He scowled and snapped, "Rebecca, you're quitting drinking? What about the company dinners? Who's going to entertain the investors? Can't your stomach wait two more years for treatment? Do you even realize how important the investment conference in two days is for the company? How can you let a minor health issue interfere with work? This is completely selfish."

I met Dr. White's surprised gaze and snorted silently in my mind.

Giselle's slight indigestion made him panic, yet my stomach ulcer—even cancer—was apparently just a minor inconvenience in his eyes.

I said, "What, the company can't run without me? Isn't Giselle here? You're always praising her work—let her handle the executives. I'm leaving, Vincent. Once I've handed over my responsibilities, I won't have anything to do with the company anymore."

Vincent's frown deepened. "You're not exactly young, Rebecca. Giselle is still inexperienced—how could I let her handle those dinners? Stop joking. At your age, do you really think any company would hire you once you leave?"

"Not exactly young," I repeated the words in my mind.

I was 35, and for eight years, I had worked for Vincent, witnessing him create an empire from nothing. In any other company, I would have been recognized as a founding member, treated with the respect and benefits that title deserved.

With Vincent, I had only the title, none of the perks. I ran the company's day-to-day operations yet earned a mere ten thousand dollars a month. Even a new intern could now easily walk over me.

For eight long years, my love for Vincent had made me turn down every opportunity elsewhere. It was my endless compromises that convinced Vincent he couldn't do without me.

As I met his expectant, demanding gaze, my resolve solidified. I had endured enough of this life.

After leaving the hospital and returning to the office, I immediately drafted my resignation. On the way back, Leona Clarke had told me that my independent office was ready, and I could start anytime.

Just as I was about to submit my resignation to HR and settle my final paycheck, Giselle suddenly called a company-wide meeting. "First, I want to thank Rebecca," she began. "Everyone should have received the 50-thousand-dollar bonus in the group chat yesterday, right?"

Just as I was reeling, unsure what Giselle was up to, she went on, "Here's another piece of good news. Rebecca is leaving. After discussing with Vince, we've decided that Rebecca's unpaid salary will be distributed to everyone as a bonus."

Anger shot through me. I snapped to my feet. "Are you out of your mind, Giselle? What gives you the right to turn my salary into a bonus for others?"

Giselle shrank back at my words, and her eyes brimmed with tears. "Rebecca, I assumed that after so many years as an executive, you'd feel a connection to everyone here. I only wanted to make your farewell a happy moment for the team, so I arranged one final bonus. I never imagined you'd refuse. Don't you see us as family?"

When the other employees heard that, they all looked at me with disapproval.

"Rebecca, Giselle was only trying to do what's best for everyone. Why are you being so harsh with her?"

"Yeah, Rebecca, we've all worked under you for so many years. Now that you're leaving, isn't it normal to give us a little benefit?"

I took a deep breath.

Just as I was about to respond, Vincent arrived, shielding Giselle, whose eyes were red from crying.

"Rebecca, you're picking on Giselle again! She only cares about the company, and you have to go out of your way to upset her. How can you be so vile? If it happens one more time, you're out of this company for good. Don't imagine your executive position gives you immunity. Gallagher Group won't tolerate someone this rotten, at any level."

Vincent's unquestioning defense of Giselle pushed me over the edge. I threw my resignation report at him. "Fool! I'm done listening to you. I quit!"

With Vincent's furious glare behind me, I walked out without a word. After leaving the company, I headed straight to Clarke Group, Leona's company, to finalize my employment.

Leona valued my skills and immediately offered me a base salary of 100 thousand dollars with no cap, plus she arranged for the company's legal team to help me recover the wages Giselle had withheld.

While I was communicating with project investors, I received a message from Giselle.

"Rebecca, I was wrong earlier. I shouldn't have taken the liberty to turn your salary into a bonus. Mr. Gallagher and I will come to settle your remaining wages and apologize in person."

Since Giselle had agreed to return my salary, involving Clarke Group's legal team was unnecessary. I breathed a sigh of relief and sent her my location.

When I got into Vincent's Rolls-Royce, Giselle was lounging casually in the passenger seat, sticking cartoon stickers onto the interior. "Rebecca, wait a second. I'm decorating the car for Mr. Gallagher—he gave me the important job of making it look cute!"

I recalled how I once tried to add a cartoon sticker to Vincent's car and was immediately rebuked. "I don't like childish things. Don't ever put something like that in my car."

It wasn't childish things he disliked—it was me.

I closed my eyes and leaned against the seat, ignoring Giselle's playful antics with Vincent in the passenger seat.

Soon, the Rolls-Royce came to a stop. I opened my eyes, only to find that we weren't at the Gallagher Group headquarters but in front of a hotel.

A sense of dread immediately rose in my chest. I refused to get out. "I thought we were just settling my salary. Why are we here?"

Vincent grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of the car. "Rebecca, Mr. Plimpton specifically requested you to entertain him. If you handle him properly tonight, I can overlook your past mistakes and let you return to Gallagher Group as an executive."

Vincent's words sent a chill straight through me. Justin Plimpton was a name I knew all too well.

At every dinner, he had tried to grope me, and each time I asked Vincent for help, he dismissed me with impatience. "You're 35 and hardly special. Why would a prominent investor like Mr. Plimpton even notice you? You're imagining things."

I struggled violently and slapped Vincent across the face. "Are you insane, Vincent? I've already joined another company! I don't care about going back as an executive. I'm not entertaining Mr. Plimpton. Let go of me!"

Vincent's jaw clenched, and his eyes turned cold.

"Stop this, Rebecca. You're 35. No other company will hire you. Just do as I say, entertain Mr. Plimpton properly, and I'll give you a raise when you return."

I kept struggling, hurling curses as I went. Vincent lost all patience, grabbed my hair, and dragged me into the private room.

Justin had been waiting in the private room for a long time. When Vincent dragged me inside, he immediately came forward, scanning me from head to toe lecherously.

Vincent grabbed a bottle of strong liquor from the table and poured it straight into my mouth. "I've brought Rebecca. How much you want to drink tonight is entirely up to you, Mr. Plimpton."

The sharp liquor burned as it slid down my throat, twisting my stomach into knots. I couldn't stop gagging, but Vincent showed no hint of mercy.

Justin's lecherous gaze lingered over Giselle and me. Suddenly, he slammed a bank card onto the table. "I can invest 100 million dollars in your company, but one of the two women you brought tonight has to stay with me for the night."

In a flurry, Vincent pushed Giselle behind him and shoved me forward.

My head buzzed as I struggled to break free from Vincent's grip. "Giselle's too young! Don't even think about her. As for Rebecca, do whatever you want with her. She's old enough anyway."

Tears streamed down my face as I cried out, "Vincent, you monster! I've stood by you for eight years!"

A flicker of guilt passed through him before he turned away, refusing to face me.

"Rebecca, for the company's sake, help me one final time. You've always loved me above all else, haven't you?" he asked.

Before I could react, Vincent ignored my struggles and dragged me up to the suite. The door slammed shut behind me. As Vincent took Giselle away, despair overwhelmed me, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

Justin loomed over me with a twisted, savage grin, and the foul, suffocating stench of him pressed in.

Just as I was about to give in to hopelessness, the door burst open. "Rebecca! Are you alright?"

Justin was flung aside, hitting the floor with a terrified grunt. Relief surged through me, and my body finally surrendered. I passed out.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Leona's face was etched with concern as she said, "I heard you went to Gallagher Group to collect your paycheck. I knew things hadn't gone smoothly when you left Gallagher Group, so I was on my guard, but I never imagined Vincent could do something so monstrous!"

Leona's indignation filled me with warmth, yet the anger inside me burned uncontrollably.

Gallagher Group's influence was overwhelming. Even if I went to the police, it would be useless. Vincent would suppress everything. The only way I could take revenge was at tomorrow's investment conference. I had to crush Gallagher Group there.

Noticing the shift in my expression, Leona gently patted my shoulder. "Don't worry. I've already arranged everything for tomorrow. Gallagher Group won't walk away with a single deal. Once it's over, Vincent will be forced to dump his shares."