Suddenly, the room fell silent, as if a chill had settled over everything.
Corrine’s gaze sharpened as she turned to Bruce.
“Wasn’t the message from Miss Brooks clear? I can repeat it if you want to.”
“You!” Bruce’s face stiffened as he gripped the chair tightly. He snapped, “Keep our personal conflicts out of this. If it weren’t for your meddling, Miss Brooks wouldn’t even know. Moreover, do you really think she’d withdraw her investment over a personal dispute?”
Corrine reclined slightly, the corners of her mouth twitching into a mocking smile as she absorbed Bruce’s outburst.
Her meddling? Was that his view of her?
Displeasure was evident on the faces of those around her.
“Miss Holland, you must put the company’s interests above your personal issues. Your dispute with Bruce is a private affair. As someone who understands responsibility, it’s essential to prioritize our business goals. How could this issue have been exposed to our investors? This is utter nonsense!”
“From the start, I was against hiring her-she has no background or experience-and now one woman seems to have manipulated you all. I’m curious to see how you plan to fix this mess.”
“Should she manage to sway Miss Brooks to leave using mere words, one can only wonder what tactics she might deploy to dissuade our other investors.”
Hearing these accusations, Corrine felt disappointment settle over her. This wasn’t just a betrayal by Bruce. It was the painful truth that all her hard work had been in vain, leaving her completely alone in the end.
Bruce, frustration evident, demanded her response.
“Corrine, speak up!”
Smirking, Corrine spoke to Bruce from across the table.
“Why should I take the blame for your mistakes? As the company’s leader, your personal reputation is tied to the company’s image. If you can’t see that, how do you justify being in charge?”
Her bold, authoritative words echoed through the room, leaving a hushed silence behind.
The board members hadn’t expected such boldness from Corrine, known for her grace and composure, as she openly questioned Bruce’s abilities and decisions.
She had effectively embarrassed him in front of the entire room.
Bruce’s typically charming features contorted in anger, his brows knitting together as his gaze fixed on Corrine.
“Corrine Holland!” His voice seethed through clenched teeth, barely containing his anger.
“You’re merely a manager here. Your job is to fulfill your responsibilities, not accuse me!”
“My responsibilities?” Corrine’s tone was laced with sarcasm as she arched an eyebrow at Bruce.
“Are you referring to the strategic planning I did for Ashton Group, or the endless nights I worked overtime? If you see those as mere responsibilities, then you’ve misunderstood my position entirely. I engage in tasks because I choose to, not because they are obligations.”
Bruce opened his mouth to retort, but Corrine interrupted him by abruptly tossing her resignation letter in his direction.
“Consider this my resignation! The Ashton Group is too restrictive for my ambitions. It’s time you looked for a replacement!”
The room’s earlier tension quickly shifted as everyone stood, attempting to persuade her to change her mind.
Bruce stared at the resignation letter before him, a surge of panic washing over him.
He had treated Corrine so carelessly, counting on her presumed feelings for him
He had believed Corrine would never leave, no matter the circumstances.
Yet here she was, quitting without hesitation, leaving him utterly blindsided. Gripping the letter tightly, Bruce felt the weight of the situation.
Amid the frantic pleas from the crowd, Bruce clenched his jaw, his fists tightening in frustration before finally conceding, his voice strained with reluctance.
“Corrine, I never intended to kick you out of the company, nor was I targeting you-“
Corrine cut him off, her tone as cold as ice, her gaze unwavering as she met him with a look of complete indifference.
“Do you really think your intentions matter to me now?”
Her words sliced through the tension in the room, sharp and unyielding.
“I came here today only to resign.”
Her voice was devoid of any emotion, as if this decision had been made long before the moment had arrived. If it weren’t for the resignation, she wouldn’t have even bothered setting foot in this place-let alone waste a single word on the people gathered before her.
Without another glance, she turned, her every step measured and purposeful as she walked toward the exit.
Bruce, still seated, felt a surge of anger rising within him as he watched her resolute figure moving away. His chest tightened, and the fury he’d been holding back for so long erupted, searing through him.
He shot to his feet, his face dark with stormy rage, his voice hard with authority.
“Corrine, I won’t accept your resignation! Do you think you can just waltz in and out of Ashton Group whenever you please?”
Corrine halted, glancing over her shoulder at Bruce, the mockery in her eyes undeniable as a bitter smile curved her lips.
“Do you really believe Ashton Group can hold me back?”
Her words dripped with sarcasm.
“What, Bruce? Are you planning to kidnap me? Don’t forget how much blood, sweat, and tears it took me to help you build Ashton Group into what it is now!”
Bruce was struck dumb, his voice caught in his throat as he stared into her cold eyes. The atmosphere between them grew heavy, freezing in its stillness. His heart pounded painfully, his breath shallow, as if something invisible had seized him.
In the past, those eyes had always held warmth, affection-when had they ever been so frigid, so indifferent? Had she truly stopped caring for him?
One of the board members chimed in, “Miss Holland, you’ve been the one running things at Ashton Group for years. If you resign now, what will happen to the rest of the company?”
Another added, “The Brooks family pulling their investment isn’t a big deal. How could the board possibly hold it against you over something so trivial?”
“Miss Holland, you must consider this carefully. The success of Ashton Group today is because of your tireless efforts. If you leave now, won’t all that hard work be for nothing?”
But Corrine seemed to hear none of it. Without a second glance, she pushed open the meeting room door and walked out, her footsteps resolute
Bruce stood frozen, watching her figure retreat, his hands balled into fists at his sides, his body trembling from the strain. His heart plunged, as though something irreplaceable had slipped through his grasp.
As the news of Corrine’s sudden resignation spread, chaos rippled through the halls. Some whispered with delight, while others murmured in concern about the company’s future.
But Corrine, the very center of it all, felt nothing. Once she had made the decision to sever her ties with Bruce, the fate of Ashton Group held no sway over her.
Inside her office, she moved with sharp efficiency, packing up her things. Just then, the door creaked open, and Bruce stepped inside.
“Corrine, can we talk?”
“There’s nothing left to say.” Corrine’s voice was icy, devoid of warmth, her tone clipped and businesslike.
“Take a good look. I don’t want any of these things, so don’t even think of using them as an excuse later.”
Among the items she was discarding was one of the few photographs of them together. In the image, Bruce wore a beaming smile, while Corrine’s gaze was filled with warmth and affection for him.
It was taken the day they received their first investment-Bruce had eagerly dragged her into the frame, and she had cherished it ever since. But now, she tossed it aside as if it held no more value than an old receipt.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.