《After the Divorce, My Billionaire Husband Lost His Mind》全部章節：第 31 章 - 第 40 章

“She just told you.”The line stayed open for half a second longer—Then went dead.I didn’t move.Didn’t breathe.Didn’t think.Because that—That changed the ground beneath everything.Not new.Not sudden.Ongoing.My grip tightened around the phone.If this was true—Then she hadn’t just been dealing with me.She had been dealing with this too.Alone.Again.I turned immediately.Back into the room.Elara looked up as I walked in.Something in my face must have given it away.“What is it?” she asked.I didn’t answer right away.Because this—This wasn’t something I could circle around.“You’ve known,” I said.Her expression didn’t change.Not immediately.But her eyes—They did.A flicker.Small.But enough.“Knew what?” she asked.I stepped closer.“This isn’t new.”Silence.“Elara.”A pause.“How long?” I asked.Her hand tightened slightly against the blanket.“That’s not what matters,” she said.“It matters to me.”Another pause.“Julian—”“How long?” I repeated.This time—She

“Ten minutes.”The line went dead.I stood there in the parking structure, the echo of those words settling in.Ten minutes to decide the direction of everything.Not just the company.Not just my position.Everything.I looked up.Victor was gone.Of course he was.Because he had already done his part.Now—This was mine.I exhaled slowly.Once.Controlled.Then I moved.Back into the hospital.Not toward the exit.Not toward the car.Toward her.The hallway felt shorter this time.Sharper.Because I wasn’t walking toward uncertainty anymore.I was walking toward a choice.I opened the door.Elara looked up immediately.Her expression shifted the moment she saw my face.“What happened?” she asked.I stepped inside.Closed the door behind me.“They’re voting to remove me,” I said.Silence.Immediate.“When?” she asked.“In a few minutes.”Her brows drew together slightly.“And you’re here?”“Yes.”A pause.“Why?”The question was simple.Direct.And for the first time—So was the answ

“Step away quietly, and the investigation stops with you.”I read it twice.Not because I didn’t understand it—But because I wanted to be sure there wasn’t anything hidden beneath it.There wasn’t.It was exactly what it looked like.A containment strategy.They weren’t trying to destroy me anymore.They were trying to use me.I leaned back in the seat, phone still in my hand.“They’re offering you a way out,” Victor said.“No,” I replied.“They’re offering themselves a way out.”A small pause.“That’s more accurate.”Silence settled between us again as the car moved through the city.Because now—The board had made their move.And they had shown their hand.They were afraid.Not of the investigation.Not of exposure.Of me.“Pull over,” I said suddenly.Victor glanced at me.“Why?”“Because I need to answer them.”A brief pause.Then he slowed the car, guiding it into a quiet side street.The engine idled.I looked down at the message again.Carefully.They thought I was cornered.T

“They’re already preparing to move against her next.”The words didn’t hit all at once.They settled.Slow.Heavy.“Explain,” I said.Victor didn’t rush.He never did.“Your board isn’t backing off,” he said.“I didn’t expect them to.”“No,” he agreed.A pause.“But you underestimated how far they’re willing to go.”My grip tightened on the phone.“They’ve already tried to tie her to the investigation.”“Yes.”“This is different.”Silence.“How?” I asked.A breath on the other end.“They’re building a case that positions her as the origin point.”My jaw locked.“That doesn’t make sense.”“It doesn’t have to,” he replied.“It just has to be convincing enough.”Silence.Because that—That was how this worked.Not truth.Narrative.“They’re going to push regulatory pressure,” Victor continued.“Freeze accounts. Stall operations. Force her into a defensive position.”My chest tightened.“They’re going to break her company.”“Yes.”The word came without hesitation.“And if that happens?” I

“Authorities issue warrant for arrest of former CEO Julian Ashford…”The words didn’t blur.They sharpened.Every syllable clear.Every implication precise.They moved fast.Faster than I expected.Which meant one thing—They were prepared for this.Elara saw it the moment my expression changed.“What is it?” she asked.I didn’t answer immediately.Because there was no version of this that sounded better out loud.“Julian.”There was no point delaying it.“They issued a warrant.”Silence.Her expression stilled.“For you?”“Yes.”The word landed heavy.But I didn’t look away.Didn’t soften it.Because this—This was part of the cost.Her breath caught slightly.“They’re arresting you?”“They’re going to try.”A pause.“That’s not something you just say casually.”“I’m not saying it casually.”Silence.Because she understood.This wasn’t hypothetical.This was happening.Now.“You need to leave,” she said suddenly.My gaze snapped to hers.“No.”“Julian—”“I’m not running.”Her express