Chapter 4: I'm Taking Back What's Mine

Elena's POV

The backstage lighting is too bright. It reflects off the mirror in harsh angles, casting shadows across my face. Through the gap in the curtain, over two hundred guests are settling into their seats. Investors, journalists, partners. All waiting.

I'm standing in the wings. My palms are sweating. This kind of nervousness is new.

I've done hundreds of presentations. MIT defense, investor pitches, tech conferences. But this is different. This is the end of everything I built. And the beginning of everything I deserve.

Footsteps approach. Sophia appears, hesitant. "Elena, you okay? You look pale."

"I'm fine."

She shifts her weight. "About the board meeting... I'm sorry. I know you—"

I turn. Fix her with a cold stare. "You know what? That you report to Diane every week? That you've been monitoring my work for her?"

Her face flushes. She backs up a step. "I... I was just—"

I shake my head. Calm. "Don't. I get it. You're protecting your job. I would've done the same."

I take a deep breath. Smooth down my suit jacket. Check my reflection in the mirror. No jewelry. No makeup beyond basics. Like attending a funeral.

In a way, it is a funeral. The death of Elena Carter, the accommodating wife. The birth of Elena Carter, who answers to no one.

Music swells from the front of house. Applause. The stage manager signals. Five minutes.

I nod. One last deep breath.

The spotlight hits Ryan as he walks onstage. His suit is perfectly tailored. His smile is practiced. The crowd erupts in applause.

"Thank you all for being here today." His voice carries, confident and smooth. "NexTech's AI medical diagnostic system is going to revolutionize healthcare. Our accuracy rate is 18% higher than existing solutions—"

More applause. Camera flashes pop. Ryan's gestures are professional, each pause calculated. He's a born performer.

His eyes sweep the crowd, past the lights and cameras. They find me in the wings.

Our eyes lock. Just for a second.

But Ryan sees something there. Cold determination. A stranger.

His smile falters. Almost imperceptible. His hand grips the podium tighter. Something's wrong. Elena never looks at him like that.

He forces the confidence back. "And now, I'd like to invite our CTO, Dr. Elena Carter, to share the technical details."

I breathe in. Step forward. My footsteps are steady as I cross the stage.

The spotlight hits me. The whole world pauses.

I take the microphone from Ryan. Feel its weight. Two hundred pairs of eyes lock onto me. Front row center, Diane sits with perfect posture, a satisfied smile on her lips.

She thinks she won. She thinks this is her victory lap.

"Thank you all for coming today." My voice is calm. Controlled. "Ryan's right. Today is important."

I pause. Let the silence build. My eyes scan the room. Investors. Media. Diane. Finally, Ryan.

He's standing stage left now. His body language already tense.

"But not because of the product launch."

The words hang.

"Because as of today, I'm resigning as CTO of NexTech Solutions."

Gasps ripple through the crowd. Ryan's smile freezes. Diane shoots to her feet, her chair scraping. Cameras start clicking frantically. The murmurs escalate into confused chatter.

"For three years, I gave this company everything." I raise my voice, cutting through the noise. "Eighty-hour weeks. Over one hundred thousand lines of code. Built a team from scratch."

My voice stays steady but there's a tremor underneath.

"I thought I was building my dream. But I was wrong. I wasn't building my dream. I was building someone else's empire."

I let the words sink in.

Diane's face transforms from satisfaction to fury. Ryan tries to step forward but his feet won't move. Below, investors exchange worried glances. Someone pulls out their phone.

I reach into my briefcase. Pull out a document. Hold it up high.

"This is the Technology Contribution Agreement we signed three years ago."

Paper rustles in the sudden silence. Every eye locks onto the document.

"The core algorithm that powers NexTech, seventy percent of the system's functionality, the IP belongs to me personally. The company only has a usage license."

The room erupts. Investors start murmuring louder. Someone stands, trying to see better. Diane's face drains from angry red to pale white.

She didn't think I'd use this. She thought I was too scared.

"And now," my voice cuts through the chaos, cold and clear, "I'm terminating that license."

"This is breach of contract!" Diane's voice is sharp with rage.

All heads swivel toward her. Cameras turn to capture her reaction.

I face her. Perfectly calm. "Wrong, Mrs. Walsh. Section Seven is very clear. I have the right to revoke authorization upon resignation."

Slowly, I turn toward Ryan. He's standing at the edge of the stage, face drained of color.

Our eyes meet across the distance.

"You signed this yourself, Ryan." My voice is softer now. But somehow more devastating. "Three years ago."

Each word lands like a hammer.

"Three years ago, you believed we were equal partners. Three years ago, you promised to protect my rights. Too bad you changed."

The silence is so thick you could cut it.

I take a breath. This is it. The last bomb.

"There's one more thing you should all know."

I pause. Let the anticipation build.

"Ryan Walsh isn't just my business partner." My voice is clear. Each word deliberate. "He's my husband."

If before was chaos, this is an explosion.

Flashbulbs go off like a strobe light. Cameras swivel from every angle. Shouts and questions overlap into noise.

"We hid our marriage because his family didn't accept my background." My voice cuts through the chaos. "Because we feared investors would question conflicts of interest. Because someone believed women should support men from behind, not stand beside them as equals."

I reach into my bag. Pull out another document.

"But as of today, this marriage is over. These are divorce papers, filed this morning."

I look at Ryan. His eyes are red. Like he wants to say something but can't force the words out. My expression softens for just a second. Then hardens again.

"You chose your mother over me, Ryan. So now, I choose myself."

Ryan finally moves. Rushes toward the stage, reaching for the microphone. "Elena, please—"

I step back. Keep the distance between us.

"I'll complete the handover in three days." My final words into the microphone. "As for NexTech's future, good luck. You're gonna need it."

I set down the microphone. The sound is clear. Final.

I turn and walk toward the back exit. My steps are steady. Deliberate.

Ryan tries to follow but reporters swarm him.

"Ryan! Is it true you were married?"

"Why did you hide it?"

"What's your response to Elena's accusations?"

He stands in the middle of the crowd, watching my back disappear through the door. He wants to call my name. His throat is choked. No sound comes out.

The door closes behind me. The noise cuts off, suddenly muffled.

Jamie's car is waiting, engine running. I slide into the passenger seat. Collapse against the headrest. My hands are shaking. My heart pounds.

"You okay?" Jamie's voice is concerned.

I close my eyes. A small smile crosses my face. "Yeah. I'm finally... free."

My phone buzzes. Then buzzes again. And again. I open it. Ninety-nine plus unread messages. News alerts are already everywhere.

"Tech Unicorn CTO Resigns, Reveals Secret Marriage"

"NexTech Faces Technical Crisis"

"Female Founder's Revenge"

I turn off the phone. "Let's go. We have work to do."

The car pulls away from the curb, leaving the chaos behind. In the rear-view mirror, the hotel entrance is swarming with people. Cameras. Confusion.

But for me, real life is just beginning.