Chapter 3

"I heard that boss is very difficult. Ms. Jade must have put in a lot of effort!"

But gradually, rumors began circulating in the company about me using special means to land projects.

Lauren would always appear at the height of the rumors:

"Everyone, don't spread rumors. Jade is my sister. I know her abilities best."

In private, though, she'd hold my hand and sigh. "Jade, reputation is most important for girls. With you acting like this, how can I feel at ease as your sister?"

I used to stupidly think that was concern.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

It was a formal offer letter from the rival company's HR director.

[Ms. Jade, please confirm this offer.

Position: Group Vice President and European Regional President, reporting directly to the CEO.

Base salary, performance bonuses, and equity incentive details are attached. We look forward to your earliest start date.]

Back at my desk, I began packing my things.

A photo frame still sat on the desk—a picture of us from the early startup days.

Lauren had her arm around my shoulders, smiling bright and radiant.

I couldn't reconcile her with the bitter, harsh woman from just now.

"Packing up so soon?"

Lauren's voice sounded behind me.

My movements paused, but I didn't stop what I was doing.

"Jade, do we really have to go this far?"

She stood behind me, her voice softening, coaxing me like she had countless times before.

"Isn't this all for your own good? Why can't you understand my good intentions!"

I finally turned around and looked her in the eyes.

"For my good? After I land a hundred-billion-dollar order, you throw me into cleaning toilets, and you call that for my good?"

The gentle mask on her face finally showed a crack.

"Of course it's for your good! Jade, I'm grateful to you, grateful you saved my son and helped me build this empire."

"But why do you have to keep reminding me of this? Why do Max's eyes light up when he mentions you? Why do company employees think that without you, Jade, the company can't function?!"

"Even when Adrian mentions you, that look in his eyes..."

"Let me tell you, Jade—everything you have, I gave you! Without me, you'd still be scraping dirt in the mountains! Me having you clean toilets is elevating you!"

I finally understood.

Turned out all these years, every achievement I made was one more threat in her eyes.

The life-saving favor was a debt, sisterly affection was an act, fighting side by side was foolishness.

Perhaps initially, she truly treated me as her sister.

But hearts change, and when I became "too accomplished for a subordinate,"

This sister who once protected me couldn't wait to destroy me.

Seeing my silence, Lauren seemed even more enraged.

"I wanted to leave you some dignity. But things have come to this, and there are some things I must say."

"Several important client files have been leaked recently, and projects keep getting snatched by competitors. I investigated for a long time, until yesterday when I confirmed the leak source was in the sales department!"

"Not only that. This person also repeatedly tried to seduce Mr. Anderson. I caught her more than once! Out of old sentiment, I wanted to transfer her to administration to reflect, waiting for her to come to her senses before returning. But what did she do?"

"Ungrateful, biting back instead. Since that's how it is, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Before I could refute, Lauren had already ordered people to restrain me.

"Ms. Jade is suspected of leaking trade secrets. Until the investigation is clear, please have her rest in the storage room."

The ones restraining me were Leo from Finance—last year when his mother was critically ill, I privately advanced him $100,000 for surgery.