Chapter 2Her Grand Show, My Blaze

The next morning, I discharged myself against medical advice, signing the waiver form before the doctor could protest further.

Today was Aura Financial’s annual investment summit, an event Ava had spent over six months preparing for. The biggest players in the financial sector would all be there.

And the highly praised "star projects" Aura had secured over the past two years, totaling nearly thirty million dollars in investments, were actually funded by me through the Ashford Group, channeled through seven layers of offshore shell companies.

She had no idea.

She genuinely believed she had married an average guy who relied on her for financial support.

At last year's company gala, she had raised her glass and joked to the crowd, "My husband’s greatest talent is knowing how to cook."

The room had erupted in laughter.

I had sat there in the audience, smiling and clapping for her.

What a pathetic fool I was.

At the International Convention Center, crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant glow over flowing champagne.

The staff at the registration desk recognized me instantly. As the CEO’s husband and the punchline of last year's gala, I was let in without a single question.

Ava stood on the stage in a sharp red blazer, looking radiant and confident.

Standing right beside her was Tristan, the delicate young man from last night's post.

Tristan, dressed in a tailored suit, was eagerly handing her documents, occasionally leaning in to whisper in her ear.

The crowd murmured in approval.

Holding a glass of champagne, I walked up the side stairs and onto the stage.

Every eye in the room immediately locked onto me.

Ava’s face darkened instantly. "Jack, what are you doing here? Who let you up?"

"I brought you a gift."

I signaled to Justin. He immediately stepped up and handed me a thick stack of original contracts.

With the entire audience watching, I pulled a silver lighter from my pocket.

The click of the ignition echoed as a flame flickered to life. I lit the first contract.

"Jack! Are you insane?!" Ava’s voice cracked, her composure shattering. "Those are company contracts! The originals!"

Ignoring her, I set the second one on fire.

"Didn’t you say you hated superficial gestures?"

The third one caught fire.

"Didn't you say only brainless, show-off rich people throw money away?"

The fourth one turned to ash.

"Does a three point eight million dollar firework show count as brainless?"

The flickering flames illuminated Ava's face, turning it incredibly pale.

I spoke directly into the microphone, my voice so calm it even surprised me.

"Tell me, Ava. Was the multi-million-dollar show beautiful?"

The room fell into a dead silence.

The contracts burned to ashes, fluttering down onto the crimson carpet.

Ava’s chest rose and fell rapidly. She was a businesswoman first and knew she couldn't lose her temper in public.

But Tristan couldn’t help himself. His eyes welled with tears.

He pushed past Ava and rushed in front of me, pointing a trembling finger at my face.

"Mr. Ashford, who do you think you are?"

"You’re just a kept man living off Ava’s hard work! What do you know about investments? What do you know about business?"

"Ava poured six months of her life into this! This is the livelihood of hundreds of employees! Can you even begin to pay for the damage you’ve caused?!"

"You are incredibly out of line!"

His spit practically flew in my face.

I tilted my head, looking down at him coldly.

"And who are you? Did I speak to you? Know your place."

Tristan froze.

I turned my gaze back to Ava. "By the way, your beloved assistant is fired."

Tristan’s face flushed red. "Fired by you?! You think you have the authority? Who do you think..."

A sharp crash cut him off.

Ava slammed her crystal glass onto the stage, sending shards flying everywhere.

She marched over, shielding Tristan behind her, her eyes icy as she glared at me.

"Jack."

"What right do you have to fire my people?"