Your Mom, Not Mine

Before I could retort, Yelena had already ended the call.

My mind buzzed with thoughts. The position of CEO had been empty for a long time, so it was prudent that someone be appointed as soon as possible. I was the best option among the company staff, bar none, as no one else had the right to compete with me, be it in performance or capability.

"Everyone, please stop what you're doing for a moment. It's time to announce the new CEO!"

My colleagues turned to wink at me, while the HR department staff stealthily gestured for me to get ready.

Sure enough, the saying that only real capability could carry one forward was true.

Straightening my clothes, I took a step forward.

"Let us all congratulate this candidate for getting the position, for it is well-earned indeed. That person is none other than Car—"

"It's Phillip Warren!"

Yelena suddenly appeared and swiftly interrupted the announcement of my promotion by parachuting in Phillip.

Immediately, the atmosphere turned tense. The employees shuffled off awkwardly, none daring to say a word.

Yelena and Phillip's relationship had long since become common knowledge in the company. After all, they hadn't exactly been subtle about it. Be it out on the streets or in the company, they would always be holding hands. Anyone unaware of the truth would've thought they were a married couple.

Despite everyone being aware of it, no one dared to stay back and gossip about it, especially since it was a private matter of their superiors that had been publicly exposed.

"Boss… I mean, Ms. Lipton, no one told me about the CEO candidate changing. This wasn't filed with the HR department in advance either…"

"So, you do know that I'm the boss? This company belongs to my family, so what I say goes. Why, then, should I need to file anything? Take Phillip and get him familiarized with our internal systems. Come to me if there are any problems."

The HR department representative kept shooting furtive glances at me, clearly wanting to know what was happening and also asking me for help.

I sighed and gestured for him to leave. I would deal with this myself.

"Did you discuss parachuting Phillip in with the board of directors first? Your action is useless if they don't agree to it…"

"I'm just bringing in someone from the outside. With how close I am with them, why wouldn't they agree?"

With that said, Yelena showed me her chat history with the board of directors, which indeed showed that they had unanimously agreed to her bringing in Phillip. They had even mentioned me, saying that I was getting too much attention and needed to have my edge toned down for a while.

After Yelena told them that we were divorced, they even outright stated that since I wasn't family anymore, there was no way they could allow me to take such an important position.

I couldn't believe my eyes. The company I had worked myself to the bone for for so many years turned out to be rotten to its core. My past hard work had been for nothing.

At that moment, I lost all hope, not just in Yelena, but also in Lipton Corporation.

"Carter, if you were to beg me now to rescind the divorce, I might just consider helping you get promoted in the future. I'm truly heartbroken that your mom has passed away, but that still doesn't give you the right to blame everything on me! You have to be more considerate of me too, you know!

"Apologize to me now, then promise to be good and listen to whatever I say in the future. I guarantee that your career will soar. That way, your mom won't have lingering regrets, right?"

I flung her hand away before tossing the divorce agreement and my resignation letter right in her face.

Yelena and Lipton Corporation—they were all rotten to the core. I couldn't wait to get as far away from them as possible!

"Shut up! Hurry up and sign the papers, then you and I can finally part ways and never see each other again! I want nothing to do with you from here on out!"

Utterly enraged, Yelena's face flushed a bright red. She signed the two documents, then flung them right back at me.

"Carter, you'll definitely regret this one day! I'll be waiting for the day you come begging me on your knees!"

Finally, finally, I was divorced! I was free!

A calm like never before surged through me. I ignored her harsh words and took the documents, turning to leave.

However, right before I departed, I remembered that I had one more thing to say to her.

"Yelena, don't tell me that you still don't know… The one who died was your mom, not mine."