Chapter 6
“Scarlett, it’s been three years–not three months, not three hours, not even three minutes. We’ve grown so accustomed to each other. How can you just let me go so easily?”
I remained calm.
“The world doesn’t stop spinning just because someone’s gone, Gavin. My life will move on without you. And without me holding you back, maybe you’ll be even happier.”
“No, that’s not true,” Gavin choked out, his voice trembling, as if on the verge of tears.
I frowned.
A man crying more than a woman–it was beyond distasteful. My voice hardened involuntarily.
“Let me put it bluntly. I don’t love you anymore. You’re uneducated, used up, and as worthless as a rotten cucumber. With my money, why wouldn’t I find someone younger, more handsome, and more genuine to dote on instead of you?”
Every word I said stabbed directly into Gavin’s heart like a knife.
“You…”
He seemed on the verge of coughing up blood, choking on words that couldn’t escape his throat.
Finding the conversation pointless, I ended the call.
But before hanging up, I left him with one final reminder.
“One month. Remember that deadline.”
Before Gavin could say another word, the call ended.
I hung up without hesitation.
Then, I blocked his number.
I thought my harsh words had been cutting enough–surely even someone as shameless as Gavin would stop bothering me.
But I underestimated him. Gavin was beyond shameless.
That day, as I was busy working, Gavin barged into my office.
Seeing him, I immediately shouted toward the hallway, “Who let him in here?”
Before returning to the company, I had personally issued Gavin a resignation letter.
Yet here he was, strutting in as if he still belonged.
Soon, a major shareholder of the company walked in leisurely.
With a haughty tone, he said, “It was me.”
At that moment, everything clicked.
While reviewing the company’s operations over the past three years, I had already suspected there was someone working from the inside–someone embezzling funds and undermining the business.
And now, before I could uncover the culprit, he brazenly revealed himself.
No wonder Gavin had managed to hold his position despite such terrible performance–he had support from the inside.
The shareholder needed an incompetent puppet like Gavin to help bleed the company dry.
Chapter G
I narrowed my eyes, fixing my gaze on the shareholder.
“Mr. Hudson, now that I’m back, are you sure you still want to go against me?
The shareholder chuckled.
“I admire Gavin, so I’ve chosen to stand by him!”
At this point, Gavin finally spoke, pulling me aside.
“Scarlett, give it up. Over the past three years, Mr. Hudson’s influence has seeped into every corner of the company. You should surrender. Let me talk to him–I might be able to convince him to let you stay.”
I let out a cold laugh.
“His dominance over the company right now–could it possibly be because you transferred the shares I gave you to him?”
Gavin knew how much this company meant to me. It was the empire I had but with my own hands.
After my paralysis, the first thing I did was transfer some of my shares to Gavin to help him establish a foothold in the company, so no one would question him.
But now, looking back, I realized how foolish I had been.
He had conspired with others to devour the company I had poured my heart and soul into.
Hearing my words, Gavin’s smile faltered, and anger flickered across his face.
“Scarlett, I’m trying to help you. With the shares you have now, there’s no way you can stand against Mr. Hudson!”
My expression turned icy.
“Then let’s wait and see!”
After finishing my words, I immediately instructed my secretary to “escort” them out.
Gavin, seeing my unyielding attitude, cast me a deep glance as he was pushed out.
“Scarlett, you’ll come asking for my help eventually.”
I paid him no mind.
When I first started this company, I had already faced countless doubts and criticisms.
Their opinions now didn’t matter in the slightest.
I quickly buried myself in work once more.
Perhaps Gavin assumed I would eventually cave and ask for his help, so he didn’t bother me further.
Seeing me work through the nights, surviving on just three to four hours of sleep each day, even my secretary started to feel sorry for me.
“Ms. Collins, you need to rest,” she urged.
But I didn’t stop. To pause now would mean the company’s complete collapse.
I devised a plan to make Mr. Hudson willingly relinquish his shares to me.
After a moment of deliberation, I contacted a trusted old friend.
“Target my company and monopolize our supply chain,” I said firmly.
My friend was stunned. “Scarlett, are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy,” I replied with conviction.
57.89%
Chapter 6
Since Mr. Hudson only cared about money, I would create the illusion of a company on the brink of bankruptcy.
As the shares plummeted in value, he would naturally want to sell them off in desperation.
That would be my chance to buy them back at a low price.
It was a risky move–one that might push the company to the edge of ruin.
But it was better than handing it over to someone else.
“Once this is over, I’ll do everything in my power to restore Collins Corporation to its former glory.”
My old friend trusted me.
Within an hour of our call, his company launched a full–scale attack on ours.
