My seventy-million-dollar private jet was gifted by my wife to one of her pet actors. On the livestream, Aaron Cranston flicked his hair back for the camera, showing off. “Wheels up! Checking out the boss lady’s super-jet. Time for a five-star nap on my way to a private island~” The comments section instantly erupted: 【HOLY SHIT! Is that a Gulfstream G650?】 【I saw that plane in Forbes! I think it belongs to Cross Industries!】 【Damian Cross spoils Aaron rotten!】 I let out a cold laugh and dialed Lydia’s number. “Explain to me why my jet is suddenly someone else’s.” Her voice on the other end was careless. “Aaron’s a celebrity, he needs to maintain a certain image. It’s not like you’re short one plane…” “I want that jet back on the tarmac in five minutes.” The only response I got was a dial tone. Two minutes later, the plane carrying Aaron Cranston developed a sudden malfunction. It was stuck circling at thirty thousand feet, unable to land. At the same exact moment, the stock price of Legacy Entertainment, her company, took a nosedive off a cliff. You dare touch what belongs to me, Damian Cross? Then you’d better be prepared to pay the price. 1 When Aaron Cranston finally stumbled down the airstairs, the face his fans called ‘god-tier’ was as white as a sheet. His expensive custom suit was splattered with vomit. Behind him, the multi-million-dollar jet was engulfed in flames. “Damian Cross! Are you fucking insane?!” he shrieked, his voice filled with impotent rage, though his legs were shaking too hard for him to stand straight. “Lydia gave me this plane! What right do you have to destroy it?!” I brushed a bit of ash from my sleeve and looked down at this clueless starlet who had no idea who he was messing with. He would probably never understand that some things can’t be obtained just by being cute and throwing a tantrum. Things like this jet. Things like… Lydia. “Yours?” I chuckled softly. The sound wasn’t loud, but it made Aaron flinch. “It seems Lydia failed to mention that I am the sole owner of this aircraft. I can do whatever the hell I want with it.” Aaron’s face paled, but he quickly puffed out his chest again. “Lydia said it was a gift, so it’s mine! She never goes back on her word! You just wait, she’ll get justice for me!” I suddenly felt a wave of boredom. Arguing with this pathetic clown was a complete waste of my time. I didn’t bother wasting another word on him, just tilted my head toward the bodyguards behind me. “Take him somewhere to cool off.” They immediately moved in, grabbing Aaron by each arm. “What are you doing? Let go of me!” Aaron screamed, struggling uselessly. “Lydia! Help me!” My men were impassive. A flurry of slaps landed squarely on his face. Before he could recover, they grabbed him by the collar, dragged him like a sack of potatoes over to a maintenance trough, and shoved his head into the water without a second thought. He looked like a drowned rat, a far cry from the smug celebrity who had been flaunting his prize on the livestream just an hour ago. “Stop it!” A familiar female voice cut through the air. Lydia came running, teetering on her four-inch heels. Her perfectly applied makeup couldn’t hide the panic and fury on her face. She rushed to Aaron’s side, helping him up with a look of profound pity before glaring at me. “Damian, what is wrong with you?” she demanded. “Aaron has a heart condition! Are you trying to kill him? It’s just a stupid plane! You have plenty, do you have to be so petty?” Me, petty? It seemed she’d truly lost her mind. I didn’t mind reminding her. “Lydia, where did you get the nerve to give away my property?” My voice was calm, but her face instantly drained of color. “I see you’ve forgotten my rules.” At that moment, Aaron, still oblivious, decided to provoke me further. “I’m young and handsome! What’s wrong with Lydia treating me well? You’re just jealous, you old man!” My eyes hardened as I stared at Lydia. “You know what happens to people who touch my things.” Lydia knew I wasn’t joking. Once, some arrogant heir stained my suit, and the next day he was found to have “accidentally” fallen into the ocean. “Aaron, apologize,” she commanded through gritted teeth. “What? Lydia! He’s the one who…” “Apologize. Now!” Aaron finally seemed to realize that the person he was relying on was utterly powerless in front of me. He gave a reluctant, shallow bow, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cross…” I sneered and turned, walking toward the waiting Rolls-Royce. In the rearview mirror, I could see Lydia tenderly wiping the blood from Aaron’s face with her handkerchief. That gentle touch used to belong only to me. Three years ago, Legacy Entertainment was on the verge of bankruptcy. Lydia’s father had jumped from his office window, leaving behind a mountain of debt. She came to me, dressed in mourning clothes, and knelt in the pouring rain for six solid hours. “Mr. Cross, please, save Legacy. I’ll do anything.” I’ll admit, in that moment, I was moved. Not just by her beauty, but by the defiant fire in her eyes. I told her my price was marriage. She agreed without hesitation. For three years, I poured resources into Legacy Entertainment, building it into a ten-billion-dollar behemoth. Lydia, in turn, grew from a timid, trembling girl into a formidable executive in her own right. I thought our bond was unbreakable. Until today, when she crossed a line for another man. 2 When I got home, I sent a contract termination notice to Lydia. If she was smart, she’d understand my meaning. It was a warning. After all these years, I wasn’t opposed to giving her a second chance. All she had to do was get rid of that annoying starlet. But the next morning, my assistant knocked frantically on my office door. “Mr. Cross, Legacy’s main brand just updated its official website and social media with a new brand ambassador… it’s Aaron Cranston.” I stared at the arrogant face on my computer screen, my gaze turning to ice. In the poster, Aaron wore the latest suit from Legacy’s couture line, his posture disdainful. The caption was a slap in the face: “Global Ambassador for the Legacy Group · Aaron Cranston.” The most ridiculous part? That position was supposed to go to the Oscar-winning actress Sienna Rowe, a deal I had personally brokered. I gave a cold laugh and hit the intercom. “Get the legal department on the line. I want a lawsuit filed against Legacy for breach of contract. Immediately.” My assistant hesitated. “Sir, Legacy is your wife’s family company. If this goes to court…” “Do as I say,” I cut him off. “And get the car. We’re going to Legacy Tower.” Half an hour later, I stepped into the headquarters of the Legacy Group. Just as I got off the elevator, I heard Aaron’s voice booming down the hallway. “The deal Legacy offered is pretty good, but I think there’s room for negotiation,” he was saying. “After all, my fanbase’s spending power is a known quantity. Doubling their sales is just a matter of time.” His agent chimed in with fawning agreement. “Of course! Lydia values you immensely. She even turned down the actress Cross Industries was pushing, all to promote you! She’s crazy about you, you have to lock her down!” Aaron laughed. “There isn’t a woman on this earth who can resist my charm.” I stopped in my tracks, my expression turning glacial. Lydia had rejected the ambassador I’d chosen just to prop up this piece of trash? I gave a subtle nod to my assistant. He understood instantly, striding forward and kicking Aaron’s legs out from under him. “What the hell are you doing?” Aaron yelped from the floor. “I’m with Lydia! You’re just some corporate nobody. I’ll have her fire you for this!” I walked over and looked down on him. “Lydia? Hah. She doesn’t call the shots here. You shouldn’t be begging her. You should be begging me.” His face twisted. “Damian Cross! What gives you the right?!” “The right? I own 80% of Legacy’s shares. That’s my right.” He glared at me, his eyes burning with helpless rage. Lydia, hearing the commotion, rushed out. “Damian! What is the meaning of this?” I looked at her, my eyes cold. “I should be asking you that. The termination notice I sent last night—did you not understand it, or are you deliberately provoking me?” She bit her lip, her tone softening. “Honey, Aaron has a huge fanbase. If we suddenly terminate his contract, it will have a major impact on the brand’s image and sales… He’s just young and a bit impulsive. Don’t hold it against him.” She reached for my arm, her eyes pleading. “There’s nothing going on between us, you have to believe me.” I looked down at her and suddenly smiled. “Lydia, you once told me that you would only ever listen to me. Are you disobeying me now… for him?” Her face went white, her lips trembling as she struggled for words. I didn’t waste any more time. I turned to my assistant. “Notify all our partners. Effective immediately, all collaborations with Aaron Cranston are terminated. Anyone who continues to work with him is an enemy of Cross Industries.” Aaron finally broke, his lip trembling as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. “Lydia! I’m sorry. I’m just an ordinary person, I don’t have the power to protect you. Since Mr. Cross can’t stand me, I’ll leave. Don’t fight with him because of me…” Hearing his self-sacrificing words, Lydia’s heart shattered. She clenched her fists and suddenly yelled at me, “Damian! Do you have to be so heartless?” Without looking back, I stepped into the elevator, my voice like ice. “Lydia, I gave you a chance.” 3 For days, Aaron’s contract remained active. Lydia seemed determined to defy me, even throwing a hundred million dollars at a new reality show custom-built for him. Since she refused to listen to reason, I decided to make her understand another way. At the press conference, the lights were blinding, the reporters’ cameras all aimed at me. I had just announced my full acquisition of the Legacy Group when Lydia burst in, her face livid. “Legacy is my company! What right do you have to take it away?” she raged. “Damian, are you ever going to let this go? All this drama over one stupid plane! My patience is wearing thin. If you keep this up, you’re going to lose me for good.” It seems I’d spoiled her for far too long. “Lydia, you were the one who crossed the line first. Don’t blame me for this. I told you, three strikes and you’re out.” Aaron, who had followed Lydia in, suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me, his voice choked with emotion. “Mr. Cross, I’m just an ordinary person. I can understand you looking down on me, humiliating me. After all, you’re on top of the world. People like me are less than ants to you. But Lydia is your wife! How could you be so cruel to her…” His acting was superb. He looked like a martyr who had suffered a grave injustice, and I was the overbearing villain. His performance ignited the fury of everyone in the room. Reporters swarmed forward, shoving microphones in my face. “Mr. Cross, is what he’s saying true?” “Do you think being a CEO gives you the right to trample on ordinary people?” The scene descended into chaos. I stared coldly at Aaron. His head was bowed, but I could see the faint smirk playing on his lips. My assistant, seeing things were getting out of hand, immediately had security start clearing the reporters out. When the room was finally quiet, I turned to Lydia. “I’ve given you too many chances. This is the last one. You have two choices. Either you cut all ties with Aaron Cranston, and you remain the president of the Legacy Group. Or, you can take your dog and get out.”
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