You're Just My Ex-Husband,My Lord-Chapter 297-gloat

Seeing Bert in this state made Dave even angrier. Had everyone been frantically looking for him outside while he was home, sleeping soundly?

"What’s up?" Dave gritted his teeth and shouted,

"As the leader of Washington Co, it’s bad enough you’re skipping work, but now you’re off the grid with your phone off? Do you know how many people are looking for you? Do you know how many things need your attention?"

As Dave was still shouting, Bert simply ignored him, turning around and heading back inside, then plopping down onto the large sofa in the living room to continue his nap.

Dave was furious. He took a few steps forward and followed Bert into the house.

"Bert, what is this attitude of yours?" Dave demanded.

Bert lazily sat up on the sofa, glancing at the visibly frustrated Dave.

"What’s wrong with my attitude?" Bert said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "I’m the leader. I can do whatever I want. I didn’t sleep all night. Can’t I sleep in my own home?"

Dave let out a cold laugh.

"In your position, you still think it’s okay to sleep in like this?" Dave retorted.

Bert didn’t answer him, leaning back to resume his nap.

Dave had been angry, but now, he crossed his arms and stood silently, watching Bert with a detached gaze.

"If you plan on continuing to sleep, I’ll immediately call the executives and give them your address. Let them come over and block you here," Dave threatened.

Bert, who had just closed his eyes, suddenly opened them again in frustration, glaring at Dave.

"You’re so dedicated, huh? Maybe Washington Co. is better off without you!" Bert snapped.

The pressure from Washington Co. had already been overwhelming for Bert, and coupled with his exhaustion from the sleepless night, he felt a headache coming on. With Dave pushing him further, Bert snapped, saying the words without thinking.

As soon as the words left Bert’s mouth, both of them froze. The sarcasm on Dave’s face was unmistakable.

"Bert, do you think this is a game? You think you can just take Washington Co. when you want, and then return it when you don’t feel like dealing with it?" Dave scoffed.

Bert realized he had just said something irresponsible. He turned his eyes away, trying to avoid the gaze of the person standing before him.

Dave went on speaking.

"Now that I’ve gotten rid of this trouble, there’s no way I’m taking it back. I’d rather start my own business in the future than return to Washington Co."

He added with a gloating smirk,

"You just manage it yourself. I’m out of here."

With that, he turned and left.

Bert felt his headache intensify from Dave’s cutting words. After all that commotion, it was impossible to go back to sleep—or to skip going to the office. If he didn’t show up, Dave really might do something as outrageous as summoning the entire executive team to block him at his door. Helpless, Bert got up and begrudgingly got ready for work.

Dragging his feet lazily to the company, he was immediately ambushed by a group of board members storming into his office. They angrily accused him of being irresponsible and incompetent, claiming he was unfit to lead Washington Co., and demanded he return the company to Dave.

Bert sat silently in his office chair, face dark, listening to their barrage of complaints without saying a word.

After they’d finally finished venting, Bert picked up the phone on his desk and told his secretary to bring in several cups of tea—for them to soothe their throats.

Then he stood up with a pleasant smile, gazing at them kindly, but his words were merciless:

"Either you have what it takes to bring Dave back—or shut up and get the hell out."

As soon as he said that, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a cold, menacing glare. The board members were stunned into silence by this sudden change in demeanor. And none of them could argue back—because he was right. Not a single one of them had the power to bring Dave back. They couldn’t even locate him, let alone reach him by phone. How could they possibly convince him to return?

Besides, if they *could* bring Dave back, would they still be stuck getting steamrolled by Bert every day?

Silenced and frustrated, they all eventually stood up and filed out of Bert’s office one by one.

Left alone, Bert swept everything off his desk in a fit of rage, sending pens, papers, and files crashing to the floor. Then he slumped heavily into his chair, eyes shut, trying to calm himself down.

On this disastrous day, the only thing that lifted Bert’s spirits was a call from a representative at Matthew Inc., saying they wanted to resume collaboration on the clothing designs he’d submitted previously.

He agreed immediately.

Then he called his own design company in the U.S., instructing his staff there to give their full support to the project.

Although he was now the head of Washington Co., he had never let go of that design firm. It had been with him for years. Even though he hadn’t put much effort into it recently, it held his passion—he couldn’t just abandon it so easily.

And, just like Daniel once said, that company was built on his own tastes and vision. He wasn’t ready to let it go.

Compared to the daily chaos Bert was buried in, Dave’s life was easygoing and relaxed.

The little family of three lived in harmony and joy. Sometimes they’d visit Dave’s father at the old house, sometimes they’d drop by Tiffany’s to see her mother. On weekends, Dave and Laurent would either take their daughter out for a bit of fun or head back to the small town to visit Laurent’s parents.

Perhaps because Dave’s cooking had improved so much lately, Laurent found herself eating heartily at every meal—and as a result, she felt like she’d put on quite a bit of weight.

One evening after dinner, on a whim, she stepped onto the bathroom scale—and sure enough, she’d gained two kilos.

Annoyed, she jumped into the group chat with Vivian and the others to complain:

"What do I do, what do I do, I’ve somehow gained two whole kilos!"

"You’re just here to make people jealous, aren’t you?"

Vivian replied furiously. She’d just weaned her child and was preparing to start her post-pregnancy weight loss journey. During her breastfeeding days, the word "plump" barely even covered it. So seeing Laurent moan about gaining a measly two kilos was utterly soul-crushing—especially considering Laurent was already painfully thin. Two kilos on her meant absolutely nothing.

But when it comes to weight, most women always feel like they’re never thin enough. Laurent was no different—even though she was, in fact, quite slim.

What’s more, she had lost several kilos after her divorce and had grown used to her current figure. The sudden weight gain hit her harder than expected, and that’s why she ended up venting in the group chat.

"Whether you’re fat or thin, it’s all because you don’t work out,"

"People like me never have this problem, haha."

That was Marylin’s contribution. As she said this, she was in the middle of working out at home, chatting while exercising, and casually sent a video of herself mid-sweat, looking like she’d just run a marathon.

Vivian, further provoked, dramatically swore:

"Starting tomorrow, I’m living in the gym!"

Then Zoey, who had stayed quiet until now, finally chimed in at her own unhurried pace:

"Behind every woman who keeps gaining weight... is a man who’s no good in bed."

Pfft—

Pfft—

Pfft—

The chat was instantly filled with snorts of laughter.