Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Cecilia, Have a Child for Me

Jude Sheridan had it all figured out, but Cecilia Croft wasn’t taking the bait.

"Who wants to be of one mind with you? Jessica Keller?"

At the mention of this name, everyone in the room held their breath.

Jude Sheridan’s face turned cold, his sharp gaze fixed on Cecilia Croft as if trying to burn a hole right through her.

Cecilia Croft’s expression was serene, without a trace of fear in her eyes. She met his gaze naturally and sneered.

"It was your personal indiscretions that landed Vantage in its current predicament. I’m the victim in this matter, so why should I selflessly offer up 20% of my shares to help Vantage weather this crisis?"

"Just because I own the most shares doesn’t mean I have to be the sacrificial lamb, does it?"

"As for Vantage’s shares, whoever wants to sell can sell. I, for one, am not selling."

As Cecilia Croft spoke, she snatched the documents from the tabletop and tossed them toward Manager Quinn.

"What kind of garbage proposal is this? If I were you, I’d be too embarrassed to accept that 5% stake."

She let out a cold snort and strode out of the conference room.

Jude Sheridan rose from his chair. Watching her retreating figure, he said in a low voice.

"The meeting isn’t over. Where are you going?"

Cecilia Croft stopped at the doorway, her gaze cool as she looked back at him. "What’s the point of continuing such a useless meeting?"

Jude Sheridan’s brows furrowed. He looked at her and said gravely.

"Cecilia, are you saying you’re completely unwilling to make any more sacrifices for Vantage?"

A cold smile played on Cecilia Croft’s lips. "Have I not sacrificed enough? When Vantage was first founded, I was the one who provided all the capital."

"President Sheridan, after being a kept man for so many years, you suddenly think you can play hardball?"

Jude Sheridan’s face instantly stiffened, a flicker of rage appearing in his eyes.

Cecilia Croft gave him a provocative look, completely unconcerned with his feelings, and strode out of the conference room.

Behind her, the sound of something being smashed echoed.

Cecilia Croft simply curled her lip, a flash of derision in her eyes.

’He can’t take it already?’

’This is just the beginning.’

While the meeting was in session, Assistant Zimmer had already organized people to move her files upstairs.

Upstairs was an office that Cecilia Croft had specifically renovated for Jude Sheridan. The original plan was for Jude to move his office upstairs after the wedding, which would have made him seem more impressive.

But with the wedding disaster, Jude Sheridan had been so overwhelmed lately that he had forgotten all about moving offices.

Which left it for her.

After all, she was truly disgusted by him now and had no desire to work on the same floor.

With Cecilia Croft gone, there was no point in continuing the meeting.

When Jude Sheridan came out, he saw people from the president’s office moving things, item by item.

"What are you doing?"

Still fuming from the conference room, he now seemed to have found an outlet for his anger.

The people moving things stopped in their tracks, lowered their heads, and didn’t dare to breathe.

Everyone’s gaze fell on Assistant Zimmer.

When Jude Sheridan saw Assistant Zimmer, his face darkened instantly.

"What are you doing here?"

Assistant Zimmer maintained a professional smile. He appeared respectful toward Jude Sheridan, but there was a clear distance.

"President Croft rehired me at Vantage."

After leaving Vantage, Assistant Zimmer had been looking for a job. He had applied to several companies but received no response.

Upon making some inquiries, he learned that Jude Sheridan had put the word out to all the corporate HR departments, and no one dared to hire Assistant Zimmer.

After all, offending the president of a promising company for the sake of a mere employee wasn’t worth it.

Fortunately, the severance package Cecilia Croft had given him when she let him go was more than generous.

It was enough to keep him from panicking in the short term.

He had been planning to find work in a different city, but then he received a call from Cecilia Croft yesterday and decisively followed her back to Vantage.

Compared to Jude Sheridan, Cecilia Croft was actually much more suited to be a leader.

From the moment Jude let Jessica Keller join Vantage and take over his position, Assistant Zimmer knew that Jude Sheridan was not a good leader.

"Keep moving."

Seeing that Jude Sheridan was just glaring at him with a dark face, Assistant Zimmer nonchalantly instructed the others to continue.

Seeing how Assistant Zimmer was brazenly disrespecting him, Jude Sheridan violently grabbed his collar, yanked him close, and snarled in a low voice.

"Assistant Zimmer, Cecilia only rehired you at Vantage. You need to recognize your place. You’re nothing but a dog she keeps for me."

"Once we’ve reconciled, she’ll get pregnant and leave the company. And when she does, I’ll have plenty of ways to deal with you."

Assistant Zimmer didn’t move. His gaze remained polite as he looked at the enraged Jude Sheridan.

"President Sheridan, this is a matter between you and President Croft. You don’t need to inform me."

Jude Sheridan’s face fell. He raised his fist to smash it into Assistant Zimmer’s face, but just as he lifted his hand, he saw Cecilia Croft standing not far away, holding up her phone and recording.

When his fist didn’t land, she even tilted her head, her face a mask of confusion.

"Why aren’t you hitting him?"

’She’d already thought of the perfect headline for the post.’

Jude Sheridan gritted his teeth, shoved Assistant Zimmer away, and stalked toward Cecilia Croft with a cold expression.

Cecilia Croft’s phone camera was still pointed right at his face. Jude Sheridan reached out, grabbed her wrist, and started to drag her toward his office.

"We need to talk."

As if Cecilia Croft would agree to talk with him. She shook his hand off.

"I have nothing to talk about with you."

Jude Sheridan gritted his teeth, bent down, and threw Cecilia Croft over his shoulder, striding toward his office.

Seeing this, Assistant Zimmer moved forward to intervene.

Jude Sheridan slammed the door shut with a backhand motion and locked it.

Cecilia Croft struggled violently, grabbing a handful of his hair and yanking with all her might.

Jude Sheridan’s scalp tightened in pain. He threw her onto the sofa and pressed his body down on top of hers.

"Are you crazy?!"

Cecilia Croft disgustedly threw away the small clump of black hair she’d pulled out. Seeing the rage swirling in Jude Sheridan’s eyes, she decided not to provoke him further. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

She just stared blankly at his face, which was contorted with fury.

Jude Sheridan looked at her calm face, and some of the anger in his eyes dissipated. He buried his head in the crook of her neck.

"Cecilia, we shouldn’t be like this."

His warm breath ghosted across her skin as he spoke, and Cecilia Croft only felt a wave of nausea.

’It’s absolutely disgusting.’

She glanced at the ashtray on the coffee table and silently reached out a hand.

Jude Sheridan was still muttering to himself.

"Cecilia, I know how much you’ve given for our relationship and for Vantage over the years. I made a mistake, I admit it, I’m guilty as sin. But Vantage is innocent. It’s the culmination of our hard work and struggle. It bore witness to our best and purest years together."

"Cecilia, you have to believe me, you’re the only one I love. There were never any real feelings between me and Jessica Keller. It was just a fleeting novelty."

"I’ve already dealt with the child in her belly myself. From the very beginning, I never intended to let that child be born. My children can only be born from you."

Cecilia Croft didn’t respond. Her fingers were almost touching the ashtray.

It had been too long since Jude Sheridan had last held Cecilia Croft. Her faint, unique scent filled his nostrils, and his thoughts began to drift as his body started to react.

"Cecilia, have a child with me."