After 144 hours with his mistress, my husband finally remembered his pregnant wife. The trembling aide told him: 'sir, your wife bled out and lst the son you abandoned. She already signed the divorce papers and walked away!'

While the board was voting him out of his multi-million-dollar empire, Julian Vale was stepping off a private charter jet at the municipal airport, feeling invincible.

For 144 hours—six full days—he had lived in a fantasy bubble in Napa. Chloe had pampered his ego, telling him he was a visionary titan who deserved better than a quiet, traditional wife who stayed at home. Julian loved being worshipped. He had turned off his phone notifications on the third day because Evelyn was "always nagging about trivial things."

"Babe, slow down," Chloe laughed, hanging onto his arm as they walked across the tarmac toward a black town car. "If you keep smiling like that, people will think you actually missed your boring corporate meetings."

"Meetings are for middle managers, Chloe," Julian smirked, sliding his designer sunglasses up his nose. "Vale Meridian runs itself. Evelyn handles the family trust paperwork, and my management team handles the day-to-day. I’m the face. And right now, the face is tired of vacationing."

His phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a text notification.

Julian pulled it out, expecting a message from his secretary reminding him of his afternoon golf game with the board chairman. Instead, it was an automated email alert from the corporate HR portal: URGENT NOTICE: Your corporate network credentials have been deactivated.

Julian frowned, tapping the screen. "What the hell is this?"

"What is what?" Chloe asked, checking her makeup in her compact mirror.

"My security badge. It says access denied." Julian dialed his office direct line. It rang three times before an unfamiliar voice answered: "Legal department, this is Thomas speaking."

"Thomas? Where is my secretary? Put Maya on the phone," Julian demanded, his voice carrying an edge of irritation. "And tell IT that my security clearance has been locked out of the thirty-fourth floor. Someone is getting fired today."

There was a long, suffocating pause on the other end of the line.

"Mr. Vale," Thomas said carefully, his voice entirely devoid of its usual subservience. "Maya no longer works on this floor. Furthermore, you are not authorized to access the executive suite. A board resolution was passed at 9:15 AM suspending your CEO status indefinitely."

Julian stopped dead in his tracks on the pavement. The town car driver paused, holding the door open.

"My... what?" Julian let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Are you out of your mind? Do you know who I am? I am Vale Meridian! Who authorized a board resolution without my signature?"

"Evelyn Vale, sir," Thomas replied flatly. "She revoked your proxy this morning. The board voted unanimously to suspend you for corporate embezzlement and gross misconduct. Security is currently packing your personal belongings from your office into a cardboard box. Have a nice day."

Click.

The phone went dead. Julian stood frozen on the tarmac, the Napa sun suddenly feeling freezing cold.