When Colin and I arrived at Langley Group’s office, some of the employees were raising a ruckus.


    “Langley Group, this behemoth of a corporation, publicly traded and all, and they let an idiot run the


    show? Are we seriously out of options?” one of them sneered. “With the chairman gone, we need


    someonepetent in charge!”


    “Yeah! Why should a nutjob be in the driver’s seat?”


    “An illegitimate child from the Langley family and a loony to boot, why should he manage?” Their words


    wereced with malice, clearly incited by someone behind the scenes.


    Indeed, the darker side of human nature is magnified in the face of self–interest. If Henry could offer


    them perks, they would nder someone who never hurt them without a second thought.


    “That lunatic, why didn’t he bite the dust in that car crash instead of Mr. Ethan?”


    “I heard that the nutcase brings bad luck.”


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    “And that he even survived the fire at the orphanage!”


    I felt my face grow hot with anger as I fixed my gaze on the speaker.


    “Colin,” I whispered, tiptoeing closer to him and covering his ears. “Follow Eric up the back stairs.”


    Colin looked at me obediently, reluctant to go on his own.


    “Please, just do as I say.”


    With a hesitant nod, Colin lowered his gaze and followed Eric away.


    I stood at thepany’s entrance, surveying the protesters.


    “How many favors did Henry promise you to stir up this mess?” I walked over and confronted them.


    These were clearly key middle and upper management figures, confident in their indispensability,


    certain thepany couldn’t afford to fire them on short notice.


    “And who might you be?” the ringleader challenged.


    “My name is Foebe Larson, wife of the CEO of Langley Group,” I introduced myself in a low voice.


    “Ha! You? Wife of the CEO? With the chairman indisposed, the CEO seat doesn’t fall to some fool, and


    you, ‘Mrs. CEO,‘ have no right to strut around.” The ringleader spoke with pride, harping on the notion


    that Colin was unfit.


    “How would you like to take a shot at being CEO?” I couldn’t help but smile. “Do you think you’re


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    up for it?”


    His face hardened. “You have no say in this. Get Eric or Caleb out here, we won’t ept him as


    CEO!”


    “You’re leading this charade, must be a nice payday, huh? But what about them, your followers? How


    much will they get?” I continued to provoke him. “The Langley Group is never short of talent. You don’t


    need to strike; consider yourselves fired.*


    “On what grounds can you fire us? What are you?” he bellowed at me.


    “On the grounds that I am the CEO’s wife, and you’re not doing your job, disrupting thepany’s


    operations. We can’t keep you around just for decoration, can we?” I nced at the lobby’s security


    camera, subtly shifting my position.


    He advanced angrily, pointing and arguing with me.


    I channeled Colin’s acting skills, took a step forward, and then promptly fell to the ground, clutching my


    stomach, feigning agony. “Why did you push me?”


    The ringleader was taken aback. “What are you on about? ver even touched you.”


    I looked around in feigned pain. “I know it wasn’t any of you. It was him, he pushed me. There’s a


    Langley heir in my womb. If anything happens, I’ll only hold him responsible.”


    I was perfectly fine, of course.


    Everyone else was stunned. In themotion, no one had seen whether he had touched me or not.


    My performance was convincing, and in my feigned distress, I called out for security. “Call the police.


    Someone help, he’s attacked me!”


    With no way to defend himself in the chaos, he was utterly flustered. “Stop faking it, I didn’t…”


    “You were the closest to me. I know you didn’t push, but you saw him push me, right?” I addressed


    someone nearby, sowing discord. “Don’t worry, I only want justice from the person responsible.”