If she hadn’t been holding my father’s urn, I never would have tolerated her.

“How does it feel, sis? Do you wish me dead?”

“Everything you once owned is slowly becoming mine.”

“Madison, I already sold you my shares. Now give me back my father’s urn as promised.”

“Hahaha, Olivia, you really are hopelessly naïve. With that level of intelligence, you dare to read The Art of War? What’s mine stays mine. Why would I return it to you?”

“You… you…”

“Want to know who tipped me off about your stock?”

The conference room door opened, and in walked a devastatingly handsome man in a perfectly tailored suit. His presence was enough to make women swoon.

He was none other than my fiancé, Ethan Carter.

I moved toward him for comfort, but he avoided me, his lips twisting into a mocking sneer.

“That person was me. After leaving you last night, I couldn’t wait to tell Madison.”

Madison? The way he said her name so smoothly told me everything. They weren’t just allies—there was something more.

“Ethan, what are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m Madison’s man now.”

“The only reason I stayed this long was to wait for this opportunity. Now that I’ve helped her, why would I still lower myself for you?”

So that was it. While I thought I’d treated him generously—as the daughter of Scott Enterprises, admired by every man in New York City—he saw himself as suffering under me.

Madison handed him the urn.

“Baby, here’s her father’s ashes. If you want revenge, do whatever you like.”

“Madison, don’t you dare!”

“Ha! Why not? That old man’s already dead. Even if I scatter his ashes, who’s going to stop me?”

“You’re not afraid I’ll tell Mother?”

“Please. I’ll just say you did it yourself. These people won’t contradict me. Isn’t that right?”

Everyone looked at each other before answering in unison, “Yes.”

“You…”

“Sorry, Olivia, we had no choice. If we side with you, Richard Stone will crush us. People die for money, birds for food—you know how it is.”

Fine. Very fine.

Madison stared at the rising numbers on the screen, her smile widening.

“Now I’ve not only multiplied my money, I’ve also secured the heir position. Best of all, I’ve won the man I love.”

She wrapped herself around Ethan and kissed him passionately in front of everyone. The board members turned away, blushing in embarrassment.

On the surface, I kept calm, but inside my fury roared. My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles cracked.

To be betrayed by the man I loved most—what woman wouldn’t burn with rage?

“Enough kissing. I’m carrying your baby, remember? If we get carried away again, who knows what might happen?”

“Baby, really?”

“Of course.”

“You’re amazing. I swear, once I take it all, I’ll give you the grandest wedding anyone’s ever seen.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up at her words. He turned to me, his gaze full of disgust.

“Olivia, I’m canceling our engagement right now. I’m going to marry Madison and make her my wife.”

I stared at the two of them coldly. If that was his choice, then he had no right to regret it later.

“Fine. But return my father’s urn.”

Madison stubbed her cigarette out on the urn, sneering.

“You want it? Then get on your knees and beg.”

“Don’t push me too far.”

I wanted nothing more than to beat that shameless, vile woman to the ground. She had no ability of her own—only tricks and a man to hide behind.

“I’ll push as far as I like. What can you do about it? Kneel, or don’t.”

“Sweetheart,” Ethan said, “why waste it by scattering ashes? Feeding them to a dog would be way more fun.”

“Baby, you’re brilliant.”

Someone in the room couldn’t hold back.

“Madison, that’s still Olivia’s late father. This isn’t right!”

“Yeah, if Mrs. Scott finds out—”

“Shut up! Do I need you to teach me how to handle things?”

“When I take over Scott Enterprises, forget Olivia—even her mother will be under my heel. Anyone else who talks back can get the hell out.”

The room fell silent, everyone too afraid to speak.

I understood their position. I couldn’t blame them.

“Fine. I’ll kneel. But if you break your word, I’ll fight you to the end.”

I pulled out a knife and drove it into the wooden chair with a thud.

Madison grinned wickedly. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? I remember when I first came into the Scott family, you looked down on me like I was trash. I swore then that one day I’d take everything from you and grind you under my feet.”

“Heh. A beggar taken in and saved, yet instead of gratitude, she lusts after her benefactor’s fortune.”

If I hadn’t taken her in, her corpse would have been torn apart by wild dogs. She’d have no chance to flaunt herself like this today.

Still, I sank to my knees, praying she wouldn’t desecrate my father’s ashes—or worse, feed them to a dog.

But things never go as you hope. Ethan ordered his men to bring in a dog.

I glared at him with pure hatred. “Ethan, don’t you dare.”

“Ha, why should I listen to you?”

The dog was brought in. That’s when I realized the cruel truth: no matter what I did, they would never spare my father’s ashes.

I rushed forward and landed a punch on Madison, but they had too many people. We fought, but I was quickly restrained.

The conference room was chaos, but none of the others dared step in. Only Grace fought at my side, and she was soon pinned down too.

Summoning all her strength, Grace broke free and threw herself at Madison. “Olivia, run!”

Madison, furious, pummeled her with fists.

“Old hag, get out of my way!”

“Hahaha, go to hell, you worthless beggar. Even in a crown, you’ll never be a princess.”

Tears welled in my eyes at Grace’s loyalty. I reached out for the urn, but Ethan slammed an ashtray into my head.

Dizziness swept over me as Ethan sneered, “So devoted, huh? Then keep those eyes wide open and watch your father’s ashes get fed to a dog.”