I worked overtime until the early morning hours and called my driver to pick me up. She frowned the entire ride.

"You go home so late every night, and you always have me pick you up. You have no consideration for others."

I found her comment baffling.

"Wasn't all of this made clear when I hired you? The job requires you to be available at all times, and your salary is generous."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Chloe Morrison's tone turned reproachful and condescending.

"I'm concerned about you, obviously. What good man goes home at dawn every day? You're probably fooling around outside. A man should conduct himself properly. You should get off work earlier and go home to do housework and cook. That's how you win a girl over."

Her words irritated me, and my tone turned sharp. "Ms. Morrison, you're just a driver. You're not anyone to me. Don't overstep."

Chloe Morrison's expression darkened further, and she looked like she wanted to say more.

I put on my headphones and closed my eyes to rest. Only then did Chloe reluctantly shut her mouth and focus on driving. I was already exhausted from working overtime, and dealing with this only made things worse.

Chloe used to be my mother's driver, and Mom had given her glowing reviews. She drove smoothly enough that even someone like me, who got carsick easily, felt comfortable during the car ride.

That was why I asked for her to be reassigned to me after I started taking over the company and needed to travel more frequently.

When the car pulled up to my house, I got out. She suddenly grabbed my wrist. "When did you buy that watch?"

Her interrogating tone annoyed me. I pulled my hand away. "It's none of your business!"

I ignored her completely and walked straight into the house, which meant I did not catch whatever else she muttered under her breath after that.

I had just finished eating dinner in my office and was working when my phone kept vibrating. I opened it to find that Chloe had already sent me numerous messages.

I frowned and tapped on the conversation. There were countless voice messages.

"I saw a video online. That watch of yours costs over 200,000 dollars? That's more than my entire annual salary."

"Phones can tell time too. Why buy such an expensive watch? It's completely impractical and flashy."

"You're so wasteful. How are you going to support a wife after you get married..."

Every single sentence she sent left me stunned by how absurd it was.

At that moment, I reached my limit. I typed out a furious response.

[Chloe Morrison! My family pays you to be my driver, not my mother! Know your place! I'm spending my own money. Even if I did buy a watch worth several million dollars, it has absolutely nothing to do with you! Stop being so possessive over other people's money.]

My anger built with every word.

[Setting aside the fact that I'm a CEO who can support anyone without difficulty, even if I do get married, it'll be to someone from a family of equal standing—not someone who has opinions about me buying a watch!]

This was the first time I had spoken so sharply to Chloe. She opened with an apology, then continued lecturing me as if she had every right.

"My tone was a bit harsh, I admit. But you shouldn't get upset and say ridiculous things about marrying someone from an equal family just to spite me. Besides, even if you're a CEO, you still have to listen to your wife at home. Once you're married, you should be spending your money on your wife!"

"I'm saying all this because I'm thinking about your future. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't bother."

I laughed in disbelief, wondering if something was genuinely wrong with her. What absolute nonsense.

I was about to block her and fire her on the spot when my assistant sent over tomorrow's schedule confirmation.

I noticed there was an important partnership I needed to negotiate. This deal was something I absolutely had to close, and it required an hour-long drive. If I replaced my driver on short notice, I was not sure if motion sickness would keep me from performing at my best.

I closed my eyes. In the end, I did not block her. I decided to wait until after tomorrow's negotiation to find a replacement driver.

I gave Mom a heads-up about the situation and asked if she had any other skilled drivers on hand.

I told myself it was just one day—one last day of tolerating this driver with zero boundaries.

Early the next morning, I stepped outside and got into the car, only to be hit by an overpowering smell of mustard that made my eyes water.

Three disheveled men were already sitting inside.

I immediately moved to back away, but Chloe shoved me into the car from behind.

"Evan, these are my three brothers. They've been wanting to meet you, so they took an overnight train to get here."

I stared coldly at the three men in the car. They held greasy breakfast sandwiches. They were eating while shamelessly looking me up and down. Their eyes kept drifting to the watch on my wrist.

One of them blew his nose mid-bite and flicked the mucus right there in the car.

I flinched backward, terrified it would land on me.

The man grinned at me.

"I know you city folks like things clean. I'll wipe my hands right now!"

Then, he wiped his fingers directly on the edge of the leather seat. In that instant, I lost it completely.

I whirled around and glared at Chloe. "This is my car! Who gave you permission to use it without asking? Get them out!"

My expression was thunderous, and my tone ice-cold. Chloe's face stiffened slightly, but instead of apologizing, she raised her voice and accused me.

"What kind of attitude is that? They're my brothers. Show some respect! They traveled all this way to see you. Shouldn't you treat them properly? Go book hotels and restaurants right now. Book the best ones in the city."

I was genuinely shocked. How could she have the nerve to say these things? I replied without holding back, "I don't care who they are to you. They have nothing to do with me! I've never heard of hiring a driver and being expected to support her entire family too! Get them out of here right now, or I won't be polite about it! And you're fired!"

I pulled out my phone, planning to have Mom send another driver to pick me up. Chloe snatched my phone right out of my hand.

Her three brothers started pointing at me with hostile tones.

"What's wrong with you?"

The oldest brother, Jack, in the passenger seat put down his bun. His greasy fingers pointed straight at my face.

"Chloe's been waiting on you hand and foot at your house, and this is how you treat her? Our Chloe's a good, honest woman. Back in our village, men were lining up to marry her. And you want to throw her out?"

The second brother, John, chimed in, his eyes sweeping over me like I was merchandise being appraised.

"You have no manners at all!"

The third brother, Tom, slapped the seat beside him, his voice rough and loud.

"Exactly! Just look at how you dress. Anyone can tell you don't know how to live practically. Back in our town, no one would marry someone like you! You're lucky Chloe even wants you!"

Chloe held my phone, her face full of smugness, as if everything her brothers said was the absolute truth.

"Evan, listen to what my brothers are saying. They're looking out for you. You're not getting any younger. Stop being so picky and settle down with me. I'll definitely give you a big, healthy son in the future."

They were all completely insane!

"Give me back my phone!" I reached out angrily to grab it, but Chloe gripped it tightly and refused to let go.

"Promise me first. Don't fire me and don't throw a tantrum. Then I'll give your phone back."

She pushed further. "Come back to my hometown with me today. We'll finalize our marriage."

I was shaking with rage at how shameless this family was.

"Chloe, are you out of your mind? When did I ever say I'd marry you? Give me back my phone right now, or I'm calling the police!"

"The police?"

Jack scoffed.

"Cops don't get involved in lovers' spats. I think you're just guilty and don't want to treat our Chloe right."

I took a deep breath, knowing that continuing to argue with them would only waste more time.

My business partner was waiting for me. This project was critical to the company's development for the second half of the year. Nothing could go wrong.

I stopped wasting my energy on her and pulled out my backup phone to contact Mom. She said another driver would arrive shortly.

Chloe tried to snatch my backup phone.

Her three brothers kept rambling beside her. One moment, they said I should learn to help out my future brothers-in-law. The next, they said men should hand all their money over to their wives.

Then, they started prying into how much my company earned annually. Every word dripped with greed.

The car Mom arranged arrived quickly. I kicked Chloe away and got in, leaving them behind.

Once I finished negotiating this deal, I would settle accounts with them properly! However, I never expected that the moment I met with my business partner, Chloe burst in with her three brothers.

The group of them caused such a commotion that they drew stares from all directions. Chloe grabbed my arm.

"So this is what you've been doing! Sneaking around with some home wrecker! You use women and toss them aside like trash!"

The woman from the partner company froze, her smile vanishing instantly.

"What's going on here, Mr. Cross?" Pauline Harper's refined features turned cold, clearly questioning whether I took this partnership seriously.

My scalp tingled as I rushed to explain. "Ms. Harper, I sincerely apologize. These people are my driver's family. I already fired her, but I didn't expect them to follow me here and cause trouble."

"I'll have security remove them immediately."

"Who dares throw us out?" Chloe shouted at Ms. Harper. "Evan Cross is my boyfriend! Have you no shame, seducing someone else's man!"

Ms. Harper froze.

I trembled with fury and tried to shake her hand off forcefully. "Chloe, what are you talking about? Let go of me right now!"

"I'm not talking nonsense!" Chloe gripped even tighter.

"I knew something was off with you coming home so late every night. Turns out, you've been sneaking around with a mistress! Since we're about to get married anyway, I'll let it slide this time, but you're not allowed to meet with these home-wreckers anymore!"

Her three brothers closed in around us, chiming in one after another.

"Big shot CEO doing business? More like doing business in bed. I don't think you're cut out to run a company. Just hand it over to us and let us manage it for you.

"Exactly! You just need to live happily with our Chloe as husband and wife!"

More and more people gathered at the entrance, pointing at us and whispering among themselves.

Ms. Harper's expression grew darker and darker, her tone turning ice-cold. "Mr. Cross, I think we should postpone today's partnership discussion."

"Ms. Harper, please don't listen to their nonsense. This is all a misunderstanding."

Panic seized me. I immediately signaled my assistant. "Call security and get them out of here!"

"A misunderstanding?" Chloe let out a cold laugh.

"I think you're just trying to play the field and don't want to admit our relationship!"

"But I have proof! I still have all our chat records saved! And photos of us together!"

She pulled out her phone and produced several photos of us in what looked like intimate poses.

However, every single one was taken while I napped in the car. She had photographed me without my knowledge!

I was so furious I felt dizzy. She had done so many disgusting things behind my back!

I slapped her across the face.

"Call the police! I'm calling the police! You can rot in jail!

Jack suddenly rushed forward and punched me in the face.

"You dare hit our Chloe? You must have a death wish!"

The pain made me lose all reason. I shoved him away reflexively.

In the chaos, someone shoved Ms. Harper. She stumbled backward and crashed into a nearby table.

"Enough!" Ms. Harper's furious shout rang out, her beautiful face filled with anger.

"Mr. Cross, I don't think there's any need to continue discussing our partnership."

"Your people have no manners whatsoever. I truly can't imagine whether future cooperation would be equally unpleasant.

"Show them out!"

With that, Ms. Harper turned and left without looking back.

I watched her retreating figure, my heart turning to ice. This partnership had been completely ruined by Chloe and her family. However, their malice went far beyond just this!

Seeing Ms. Harper leave, Chloe looked utterly pleased with herself. "Evan, I did this for your own good. That Ms. Harper is clearly no good. Working with her would only hurt you."