Chapter 3Marrying The Boss Who Bankrupted You

The silence in the room became absolute.

Jared and the others looked like they had been struck by lightning.

Daisy’s eyes widened so far her tears dried up instantly.

The virtual screen practically exploded:

[Holy crap! Nicholas Miles just self-revealed!]

[What did he just say?! Fiancé?! Oh my god, Lola is playing on a completely different level!]

[No way! There's no way a man like Nicholas Miles would fall for a ruthless workaholic like her!]

Jared was the first to find his voice. His face turned a sickly green as he glared at me. "Lola, where did you hire this actor? You'd really go this far just to hold onto your position?"

Victor joined in with a mocking laugh. "The head of the Miles Group? Falling for you? Lola, this is pathetic, even for you."

"Lola, I know it hurts to leave, but you shouldn't lie to everyone like this..." Daisy whispered, though her eyes kept drifting toward Nicholas’s towering, perfectly tailored frame.

He was stunning. Impeccable suit, broad shoulders, and an undeniable aura of absolute authority.

Nicholas seemed genuinely amused by their stupidity.

He leaned forward, placing both hands on the conference table, his gaze sweeping over them with utter disdain.

"An actor? Your little startup isn't worth the cost of the restrooms in one of my minor subsidiaries. You think I’d waste my time acting for you?"

He snapped his fingers. Two assistants in charcoal suits stepped into the room immediately.

"Mr. Miles, the documents you requested," one of them said, handing over a thick leather folder.

Nicholas tossed the folder directly into Jared's face. "Open your eyes and look. That’s the risk assessment report Miles Group compiled on your company. A disorganized, chaotic circus like this wanting my capital? You’re dreaming."

Jared fumbled with the folder, opening it. His face drained of what little color it had left.

There, stamped in gold leaf, was the official seal of the Miles Group.

"This... this is impossible..."

Garrett and Kyle leaned over to look, letting out sharp, horrified gasps.

"Believe me now?" I asked, leaning back in my chair, enjoying the view of their crumbling world.

"You wanted to buy out my shares? Don't worry about it. I'm leaving."

I opened my briefcase, pulled out a pre-drafted exit agreement, and threw it onto the table.

"Sign it. As of today, Lola Knight has absolutely nothing to do with this company, or with the four of you."

Jared snapped his head up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Lola, are you insane? You built this company. You're just walking away?"

"Why would I keep a dying shell of a company?" I said coldly.

"You think I didn't know what you were doing back here while I was away? To pamper an intern who doesn't even know how to run a basic pivot table, you've embezzled company funds, alienated our oldest clients, and turned this office into an absolute joke."

I stood up, walking slowly over to Daisy, looking down at her.

"Your name is Daisy, right? I heard you can't even format a spreadsheet, but you sure know how to cry to your 'big brothers' for attention."

Daisy shrunk back, tears spilling over again. "Lola, please don't talk to me like that, I'm trying to learn..."

"Shut up! Lola, if you have a problem, take it out on us! Leave Daisy out of this!" Kyle yelled, jumping up to play the hero.

"Take it out on her? She isn't worth my breath."

I chuckled, turning back to Nicholas.

"Oh, and one more thing. During my three years in Europe, I didn't just expand our reach. I secured a ten-billion-dollar partnership with the largest European conglomerate."

I tapped another document in my bag. "I was planning to bring this project back to build our future. But looking at you now... you don't deserve it."

I slipped my hand into Nicholas’s arm, not looking back as we walked out.

"Let’s go, Nicholas. Let's get some dinner to celebrate my freedom."

A rare, tender smile broke across Nicholas’s cold face as he wrapped his arm securely around my waist.

"Anything you want, sweetheart."