Hearing Natalie’s threats, I didn’t even notice my hands had already clenched into fists.

Even though we were married, I couldn’t figure out why Natalie was treating me this way.

"Natalie, are you fucking crazy?"

“You’re really threatening me for some outsider?”

Anger shook through my whole body. I wouldn’t have been this mad if I didn’t love her.

It was clear to me how badly the company would be affected if they all quit at once.

"Huh? Who said he’s an outsider?”

“He’s my adopted brother. I watched him grow up. How could I let him be bullied and not stand up for him?”

“I just promoted him. Are you really going to fire him just to slap me in the face?”

When did I ever want to slap her in the face? She was really good at twisting things and blaming me for something she didn’t even understand.

“What achievements has Aiden brought to the company that he deserves such a quick promotion and raise?”

“But as I remember, not only has he achieved nothing, he’s also messed up several of my projects, causing losses to the company.”

I was already being generous for not firing this loser on the spot, yet he still had the nerve to expect a promotion and a raise? Just because they lacked sense didn’t mean I did too.

When I confronted him, Aiden’s smile slowly disappeared and he quickly turned to Natalie with a serious look.

"Natalie, did you see that?"

“He’s blaming me for a project he couldn’t even close and now he’s harassing me by making me handle another one he can’t finish, just to stop me from achieving anything.”

“This isn’t right. He's bullying."

The moment those words left his mouth, the employees started defending Aiden.

“As a boss, you always make things hard for your employees and block their promotions and raises!”

“That’s right! Instead of following a boss like you, we should go on strike and help Director Aiden get justice!”

“Yes, that’s right. Let’s all stand together and fight back!”

In an instant, the conference room filled with voices accusing me of being a heartless boss, everyone defending Aiden.

With a cold stare, I looked at everyone; all of them were unfamiliar to me.

It was during my absence that Natalie took the chance to replace my old team and bring in new people to work on her.

I could see Natalie’s ambition; she was slowly trying to replace me. I remembered when she was just a tea girl, scared of being bullied.

If she didn’t save me when I had a heart attack, I wouldn’t have taught her data management or fallen in love with her. Still, I never thought her ambition would be this high.

However, I had been through a lot in life. How could I be shaken by her followers? I picked up a resignation letter and tossed it in front of Natalie with a mocking smile.

“Scare me? But I’m not someone who gets scared.”

“If you want to quit and leave, go ahead. The door’s right there.”

As soon as those words came out, everyone froze and looked at each other in confusion.

They didn’t expect me to go off script and actually tell them to leave without hesitation.

Natalie’s face darkened instantly and the air around us grew cold with her sudden change in mood.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Threatening me just to help him is nothing but bullying. I, Mason, never bow to threats from anyone. I can walk away anytime. It’s not like the world will stop without you.”

Aiden was stunned, too, looking at Natalie in panic.

“Sister, what should I do then…”

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, he can’t do anything to you.”

Natalie stood up, walked toward me in her high heels and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“I forgot to tell you something. I have the final say in the company now.”

“I wanted to use this as a warning to make you follow my wishes and keep acting as the puppet CEO, because after all, you once helped me. But you refused to listen and chose to break up with me.”

“What do you mean?”

I looked up at her coldly, but she just smiled and patted my shoulder.

“What I mean is that I’ve already taken control of the company and bought off the shareholders. I’m the real boss of Dashville now and I can promote anyone I want. Do you understand?”

Aiden stood up in shock. “Sister… no, Natalie, is that true?”

She looked at him with deep affection and nodded. That made him rush over, grab her, pull her into his arms and kiss her. Everyone else didn’t seem surprised, only relieved about their own future.

I was annoyed. I hadn’t realized that Natalie had not only cheated on me but was also trying to take over my company.

"Aren’t you mad?"

“You’re right to be upset. I’ll be honest, Natalie and I have been together for a long time. Got it?”

“While you were away for a year on business, we spent 365 days in your bed, lost in pleasure.”

“You loser, what can you do to me now that you know?”

Everyone burst out laughing, with none showing me any respect.

Just as Natalie had said, she had taken full control of the company while I was gone and replaced everyone with her own people.

On the outside, I looked calm, but inside, my heart was in chaos. I had really underestimated her.

No wonder Aiden acted so arrogant and fearless; it was all because my own wife had given him the power to do so.

Everyone thought I was finished and no longer showed any respect to me. I threw all the resignation letters to the floor, clenched my fists and looked at the two traitors.

“How could you possibly control the company I worked so hard to build?”

“I’m still the legal representative and I haven’t signed any equity transfer papers. So tell me, how do you have the final say in my company?”

Instead of getting angry, Natalie laughed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her slim fingers and leaned against Aiden, exchanging a glance with him.

“I knew you’d ask that, so I prepared a surprise for you.”

“Everyone, come in!”

The conference room door opened once more and a group of people entered. They were shareholders, yet now their eyes were on Natalie, completely ignoring me.

“You… what are you going to do?”

A bad feeling came over me and I knew this wasn’t something simple.

“Why don’t I answer that for you? They’re here to help Natalie win the top spot and kick you out.”

Aiden said that and Natalie leaned in to kiss him. “Baby, you’ve been with me for so long! Your words and attitude are becoming more and more like mine.”

Aiden smirked at me, his eyes full of greed. “Then, when you completely take over the company, let me have the CEO position. I’ve never been a boss before!”

For a loser like him, it was already a miracle to get the director’s seat. Now he was dreaming about replacing me? What nonsense.

Natalie stood up right away, turned to the shareholders in the room and asked them to say loudly whether they supported her or me.

“Everyone, speak your minds right here in front of him, so no one can say I’m a heartless person.”

Right after she spoke, every shareholder responded together, “Of course, we support President Rodriguez!”

Those words felt like many knives stabbing into me. These shareholders had been with me for years, helping grow the small company into a listed one. We weren’t just business partners and subordinates; we were like brothers.

I had only been away for a little over a year, yet they had all been bribed by Natalie and turned their backs on me. This anger was hard to control.

“I want to know, why are you doing this? Why?”

Even though I was angry, the shareholders ignored me and answered coldly, “President Rodriguez gives us more benefits than you. We’re practical people, so we follow whoever offers the most.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at their words.

Were the benefits I gave them not enough? Whenever we signed big deals, I always shared the profits equally among everyone. I never thought about myself, only about helping my brothers earn more.

I had always put them first, yet they went behind my back and sided with Natalie.

After hearing the shareholders’ clear support, Aiden became even more arrogant and full of himself.

“Did you hear that, Mason? Your fate is sealed. Now, even your employees don’t obey you and your shareholders don’t respect you. You’re a failure.”

“You worked so hard to build this empire and now we’re the ones enjoying it.”

“What are you still sitting there for? Get out.”

“You don’t deserve that position anymore. It’s mine now.”

I completely ignored that shameless man and looked coldly at Natalie and the shareholders. No one stood by me; they were all turning against me.

“Hey, if you had just promoted Aiden like I said, would you be in this mess now?”

“Do you understand now? I can make you a CEO, or I can make you nothing.”

My control over the situation slipped through my fingers. Aiden, eager to replace me, called for the security guards.

“Mason, I’m giving you two choices: walk out on your own, or be thrown out like a dog. Choose one.”

But I was Mason and naturally, I chose neither. “Foolish! Without the equity transfer contract signed by me, what can you even do, no matter how much they betray me?”

“Oh, then let me show you this!”

Natalie tossed a company transfer contract in front of me. "You did, in fact, sign it."

“Last month, I used a little beauty trap and a bit of self-pity to fly abroad and find you. I told you how much I missed you and tricked you into meeting me. That’s when I brought a business plan and had you sign it, only the important parts.”

“So, Mason, I’ve been with you for so long. Am I better than you?”

Seeing me quiet, with veins bulging on my forehead, Aiden made things worse on purpose. “I went there that night, too. I came in after you left!”

“I never thought my gun was stronger than yours. It even got Natalie pregnant with my child.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore and lifted his fist, hitting this disgusting man.

“Damn it! You dare hit me? Come on! I’ll strip him naked and drag him out onto the street. I want everyone to see how the once-proud Mason has turned into a pathetic man.”

“Come on, come on!”

However, none of the security guards moved, which upset Natalie.

“What are you doing? Are you deaf?”

“I told you to take Mason…”

I slapped her across the face. “You got it wrong. I’m the one who helped you get to where you are and I can also send you back to being a poor waitress.”