Chapter 2The Scent of Independence

Mia was still waiting for me at the end of the hallway. Seeing me come out, she quickly stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. Her fingertips were ice-cold and forceful: "Ms. Jenkins, give me a few minutes. We need to talk."

I originally wanted to just shake off her hand and leave. But the moment my fingers touched her sleeve, Carter's ridiculous excuse about "corporate image" flashed through my mind.

Oh, so he cares about his reputation? He cares about corporate prestige? Then I'll rip off his fig leaf and make sure his mistress can't show her face in public. Let's see if he can still stubbornly refuse a divorce after that.

A cold smile spread across my eyes. I twisted my wrist to break her grip and brushed off imaginary dust from my sleeve: "Sure, let's talk. But let's change locations."

Without waiting for Mia's reaction, I walked straight to the lounge area by the elevators.

Employees of Sterling Group were constantly passing by. The door to the breakroom was half-open, and I could faintly see people moving inside.

Mia's face changed slightly, seemingly surprised I picked such a public place. But she gritted her teeth and followed me.

She tried to put on a weak, wronged act: "Ms. Jenkins, I know you're very upset right now, but Carter and I truly love each other. He treats me..."

"Truly?" I cut her off directly. My voice wasn't loud, but just loud enough for people to hear: "True love means using your position as an intern to leech off someone else's husband and cry in his arms?"

Mia's face instantly went deathly pale. Her eyes darted around in panic, and she reached out, trying to cover my mouth: "Stop talking nonsense!"

"Nonsense?" I sidestepped her hand and pulled my phone from my bag. "Do you need me to post the video of you and Mr. Sterling being all lovey-dovey in his top-floor office into the company group chat, and let everyone judge for themselves?"

Employees nearby had already slowed their pace. Mia's face flushed a deep red: "You... you're going too far!"

"Too far?" I took a step closer, lowering my voice: "When you were stealing someone else's husband and acting like the lady of the house as a mistress, why didn't you say you were going too far?"

I reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look at me.

"From today on, for every extra day you stay at Sterling Group, I will humiliate you for a day. Your 'true love,' your 'grievances'—I'll make sure the whole company, and even the entire business circle, gets a good look at them."

"Tell Carter: either he signs the divorce agreement obediently, or I'll leak the dirty secrets of you two to the partners he values most. We'll see if he can still protect his precious corporate image then."

With that, I released her chin. Mia stumbled back two steps, her face as white as a sheet.

I didn't spare her another glance, turning and stepping into the elevator.