The day she was found, the true daughter demanded to become CEO of the company. Considering her elementary school education and lack of experience, I refused. But she felt I was humiliating her, and turned to leave with her adoptive parents, vanishing without a trace. Under my leadership, the company soared, going public, and my adoptive parents became billionaires. On my thirtieth birthday, my husband and adoptive parents drugged me and sold me into an overseas compound. My adoptive parents and husband stood beside the facility's manager, their faces twisted in malice. "This viperous woman is all yours." I desperately demanded to know why they did this to me. My husband kicked me in the stomach, and my adoptive parents each slapped me across the face. "If you hadn't been so vain, so greedy for our family's wealth, refusing to give it up, Eva wouldn't have been tricked and sold into that compound, tortured to death." I couldn't bear the torment and bit my tongue, bleeding out. When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day the true daughter demanded to take over the company. … "Pathy, dear, since I've come home, could you please give the company back to me? I want to take on my rightful responsibilities." Hearing those familiar words, my body stiffened. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and in that instant, I realized I had been reborn. Mrs. Thorne, tears welling in her eyes, embraced Eva and looked at me. "Audrey, it's been so many years, and we're so grateful for your hard work with the company. But Eva is our biological daughter. Please, draw up a contract later and transfer the company shares to her." In my previous life, when I heard Eva and my adoptive mother's words, I immediately refused them. I explained that the company was in the midst of going public, and a change in leadership at such a critical time would cause chaos. Moreover, Eva had only an elementary school education and no work experience; she understood nothing about the company. It wasn't suitable for her to take over now. Instead, I suggested she could work as my secretary first, learn the ropes, and then assume control later. My adoptive parents agreed to my suggestion. But Eva instantly panicked. She claimed that being a secretary meant merely serving me, fetching tea and water like a slave, and that I was deliberately humiliating her. She turned and ran out, leaving with her adoptive parents, and I never heard from her again. Under my leadership, the company successfully went public, and the Thorne family became the richest in Star Harbor City. On my thirtieth birthday, my adoptive parents and my husband took me on a trip abroad. They drugged me, and when I woke up, I was in a predatory compound. My hands and feet were severed, and I was tied to a bed, left to be tormented and defiled by anyone. My adoptive parents and my husband, however, stood with the compound's manager. I desperately demanded to know why. My adoptive parents each slapped me, and my husband kicked me in my three-month pregnant belly. "If you hadn't been so vain, so greedy for the company, deliberately humiliating Eva, she wouldn't have died! This is all what you owe Eva!" It turned out that after Eva left, she went to a foreign country looking for work, was tricked, and ended up in one of those compounds, where she suffered endless humiliation and eventually died. That's why they hated me so deeply. In the end, unable to bear the endless degradation, I bit my tongue and bled to death. Recalling the torture I endured in my previous life, I clenched my fists, seething with anger. I looked at Eva with cold eyes, letting out a mocking laugh. "Back for just a day and already wanting the company, huh?" Eva's eyes immediately reddened, and she started to cry. "Pathy, I just want to do something for the family. I knew I shouldn't have come back. Please don't be angry, Pathy. I'll leave right now. I promise I won't disturb your family anymore." With that, Eva made a show of pushing Mrs. Thorne away, as if to leave. Mrs. Thorne immediately wrapped her arms around Eva, holding her tightly, her face filled with pain. "Eva, this is your home. You're not the one who should leave." The next second, Mrs. Thorne slapped me across the face, pointing at me and screaming abuses. "Audrey Bellwether! We kindly took you in and raised you, and now you want to steal our family's property and force our biological daughter away? How utterly wicked can you be?" Mr. Thorne also looked at me, his face displeased. "Audrey, the company belongs to our family. Isn't it only right for us to give it to our biological daughter? What right do you have to drive my daughter away?" I let out a bitter laugh. They had forgotten. It was Grandpa Thorne who adopted me. After Grandpa Thorne passed away, he entrusted the company to me. At that time, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, more than a hundred million in debt. It was I who spent every day pleading with banks and investors, pouring all my energy into saving the company. For that, I developed chronic health issues. The Thorne parents, knowing they lacked the ability to manage the company, had washed their hands of it, simply dumping it on me. And yet, I still gave them fifty million a month, letting them indulge in their leisure. Moreover, most of the company shares were acquired by me. I only kept the Thorne name out of gratitude to Grandpa Thorne. How dare they have the audacity to demand the company back? I looked at Mr. Thorne, letting out a cold scoff. "Three years ago, when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, you threw me to the ruthless creditors, telling them I was the company owner, telling them to demand their money from me. Now the company is about to go public, and you want to give it to your daughter? Where do you get the nerve to say such a thing?" Mr. Thorne's face flushed crimson from my words. He balled his fist and swung at me. "You little bastard! We Thorness raised you! It's your duty to manage the company for us! The company can only belong to my daughter! You're just working for my daughter!" I swiftly grabbed Mr. Thorne's arm, twisting it back. He cried out in pain. In the business world, there was no shortage of dirty tricks and dangerous ploys. For that, I had studied Tae Kwon Do for three years. Mr. Thorne, who knew nothing but living a life of leisure, was no match for me. Mrs. Thorne rushed forward, preparing to slap me again. I blocked her hand and shoved her to the ground. Mrs. Thorne pointed at me, her hand trembling with rage. "Audrey Bellwether, you heartless wretch! You actually laid hands on us? You're utterly depraved!" Eva hurried forward, helping the Thorne parents up, then knelt before me. "Pathy, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have come back and disturbed your family! Please, don't hit Mom and Dad anymore! I'll leave right now and never appear before you again!" Mr. and Mrs. Thorne immediately embraced Eva, glaring at me with cold eyes. "Audrey, you're the one who should get out!" I rolled my eyes at them, then looked at Eva. "In that case, I won't disturb your family reunion. I'll have a lawyer draft a disownment agreement." With that, without waiting for their reaction, I turned and left the Thorne mansion. Three days later, I was in a company meeting when my assistant rushed in. "Ms. Bellwether, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne are downstairs with your sister, making a scene and demanding to see you." I frowned slightly, then followed her downstairs. Mr. Thorne saw me and immediately confronted me. "Audrey, this is our family's company! What right do you have to keep us out?" At his words, I let out a bitter laugh. "If you had bothered to visit the company more than a few times, the security guards wouldn't have stopped you." Mrs. Thorne walked up to me, her voice deeply earnest. "Audrey, considering your years of dedicated service to the company, you may continue to work here. However, the company's owner can only be Eva." Mr. Thorne shoved me aside, pulling Eva forward and pushing her into the center. "From today on, the company will be taken over by my biological daughter. Audrey will assist my daughter in managing the company." Eva walked to my side. "Thank you for your hard work all these years, Sister Pathy. I will work with you to manage the company from now on." I let out a dismissive scoff. "And you are… what exactly? Do you truly believe anyone can be the company's owner just by wanting it? By the rules, the company owner must have absolute majority shares." Mr. and Mrs. Thorne immediately began shouting. "You're utterly depraved! We Thorness raised you, and now you want to seize our family's assets and bully our daughter! How can a person like you be fit to be the company's owner?" My fiancé, Julian Hayes, also stepped forward. "Audrey, the Thorne family has been kind to you. You can't be so selfish. Just give the company back to Eva. After we get married, you can stay home, raise our family, and I'll support you." Hearing his words, I curled my lips. "Julian, your engagement is with the Thorne heiress. Now that Eva is back, she is your fiancée. You and I have no connection whatsoever. And who exactly are you, to point fingers at me? Do you even have the right?" Julian's face instantly flushed crimson with anger. Eva suddenly knelt before me. "Pathy, dear, I truly didn't mean to take Julian from you. I just want to reclaim what belongs to me." Julian's heart ached. He immediately pulled Eva into his embrace, then threatened me. "Audrey, you have such a wicked heart! So utterly ruthless just to seize the company! How can a person like you be fit to marry me? If you don't return the company to Eva, we'll cancel the engagement!" I was tired of their theatrics. "So, you just want the company, right? I can give it back to you, but I have two conditions." Julian thought I had been frightened into submission, and he smiled with satisfaction. "As long as you give the company back to Eva, we'll get married right away. Isn't that what you wanted?" I suppressed the urge to strike him and looked at the Thorne parents. "First, sign the disownment agreement. From this day forward, I will have no connection to the Thorne family." I continued, "The company shares I hold were acquired by me. So, if you want them, you'll have to buy them at market price." The Thorne parents' faces fell. "This is our Thorne family company! And you want us to pay for shares?" I replied indifferently, "When the Thorne family company went bankrupt, you sold all your shares. The shares I hold now are mine, and they have nothing to do with you. You don't have to buy them if you don't want to. The company is about to go public. When that happens, the stock price will multiply several times. There will be plenty of people who want to acquire them." The Thorne parents gritted their teeth, then huddled with Julian for a long time. Finally, they agreed to pay a billion dollars for my shares. After signing the disownment and share transfer agreements, Julian embraced Eva, looking at me with a mocking smirk. "Audrey, since you want to be so ruthless, then get out of this company right now. From now on, this is Eva's company." Eva looked at me provocatively, nestling into Julian's embrace. "Sister Pathy, I heard the company is going to partner with the Remington Group, the richest family in the country! The stock price will increase tenfold, easily! Thank you, Sister Pathy, for giving me such a wonderful opportunity!" My adoptive parents also looked smug. "Audrey, this is all your own doing. Even if you regret it now, it's useless. But, out of consideration for our past relationship, if you're willing to be Eva's secretary and help her manage the company, we can give you a salary of fifteen hundred a month. At least you won't starve to death. How does that sound?" I scoffed. Fifteen hundred a month for me to work like a dog for them? They truly thought I was an idiot. "No, thank you. I will have no connection to this company or to any of you from now on." With that, I turned to leave. Julian angrily called out, "Audrey, don't come crying to us when you're starving on the streets!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Who gave them the confidence to think that with a billion dollars, I would ever starve and beg them for anything? After leaving the company, I called Aunt Victoria, CEO of the Remington Group. "Auntie, please cancel the Remington Group's partnership with the Thorne family." After getting her confirmation, I called the Thorne family's remaining shareholders, telling them to dump all their shares. A massive sell-off would undoubtedly destabilize the Thorne company, causing its stock price to plummet. And this was just the beginning.
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