My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Seducing Me This Early in the Morning?

But Zephyr was the only remaining link between him and Vesper, and he couldn’t bear to lose it, no matter what.

"Is there really no other way?" he asked, his voice hoarse, his body slumped in defeat.

"Not unless the other party withdraws the lawsuit and waives the penalty for breach of contract."

But that was obviously impossible.

Luke Lockwood slowly closed his eyes. A bitter taste surged in his throat, and his heart filled with helplessness and despair.

Back at Repulse Bay, he collapsed onto the sofa, completely defeated.

This place used to be filled with warm lights and the scent of home-cooked meals. Her laughter and the aroma of food had made everything feel so cozy.

Now, the house was silent. He was the only one left, and the emptiness was piercing.

The height of his past success was matched only by the depth of his current desolation.

’I don’t understand,’ he thought. ’I only cheated on her—how did everything fall apart so completely!’

The next day, he went to see Kyle Zimmerman.

"President Lockwood, what brings you here?"

Kyle Zimmerman wasn’t surprised to see him at all, as if he had expected him to come.

Luke Lockwood ignored his sarcastic tone and got straight to the point.

"I want to sell half of my shares. I assume you’d be interested."

"Half won’t be enough to cover the penalty you owe, President Lockwood!" Kyle Zimmerman said with a laugh. "How about this: sell me all your shares, and I’ll buy them at market price."

Luke Lockwood’s expression turned icy. "Kyle Zimmerman, don’t push it!"

"I’m doing you a favor here. Once you walk out that door, who else do you think will be willing to buy your shares at market price?" Kyle Zimmerman leaned back, lit a cigarette, and chuckled. "The decision is yours, President Lockwood. I don’t have to buy them. I can just wait for the court to enforce the judgment. But by then, you’ll be in a passive position, and those shares won’t be worth much at all!"

He flicked his ash and continued, "If Zenith hadn’t acquired the shares Miss Grayson held, Zephyr might already be on the verge of collapse, bankrupt long ago. You’re a smart man, President Lockwood. Sell now while you can, and you might have enough left to put food on the table."

Luke Lockwood clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Humiliation and rage churned in his eyes.

"Didn’t Zenith have a hand in pushing this along?"

Kyle Zimmerman exhaled a puff of smoke and gave him a mocking half-smile. "Business is a battlefield. A loss is a loss. If you’re not skilled enough, don’t blame others. I’m really curious, how did you ever become so successful, President Lockwood?"

Those words struck a raw nerve with Luke Lockwood.

It seemed like a casual jab from Kyle Zimmerman, but it was like a needle plunging into the one wound he didn’t dare touch.

It was a veiled jab, implying his past glory wasn’t his own doing at all—it was all thanks to a woman.

He had come to realize it himself recently. The success he once enjoyed was largely because Vesper Grayson had been silently supporting him from behind the scenes. He had always arrogantly believed it was due to his own superior abilities. Only after losing her did he have to admit that his glory was built on her countless unseen sacrifices.

Now, having it thrown in his face, his heart sank. Self-doubt and overwhelming regret washed over him. His face paled and flushed in turns, and his chest ached with a suffocating tightness, leaving him without the strength to even argue.

Watching his pained expression, Kyle Zimmerman’s smile grew even more playful. "Don’t tell me I hit the nail on the head?"

"You’re a lucky man, President Lockwood, having a woman to pave the way for you. Not like us, with no backing and no connections. We have to fight for every little thing ourselves."

Luke Lockwood slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, his expression utterly grim, his voice thick with suppressed fury.

"Kyle Zimmerman, shut the fuck up!"

But Kyle Zimmerman wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He slowly flicked his cigarette ash.

"Why so angry, President Lockwood? It was just a joke. Can’t you take a joke anymore?"

He slid an acquisition agreement across the table.

"Take a look. If there are no problems, sign it."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Harold Warner rushed in, looking frantic. "This is bad, President Lockwood! The partners heard you were back. They’re all here at the company, and they’re heading this way now."

Luke Lockwood shot a look at Kyle Zimmerman, who just shrugged. "I didn’t tip them off."

A moment later, the group of people swarmed in, instantly surrounding him.

Trapped in the middle, Luke Lockwood was bombarded with demands for payment and accusations from all sides. The clamor left him overwhelmed and frazzled, his face deathly pale.

His former confidence and high spirits had vanished completely, replaced by the pathetic sight of a man with nowhere left to turn.

Luke Lockwood stared intently at the contract, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

He knew that once he signed it, he would truly have nothing left.

But he had no choice.

After a long moment, he closed his eyes. His voice, raw and raspy, was heavy with crushed pride.

"...I’ll sign."

Luke Lockwood signed the share transfer agreement. Kyle Zimmerman took the contract and gestured coolly toward the crowd.

"President Lockwood has sold all of his shares. From now on, Zephyr Group has nothing to do with him. If any of you wish to collaborate in the future, you can come to me."

Once Kyle Zimmerman was alone in the office, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Jared Hawthorne.

...

In the restaurant, Vesper Grayson took a sip of milk and looked at the man across from her, speaking softly.

"Elias, I’m thinking of holding a high-end banquet soon for brand promotion. What do you think?"

Jared Hawthorne looked up at her, his tone gentle.

"I support anything you want to do. If you need a venue, connections, or any other arrangements, I’ll have my people handle it."

His company had handled many such events, so it was second nature to them.

Vesper Grayson’s lips curved into a slight smile. "The company wants to find a spokesperson for Vaudin Asia-Pacific. I haven’t been in Northolme for the past few years, so I’m not familiar with the entertainment industry here. I can’t be sure about the artists’ character or reputation. Do you know anyone suitable you could recommend?"

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

"No. Elena originally recommended Roya Winters, but I don’t have a good impression of her..."

She’s not the type to stay out of trouble. If she gets caught up in some gossip or scandal later, it won’t just ruin the jewelry brand’s reputation; the company’s image would be tarnished as well.

"Have you heard of Starlight?"

"Yes, the biggest entertainment company in Northolme."

"Zane Rivers is the owner of Starlight. For years, most of the brand ambassadors for the Hawthorne Family’s external collaborations have been chosen from Starlight. You can go and take a look."

"I think Zoe Winters is also a Starlight artist, right?"

"Artists vary in quality, and their characters differ. The key is in the selection process, not in making generalizations."

Vesper Grayson nodded gently in agreement. "You’re right. I was being too one-sided. I shouldn’t judge the whole group by one person."

"If you want to go over, I can call Zane ahead of time."

Her eyes curved into crescents, her tone carrying a hint of flirtatiousness.

"Alright, then I’ll be counting on you, President Hawthorne."

Jared Hawthorne’s gaze instantly darkened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Her sweet, soft voice caught him off guard, striking a chord deep within him. It instantly reminded him of last night—of her beneath him, her eyes soft as if steeped in water, blossoming in his arms again and again, tender and yielding, so pliant and good.

His chest suddenly burned, and his breath hitched.

In the end, Jared Hawthorne couldn’t resist. He took her hand, lowered his head, and pressed a kiss to the back of it. His voice was low and husky.

"Miss Grayson, are you trying to seduce me this early in the morning, hmm?"

Vesper Grayson: ???

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