From Doormat to Tycoon: The Rise of the Useless Husband

Chapter 8

Celia looked completely stunned. “Ring? What ring?”

She stood frozen, Serena’s furious accusations ringing in her ears.

A ring? The one Serena claimed to have taken from her house?

Celia blinked.

Memories suddenly came back. She did lose a ring years ago. A simple, unremarkable band, but it had meant something to her. She had searched for it back then but eventually gave up, thinking it was gone forever.

But now… Serena was saying she had taken it?

Before Celia could say a word, the entire atmosphere in the restaurant shifted.

The sound of the elevator doors opening drew everyone’s attention.

A tall, commanding man stepped out, surrounded by bodyguards. He moved with purpose, his presence commanding respect without saying a word.

His sharp suit was perfectly tailored, and his expression was unreadable, his gaze sweeping the room like he owned it.

Anthony Williams.

CEO of Vespera Corporation.

This wasn’t a man you approached lightly.

The name alone made people sit straighter.

Gasps rippled through the room.

“Is that—?”

“Anthony Williams! The Anthony Williams!”

“How lucky we are to see him here!”

Murmurs turned into quiet awe. Several people began subtly fixing their posture, brushing off their clothes, trying to look presentable.

Serena and Michael, who had been focused on humiliating Celia and Damon, immediately turned their attention toward him.  They stepped slightly forward, their figures now just blocking Damon from view.

The moment Serena saw him, her whole demeanor shifted. Her lips curled into a radiant, rehearsed smile. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, straightened her shoulders, and stepped forward like she was stepping onto a red carpet.

She wanted everyone to see.

To see her speaking to someone as powerful as Anthony. To see her rubbing shoulders with Vespera Corporation.

The pride, the self-satisfaction in her eyes—it was blinding.

People around them whispered in growing amazement.

“She’s with him?”

“No way… Is she working with Vespera Corporation?”

“She must be. Look at how confidently she’s walking up to him!”

“She’s really made it, huh?”

Every word of admiration fed Serena’s ego like fuel to a fire.

She stepped directly into Anthony’s path, her voice silky-smooth and filled with flattering respect.

“Mr. Williams, what an unexpected honor,” she said sweetly. “We weren’t expecting you tonight—but I suppose fate had other plans.”

She laughed lightly, a perfect socialite’s laugh.

Michael quickly jumped in beside her. “It’s a privilege, sir. Serena’s been talking about your company’s brilliance for weeks.”

Serena nodded. “In fact, I was just telling Michael how promising our upcoming collaboration looks. I’m confident we’ll be signing things soon.”

Her smile widened, as if she were already picturing the contract in her hands. Her tone oozed certainty, as if the deal were already hers.

And in her mind—it was.

She turned slightly to glance at the other guests, basking in the admiration reflected in their eyes.

Meanwhile, Celia stood in place, gripping her folder.

Her heart thudded. This was her chance.

The proposal in her hands wasn’t just a business pitch—it was her company’s last chance at survival.

She took a deep breath, gathered her courage and stepped forward.

“Mr. Williams,” she said carefully, her voice was steady despite her nerves.“I have a proposal I believe would be of great value to Vespera Corporation. Would you mind-”

Before she could finish, Serena snapped around, her expression full of disgust.

“You?” she said, eyes narrowing. “Don’t embarrass yourself.” 

Then, she turned back to Anthony and offered an exaggerated sigh. “Mr. Williams, please forgive her. Celia’s… struggling. She’s been trying to weasel her way into big projects for years.”

Serena let out a soft, pitying laugh and added with a smirk, “Her company is a mess—on the verge of bankruptcy. She’s clinging to whatever scraps she can find.”

Gasps and murmurs began to spread again.

“Seriously?”

“Is she trying to pitch against Serena?”

“She must be desperate…”

Celia bit her lip, but kept her head high.

She couldn’t afford to be distracted—not now.

This wasn’t about pride. It was about survival.

Anthony, however, looked mildly irritated.

“If you want to discuss business,” he said curtly, “schedule through the proper channels. I don’t have time for drop-in pitches.”

Serena’s expression gleamed with triumph.

“There, you see?” she said, turning to the room with a mock-sympathetic shrug. “Some people just don’t understand how things work at this level.”

She let out a soft chuckle, dripping with disdain.

“Take my advice,” she added, her voice slow and deliberate. “Not everyone is cut out to negotiate with giants. Know your place.”

Celia stood frozen.

Her hand clenched tightly around the folder, knuckles white.

Her mind buzzed in static.

She had already tried—so many times—to secure a formal appointment with Vespera Corporation and meet Anthony in person. She had sent countless emails, proposals, even begged for a meeting through mutual connections. But every time, she was told the same thing:

Her company wasn’t qualified.

Not big enough. Not reputable enough. Not worth the CEO’s time.

Though she was confident about the proposal she made, there was no use. No one trusted her.

This was the first—and likely last—time she would ever stand in front of Anthony Williams himself.

And now, that once-in-a-lifetime chance had shattered before her eyes.

The weight of months—no, years—of hard work, sacrifice, and silent desperation came crashing down all at once.

This wasn’t just a rejection.

It was a death sentence.

If she lost this deal, her company would go under completely.

Everything she had built would be gone.

And now, in front of a room full of people—Serena smirking, Michael smug, and others casting pitying glances—Celia stood there, crumbling.

She had nothing left to say.

And just as silence closed in around her like a noose—

Damon's voice rang out. Cold and sharp.

“She’s not the one unqualified for this collaboration—you are.”