Carrying His Secret Baby; My Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

Wren’s POVI waited until Nora’s nurse promised she would stay close before I left the hospital. By the time I reached Sinclair, anger had replaced the panic that followed Maya’s call. I had changed the review properly, sent the figures, offered a qualified replacement, and still somehow Hale had turned my absence into refusal.The conference room doors were closed when I arrived. I opened them without knocking. Hale was standing near the screen. He stopped speaking as every head around the table turned toward me. “Continue,” I said, walking inside. “I would like to hear what I apparently refused to attend.”Nobody answered immediately. Then I saw the screen behind him. A list of dates filled one side. Hospital visits. Appointments I had moved. Hours I had spent away from the office because Nora was ill. Beside them were the branch’s missed deadlines, delayed client responses, and disrupted schedules.I stared at it long enough to understand exactly what he had done. Events from diffe

Wren’s POVI stared at the supervisor long enough for his discomfort to become obvious. Behind me, another group of guests approached the registration desk, their conversation slowing when they realized something was wrong.Adrian stepped forward. “There must be some mistake. Ivy is the CEO.”I lifted a hand before he could continue. “Let me handle it.”He looked at me, then stepped back without argument. I returned my attention to the supervisor. “I would like to speak with the venue manager, please.”The supervisor glanced toward the line forming behind us. “Ms. Sinclair, I was given direct instructions.”“And I am not asking you to ignore them. I am asking you to bring me the person responsible for deciding whether those instructions are valid.”His face tightened, but he called someone through his earpiece. A minute later, a woman in a dark suit approached us and introduced herself as the venue manager.“I understand there is a problem with my admission,” I said.She lowered her v

Dante’s POV The glass shattered hard enough to cut through the music. I turned toward the sound and saw guests gathering near an open alcove. Then someone shifted, and Ivy came into view. Wine covered the front of her dress. It streaked across her cheek and down her neck, and she was blinking as though some had gotten into her eyes. Hale stood several feet away, gripping his wrist. “Security!” he shouted. “She just attacked me!” A guard moved toward Ivy. I was already walking. “Don’t touch her.” The guard stopped. I kept my voice controlled even though the sight of wine across Ivy’s face made something violent rise in my chest. “Establish what happened before you put your hands on anyone.” Hale pointed at Ivy. “She grabbed me. There are witnesses.” “There are witnesses to what happened after the glass broke,” Ivy said sharply. She wiped beneath one eye, then looked past the gathering guests. “Maya.” Her assistant pushed through the crowd. “Find the venue manager,” Ivy said.

Wren’s POVBy the time I stepped outside the gala, exhaustion had replaced most of my anger. Adrian followed me through the entrance and waited until the doors closed behind us. “Are you hurt?”“No.” I adjusted Dante’s jacket around my shoulders, covering what remained of the wine stain. “My eyes stopped stinging. Hale didn’t hurt my wrist or anything else.”“You’re sure?” I looked at him. “I’m angry, Adrian. Not injured.” He nodded, but his expression stayed tense.The night air felt cool against my face, and for the first time since Hale threw the wine, there were no guests crowding around me and no directors waiting for an answer. I wanted to go home, shower, check on Nora again, and sleep before facing the board.We had barely reached the waiting cars when a woman leaving the gala noticed us. “Miss Sinclair, Mr. Vale.” I recognized her from one of the client tables and stopped politely.She smiled. “Congratulations again on your engagement. After tonight, I imagine you both need s

Wren’s POV“Put the whole record on the table.” I placed the first folder in front of the board chair before anyone could begin with Nora.Maya sat behind me with the duplicate files we had prepared. Around the table, several directors opened the review packets already waiting for them.The chair adjusted his glasses. “Ivy, there are several concerns we need to address.” I nodded. “I know. But we are not beginning with a list of my daughter’s hospital appointments as though they prove misconduct.”One director shifted in his seat. I opened my folder. “If my decisions are under review, then review the decisions. Put every accusation beside the document Hale left out.”The chair nodded slowly. “Proceed.” I handed Maya the first set, and she distributed copies of the revised meeting notice.“This is the notice moving the branch review because I had Nora’s surgical consultation. It was circulated before I left for the hospital.” I placed the next document beside it.“This is my written au