I once pushed myself so hard chasing contracts that I drank until my stomach bled—

and they ended up removing a third of it.

That night, Olivia Hayes clung to me, tears streaming down her face.

“Ethan, you’ve suffered so much.”

“For the rest of my life, I will never betray you. If I ever do, may the world spit on me—may I die a wretched death.”

Back then, Mrs. Hayes grabbed my hand, eyes red.

“Son, you are the savior of the Hayes family. From now on, you are the one to lead. Hayes Group will be yours.”

But it only took the Hayes family a few years to stabilize—barely reaching the corporate mid-tier—before Mrs. Hayes’ gaze toward me changed.

Arrogance. Disdain.

Especially after Olivia’s older sister, Victoria Hayes, tied herself to the Drake family—

to Nathan Drake, one of the wealthiest heirs in Los Angeles.

Mrs. Hayes dropped all pretense.

She publicly claimed that I was the one climbing above my station.

She said if her second daughter weren’t so soft-hearted, she too could have married her way into a billionaire dynasty—

maybe even into one of the East Coast Four Elite Families.

She forgot everything.

She forgot how, if I hadn’t risked my life, slashing costs, fighting deals, saving Hayes Group from collapse…

they’d still be scavenging for scraps.

After I finished restructuring the Hayes assets, Olivia returned—alongside Nathan Drake.

She arrived to find me sitting on the windowsill, drinking alone,

a man hollowed out and exhausted.

She set down her suitcase and walked over, brows furrowed, throwing open the window.

“Your health is terrible—why are you still drinking? You’re a grown man. Stop acting like a child.”

Then she placed a hand on her lower stomach, and her next words hit me like a thunderbolt—

“I’m pregnant. Stop drinking—you’ll harm the baby.”

Pregnant.

After one month away.

How eager she was—

no hesitation at all.

My heart, strangely, turned calm.

Everything I needed to do next suddenly felt crystal clear.

I gave a soft laugh.

“Alright. No more drinking.”

I grabbed my clothes and headed to the bathroom.

I needed a shower—

needed to wash away the filth of what I’d become.

When I came out, Olivia was gone.

My phone vibrated—a message from five minutes earlier:

“Drake Enterprises’ anniversary gala is in two days. I have to attend.

Make sure you come Friday.

Don’t say anything stupid.

For now, we’ll say the baby is yours.

His true identity will be revealed when the time is right.”

Of course.

They cared about the baby’s reputation—

just not the day the truth would destroy mine.

Expressionless, I deleted the message

and called Attorney Collins.

“How much of the asset transfer is done?”

“Mr. Carter, we’ve completed about seventy percent.

A full transfer at once might draw attention—we need more time.”

“No rush. Keep going. Steadily.”

Friday came.

I arrived punctually at Moonridge Estate in Beverly Hills.

Olivia stood beside Nathan Drake at the main entrance—

a stunning red gown, practically glowing.

Anyone who didn’t know would assume it was their wedding.

I approached calmly to greet them.

Olivia’s voice was polite but cold:

“Go inside and sit.”

The tone of a woman who already saw herself as mistress of the house.

Inside, a few business partners came over:

“Mr. Carter, congratulations! We heard Mrs. Hayes is pregnant!”

“Hey, shouldn’t you be out there helping Mr. Drake welcome guests?

She’s the pregnant one—why make her do all the work?”

I smiled thinly.

“It’s fine. She likes being helpful.”

They stole glances at Olivia holding onto Nathan’s arm.

Awkward chuckles followed.

Soon, all the guests arrived.

Nathan Drake went on stage for his speech—

with Olivia Hayes proudly holding his arm.

As if she belonged there.

Camera flashes burst toward the stage.

Olivia’s cheeks glowed bright red with excitement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, bosses and friends—

thank you for joining us today to celebrate Drake Enterprises’ anniversary.”

“On behalf of Drake Enterprises, welcome.”

Sparse applause.

Most people whispered:

“Isn’t that the CEO of Hayes Group?

Why is she speaking for Drake Enterprises?”

“Haven’t you seen social media?

Hayes Group will probably belong to the Drakes soon.”

Eyes bounced between me, Olivia, and Nathan—

confusion, contempt, pity.

Before the room could settle, Olivia dropped another bomb:

“Today, I officially announce that Hayes Group will be merged under Drake Enterprises.

All decision-making authority will now be handled by President Nathan Drake.”

Dead silence.

Everyone knew Hayes Group carried the Hayes name—

but it was me

who built everything from the ashes.

If the company was merged…

what would become of the Hayes family’s dutiful son-in-law?

Olivia stepped down, heels striking the floor, and leaned close to my ear—

“Go say a few words.

Tell everyone to keep partnering with Drake Enterprises.

And that you support the merger.”

I asked quietly:

“And me?

Where do you plan to put me?”

She narrowed her eyes, calculating.

“You should go home and rest for now.

Nathan hates messy emotional entanglements—your presence makes him uncomfortable.

And if you show up in the company, people will gossip.”

I laughed—quiet, cold.

Even after all this, she still managed to shock me with her shamelessness.

Not only did she betray me—

she was now kicking me out like a worn-out tool.

With the attention of the entire hall on me,

I smiled.

“You’ve arranged everything well, Olivia.

I suppose I do need a break.”

Her satisfied expression lasted—

right until I took the stage.

I picked up the mic.

Voice steady.

“Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for attending Drake Enterprises’ anniversary celebration.”

“Today, I formally announce that I, Ethan Carter, resign from all positions at Hayes Group effective immediately.”

“Any future matters regarding the company—

please consult Mrs. Hayes.”

I gave a solemn bow.

Then dropped the mic

and walked off the stage without looking back.

The hall erupted—

“Why would Mr. Carter leave like that?!”

“We all saw what he did for Hayes Group!

Without him there wouldn’t be a Hayes Group!”

As they argued, Olivia snatched the mic:

“Before all of you here, I officially transfer full ownership of Hayes Group to Mr. Drake.”

She gestured, and a lawyer stepped forward

holding the equity transfer documents.

Nathan’s expression darkened as he signaled his legal and financial teams to review.

Moments later, the lawyer returned—face grim.

“Mr. Drake… Hayes Group currently has zero liquid assets.

In addition, there is a pending liability of $18 million in payables and payroll.”

“If we acquire Hayes Group, not only will we not earn a cent—

we will have to cover the debt.”

Nathan’s features twisted.

He snatched the documents and slammed them into Olivia’s face.

“Your family really knows how to scheme!

Victoria runs off with some random guy the moment I fall ill—

and now you want me to take on your family’s crippling debt?”

“You’ve gone too far!”

Nathan Drake raised the microphone and announced to the crowd, voice cutting through the night:

“From this moment on, the Drake family severs all ties with the Hayes family.

Anyone who dares cooperate with the Hayes family becomes an enemy of the Drakes.”

Then he motioned to his security team to drag Olivia Hayes away.

Olivia screamed, desperate and hoarse:

“Nathan, it’s not what you think! I never schemed against you!”

“Nathan, I’m pregnant with your child! I love you—I want to spend my whole life with you! Please believe me!”

Gasps rippled through the audience, every eye widening toward the main entrance.

Private scandals of the elite were laid bare under the bright lights:

A woman trying to climb the ladder by sleeping with her brother-in-law.

Abandoning her husband.

Trading her own brother-in-law for corporate benefits.

Thrown out beyond the gates of Moonridge Estate in Beverly Hills, Olivia finally realized the full extent of the disaster. She immediately started calling me—over and over.

Unfortunately for her, I was already 30,000 feet above the clouds, on a one-way flight toward my new life.

I didn’t steal anything—I merely reclaimed what was rightfully mine.

The Hayes family simply fell back to where they were eight years ago.

Olivia rushed toward Hayes Group headquarters like a madwoman—only to find chaos waiting.

Today was Drake Enterprises’ anniversary gala, and every major media outlet in Los Angeles had shown up. Hayes Group’s massive debt had already made front-page headlines.

Suppliers and partners blocked the entrance, shouting:

“Ms. Hayes! You still owe me six million! That’s all my money! You must pay it back today!”

“My payment is three days overdue—settle it now!”

“Forget the money! I’m taking my shipments back!”

Several vendors charged toward the warehouse as they spoke.

Inside, executives and employees saw the crisis—over a hundred million still unpaid—and panic consumed them.

They rushed the finance department, demanding their wages and severance.

The entire building was in turmoil—everyone scrambling to save themselves.

At that moment, Olivia sank into bottomless terror.

It was the same as years ago—when debt collectors chased the Hayes family everywhere.

Someone swung a metal bar at her—

and Ethan Carter shielded her without hesitation.

She remembered trembling on a couch, terrified,

while Ethan—head bleeding—negotiated with each creditor,

signing every IOU, stamping every fingerprint…

She remembered him holding her, whispering:

“Olivia, it’s okay. I’m right here. I’ll protect you. Don’t be afraid.”

The world was collapsing, but she still felt safe—

because Ethan was there.

Now, she frantically called me again and again.

She issued public apologies on every social media platform:

“Ethan, I was wrong—please come back.”

“As long as you come back, I’ll listen to you.

I’ll end the pregnancy.

I’ll transfer Hayes Group to your name.

I’ll be the wife you deserve.”

…

Her apologies lasted two full weeks.

People who didn’t know the truth were moved:

“She’s such a remorseful woman—she deserves forgiveness.”

“Everyone makes mistakes. Look how devastated she is. She genuinely wants to make things right.”

Too bad I had already blocked her everywhere

and disappeared to a beautiful, peaceful town in Hawaii to rest.

Her tears only touched strangers.

I fought for someone—fought for eight years—

and I was exhausted.

All I wanted was quiet.

To breathe again.

Half a month later, unable to find me, Olivia turned to Nathan Drake:

“Nathan, forget my sister—I’m also your woman. I’m carrying your child. You can’t be so heartless.”

“It’s just 180 million dollars. Help Hayes Group through this crisis, and I’ll do anything. I’ll have the baby, I’ll obey you—whatever you want.”