Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Hayes’ attempts to bother Chelsea didn’t last long.
After she made it clear she would never give him another chance and even warned she’d call the cops, he finally seemed to give up for good.
Or rather, he was completely crushed by reality.
When the court’s eviction order was issued, he and Janet got the boot from their fancy house, the one that had once symbolized their success.
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On moving day, Janet cried her heart out, clinging desperately to some battered old furniture while screaming about how Chelsea and Vivian would “get theirs.”
Hayes just remained numb, like a puppet on strings, watching movers haul away their pitifully meager belongings.
Seeing his once-familiar home being emptied piece by piece, and the lawyers and staff Chelsea had hired change the locks and affix the seals, he felt empty inside.
They ended up in a cramped, dim little apartment on the wrong side of town, paying rent with Janet’s last few bucks.
The drastic fall-from a spacious, sunlit upscale neighborhood to a cramped, run-down slum-left Janet spending her days in tears, cursing her fate and blaming everyone and everything but herself.
Hayes, on the other hand, had completely hit rock bottom.
He couldn’t land a decent job-too proud for low-end work, yet unqualified for executive positions. Ironically, his former title as a CEO had become more of a burden and a joke in his job-hunting journey.
The tech skills he had were outdated. As for his so-called skills in networking and schmoozing, without the company’s platform and connections, those abilities had become utterly worthless.
After enough rejections, he gave up completely. He spent his days holed up in their dingy apartment, drinking away Janet’s tiny pension checks. He hardly spoke, like all the life had been sucked out of him.
Janet alternated between pity and fury watching her son waste away, yet she could do nothing about it. Naturally, their fights got louder every day.
As for Vivian, Hayes later heard that she found a richer sugar daddy soon and began living the lavish lifestyle she had always dreamed of. But it didn’t last-she was soon tossed aside when someone new came along. Whatever became of her, Hayes couldn’t care less. To him, her name now evoked nothing but disgust and bitter irony.
Day by day, Hayes and Janet faded from Chelsea’s life.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s life was a whole different story.
With her decisive leadership and sharp vision, the company quickly shook off its previous turmoil, regained its footing, and was soon brimming with new energy.
She cut the unprofitable projects from Hayes’ reckless expansion, pumping everything into R&D and core tech upgrades. She streamlined management processes, boosted operational efficiency, and actually made the workplace fairer and more dynamic.
Her business smarts and exceptional technical expertise didn’t just win back old clients; she landed new accounts, too.
Chapter 7
She also secured fresh investment cash, which contributed a lot to the company’s next phase of growths.
Six months in, the company not only rebounded to Hayes-era number but deed market trends to achieve growth, with its valuation doubling
The staff wholeheartedly respected their new boss and threw themselves into their work
Chelsea grew more sure of herself every day,
No more clinging to anyone’s arm, and no more just being, “that nerdy engineer!
She moved through business negotiations and industry summits, radiating the charm and wisdom of a sophistice of woman, Decisive and efficient, yet always approachable, she earned the respect of partners and peers alike.
Outside the office, her life also became vibrant and fulfilling,
She picked up her old hobbies-visiting art exhibitions, attending, concerts, and practicing yoga.
She traveled, dined out, and chatted for hours with like-minded friends.
She even began opening herself to new friendships and soon found some impressive admirers,
But she wasn’t rushing into anything
Having gone through a failed marriage, she now knew better than ever how to love herself and cherish her hard-won independence and freedom.
To her, love was the icing on the cake, not a lifesaver in desperate times.
She had her own career, her own life, and more than enough capability and confidence to shape the future she desired.
That day, at an industry forum, Chelsea ran into one of Hayes old buddies, Daniel Mitchell
Seeing Chelsea now-glowing and full of power-the guy appeared somehow awkward.
After some forced small talk, he tentatively brought up Hayes. “So, uh… You see, Hayes been having a pretty rough time lately…
Chelsea’s champagne glass paused mid-air, her expression unreadable. “Oh?”
Daniel hesitated, carefully watching Chelsea’s expression. “Well, I heard he’s still jobless, living in some dump with his mom. And he’s not right in the head anymore. He even got arrested for causing a drunken scene not long ago…”
Chelsea listened like she was hearing a weather report.
Of course, this happened.
Hayes was always his own worst enemy-selfish, shortsighted, and weak. He was meant to end like this.
“Ms. Stewart, I was wondering… maybe for old times’ sake, could you lend him a hand? Even just recommending him for some basic job would do… Daniel ventured cautiously.
Chelsea set down her glass and met his gaze, her eyes clear and unwavering
“Mr. Mitchell, I believe you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Quinn and I have long severed all ties. His life is none of my concern,”
she said.
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Chelsea paused and then added, “Everyone must answer for their own choices. I have neither the obligation nor the slightest interest in meddling in his life.”
Daniel met with a polite but firm refusal and fell silent, visibly awkward.
Chelsea gave a slight nod, then turned and walked away.
She knew that some people might call her cold, maybe even heartless.
But she didn’t give a damn.
She had paid for this hard-earned lesson with seven years of her youth and suffering: showing mercy to those who hurt her was nothing but cruelty to herself.
Her life had already turned a new page.
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The people and events of the past were like stones sunk to the seabed-they might occasionally cause ripples, but would ultimately fade into oblivion.
The dust had settled. She and Hayes had gone their separate ways long ago, never to cross paths again.
