position as a sales manager meant nothing. They saw me as nothing more than James Woods’s wife, a title they believed held less value than a secretary’s.

I didn't know where they got their confidence, but it was time to remind them exactly who I was.

Holly basked in the flattery of the people around her, her chin practically tilted to the sky.

"Miss Hawking, if I were you, I’d just drink the champagne obediently. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time explaining yourself when you go back," she sneered.

I looked at her coldly, my tone neutral.

"Holly, I’m warning you one last time. Don’t. Push. My. Limits."

"The Mr. Woods you keep talking about only achieved his current status because of me."

"The truth behind it all isn’t something you people would ever understand."

I said this hoping the so-called business elites around me would back off. Holly’s provocation wasn’t my main concern anymore. Rather, I needed to find out who was truly behind this setup.

If my husband was involved, then things would get very interesting.

Three years ago, the Woods Family was nothing more than a third-class company. They were on the edge of bankruptcy. That was when James’ father, Benedict Woods, approached me.

His first words were that I had to marry into the Woods Family. The man also claimed it was a childhood marriage arranged by my father before his death. Since I had always been filial and to honor my father’s last wish, I reluctantly agreed.

On the surface, I was just James’ wife. But in reality, the only reason the Woods Family had risen to power was because of my efforts behind the scenes.

Yet now, it seemed certain people thought they had outgrown me. They were ready to discard me and take all the credit for themselves.

Holly glanced around smugly and scoffed as she said, "You all heard her, right? This little white flower actually thinks the Woods Family succeeded because of her."

"It’s laughable! The Woods Family is now one of the top four families in San Diego and you? You’re just nothing but a useless housewife."

"Honestly, if it weren’t for you, the Woods Family might have climbed even higher. They may even broke into the Los Angeles elite."

Hearing those words, everything clicked.

This dinner wasn’t just a casual business meeting. As I had predicted, it was a setup. Even these so-called business elites were likely handpicked actors, all orchestrated to corner me into divorcing James.

Whoever was behind this surely had influence.

Despite their relentless provocation, I had held back. After all, these were well-known figures in the business world and I didn’t want to make a scene. Nevertheless, patience had its limits.

"Enough!" I shouted as I stood abruptly, my sharp gaze sweeping across the room.

"This deal is off. You all have two choices. Walk away now, or stay and make yourselves my enemies."

"And I don’t show mercy to my enemies."

Laughter erupted from the table.

"Did you hear that? This little bitch thinks she can order us around!"

"Eleanor, do you really think you're someone important?"

"Everyone here is worth over a hundred million. What can you possibly do to fight us?"

I slowly turned my head, my anger simmering beneath the surface.

"You must have heard the saying. There is always someone stronger out there."

"I suggest you think carefully before making a choice. Because once you do, there will be no turning back."

Holly’s expression twisted with disdain.

"What did you say? You think we’re afraid of you?"

"Miss Hawking, don’t you ever forget that you’re only standing here because you’re Mr. Woods’s wife!"

"Not that it matters much longer. Haven’t you heard? Mr. Woods is going to divorce you soon!"