Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 154 Chapter 154 "Resignation?" Calen's eyes widened, his voice laced with disbelief as he stared at his father. "Father-are you- are you kidding me? If you are, then you should know that something like this isn't funny." +13) Renard Weiss didn't bother responding. Instead, he tossed a piece of paper across the desk, the crisp sheet sliding neatly to a stop in front of Calen.

Calen snatched it up, eyes darting over the contents. The words blurred for a moment, but there was no mistaking the neat, precise handwriting at the bottom with the clean signature above it.

Resignation Letter.

Two weeks' notice.

Calen's grip tightened around the paper, fingers turning white at the knuckles. "She's leaving," he breathed, a flicker of something raw passing through his eyes. His hands shook, just slightly. “She's actually leaving?" Renard's eyes flicked up, cold and steady. “It seems so,” he muttered, leaning back against the leather chair with a tired sigh. "She already submitted her reports and handed over everything related to the Macau Project. All that's left now is for her to finish her two weeks and walk away. I already signed her resignation." Calen's jaw clenched. “This is absurd! Why would you sign this?” he snapped, tossing the paper back onto the desk with a sharp flick of his wrist. "Why is she doing this?" Renard watched him for a moment, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "It's not that hard to figure out," he said slowly. "You took over her project. The one she built from scratch. Frankly, I'm surprised you still thought she will stay." Calen's fists clenched at his sides, eyes narrowing. “She's leaving over that? Just because I took over one project? Father, she's been working in this company for years. She didn't leave when I- when she discovered that thing about Monica yet now- he didn't continue what he was about to say.

Renard exhaled sharply. "Don't be naive," he muttered. "This isn't about one project. You've been undermining her for months. It was only a matter of time.” He drummed his fingers once against the desk, gaze sharp. "Besides, it's not like she needs this job." Calen's eyes flashed. "What's that supposed to mean?" Renard arched a brow, unimpressed. "Exactly what I said," he replied. "She's a Rossi. She could walk into any boardroom in the country and have a seat at the table. It's the job that needs her, not the other way around. Also, she now has a significant number of shares. She knew what was going to make her more money." Calen's breath stuttered, hands flexing at his sides. His glare darkened, but he couldn't muster a proper response. Because, deep down, he knew it was true.

Renard's gaze didn't soften. If anything, it grew colder. "You're in this position right now because of her," he said bluntly. "More than half of the projects you've completed in the past were based on her proposals. Do you honestly think the board doesn't know that?" Calen's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Renard leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "You've been coasting on her work for years," he continued. "This was bound to happen eventually." Calen gritted his teeth, a faint tremor running through his shoulders. The truth of it stung more than he wanted to admit.

Renard's eyes flickered with something cold and calculative. "Focus on maintaining your relationship with Pamella Johnson and the Johnson family," he instructed smoothly. “I'll back you up and handle the rest.” 1/3 19 63% +13) Chapter 154 Calen's head snapped up, eyes glinting with something dark and bitter. "So that's it?" he growled. "You putin charge of the Macau Project just to please Pamella and her family? Not because of my skills?" Renard's silence was damning.

Calen's lips curled into a bitter snarl, fingers clenching so tightly his knuckles cracked. "Unbelievable," he muttered, half to himself. "So that's all I am, huh? A pawn for your business deals?" Renard's eyes narrowed. "If that's what it takes to stabilize this company, then yes," he replied coldly. "The Johnsons are the only thing keeping us afloat right now. So unless you have a better plan, I suggest you start acting like a Vice President and less like a petulant child." Calen sucked in a breath, teeth grinding audibly. He turned sharply, storming out without another word, the door slamming behind him with enough force to rattle the windows.

Renard exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. The resignation letter lay crumpled on the desk.

Izzy made her way down the hallway. She was almost at the elevators when a hand shot out, fingers curling around her arm in a harsh grip.

She flinched instinctively, eyes narrowing as she was pulled abruptly into a quiet alcove by the wall. The shock was brief- gone in an instant, replaced by a cold glare as she met Calen's eyes.

"You're leaving?!" he snapped. “What the hell are you thinking, Izzy?" Izzy's eyes flickered to the hand gripping her arm, her gaze turning icy. She tried to jerk her arm free, but Calen's grip only tightened, holding her firmly in place.

"Let go," she bit out, eyes narrowing. "This is not appropriate." Calen's jaw clenched, but he didn't budge. “I'll let go when I want to," he ground out, eyes blazing. “Answerfirst. Are you seriously leaving the company?" Izzy huffed inwardly, though her expression remained cold and composed. "You already read the notice, didn't you?" she countered smoothly. "Then you should already know the answer." Calen's grip on her arm tightened, eyes narrowing further. "Are you out of your fucking mind?" he growled. "Do you have any idea what leaving like this will do to the project? To the people working under you?" Izzy snorted softly. "That's not my problem," she replied. "You're the one in charge now. Aren't you supposed to handle things like this?" Calen's eyes flashed with something dark and furious. "You-" Izzy arched her brow, unbothered by his glare. "If you're done,” she said sharply, tugging her arm again. “Let go."

Calen scoffed, but he didn't release her. "How can you be so damn selfish?" he snapped. "Do you even realize how many people are going to be affected by this? You've got teams relying on you-departments that can't function without your input!" "Then you better step up, Vice President," she said, a faint smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "After all, isn't that your job now?"

Calen's teeth ground together audibly. "Stop acting like this," he om snapped. "You can't just walk out because you're pissed off. This isn't spetty argument-you're abandoning an entire team!" Izzy's smile didn't waver. "That team is your responsibility now," she pointed out lightly. "Not mine. I did my part-I handed 2/3 11:04 Wed, 5 Mar M.

Chapter 154 over all the files and briefed your assistant. What happens next is up to you? "So that's it, huhy You're just going to walk away and leave everyone else to clean up the mess?" Izzy's eyes narrowed in return. “What mess?” she asked smoothly. "Everything's in order. Or are you admitting you can't handle it?" Disbelief flashed in Calen's eyes. "So that's how it is... you wantedto beg" This time, he finally let her arm go. "You wantedto beg you. You wanted that power... didn't you?" Izzy only smirked in response. "I've seen shamelessness in lots of forms, Mr. Weiss, but yours. yours is just a cut above the rest" "You"

"Please stop wasting my time. I still have tasks to delegate. Two weeks is just two weeks. After that, I'm gone. I e can't actually leave without training a few people, right?" Izzy asked as she batted her large eyes innocently-well almost innocently. 3/3 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1