Chapter 85
Love Story8-Chapter 1
Dad acted swiftly, immediately shutting down the private airport and arranging a fleet of cars to pick me up. Meanwhile, the celebration at the venue continued. Ethan even posted a group photo in the company chat: "We're already at the airport. Thank you all for your hard work today. Rest up and take care!"
The chat instantly buzzed with excitement:
"Did you see the group photo? Where is that? It looks so luxurious!"
"That's the Smith family's private tarmac! Do you know how exclusive that place is? It's not about money; you need status to set foot there!"
"Ms. White and our boss are such a perfect match. Did you see them on stage today? I was so moved I could hardly breathe!"
Moved? Al I felt was revulsion.
Ethan tried to explain it away to the team, claiming it was just a moment of uncontrollable excitement and asking everyone not to misunderstand. As for Alice White, she even had the audacity to grab my hand afterward, pretending to be concerned: "Don't take it to heart. It was just a polite expression of emotion."
But the company was already abuzz with speculation.
Soon, a group of senior employees gathered around me, speaking loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear:
"Ms. White is capable, comes from an influential family-she'd make the perfect wife for our boss. Imagine how far we'd all soar with her by his side!"
"But there's someone stubbornly clinging to her spot, a parasite dragging things down."
I clenched my fists tightly. Before I could respond, the intern who usually shadowed me leaned over and whispered, "Ms. Smith, don't listen to them. You're the one who truly deserves to be the boss's wife."
Ten years. For ten years, I had silently supported Ethan as he built this company from the ground up. I even sought help from my parents, securing critical resources for him behind the scenes. And yet, not just Ethan, but this entire company now treated me like I was disposable.
They mocked me, calling me a parasite, accusing me of clinging to him and using marriage as a bargaining chip. They ridiculed me for allegedly pressuring him to marry me.
And I tolerated it all-for the sake of harmony, for the sake of his dream, which I once believed in too.
Because the company was Ethan's life. And once upon a time, it was mine as well.
"Mia, let's call the company Miathan," he once said.
"Why that name?" I had teased. "Something like Forty Thieves sounds more fun-your last idea came straight out of a fairy tale!"
He'd touched his nose to mine in that affectionate way of his.
"Naughty girl," he murmured.
His warmth surrounded me as I responded softly, "I understand your intentions. The name contains a part of both of us: 'Mia' and 'Ethan."
"Mia," he had said, his voice thick with emotion, "this company is like our child."
Back then, his embrace felt like the entire world to me.
"Ethan, now that the company is up and running, your dream has come true. Can we. get married?" I had asked hopefully.
My parents had only one condition: I couldn't reveal my true identity before the wedding. It was their final request. We had been together for two years, and I was eager to give them an answer.
"Mia, there's no rush. When the company goes public, I'll give it to you as a wedding gift. How about that?"
Going public-starting from scratch, with no money or connections- seemed like an impossible dream.
But the determination in his eyes made me nod and agree.
It's been ten years. Even a dog would inspire feelings of attachment after that long. So how did it come to this? When did I become nothing more than a trivial existence to Ethan? "Everyone, I am officially resigning!" I typed, sending my final message to the group chat. Then, I exited the group.
Dad's chauffeur had arrived by then-actually, it wasn't just a chauffeur but an entire fleet of luxury cars.
"Mia, should we head to the hotel to collect your belongings?" the lead driver asked respectfully.
"No need. Just drive." Everything here had been tainted. Nothing was worth bringing along "Understood, Mia. We'll proceed directly to the Smith family tarmac. Your plane is already waiting for you there."