"I will try to solve the problem and redeem the shares," Shang Jingchen said with a stern face.

"Considering the fuss she’s made on television, she must have made some demands. President Shang, what are her conditions?" the shareholders asked one after another.

Shang Jingchen clenched his fist and finally spoke up.

"She wants me to divorce Jiayin!"

The shareholders were stunned, affirming their belief that this unexpected catastrophe originated from the emotional entanglement among the three of them.

They were quite disgruntled. The Shang Family’s issues had disturbed these shareholders and caused considerable loss, and they naturally weren’t willing to put up with it.

One of the veteran shareholders broke the silence: "President Shang, I do not mean to be unforgiving, but this issue concerns the entire conglomerate’s welfare. I hope you prioritize the interests of the conglomerate."

"Exactly, we don’t care about your personal feuds, but we must protect our own interests as shareholders."

The shareholders voiced their opinions one after another, essentially urging Shang Jingchen to accept Ye Lu’s demands.

Agitation surged silently within Shang Jingchen’s heart, and irritation welled up: "Is it right that, just because she made such an unreasonable demand, I have to comply?"

He was not willing to be outplayed by Ye Lu so easily.

"President Shang, do we have other alternatives? Consider the chaos that would result if the shares fall into the hands of ill-intentioned rivals. Could you face your grandfather then? If you’re hesitant, let’s resort to shareholder voting," the older shareholder suggested, initiating a shareholder vote.

...

Soon after the shareholders’ meeting concluded, Yuan Jiayin saw the shareholders departing. Seeing her, they all showed a hint of pity.

Their expressions immediately sent a chill through her heart. What did those looks mean?

Her heart pounding, she quickly rushed into the conference room, only to see Shang Jingchen, smoking alone in his chair.

"Jingchen, what did you all discuss?" She rushed forward, putting on a pitiful expression.

The only weapons she had left now were to elicit sympathy and to play weak.

Looking up at her, Shang Jingchen—with a hint of embarrassment—sighed, and finally said, "Ye Lu wants to sell the shares. She’s threatening us with this, saying she would redeem the shares only on the condition that I divorce you."

With this news, Yuan Jiayin went pale and felt as though her heart would explode. That lowly, treacherous woman, how dare she use the shares to threaten Shang Jingchen into leaving her.

That vile woman continued to wish for her downfall, to be ousted from the upper class and publicly abandoned.

"Jingchen, I know you won’t leave me. You just promised the wedding would go as planned, didn’t you?" She grabbed him, her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

Shang Jingchen couldn’t abandon her, and he didn’t dare to. After all, she had attempted suicide for him and even kneeled for him. How could he possibly abandon her now?

But Shang Jingchen responded with a pained look: "I’m sorry Jiayin, I didn’t want things to turn out this way either. A majority of the shareholders voted for this decision. I have no choice. I’m sorry, but I promise to compensate you with enough alimony."

Yuan Jiayin stared at him in disbelief; she couldn’t believe that these words were coming out of his mouth.

Had he really succumbed? Had he really compromised and walked right into the trap that treacherous woman set for him? How could he do this to her—divorcing her and making her a public laughingstock, a disgrace to high society.

In a fit of rage, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Shang Jingchen, you bastard, how dare you abandon me! You think you can just get rid of me like dismissing some beggar with a bit of alimony? No way!"

Her enraged voice was sharp and venomous, twisting her once beautiful face into a grotesque mask.