Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chelsea stayed in the serviced apartment for two days.
Between answering essential emails and giving remote directives, she spent most of her time getting her head straight.
She established a routine of regular meals and sleep, even getting in some runs at the apartment gym. As her fatigue gradually faded, she felt more energetic and clear-headed.
She knew a tough battle was coming, and she’d need both physical stamina and mental clarity to face it.
On the morning of the third day, the movers she’d scheduled showed up right on time at her old place.
Chelsea stayed away. No way was she facing Hayes and his new fling in that toxic environment again. Instead, she sent her lawyer’s assistant to supervise, with the entire process recorded for legal protection. Only the personal belongings listed in the agreement were taken.
Word was, Hayes and Vivian were present as well with matching scowls. But with legal oversight, they kept their mouths
shut.
Chelsea didn’t have much to take-just two large suitcases and a few boxes, mostly holding her clothes, books, computer gear, and some keepsakes that meant a lot to her.
When everything landed in her new temporary place, it finally hit her: This was a clean break from the past.
She carefully put each item in its place and looked around this space that was entirely hers. Small as it was, it gave her a sense of security she’d never felt before.
That afternoon, she received a call from William.
He said, “Ms. Stewart, we’ve started the equity transfer process. As stipulated in the agreement, Mr. Quinn needs to cooperate. Additionally, he must be present in person to sign the property paperwork.”
“Is he cooperating?” Chelsea asked.
William’s voice remained steady as he said, “Currently, he’s dragging his feet with excuses. But rest assured-the agreement is legally binding. If he keeps stalling, we’ll take him to court.”
“Got it. What about the company?” wondered Chelsea.
William replied, “On your behalf, I’ve notified the board and the key staff about the transfer, making your controlling stake clear. The financial and personnel directives you previously arranged are also already in effect.”
Chelsea nodded. “Appreciate it.”
After hanging up, Chelsea opened her laptop and checked the company chat.
She noticed private messages from several core technical team members, who sounded nervous and uncertain.
Chelsea realized that instability was already surfacing in the company, and she needed to act swiftly to reassure the team.
She didn’t reply right away. Instead, she first pulled up the company’s real-time operational metrics.
Sure enough, over the past few days, several projects under Hayes’ supervision came to an unexpected halt, and clients started complaining. And money-wise, with Chelsea putting the freeze on several major spending approvals, even the small stuff wasn’t getting paid out anymore.
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Chapter 3
It was clear that Hayes was starting to feel the heat.
But the source of this pressure was just beginning to show itself.
The past couple of days had been absolute hell for Hayes.
The humiliation of divorce and the massive financial loss from the division of assets left him seething with rage.
What drove him even crazier was that he realized his control over the company was slipping away at an alarming rate.
The finance department first informed him that a prepayment to an advertising agency could not be processed. It now needed Chelsea’s final sign-off.
“Chelsea?” Hayes snapped. “Since when does she call the shots here? I’m the CEO!”
The finance staff member stammered, “W-we just got the email notice yesterday. Any expenditure over 150 thousand dollars now needs Ms. Stewart’s approval…”
Hayes was so furious he nearly smashed his computer. Chelsea was making her move, and it was a power play.
Right after that, two major clients he personally managed blew up his phone, asking why their projects had suddenly stalled. And being unable to reach his technical team made them even angrier.
Hayes immediately tried contacting the key technical staff, only to find they’d all changed their numbers. Even the messages he left through the company system went unanswered.
A sinking feeling took hold of Hayes as he rushed to the tech department, only to find several desks empty. After asking around, he learned that the engineers responsible for the core projects had all taken leave yesterday.
A crushing wave of panic seized Hayes, leaving him breathless.
He knew Chelsea controlled the company’s core technologies. All those key engineers were her handpicked team, and they only pretended to respect him.
Now that Chelsea had turned against him, her entire team probably already switched sides.
“Hayes, what’s wrong? You look awful.” Vivian cooed as she approached with a cup of coffee. Her makeup looked impeccable as she tried to play the dutiful partner. Ever since the divorce bombshell, she’d been on her best behavior and started trying to curry favor with Hayes.
Hayes swatted her hand away. “Leave me alone!” he snapped.
The coffee spilled across the floor, splashing onto Vivian’s expensive designer dress.
“Hayes! What the hell are you doing?” Vivian shrieked, her sweet act crumbling in an instant.
“Me? You should be asking what the hell Chelsea is up to!” Hayes exploded, his voice raw with anger. “She’s frozen all the company’s funds and poached every key staff member. Is she trying to destroy the whole company?”
Vivian froze, trying to process his words.
It dawned on her that the company was nothing but an empty shell now.
She’d targeted Hayes precisely because he was a promising young entrepreneur with a hot startup. If the company tanked
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Chapter 3
now, she’d never be able to get what she wanted.
“No way,” Vivian murmured to herself. “Chelsea wouldn’t do this. She loves the company…”
“Love?” Hayes sneered. “She wants me ruined! She couldn’t care less about the company now!”
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became-Chelsea was out for revenge, planning on destroying everything he’d worked so hard to build.
Like hell he’d let that happen.
He grabbed his phone and called Chelsea again. As expected, the call wouldn’t go through. He’d been blocked.
He also tried reaching out via WhatsApp and email, but he never got a reply.
“Damn it!” Hayes slammed his phone onto the desk.
He paced restlessly around his office like a trapped animal.
He knew he had to reach Chelsea and stop her, no matter what.
Then it hit him-William. Chelsea told him to contact her lawyer if needed.
Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, Hayes immediately found William’s number and dialed.
He waited for a good while before the call was finally answered.
“Hello, Mr. Carter? It’s Hayes!” Hayes said urgently.
“Hello, Mr. Quinn. How may I help you?” William’s voice was all business.
Hayes almost roared into the phone, “Where’s Chelsea? Put her on the phone right now! What is she trying to do? She’s frozen the company’s funds and poached all our core staff! Is she trying to run this company into the ground? Tell her, if the company goes under, she’ll lose everything too!”
William paused for a few seconds before responding calmly, “Mr. Quinn, I believe there may be some misunderstanding. To my knowledge, Ms. Stewart is merely exercising her legal rights as the company’s controlling shareholder, implementing necessary adjustments and oversight regarding the company’s financial and personnel matters. Her only goal is to protect company assets and shareholders’ interests, not to destroy the company.”
“Protect? She’s just grabbing power!” Hayes spat.
“Mr. Quinn, please watch your language. Ms. Stewart has always held a 60% stake in the company, so how could this be considered a ‘power grab’? The freezing of funds pertains only to expenditures with unclear accounting or those suspected of harming the company’s interests. Personnel changes are based on operational necessities. If you have any objections to her management, you may raise them through proper channels, such as convening a shareholders’ meeting,” William replied, calm and composed.
Hayes clenched his jaw. With Chelsea holding 60% of the shares, a shareholders’ meeting wouldn’t make any difference.
“So what exactly does she want?” Hayes’ voice cracked, laced with a barely detectable plea.
“Ms. Stewart has made herself clear. She expects you to promptly comply with the asset transfer and equity restructuring procedures stipulated in the divorce agreement. Once you fulfill your obligations, the company will naturally resume normal operations-under her leadership, of course,” William added.
Hayes felt his stomach drop.
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8:03 pm D
Chapter 3
He figured it out-Chelsea was kicking him out completely. The company, the house, everything. All he’d get was that insultingly small payout.
No way would he ever accept this.
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Hayes shouted, trying to sound tough but unable to hide his desperation, “You tell Chelsea-no way! The company is mine! I’m not letting go of it, ever!”
“Then, guess we’ll have to see you in court. Mr. Quinn, I advise you to consider carefully. Any further delay will only increase your legal and time costs, with no benefit to you.” With that, William smoothly ended the call.
As the dial tone droned on the phone, Hayes slumped back into his chair, utterly drained.
He felt as if trapped in an invisible net. The more he struggled, the tighter it constricted around him.
And the person behind this was none other than the woman he had always despised-the very one he thought he could discard whenever he wanted.
Outside, the sun was shining as brightly as ever.
But in Hayes’ heart, there was only a chilling darkness.
The first domino had fallen.
The chain reaction had begun-way worse than he’d ever imagined, and completely out of his control.
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