I drove around the streets aimlessly until dawn began to break, then checked into a hotel.

I hadn't slept all night, and my mind was a tangled mess.

At nine in the morning, I arrived at the city hall entrance on time.

Carl didn't show up.

Instead, I received a text message from him. "Leyla, I know you're still angry. I'll give you time to calm down. The company can't function without you, and our home can't fall apart. Come back anytime when you've thought it through."

I looked at the message and sneered.

He was still so confident, assuming I couldn't leave him or that so-called "home."

Since he chose to avoid it, I would force him to face reality.

I called my assistant and had her convene all shareholders in my name for an emergency board meeting at two in the afternoon.

At one fifty in the afternoon, I walked into the conference room at Cloudius Capital.

It was already full of people. The company's veteran shareholders were all there, most of them old subordinates of my father who had watched me grow up.

Carl sat in the main seat, his face gloomy.

When he saw me enter, he only lifted his eyelids slightly, his expression complex.

I sat down in the seat next to him and distributed a prepared document to everyone.

"I called everyone here today to announce something." I paused, my gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on Carl. "I've decided to divorce Carl. And immediately remove him from all positions in the company."

As soon as the words left my mouth, the entire conference room erupted.

"What? Divorce?"

"Leyla, you're not joking, are you? At this critical moment, divorcing—what about the company?"

"Yeah, Mr. Wade has put in hard work these years if nothing else. How can you just remove him like that?"

Carl's face grew even darker, but he said nothing, only putting on a resentful expression as he looked at me.

James Henderson, who had the closest relationship with my father, slammed the table and stood up.

"This is nonsense! Do you know what period it is right now? The funding from Harson is about to come through. Kicking Carl out now—do you want the company to die?"

I looked at him calmly. "James, we don't need Harson's funding anymore."

"What?" Even Carl couldn't stay seated. "Leyla, you've lost your mind! We prepared for a whole year to get Harson's investment! And now you say we don't need it?"

I met his gaze without flinching. "Because I've found a better investor."

At that moment, the conference room door opened.

An unexpected person walked in with her legal team.

It was Cara.

She had changed into a sharp business suit, her face adorned with exquisite makeup.

She walked straight to Carl's side and said softly, "Carl, don't worry. I'm here."

Then she turned to the room and smiled slightly.

"Hello everyone. Let me introduce myself. I'm Cara Payne, and also the only daughter of the president of Harson Group."

Everyone froze.

Cara's lawyer stepped forward and placed a document on the projector.

"Everyone, this is the investment intention agreement signed between Ms. Payne and Mr. Wade. As an additional condition of the investment, Harson requires thirty percent of Cloudius Capital's shares, and Ms. Payne will join the board as the second-largest shareholder."

The conference room fell dead silent.

I looked at Carl. The resentment on his face slowly turned into mad joy.

He stood up, walked to Cara's side, put his arm around her shoulders, and looked at me with the posture of a victor. "Leyla, you thought the company couldn't survive without you? Now it seems you're the one holding the company back!"

I watched them play off each other, and the last bit of warmth in my heart vanished completely.

So this was their real goal.

Not just a simple affair, but a long-planned business takeover.

I smiled. "Carl, do you think you've won for sure?"

Carl flinched at my smile, his brows knitting tightly. "Leyla, it's come to this. I advise you to accept reality. For the sake of our marriage, I'll let you keep your fifty-one percent shares. But you must hand over operational control of the company."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cara behind him added softly. "Leyla, don't blame Carl. He's doing it for the company's good. A woman like you managing such a big company is too exhausting. From now on, just relax at home as a wealthy wife. Carl and I will take good care of the company."

Her tone was affectionate yet nauseating.

The shareholders in the room exchanged glances, the atmosphere turning subtle.

They were all businesspeople. They supported whoever brought benefits to the company.

Now it seemed Carl had tied himself to the heiress of Harson Group, with limitless potential ahead.

While I, the stubborn and impulsive soon-to-be ex-chairman's wife, appeared to be the one in the way.

James cleared his throat and spoke first. "Leyla, I think... Mr. Wade's proposal is good. Professional matters should be left to professionals. Don't worry, your dividends won't be short."

Once the first spoke, a second and third followed.

In the blink of an eye, everyone except me stood on Carl's side.

They looked at me with sympathy and persuasion in their eyes, as if I was the unreasonable and immature one.

The triumph on Carl's face grew thicker.

He pulled out a prepared share transfer agreement and pushed it toward me. "Sign it. It's best for all of us."

I looked at the agreement, then at his smug face, and suddenly felt it was all pointless.

I didn't pick up the pen. Instead, I took out my phone and dialed a number.

The call connected after just one ring.

A deep, magnetic male voice came through. "Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes," I took a deep breath, my voice trembling slightly. "I've made up my mind."

The conference room was very quiet, quiet enough to hear the voice from my phone.

Everyone's gaze focused on me, filled with confusion and curiosity.

Carl's face changed.

Jeremy Francis.

That name was a legend in the entire business world.

Starting from nothing, in ten years he built a commercial empire spanning finance, real estate, and technology.

He kept a low profile and mysterious, yet his methods were swift and decisive—an existence many admired but dared not approach.

Compared to him, Carl was like a firefly next to the bright moon.

A light chuckle came from the other end. "Good. When?"

My heart pounded wildly, my palms covered in sweat. "Now. I need you to appear at the Cloudius Capital board meeting immediately."

The entire conference room was so silent a pin drop could be heard.

Carl stared at me intently, his eyes full of disbelief and a trace of fear. "Leyla, stop bluffing! Who do you think Jeremy Francis is? You think you can just meet him because you say so?"

Cara also paled, forcing herself to say, "Exactly. Don't tell me you've hired some con artist to put on a show?"

I ignored them.

I just sat there quietly, watching the wall clock.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Five minutes.

The mockery on Carl's face became more pronounced. "Well? Where's your savior?"

The instant his words fell, the heavy double doors of the conference room were forcefully pushed open from the outside.

A tall, straight-backed man walked in, surrounded by a group of bodyguards in black.

His deep eyes swept across the room, carrying an intimidating presence that commanded respect without anger.

The conference room instantly fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden powerful aura.

The mockery on Carl's face froze, his mouth slightly open, unable to close for a long time.

Cara retreated a step in fear, her face paler than paper.

It really was Jeremy Francis.

This man who only appeared on the covers of finance magazines had actually come.

His gaze circled the conference room before finally landing on me.

When our eyes met, his were bottomless, making me feel flustered and look away.

He said nothing, only strode toward me with long steps.

His chief lawyer followed and handed a document to me. "Ms. Fuller, this is the prenuptial agreement and equity holding agreement drafted for you and Mr. Francis. Please review it."

I looked down. The terms were straightforward.

First, during the marriage, both parties' assets remained separate and independent.

Second, Jeremy Francis would personally acquire all shares of Cloudius Capital except mine and fully entrust all his shares to me for management.

Third, after three years, the marriage would automatically dissolve.

In simple terms, he would provide the money and effort to help me regain the company and get revenge.

And he wanted nothing in return.

Just to repay a favor to my father.

I picked up the pen without any hesitation and signed my name. "Done."

Jeremy nodded slightly, then turned to face the crowd that had gone dumbstruck.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried undeniable authority. "Now, I announce that effective immediately, Carl Wade is removed from all positions in the company, and we reserve the right to pursue legal action for embezzlement and disclosure of trade secrets."

Carl trembled violently, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. "No... impossible! Mr. Francis, there must be some misunderstanding! I..."

The lawyer stepped forward and slammed a thick stack of documents in front of Carl.

"Mr. Wade, these are records of funds you transferred from company accounts to Miss Payne's personal account starting three years ago, totaling thirty-seven million. Additionally, this is evidence of the email you sent last month leaking the company's latest financing plan to Harson Group. Do you have anything to say?"

Carl stared at the evidence, his face ashen, unable to utter a word.

Cara's legs went weak from fear, barely able to stand.

The other shareholders present also fell deathly silent.

They looked at me, then at Jeremy, their regrets turning their insides green.

James, who had just moments ago firmly supported Carl, now sweated profusely and stood up shakily. "Mr... Mr. Francis, we... we were deceived by Carl! We're willing to sell our shares to you! Please give us another chance!"

Jeremy didn't even glance at him. "My lawyer will discuss it with you."

Then he removed his suit jacket and draped it over my somewhat cold shoulders.

In the shocked gazes of everyone, he leaned down slightly and whispered in my ear. "Let's go, Mrs. Francis. I'm taking you somewhere."