Wendy and I dated for five years, but I was never the most important person to her even though I had obediently complied with her every wish and had even fractured three ribs to protect her during an earthquake.

At the time, she cried and swore to me that she would love me forever and that no one was more important to her…

But right after that, she left me alone in the hospital bed to comfort Jason, who had twisted his ankle.

During the month or so I spent alone recovering, she went on a holiday trip with Jason. She did not even send me a text to ask how I was doing.

At that time, blinded by love, I turned a blind eye to the ridicule and mockery, stubbornly believing that we would have a happy ending.

But on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, reality dealt me a heavy blow.

Recalling Jason's triumphant expression, my stomach churned.

But I couldn't throw up, only managing a pathetic dry heave.

Just then, my assistant called.

"Mr. Yates, because you called off the marriage, there are now negative rumors about you all over the internet. It has seriously affected the company's stock price..."

I quickly browsed the internet on my phone.

What greeted me was the latest trending news.

[Leslie Yates calls off wedding on a whim, suspecting bride of cheating with foster brother!]

The comments section was filled with ridicule.

[Everything he sees is dirty because he has a dirty mind. How did a disgusting man like him become a CEO?]

[He must be delusional, right? He's actively cuckolding himself!]

[Let's boycott the disgusting man's company! People who betray sincere love deserve to be punished!]

I trembled in anger and laughed when I read the ridiculous comments.

If people who betray sincere love deserve to be punished, then Wendy deserved to go to hell.

Just then, Wendy suddenly called me.

As soon as I answered, I heard her smug voice.

"I told you, if you dared to walk out on me, it's over for you! Consider this a small lesson. If you come back right now and get on your knees to apologize, then transfer 20% of the Yates Group's shares to my brother as compensation, I'll forgive you. Otherwise..."

"Leslie, this is supposed to be a happy occasion for you and my sister! Don't make her wait! Hurry up and come over to apologize! Oh, by the way, that Vacheron Constantin in your collection is pretty decent. You should give it to me as compensation too!"

"Get lost!"

After spitting out those cold words, I hung up. I then hurried to the company.

But when I arrived at the company, Wendy was already waiting for me in the conference room. She solemnly announced the cancellation of the partnership between the two companies.

"I will not cooperate with a company controlled by a criminal, and I certainly don’t want to marry him. Additionally, my brother, Jason Sanders, will be the deputy CEO of the Sanders Group from now on. Leslie Yates is dismissed."

I stood at the door of the conference room, watching Jason excitedly hug and kiss her.

The bitterness in my heart could barely be contained.

I suppressed the surging emotions within me and coldly strode into the conference room.

"You're an outsider here, Wendy Sanders. What right do you have to run wild at my company's board meeting without me present? Also, do I have to remind you that spreading false rumors is against the law?!"

Wendy looked at me and snorted.

"Instead of arguing with me, Leslie, you should think long and hard about how to explain things to the police later. After all, the fact that you pressured your employees to the point of suicide for the sake of increasing performance is now common knowledge!"

Jason added gloatingly, "Leslie, you shouldn't have been so ungrateful. Now, my sister will take over the Yates Group and give it to me as compensation!"

Ignoring his smug face, I turned to Wendy and stared at her with bloodshot eyes.

She knew the company was the only thing my parents left me, but in order to make Jason feel better, she wouldn't even hesitate to frame me and send me to jail.

What a touching love story.

My furious face made Wendy laugh.

"Humiliating, isn't it? All these years, when I was being humble and submissive in front of you, this was how I felt! Now, you get to experience it too!"

As I looked coldly at Wendy, the last trace of hope in my heart faded.

The air of superiority she currently put on was a stark contrast to the humble and pleading look she had when she sought my help all those years ago.

The love I had poured into her over the years had transformed her from someone weak and insecure into a bold and proud person.

Little did I know, all she felt for me was endless resentment.

It was said that the first thing a cripple would do upon recovering was to throw away their crutches. I, the person who had witnessed her most embarrassing moments, should have exited the stage long ago.

I was taken to the police station, but I was out in a mere five minutes.

When I saw the abusive private messages that the public sent me, I immediately called my assistant.

"The collaboration with the Sanders Group is off; we've split off all the projects. I’ve clarified everything with the police. Withdraw all financial investment in the Sanders Group immediately. I don’t want to see the Sanders again!"

Upon receiving my orders, the public relations department of the Yates Group quickly sprang into action.

They posted a video of the wedding day online, exposing the truth.

The people who had previously attacked me online realized they had been played and redirected all their anger onto Wendy.

Even though she tried to come forward to explain, it was to no avail.

While I was busy cleaning out the internal traitors in the company, Wendy started to stir up trouble again.

She publicly livestreamed her accusations against me.

[All you see in public is how much Leslie Yates loves me, but what you don’t realize is that every moment I was with him, I was under tremendous pressure!]

[He’s already so wealthy, yet he still forced me to run a business myself. If he had truly cared for me, he should have let me relax at home instead of forcing me to learn about something as boring as finance!]

[If it weren't for Jason's support, I would’ve broken down long ago! I hereby declare that my brother, Jason Sanders, will take over the Sanders Group in the future!]

I scoffed as I watched her tearful accusations.

Years ago, she cried and told me that she felt useless and wanted to improve herself.

Therefore, I spent a large amount of money hiring a personal tutor and paid to get her into a top college.

Now, these acts were twisted into evidence of my supposed abuse of her.

Just as I was about to close the livestream to avoid the eyesore, my phone was bombarded with messages from my assistant.

[Mr. Yates, all resources for the collaborative projects between the two companies have been seized by the Sanders Group!]

[Several key technical employees have also been poached by the Sanders Group. Because of this, our major projects are stalled, and our company is in chaos!]

[Not only that, Ms. Sanders has also taken away the immunity injection for your grandfather that took you seven years on the waiting list to obtain! Your grandfather is now fighting for his life in the hospital!]

My fingers turned white gripping my phone. I angrily went to Wendy to confront her.

"Wendy Sanders, I've already canceled our wedding! How could you seize resources from a cooperating company? Do you have no shame?"

Wendy was not wearing her usual professional suit and was instead in a red dress. She remarked casually, "In the business world, everyone relies on their own ability. I beat you fair and square. Don’t blame me for your incompetence! Instead of yelling at me, shouldn't you spend time with that old man? Without the immunity injection, he might not make it to next week…"

Smack!

With a single slap, I knocked Wendy to the floor, then glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

"You think you can just take what belongs to me and use it as you please? Dream on!"

Wendy stood up holding her face and looked at me with contempt.

"All you can do now is throw a tantrum. Excuse me, I have a press conference to attend with my husband, I don't have time to waste on you."

Her eyes were full of disdain, as if she couldn't even stand looking at me for one more second.

Jason hurried over and looked at me smugly.

"Don't mind him, Wendy. Of course he would be mad. His company is about to go bankrupt and his only family member is in critical condition. How is he supposed to live when he's broke and all alone?"

He then turned to me and said, "Tell you what, I'll show you some kindness. I'll let you clean our mansion. At least you won't starve."

I gave Jason a cold smirk, then ran up and punched him in the stomach.

Did he really think I wouldn’t notice his little trick?

Jason lay on the floor clutching his belly and moaning in pain.

"Leslie, how could you?! You want to kill me just because I like Wendy? I’ve waited for her for ten years, I'll never let go of her. Kill me if you dare!"

Before he even finished speaking, Wendy slapped me, grabbed my hair and smashed my head against the wall.

My vision quickly turned crimson as blood streamed down my forehead. I became a mess.

Wendy carefully helped Jason up and gently rubbed his stomach.

"Leslie, I’m going to call the cops and have you arrested for assault! You got off easy last time, but I won't let you off this time! You can reflect on your actions in prison!"

Jason looked at me challengingly.

"Wendy, it's okay. We'll get dragged into it too if you call the cops, so it's not worth it! I have a suggestion. If Leslie kneels and bows his head three times to me, I'll forget about this."

Wendy's eyes lit up at the suggestion.

"Do you hear that, Leslie? Jason is giving you a way out. You should be grateful!"

I scoffed.

"Get lost!"

Wendy's expression immediately stiffened. She glared at me with resentment.

"Fine! Leslie, don’t forget, I control your grandfather's life!

"Notify the PR department; I’ve decided to auction this injection live. The highest bidder wins!

"Mr. Yates, you better hurry back and prepare funds. After all, the highest bidder wins. Your grandfather might die because you don’t have enough money!"

I looked coldly at Wendy as she strutted into the live broadcasting room, my fists clenched tight.

Wendy gave me a smug glance and said seriously, "From now on, the Sanders Group and the Yates Group are completely separate. I’m willing to take over any projects you’re collaborating on with the Yates Group at ten times the price. From now on, anyone who cooperates with the Yates Group is an enemy of the Sanders Group!"

I merely found Wendy's threat laughable.

I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my assistant.

"She wants to take over all our projects, right? Tell all the departments to get ready. Start withdrawing all our investments in the Sanders Group now!"

Three minutes later, Wendy, who was narrating their sweet love story in the live stream, suddenly screamed upon seeing a text on her phone.