Chapter 3Reborn: I Set My Husband Free

I walked into the Stanton Corporation headquarters, holding a proposal for the North District development project.

The elevator doors opened, and I found myself face-to-face with Liam.

"Sarah Paltrow?"

Behind him, Ashley looked up at me. They were both decked out in ski gear, a brand owned by Stanton Corp. I knew one of Adrian's subsidiaries was looking for influencers to be brand ambassadors; I just hadn't expected it to be them.

I gave a curt nod in greeting and moved to step into the elevator.

Liam blocked my path. "How did you know I'd be here?"

"Sarah," he said, his voice laced with annoyance, "I just got back in the country, and you're already chasing me. Can't you just leave me alone?"

Ashley clung to Liam's arm, her eyes full of smug satisfaction. "Sarah, you were so dramatic about leaving him. Why are you chasing him now? Liam and I are doing great. I heard things aren't going so well for you, though?"

"I heard the Paltrow family business is on the brink of collapse?" she asked, looking me up and down with the disdain one reserves for a failure.

"Oh, Sarah, you're so pathetic. Your family's business is gone, you're getting old, you've never even seen the world, and now Liam doesn't love you anymore. Why don't you come be our assistant? We could even pay you a little extra."

I looked at them as if they were a pair of fools. Had all that traveling knocked their brains loose? The Paltrow Corporation had been restructured and rebranded ages ago. The "Paltrow business" they were talking about was just a small subsidiary I'd left for my younger brother to practice on.

"No, thank you," I said calmly. "I'm doing just fine."

I tried to move past them to press the elevator button. But Ashley was relentless. She waved at the receptionist. "Does Stanton Corp just let anyone in? Does this woman even have an appointment?"

The receptionist hurried over. "Miss Paltrow does have an..."

Ashley cut her off. "So what if she has an appointment? I was personally invited here by Mr. Stanton himself. If you offend me, I'll have him fire you!"

Liam chuckled beside her. "Exactly. Besides, this 'Miss Paltrow' isn't really here to see Mr. Stanton. She's just trying to harass me. I can handle this for him."

He then pulled out an old photo of us from his wallet and showed it to the receptionist as if it were proof.

"Sarah, you really went to great lengths to find me, even booking an appointment with Mr. Stanton. It's pathetic," he said. "If you have something to say, let's take it outside. Don't embarrass yourself here."

The receptionist's gaze wavered. "Miss Paltrow, perhaps it would be best if you left."

I felt a knot of frustration tighten in my chest. I couldn't believe how these two could so brazenly impose their own narrative on a situation and be so utterly self-righteous about it.

I turned to the receptionist. "Please call Mr. Stanton's secretary and authorize the private executive elevator for me."

She looked at me, hesitating. "Miss Paltrow, you only have an appointment with Mr. Stanton. The executive elevator is for... well, executives."

"Besides," she added, her suspicion growing, "if you're really just here to see Mr. Miller, you don't actually need to see Mr. Stanton at all."

Ashley snorted. "Sarah, stop pretending. Your family is practically bankrupt. You have no business using the executive elevator."

The commotion was attracting attention from other clients waiting in the lobby. Their whispers were loud enough for us to hear.

"Who does she think she is? Trying to use Mr. Stanton's private elevator?"

"Probably another gold digger. Even though Mr. Stanton is engaged, he still attracts them like flies."

The audience seemed to fuel Liam and Ashley's performance. Their voices grew louder.

"Sarah, I know we had a past, but can you please stop harassing me here? Even though I have a good relationship with Mr. Stanton, I can't just let you cause a scene!"

"There's a coffee shop outside. Let's talk there."