The Heiress's Revenge のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 61 - チャプター 70

As Alexander and I sat side by side in silence, still gasping from the adrenaline of the Franklin Building, the streetlamps flickered past the cab window like long, yellow tears.I clenched my fingers around his hand; I could still hear the sound of torn papers, the icy click of handcuffs on Ethan's wrists, and the echo of that fluorescent-lit chamber. Alexander brushed a strand of hair away from my face and said, "Everything's under control now." Even though his voice was low, I could feel it resonating inside of me. I took a deep breath. "I understand. However, I can not stop imagining what may have occurred. The image of Ethan's enraged gaze and his smirk as he flung my life upon that scarred desk made my chest clench. He gave my hand a squeeze. "You showed bravery. You confronted him directly. Never have I felt more proud. I gave a tremulous chuckle. It seems nearly unreal. I was a barista with a secret identity one minute, and now I am testifying in a case involving cyber-sab

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the East River and walls covered in abstract art, Reid Tower's private dining area was quiet and serene. I inhaled deeply as I walked in, wearing a modest but sophisticated sheath dress and held my head high. A big mahogany table was surrounded by chairs, and as I walked in, I heard whispers of discussion. The CFO, Thomas, motioned for me to take a seat next to him. I smiled politely at him and sat down, seeing a number of people I knew well: the general counsel, the director of HR, the liaison assigned by my own father, and a few board members who had always doubted my marriage. Alexander nodded to me briefly from across the table before launching into his introductory statement on the forecasts for the quarter. Before I prepared my own speech, I measured the speed of his while I listened, my heart thumping a little. The chairman turned to me after his portion was over. "We are all excited to hear your thoughts on the recent events and how

I became aware that we had lost control of the story the morning I woke up to a trending alert on all my devices. Before I opened my eyes, my phone was humming with hundreds of alerts. For a brief period, I lay still, my pulse pounding, recalling Alexander's composed remarks from yesterday: * "Scrutiny does not scare us—it reinforces who we are." However, I was at ease when I looked at the computer. I grabbed my phone and slipped off the silk sheets as I sat up in bed. Every major news app displayed the opening headline in stark red text: "TURMOIL REID INDUSTRIES: WIFE-CEO UNDER FIRE" I gasped. A well-known business columnist's opinion article underneath it criticized me for "playing dress-up as a corporate savior." The language I used in yesterday's forum was examined in another piece that went viral on social media, seemingly demonstrating my preference for style over content. Anxiety crept into the pit of my stomach as I browsed. Memes ridiculing my transformation from bari

As the afternoon light disappeared behind clouds, I came to the realization that the event was more of a dinner party with a purpose than a celebration of congratulations.Mrs. Carter was incredibly quiet, as if she was recording my responses. When I eventually got a minute alone with Mrs. Carter near the library entrance, I decided to approach her. I said, "Mrs. Carter, I appreciate you setting up this invitation. It has a lot of significance. Her fake grin made me shiver. "Do not worry about it, my love. I only care about what is best for Alexander and the family. I gasped. "Obviously." She cocked her head. However, I am concerned about Alexander's health. He can not have a healthy heart with all this stress. She hesitated, allowing the implication to linger between us. I struggled to maintain a steady voice. "I think Alexander appreciates my advice." Mrs. Carter's mouth quirked. "Not everyone enjoys surprises, but we all respect your bravery." She hurried away, leaving me wi

When I awoke, the dim grey light of morning streaming into the penthouse was accompanied by the gentle chiming of my phone's alarm.The only sounds disturbing the stillness of the metropolis below were the early joggers and the odd taxi honk. I did not feel the same knot of tension tightening in my chest for the first time in days. Something basic had changed after my conversation with my father last night: I was not alone.I was thinking about my mother's picture on my desk and Diana's nod of approval from a few nights ago as I got ready for the day in a fitted blue suit that was straightforward, polished, and armor-like. However, today held the promise of a different kind of reckoning that would put my Lancaster ancestry and Reid devotion to the test.Late last night, my father sent me a message: Please meet me at Lancaster Industries' headquarters at precisely 8:00 a.m. This summon seemed different from the board meeting on the merger that I had previously prepared for today. Heart