Heather only had to drink with Colton a few times to effortlessly steal my credit. Now, it seemed clear that Colton had been planning to get rid of me for a while.

Years of marriage meant nothing compared to his first love. How ironic. Maybe it was time to leave.

At that thought, a bitterness welled up in my chest, but my face remained expressionless as I said, "Fine."

A flash of mockery crossed Heather's eyes, but she still put on a show. "Liana, I'm just a newbie. This project involves billions of dollars. How could I possibly be qualified to handle it?”

"I only offered because Colton mentioned you've been drinking with clients every day and don't have time. I just wanted to help lighten your load."

Colton smiled and patted Heather's arm. "Heather, you're an elite from Yalen University. If you can't handle it, nobody in this company can."

I laughed out loud.

The Yalen program Colton kept bragging about was actually a community college that shared a campus with the university. It just had Yalen's name attached to it.

Only Colton would treat her like top talent and pay her a premium salary to work here.

When Colton heard me laugh, his expression darkened. "Liana, what's so funny? Without me, you'd never have become Design Director with nothing but your ability to drink with clients!”

"The company's on solid ground now. If Heather hadn't spoken up for you, I would've fired you ages ago!"

I laughed coldly.

Colton seemed to have forgotten that when the company first started, I handled every single piece of business. I was the one who taught him everything I knew. To win contracts for the company, I drank with clients more times than I could count.

Now that the company was doing well, he saw me as dead weight. He even looked at me with disgust.

As Colton's words grew increasingly harsh, I took a deep breath and walked straight up to Heather.

The colleagues around us backed away, apparently worried they'd get caught in the crossfire if Heather and I started fighting, but I stayed calm.

Smiling, I pulled out a share transfer agreement from my bag. "Working on projects all the time is exhausting. Why don't I just make you the company's Design Director instead?"

In an instant, everyone in the company stared at me in disbelief. They probably thought I had lost my mind and was just saying things out of anger.

After all, my colleagues knew how much blood and sweat I had poured into this company to get to where I was today.

"Liana, don't be impulsive! If you leave the company, all those years of hard work will be for nothing!"

Colton, however, thought I was threatening him with my resignation. He said angrily, "Liana, what the hell are you doing? I'm the boss of this company. Can't I even criticize you?"

I laughed coldly again. Was this not exactly what Colton wanted to see? I was handing his first love everything I had.

My relationship with him, my position, my status, and even everything in his life that had once been mine. Shouldn’t he be happy?

Beside us, Heather clutched the share transfer agreement tightly. Her eyes were filled with desire, but she still put on an act. "Liana, are you upset because of what Colton said? Please don't misunderstand. I really just wanted to help.”

"You're the company's Design Director and a founding member. Everyone respects you. How could a newbie like me possibly accept becoming a shareholder?"

She made a show of handing the agreement back to me, but her movements were slow. Clearly, she was reluctant to let go of the windfall that had just fallen into her lap.

Seeing this, I smiled slightly and gave her a gentle push. "Why would I be upset? I couldn't be happier.”

"With such a talented graduate like you leading our company, we're bound to reach new heights. You're the perfect fit."

Colton looked at me with suspicion for several moments before snorting coldly. "Heather, if she's giving it to you, take it. With your abilities, you'd become a shareholder sooner or later anyway.”

"Since all our colleagues are here today, we might as well let everyone know the company has a new Design Director."

Finally, Heather stopped pretending. Her eyes lit up with joy as she clutched the share transfer agreement tightly.

I smiled at the sight.

Colton spent all his time fooling around with Heather. He had no idea the competition for this project was far more intense than they could imagine.

If my old mentor had not personally vouched for me after seeing my design plans, I never would have secured it.

Right now, those plans were still in my possession. I was the only one who knew them.

What was more, Heather seemed unaware that being Design Director was not so easy. She would have to take responsibility for everything in the company.

Standing off to the side, Colton watched me stand there coldly after giving both the project and the executive position to Heather. He seemed to feel he had gone a bit too far. "Fine. Since you're being so sensible, I'll let you come to today's celebration dinner.”

"Make sure you raise a glass to Heather later."

Heather spoke up with feigned difficulty. "I thought Liana had taken the day off, so I didn't reserve a seat for her. I'll give Liana my seat."

Colton immediately said with concern, "You're the star of today's event. How can you not have a seat?”

"Liana can just have a couple drinks standing up. She's used to it anyway."

Hearing Colton's words, I laughed and refused. "No need."

A flash of mockery crossed Heather's eyes, but she put on another act. "Liana, you're not still mad at Colton, are you? If you're really that upset, I'll apologize to you."

As she spoke, she moved closer with a pitiful expression on her face. Watching her over-the-top performance, I felt disgusted and gave her a light push to stop her.

To my surprise, Heather acted as if she had been hit with tremendous force. She stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground.

The next moment, Heather threw herself at Colton's legs, clinging to him pathetically.

"Colton, please don't be angry. As long as Liana feels better, she can kick me a few more times. I don't mind!"

Only then did Colton react. Furious, he pointed his finger at me. "Liana, you actually dared to hit someone! You've crossed the line! If Heather is seriously hurt, you won't be able to make up for it even if you gave your life!"

I said nothing and just gave Heather a cold look.

Panic flashed in Heather's eyes. She quickly clutched her chest and collapsed on the ground. "Colton, my heart hurts so much. I feel awful."

Colton immediately placed his hand over her heart, his eyes full of concern, while hurling abuse at me.

"You're just jealous that Heather is more capable than you, so you want to hurt her! Our company doesn't need someone incompetent and petty like you. Get out of here right now!"

Incompetent? Petty?

Fine. I wanted nothing more than to see if Heather could handle this project without me.

I turned and left.

The directors from the design institute had actually invited me to dinner today. I had planned to decline, but now there was no need to.

The project leaders had helped tremendously. No matter what, I should still show my gratitude.

I decided to go to the mall to buy two bottles of expensive whiskey, but on my way out, I ran into Colton and Heather's group.

"Liana, what are you doing here?" Colton blocked my path.

Heather's gaze fell on the bottles in my arms. She raised her voice. "Such expensive whiskey. Liana must have realized her mistake and came to apologize and beg for your forgiveness."

Hearing this, Colton's expression softened slightly.

He snorted coldly. "Smart move, but don't think I'll forgive you that easily!"

He walked up to me and said mockingly, "However, if you behave, I can give you a chance.”

"When the banquet starts, you'll perform something for everyone. Then you'll respectfully toast Heather three times. Do that, and I'll give you a chance to come back to the company.”

"Of course, after you finish toasting, you'll only be allowed to watch us eat. After all, there was never a seat for you at this banquet! Heather, take the bottles."

With that, Colton snorted coldly. Without even looking at me, he walked into the hotel on his own.

Heather stepped forward on command to take them. I moved aside. "This whiskey isn't for you."

Colton stopped in his tracks. He turned around sharply with a cold sneer. "What? Still playing hard to get? Liana, I'm telling you, the act gets old real fast."

"Exactly, Liana. Stop pretending. If you make Mr. Tiller angry later, even begging on your knees won't help," Heather said disdainfully.

The other colleagues also showed contempt on their faces.

"Stop being so stubborn. Why are you still acting high and mighty at a time like this?"

"Right! I never noticed before, but the only prominent thing about Liana is probably her big mouth!"

Colton listened to these words and looked at me arrogantly. I remained silent and cold.

Seeing this, his expression darkened. "You love putting on a show so much? Don't make me tear down your stage!"

Heather mocked, "Colton, if Liana doesn't have a stage, how will she perform for everyone later?"

Colton snorted coldly. "That's her problem! She doesn't know what's good for her. Someone take those bottles from her!"

At those words, Heather and a few male colleagues immediately walked over.

I struggled and resisted, but Heather kicked me. I stumbled, and the bottles in my arms shattered on the ground.

Heather immediately said pitifully, "Liana, no matter how angry you are, you can't throw bottles around."

Seeing this, Colton's face turned livid with anger. "Liana, I was being generous, wasn't I? And you still dare to throw a tantrum and smash bottles! You scared Heather. Apologize to her right now!"

He was furious, looking like he wanted to devour me whole.

Heather's gaze swept over me triumphantly, but she pretended to be aggrieved. "Forget it, Mr. Tiller. Liana obviously doesn't want to. Don't make things difficult for her. It's fine if I suffer a little."

This made Colton even angrier. "Don't speak up for her. If she refuses to apologize today, I'll divorce her!"

He looked at me arrogantly after saying this, wearing an expression of absolute certainty, but I had already lost faith in him a long time ago. I just clenched my fists tightly and looked heartbroken at the whiskey spilled all over the ground.

"Get on your knees and apologize! Hurry up and stop wasting everyone's time! Liana, did you hear me!"

I raised my head and looked at Colton standing before me so arrogantly. "Then let's get divorced."

"What did you say?"

Everyone was somewhat surprised to hear this. Joy flashed across Heather's face, but she quickly put on an act.

"Liana, don't be impulsive. After all, the company is about to partner with the design institute. Even though I'm the one who secured the contract, I don't mind letting you share the credit."

Hearing him say this, the colleagues chimed in one after another.

"She still has the nerve to share the credit? If you ask me, she should just leave now. Heather and Mr. Tiller are a perfect match."

"Exactly. When Mr. Tiller's status rises, a wastrel like her won't even be worthy of him."

I clenched my fists. Colton grew even more smug. "Did you hear that, you wastrel? Divorce or get down and apologize. Your choice!"

"Then let's get divorced!"

Just then, footsteps were heard from outside the door, followed by several familiar voices.

"Don't be afraid. We're all here. I'd like to see who dares bully you!"