All Chapters of The CEO's Toxic Placeholder : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The air in the abandoned station was heavy and cold. The light spilling under the steel door felt like a challenge. They knew we were here."The heirs are coming. Prepare the Chamber," the voice had echoed.I hauled Eleanor and Julian back behind a huge chunk of concrete rubble. The faint humming from the machinery beneath us vibrated through the floor."Stay low. Absolute silence," I signaled Eleanor with a flat hand. She nodded back, her eyes wide but steady. Julian pressed himself against the cold wall.I checked the custom explosive charge clipped to my belt. No more strategy. Only action. Davies's warning still rang in my head: The betrayal is a Blackwood tradition. I was about to face the men who upheld that cruel tradition.I crept low, moving through the shadows of the rusted tracks. Eleanor had the key—her flashlight—ready to blind them. Julian had the jammer ready to cut off their calls.I reached the thick, cold brick wall next to the steel door. It was the weakest point.I

Jasper’s gentle reminder that night—that I was retreating and pushing him away—made me slow down. I spent the next morning trying to balance work and presence. I forced myself to leave the office and be with him. I knew my work was important, but my marriage was more important.The meetings with the Foundation were still necessary. I had to face Vivienne at least twice a week. I had learned to defend my ideas quickly and clearly. But I couldn't stop the subtle poison she kept spreading.The direct confrontation came during a coffee break at the Foundation headquarters. The meeting had just ended. Jasper had stepped out to take an important call. Vivienne saw her chance.She walked over to me, holding a cup of tea. She smiled her perfect, professional smile."Eleanor," she said, her voice sounding sympathetic. "May I be honest with you for a moment? Just woman to woman."I braced myself. Her honesty was always a weapon."I actually feel a bit of pity for you," she continued, her eyes w

After Jasper told me about Sophia, the feeling of absolute trust between us was unbreakable. We were not just partners; we were two survivors who understood the cost of betrayal. I no longer felt like the "placeholder" to be easily replaced. I felt like the chosen permanent partner.I knew that seeing Vivienne would still be difficult, but I faced her now with a new kind of confidence. I knew she was trying to hurt me because she was chaotic, just like Henry.The final confrontation with Vivienne came at a crucial Foundation meeting. The meeting was held to vote on the distribution of a huge sum of money. The money would go to either Vivienne’s popular art project, which was socially charming but financially risky, or my Community Rebuilding Initiative follow-up, which was ethically solid but required more resources.The room was full of Foundation trustees and important donors. Jasper was there, sitting calmly at the head of the table. I sat beside him, ready to present my case. Vivi

Lord Blackwood had been defeated at the dinner, but he would not give up. The court case proved my mind was sharp. He knew he could not attack my mind, so he attacked my past. He attacked my background. He attacked my worth.After the tense family dinner, Lord Blackwood changed his plan. He started insisting that Jasper and I attend more social events. These were not big business parties. They were small, private gatherings. They were old-world events—tea parties, exclusive club dinners, and very formal receptions.These places were important for one reason: pedigree and lineage. They cared about the family name. They cared about history. They cared more about that than they cared about profit or success.I found myself surrounded by people who had known the Blackwood family for generations. These people lived inside the rules of the old world. They were all polite to my face, but their eyes held the same question. The question was clear: Who are you, and why are you here?Lord Blackw

My refusal to retreat was complete. I would not step back, even after Lady Helena’s gentle advice. This meant that Lord Blackwood would escalate his pressure. He saw my choice to continue working as a direct challenge to his authority. He would not allow it to stand.He did not wait long. The conflict came during the quarterly Blackwood Holdings meeting. This was not a small Foundation meeting. This was the board meeting where the major corporate decisions were made. The atmosphere was serious and heavy with financial power. This room was where the true decisions about the entire Blackwood empire were made.Jasper and I sat together at the large mahogany table. Lord Blackwood was at the head. He was sitted like a king on a throne. He was flanked by several old trustees and legal advisors who were loyal only to him.Lord Blackwood started the meeting by praising Jasper’s success. He talked about Jasper's competence and his hard work. Then, he introduced the main, cold point."We must e