Chapter 166: Headlines.
Ella.
A sudden rush of pure triumph flooded my chest the exact moment I stepped through the glass doors of the Bloodfang Group.
Walking out into the crisp air, I felt like I was standing on top of the world. Not a single trace of guilt or remorse touched my mind.
In reality, this company would rightfully belong to my child once they came of age anyway. But until that day arrived, I would hold onto it tightly—a well-deserved compensation for every single lie Alex had ever whispered to me, and for all the deep pain he had dragged into my life.
I slid into the back seat of the car, the door clicking shut behind me. Without wasting a single second, the triplets started the engine and drove us straight toward the towering headquarters of the Ironclad Group.
"You were absolutely amazing back there, Theresa!" Lawrence burst out the very moment the car rolled to a stop and I stepped out onto the pavement. His eyes practically shone with genuine pride.
"Thank you," I said, a soft, sheepish smile tugging at the corners of my lips as a slight warmth colored my cheeks.
The moment we walked through the main entrance of the building, the entire lobby went quiet. Every single employee stopped what they were doing, their eyes locking onto me as I walked past.
I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, completely unbothered by their intense stares. I did not even feel a flicker of curiosity about why they were gaping at me like that; my mind was entirely focused on the day ahead.
We stepped into the elevator, the metal doors sliding shut before the capsule rose smoothly toward the third floor.
Once the doors opened, the triplets prepared to head off toward their own separate offices, leaving me to follow closely behind Leonard.
Even though I went along with it, a slight wave of discomfort settled in my stomach over the whole office arrangement.
The moment we crossed the threshold into his spacious office, Leonard didn’t waste any time. He marched straight into the inner room, pulled out his desk chair, and buried his face behind a tall stack of folders, instantly losing himself in his work.
I quietly took my own spot nearby, pulled out my documents, and did the exact same thing.
Hours slipped by in complete, focused silence. The only sounds in the room were the rustling of papers and the steady clicking of a keyboard.
Eventually, a harsh tightness spread across the back of my throat, leaving my mouth completely dry.
I finally set my pen down, pushed my chair back, and stood up, deciding I needed to step out for a few moments just to fetch myself a cold glass of water.
I walked into the cafeteria, the scent of fresh coffee hitting me immediately. As I looked around, my eyes stopped on a familiar figure sitting at a table near the back.
Surprisingly, Michael was there. The moment I saw him, my mind started spinning with questions. I was still completely puzzled about why he had been present at the ceremony earlier.
"Ella!" Michael called out the exact second his eyes locked onto me. He pushed his chair back hastily and rushed across the tiled floor right toward me.
I quickly forced my facial muscles to move, pasting a careful smile onto my lips. It wasn’t entirely genuine, but it wasn’t a total fake either—just a polite mask to keep the peace.
"It is Theresa, Michael," I corrected him immediately, keeping my voice firm and steady.
I was no longer Ella. That era of my life, along with every single painful memory and old tie attached to it, was completely dead and gone.
"Alright, Theresa," Michael said.
He shrugged his shoulders casually, acting as if the name change meant nothing at all. Before I could even blink, his fingers reached out and tightly gripped my hand.
I froze, completely stunned by how easily he touched me. A cold wave of discomfort washed over my skin. I immediately yanked my hand out of his grasp, pulling away until there was a clear space between us.
I opened my mouth, ready to demand answers and finally question him about why he had shown up at the ceremony, but the words were cut right off before they could leave my throat.
"Ella—I mean, Theresa, you really need to take a look at these," Michael said, his voice rising with excitement, he paused, holding his breath for a brief second as his fingers tapped rapidly against his glowing screen. "You are trending everywhere right now." He stepped closer and turned the phone around, thrusting the bright display directly in front of my face.
That was the exact moment my eyes hit the bold headlines flashing across the social media feeds:
#ExWifeTakesOverTheCompany
#BloodfangIsNoLongerExisting
#RevengeServedWithoutMercy
I stared at the screen for a second, and then a sudden burst of laughter escaped my lips. I couldn’t help it. Reading through the dramatic words, everything finally clicked into place.
This perfectly explained why every single employee in the lobby had been staring at me with wide eyes. But the sheer speed of it left me completely amazed.
The board meeting had barely ended, and the changes hadn’t even been officially announced to the public yet.
Who in the world could have leaked the information out so fast?
Honestly, I didn’t truly mind the leak. If anything, this public explosion would only rush the whole process along and force Alex to accept defeat even faster.
"Theresa, how about we go back to my place right now to properly celebrate your massive victory?" Michael asked. A bright, eager smile flashed across his face as he tilted his head, waiting for my answer.
A tight knot formed in my stomach, and a deep sense of discomfort settled over me at his sudden proposal.
"We could easily celebrate right here at work, Michael," I said. I kept my voice calm and smooth, doing my absolute best not to sound rude or defensive.
"What if I insist, Theresa?" he asked, stepping a bit closer into my personal space, his eyes locking onto mine without blinking.
My throat went completely dry, and I swallowed hard, the silence stretching uncomfortably between us.