When we first met, the proud and sharp-tongued Natalie feared my CEO's parents would look down on her. So, in front of them, she deliberately acted brash and unruly, trying to show that she wasn’t some gold-digger chasing wealth.

When we started discussing marriage, Natalie demanded that my family give her 88.8 million in cash and transfer 30% of our company’s shares to her maternal half-brother—while her own dowry consisted of just two quilts.

Naturally, my parents refused. Natalie then cried, accusing them of looking down on her, and forced me to choose between her and my family.

Blinded by love, I chose her without hesitation. I turned my back on everything—my name, my family—for her.

Looking back now, I realize how foolish and unfilial that decision was.

Hearing my father’s weak coughs over the phone, my heart ached with guilt.

“Dad, I’ve decided to divorce Natalie.”

“I’ll cut all ties with her company. From now on, we’ll be strangers—completely separate lives.”

He was stunned at first but quickly understood the gravity of my words. After a pause, he said with conviction, “It’s best to stop the bleeding early. If this is your decision, I’ll support you without hesitation.”

“I’ll inform the finance team to pull all investments from Natalie’s company immediately.”

As I stood there, still absorbing his words, he added something that struck me to the core.

Three years ago, when Natalie’s company faced a crisis and hovered on the brink of bankruptcy, a mysterious angel investor stepped in.

That investor—was Whitmore’s.

Afraid that I would object out of pride, my father never told me. He quietly funneled a massive investment into Natalie’s company to save it from collapse.

Only today did he finally tell me the truth.

After hanging up, guilt and sadness churned in my chest. I couldn’t settle my emotions for a long time.

By the time I got home, it was already deep into the night.

When I opened the door, I saw Natalie lying lazily on the sofa, one shoulder bare. Brandon, wearing my home clothes, was kneeling beside her, massaging her waist and legs like he owned the place.

“Brother-in-law, you’re finally home,” Brandon said with a mocking smile. “You disappeared during the annual meeting. President Cross looked all over for you. She called, but your phone was off. Next time, leave a message. Don’t make her worry so much.”

Natalie didn’t even open her eyes. She gave a cold snort. “Lucas Whitmore, if you were half as attentive as A Ye, maybe our life wouldn’t be so dull.”

I had been on my way to the study, but her words made me stop. I turned to her.

“In that case, let’s divorce. You can go ahead and live with him openly.”

My tone was steady, almost too calm. But Natalie shot up from the couch, glaring at me.

“Lucas, are you insane? How dare you talk to me like that?”

“You can’t compare with Brandon at work, and you’re dull and uninteresting at home. I criticize you a little and you throw a tantrum? Take a good look at yourself—do you still think you’re the precious heir of the Whitmore family?”

Yes, I had aged more than five years in the span of just a few.

Not long ago, I pulled several all-nighters for a major project. I hadn’t even had time to shave. Compared to Brandon, polished and fresh-faced, of course I looked worn out.

But Natalie knew well that breaking ties with my parents was my deepest pain—and still, she stabbed there without mercy.

It felt like she was cutting straight into my heart.

I inhaled deeply and met her eyes.

“I’m serious. I hope you’ll reflect on this carefully.”

“Reflect on what? What exactly do you want me to think about?”

Natalie snapped, irritated.

“You just want to go against me, don’t you? Can’t you see how hard I work every single day?”

"You’re in charge of the company during the day, and I finally get a break when I’m home. I just let Brandon keep me company for a while. Why are you being so petty and stirring up trouble?"

She slammed the table, as if genuinely enraged.

Brandon rushed to get warm water and gently helped Natalie drink it.

"Lucas, be honest—can you even compare to Brandon? If I relied on you to care for me, I’d have died of frustration by now!"

Even now, Natalie couldn’t resist tearing me down while praising him.

Brandon added with false modesty, "Come on, brother-in-law, try to be more like me. There’s nothing between Sister Natalie and me—why embarrass yourself over this?"

He clicked his tongue and gave me a look full of condescending pity.

But neither of them noticed how tightly my fists were clenched.

I couldn’t even remember when Brandon had become so brazen in front of me.

Maybe it started the day he stopped being a security guard and became Natalie’s assistant.

Or maybe it was when she first brought him into our home?

"Why are you still just standing there? Go make some hangover soup!"

Natalie kept shouting orders.

"And how many times have I told you that Brandon is allergic to alcohol? Can’t you remember something so simple?"

"I’m begging you, big brother. This is all you’re good for—can you just do it properly for once?"

She held her forehead, looking at me like I really was the useless burden she always accused me of being.

But aside from my relentless effort at work all these years, I also had the full support of Whitmore Group behind me.

What right did Natalie have to belittle me?

While I was lost in thought, Brandon suddenly spoke again.

"Sister Natalie, maybe my presence is what upset my brother-in-law. I should go."

He stood up, feigning guilt, and lowered his head like he was preparing to leave.

But Natalie reached out and yanked him back.

"Sit down! This has nothing to do with you."

She shot me a sharp glare.

"Tonight, I’m going to fix that arrogant attitude of yours, Lucas!"

At an angle Natalie couldn’t see, Brandon smirked and flashed me a middle finger.

“Brother-in-law, I know I’ve got my little flaws, but it’s your fault for disobeying and upsetting Sister Natalie. Guess you’ll just have to put up with me for now.”

He sat back down and resumed massaging her shoulders.

After everything I had just witnessed, I suddenly felt an unexpected calm.

People change.

The Natalie I once gave up everything for—the one I risked my entire future to love—is no longer the person standing in front of me.

"I’ll have my lawyer contact you about the divorce."

I gave her one last look, then turned to leave.

Through the reflection in the glass door, I caught a glimpse of Natalie’s stunned expression.

"Lucas! If you dare walk out that door, don’t ever come back!"

Bang!

I responded to her threat by slamming the door shut behind me.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep that night.

But to my surprise, it turned out to be the most peaceful night I’d had in years.

No company deadlines. No need to cater to Natalie’s moods. No more pretending not to see through Brandon’s fake humility.

For the first time in a long while, I felt what it meant to live for myself.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a string of phone calls.

“Mr. Whitmore, get to the company ASAP! Director Knox is coming for a surprise inspection today—he said he wants to personally review your group’s projects!”

It was a call from the manager of another project group.

I frowned. Brandon was making a complete fool of himself.

Did a former security guard really think he became a true director just by having the title?

After hanging up, I got up, washed at a relaxed pace, and didn’t drive to the office until past ten.

On the way, my phone nearly exploded with calls—almost all of them from members of my project team.

The moment I stepped into the company, I sensed something was off.

The looks people gave me were strange, filled with gloating or contempt.

"Still pretending? Just wait till Director Knox settles scores with him!"

"Let it go—he's done for. Probably doesn’t even realize he’s now a general without an army!"

"Serves him right for hogging all the credit. Luckily, Director Knox was smart enough to plant someone beside him early on!"

The whispers around me made no sense at first.

But I picked up my pace and rushed to the office—only to discover everything had changed.

Brandon sat there with a cigarette between his lips, surrounded by several bottles of imported liquor.

My deputy—the deputy manager of the project team—was lining up with the others to toast him, eager to prove their loyalty.

"Director Knox, it was your brilliant strategy that helped us stand out in the company’s recent partnerships!"

"On behalf of the whole team, I salute you!"

"I’ll drink it all—whatever you say, sir!"

He downed the wine in one gulp, and the rest followed suit like trained dogs.

It wasn’t until Brandon called my name that anyone even noticed I had arrived.

"Oh? Manager Whitmore, you finally made it?"

He grinned mockingly at me.

I ignored him and barked at the group: "Who allowed you to drink during office hours? Don’t you all have work to do?"

Some of them instinctively started to scatter, but the deputy held them back.

"Did you all forget what I just said? All the results were achieved by Director Knox! Lucas? He’s just a glory thief!"

He scoffed loudly.

Before I could respond, a few long-time employees I had personally mentored suddenly stood up.

"Exactly! Don’t be afraid to speak out—Director Knox has our backs!"

"Yeah! If we stick with him, there’s still money to be made!"

Even the old guard was siding with Brandon.

Honestly, I was a little taken aback.

In my mind, Brandon was still the struggling young man who once knelt and thanked me for giving him a job in security.

Back then, he was jobless and aimless. One day, he helped catch a stalker who had been following a female colleague.

He came to me afterward and pleaded sincerely for a security post.

I hired him out of sympathy.

I never imagined that I’d end up raising a snake that would bite me in return.

"Manager Whitmore, looks like you came at the wrong time?"

Brandon taunted me with a grin.

I glanced at him coldly.

"You really believe that just by claiming the credit, it actually becomes yours?"

My expression remained flat, unshaken.

Brandon clicked his tongue and chuckled smugly.

"Why don’t you test that theory?"

He was fearless in his provocation.

His arrogance amused me more than it angered me.

"Forget it. I was already planning to resign," I said calmly. "The only reason I came in today was to ask—who among you is willing to follow me and start fresh elsewhere?"