Chapter 1: The Engagement Banquet

On the day of the engagement party, my fiancé appeared at the wedding banquet holding an illegitimate child in his arms.

He even boasted about making him my own son, inheriting my family business.

"As long as you agree, I can work like a horse or an ox for you for the rest of my life."

Without a word, I stepped forward and gave him a loud slap.

"Don't think too highly of yourself, I just said it's an engagement party, I didn't say the person was you."

1

On the day of my engagement party, my fiancé delivered a "big gift".

At the five-star hotel wedding venue, I was wearing a wedding dress flown in from abroad.

On both sides of the stage, vibrant red roses were continuously emitting a tempting floral scent.

Not far away, a ten-layer cake was placed in the center, with pearls, each naturally cultivated.

Each worth no less than ten thousand.

At this moment, what was supposed to be a celebratory engagement party had already turned into a glaring naked joke.

And I, dressed in a wedding gown, had become the laughingstock in everyone's eyes.

The man standing in front of me was wearing a matching engagement suit with my wedding dress, worth five million altogether.

Yet right now, he's holding a child tightly in his arms.

There's actually no need to look closely; with just a glance, I could tell that this child was definitely his biological son.

But even so, when the words came out of his mouth, I still found it particularly unbelievable.

"This child is mine, I hope you can accept him."

There was an uproar at the scene, yet the giant screen behind us was still displaying our intimate photos.

The guests and media could no longer suppress their inner gossiping desires and began whispering amongst themselves.

They all knew today was supposed to be my engagement party with Benjamin Grant, but not only did he arrive late, he showed up with his illegitimate child.

This undoubtedly left me with no way to save face!

"Olivia, I know you've always been kind-hearted, so this time can you do a good deed and treat him as your own son?"

"As long as you're willing, I'm prepared to work like a horse or an ox for you forever."

I squinted at him, unable to believe that a man who was so compliant with me in private would say something like this on such an occasion!

And to make a scene in front of everyone!

The fiancé of the president of Griffin Group dares to bring his illegitimate child to "confront" me at our engagement party.

I looked at him and scoffed; I do not see myself as love-struck nor easily manipulated.

I didn't hold him accountable, yet he dared to brazenly make demands of me.

What a ridiculous spectacle.

But facing a whole floor full of guests, I tried hard to suppress the anger in my heart and attempted to minimize the impact of this farce.

"Benjamin, let's talk about this later, right now let's get the engagement party underway."

This was the last step and concession I offered to Benjamin, but he was too foolish and stubbornly tore down the last chance I gave him.

"No!"

He insisted firmly, and when he saw the bodyguards behind me coming up to take the child away, he grew more nervous and fearful, holding the child even tighter.

His action was as if I were a malicious woman with no redeeming qualities.

And he, a father who would give up everything to protect his child.

"Olivia, he's so young, can't you do me a favor and accept him as your son?"

I was truly amused to the point of laughter by this foolish man.

Is he unable to distinguish the occasion? Or can't he see his own status and position?

"Do you think you can blackmail me just because of today's occasion?"

The hand I used to grip the wedding dress had long since been clenched into a fist, leaving many wrinkles in the fabric.

"Olivia, I know it was wrong of me to betray you, but the child is innocent, and you have to believe me, I really love you… love you with all my heart…"

I snorted with ridicule, looked at the child in his arms, and spoke coldly and distantly: "Love me? You love me, so you secretly had an illegitimate child behind my back."

"You love me, so you're forcing me to acknowledge your illegitimate child in front of everyone? Don't think I don't know what you're planning."

"Do you think you are too smart, or you feel that I am too stupid? You want to groom your illegitimate child as the future successor of my Griffin Group, to control my Griffin Group."

A stream of words left Benjamin speechless.

Perhaps Benjamin never thought I'd dare to expose his schemes so bluntly in such a setting, leaving him with nothing to say but a flushed face.

"You want me to go through with the engagement party, don't you? Fine, as long as you foster him, whatever you want me to do, I will do so without complaint."

Seeing that force didn't work, Benjamin changed his tone softening his approach.

But it was too late already.

Seeing me standing there silent, Benjamin thought I was hesitating, considering.

So he tentatively stepped forward toward me, and without any obstruction, the bodyguards emboldened him further, making him more daring to approach.

"Olivia…"

As his hand touched my wrist, I could only feel that utter disgust of being soiled all over.

I flicked his hand away in disgust and gave him a forceful push.

He probably did not anticipate my actions, and between his lack of defense and holding the child, he fell straight to the ground.

The bodyguards around were mine; without my direction, no one dared to support him on their own.

Perhaps due to a strong impact, he couldn't hold the child properly for a moment, and the piercing sound of the child crying quickly filled the wedding banquet.

The scene was downright pitiful.

"Do you know that he hasn't even turned one? Even if you want to reject me, there's no need to be so cruel, he's still a baby who knows nothing!"

"How could you do such a thing to a child, you cruel woman!"

Before I could react, Benjamin gave me a fierce slap.

Not only did my head ring, but even my mouth quickly filled with the nauseating taste of blood.

Yet it was this slap that truly cleared my mind!

I no longer debated with him; I reached for the scissors on the nearby bar and cut off the wedding dress worth millions without hesitation.

"Benjamin, remember this slap you gave me today; I'll make sure you pay it back over the rest of your life."

2

I composed myself simply and then walked up to the stage in heels, ignoring the ridicule and scorn in the eyes of everyone present, holding my head high, striding step by step to the center of the stage.

"Today, thanks to all the guests for gracing us with your presence. Just now, the interlude may have amused you. I now announce the cancellation of this banquet."

After my announcement, a flurry of whispers erupted at the scene, and Benjamin's face turned green.

He knew I valued my reputation, which is why he tried to blackmail me by bringing his child today.

Watching him turn beet-red made me feel incredibly refreshed, and I continued aloud: "To ensure you didn't come here for nothing, our Griffin Group will soon open bidding to the public regarding the 'Southern Mansion Complex,' as you all know, this is the first public tender from Griffin Group."

"The successful bidder will earn a five-year cooperation agreement with Griffin Group."

Sure enough, as soon as I said that, excitement once again pervaded the room.

Compared to the gossip earlier, this rare business opportunity clearly captured their attention more.

As for me, my lips curled into a sneering and contemptuous smile as I gazed down at Benjamin, who was staring up at me intently.

After the gathering dispersed, Benjamin did not leave; he sat numbly by the side, holding the child.

Perhaps hearing footsteps, he looked up in my direction.

There was a certain panic and regret in his eyes, but I pretended not to see it and stood right in front of him.

"Oliv—"

He barely uttered a word when I slapped him fiercely again.

The imprint quickly spread across his face, and it was still not enough to vent my anger.

How dare he, and in front of so many people, slap me in public.

"You must have forgotten that everything you have now was given to you by me!"

Before he could react, I gave him another slap with the back of my hand, exerting even more force this time.

The sound of the slap echoed in the ballroom for a long time.

Just as I raised my hand to slap him again, he intercepted my hand with his own.

"Olivia, can't you just talk properly? You're so touchy, it's not like how you used to be."

I was so infuriated by his shamelessness that I laughed. Did he still want a smooth discussion at a time like this?

So Benjamin Grant really didn't understand me; he didn't even know what kind of person I was.

"Benjamin, you really overestimate yourself. Who do you think you are?"

"Have I treated you too well, making you forget your place?"

3

Having taken off the wedding dress, I was back to my authoritative coldness, and my change in demeanor made Benjamin, a person of lower status, feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I just hope this child can have a perfect family."

I chuckled and leaned closer to him, "A perfect family? Benjamin, I know exactly what's going on in your mind."

Benjamin's face turned pale, as if his filthy thoughts were being mercilessly exposed.

He gritted his teeth and yelled, "If you still want to stay engaged with me..."

I raised my hand to interrupt him and picked up a wine glass that hadn't been cleaned yet, splashing the contents onto Benjamin's face.

My aim was perfect, not a drop touched the child.

His face turned red and white intermittently, incredibly vivid.

"Benjamin, what do you think you are? Irreplaceable? As long as I want, I can find a man to marry anytime."

Benjamin wiped the wine stains from his face angrily. His once genteel face was now burning with rage.

"What do you mean? If you won't marry me, who else will you marry!"

His eyes red, he grabbed my hand, and soon, his fingers left a faint imprint on my wrist.

"Could it be you were seeing other men while dating me, Olivia Griffin, a woman who can't have children, dare to cheat on me!"

Seeing this scoundrel had lost his mind, I stomped on his foot fiercely with my three-centimeter heel, forcing him to release me from pain.

I slapped him again, still feeling unsatisfied.

"Benjamin, don't project your filth onto others. The disgusting one has always been you, not me."

"Hahaha, oh, you're something else..."

Benjamin laughed instead, and in the vast space, his laughter seemed full of dread.

But I wasn't afraid. If he tried to harm me, I had countless ways to make sure he wished for death.

"Olivia Griffin, keep up the tough talk. I don't believe anyone but me would want you."

"I'll wait for you to beg me, to be the mother of my child."

With that, he swaggered out of the ballroom.

Benjamin seemed to think he knew me very well.

But he never realized, I'm not someone who goes back on my word.

Even if I might be a woman who can't have children for the rest of my life, I would never go back to Benjamin.

I immediately instructed my assistant to release the news within the company that there would be a shareholder meeting at eight tomorrow.

The next day, just as I arrived at the company, I saw Benjamin waiting for me early at the entrance.

He was impeccably dressed in his suit, as refined as always.

If it weren't for what happened yesterday, I would've never guessed the one who would publicly embarrass me was him.

Yet now, despite his position as a manager I promoted, he shamelessly appeared at the company gates.

But I paid him no mind, intending to walk around him into the company.

However, he blocked my path.

"Olivia, what are you trying to announce by calling a sudden shareholder meeting?"

Unlike his calm demeanor yesterday, Benjamin in front of me now couldn't hide his panic.

I smirked as I pulled my hand from his grip.

"Don't rush, you're in the company now. You'll know soon enough."

An hour later, at the Griffin Group's shareholder meeting, I announced something Benjamin could have never anticipated.

"Next, let's welcome Ms. Olivia Griffin, the new CEO of Griffin Group, to speak."

4

That's right, I'll be announcing the appointment of the CEO today.

Benjamin and a bunch of old folks would never have expected my parents to hand over the company to me so soon.

Some even believed Benjamin was the one who would ultimately inherit the Griffin Group.

As a result, some people in the company secretly flattered him and played some unscrupulous tricks.

I knew all about it, and seeing him as my fiancé, I chose to turn a blind eye.

But now, such behavior is completely unnecessary.

He himself ruined his potential rise, and no one else is to blame.

Upon hearing the news, Benjamin was incredulous, standing up in agitation.

"Olivia... Mr. Griffin, this sudden succession might affect all our current projects, shouldn't such a decision be made by a shareholder vote?"

I leaned back in my chair, looking at him with amusement, "What, my company's business needs your outsider's approval?"

"If anyone has complaints, just leave your resignation on my desk later, I won't try to stop you."

As soon as I said this, not just Benjamin, but all the shareholders sitting became silent instantly.

"The appointment documents will be issued later. This meeting is over, dismissed."

I didn't plan to say much more and returned to my office after the meeting.

As I was organizing files in the office, Benjamin burst in angrily.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed as if I were his enemy.

Indeed, I announced my appointment at the shareholder meeting, clearly affecting his mood.

I understood that he always believed the position of the CEO of Griffin Group would end up in his hands.

But this game, he messed up himself.

"Olivia Griffin, you're something!"

"You stabbed me in the back!"

I sneered and set the files aside, turning to face him with my arms crossed.

"Benjamin, you brought this upon yourself, didn't you? I supported you to the position of General Manager at Griffin Group, letting you enjoy the luxury you never had."

"The taste of high status was good enough to make you dizzy, even forgetting that it was all given by me!"

Regarding Benjamin's ability, he wouldn't even get through Griffin's door, let alone become a manager.

But considering his status as my fiancé, I persuaded my dad to let him take the role.

Unfortunately, he didn't treasure it nor did he understand gratitude.

He didn't comprehend who his true supporter was.

"If it weren't for your inability to have children, would I have thought of such a method?"

Benjamin spoke with righteousness, as if having an affair and a child was somehow for my benefit.

He found a good excuse for his betrayal, boasting my infertility as a reason why I'd never have my own children.

I chuckled coldly, pulling a medical report from the drawer and slapping it onto his face.

"Benjamin, even if I can't have children, I have the entire Griffin Group behind me. Aside from you, countless others are eager to align themselves with me."

"What do you count for?"

5

Upon hearing this, Benjamin immediately picked up the document.

My hand instinctively touched my own belly.

He would never have expected that I was pregnant.