All Chapters of The CEO’s Wife Was Never Ordinary: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

At the sound, the guards outside burst through the door."Ma'am!"The lead guard's face went white at the sight of her pain, barking at the others behind him."Move! Call Mr. Cross now!"Just then, Linda's phone started buzzing wildly.She didn't dare answer.The call ended, replaced by an incoming video.Hands shaking, Linda opened it and a scream ripped through the room.Gary, pinned facedown on a filthy floor, one hand forced flat against a table.A flash of steel.The blade came down fast.A finger severed, blood gushing."AAH!!"Gary's whole body convulsed, then went slack as his eyes rolled back.A voice message followed immediately cold, distorted, male."I'm done wasting time with you people. Send his daughter to take his place, or pay five million. Next time it's his head."The image of the severed finger, the blood, seared into Joy's vision."ugh" She clapped a hand over her mouth, doubling over, retching.The guard, terrified, caught her as she swayed."Hospital. Now!"They

Linda and her son were hauled out of the hospital.Joy let out a breath.Grandpa's discharged in a few days. After that, they won't be able to find him.Nathaniel studied her, something suspicious in his expression."She called you..."A pause, voice low. "Claire?"Joy's heart lurched, spine going rigid.She swallowed hard, forcing calm, smiling easily."Oh, that. Old nickname.""A fortune teller once said I was destined for wealth, so they nicknamed me 'Claire' means something like 'bright and clear,' supposedly lucky."A beat. "Family joke, really."Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, reading her closely."Claire?""Yeah." Joy blinked, smile stiffening. "Embarrassing, right? That's why I never bring it up."He studied her for a few more seconds, like he was weighing truth against performance.Then he looked away, indifferent. "Tacky, honestly."He chuckled under his breath.What exactly was he expecting.Seeing he'd dropped it, Joy exhaled quietly, relief flooding through, palms damp with

"Among others, I had his leg broken," Nathaniel continued. "People who commit enough evil eventually pay for it."Joy opened her mouth, throat suddenly dry.He broke his leg for me?Nathaniel, one hand in his pocket, expression unreadable.Lily pressed the elevator button, stepping in first."I reached out to contacts in Southeast Asia, leveled the whole operation did the country a favor while I was at it, bringing a wanted criminal network down with it."The elevator opened; he stepped in, hit the ground-floor button."Gary hadn't actually been part of the fraud ring yet, so there's no charge pending. I got him a medical diagnosis and transferred him to a psychiatric facility. Linda's there too."Joy's mind went blank.Nathaniel continued, flat. "Once you're in there, you don't leave."Her eyes went red.A good outcome, under the circumstances.It saved Gary's life while making sure he couldn't do any more damage.Her fingers twisted into the hem of her dress, voice shaking."Why...

4 PM.Joy set the finished documents on Nora's desk."Double-check these figures. If everything checks out, send them to Marcus. I'll leave the rest of the cleanup to you."Nora nodded. "Got it, Miss Bennett. I've got this."Joy grabbed her bag, leaving the office with a light step.She'd barely boarded the bus when her phone rang."Ma'am, the hairy crabs and king crab just arrived."Joy answered, bright. "Great, I'm on my way."Nathaniel's favorite food, bar none. This full crab spread is going to blow him away.Back home, the kitchen was already stacked with styrofoam coolers.Joy wiped off her makeup, changed into house clothes, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work with Lily on the hairy crabs.Cracking shells, removing gills and stomach, using a pick to extract roe and tomalley, splitting the bodies open, picking meat free piece by piece.The work was meticulous and exhausting; both their wrists and backs started aching fast."Ma'am, let me handle this, you should rest." Lily sh

The dim hallway lights flicked on.Joy walked ahead, hand on the railing, taking each step carefully.Nathaniel trailed two steps behind, eyes locked on her footing, occasionally reaching out to steady her."Slow down. Watch the step."At the building entrance, a gust of cold wind made Joy stop short.She took a breath, turned, smiling but distant."You still smell like smoke and liquor. It's making me nauseous. I'll ride back with security."Nathaniel's hand, halfway to the car door, froze mid-air.He pulled it back, tucking it in his pocket, voice low. "Okay."The security car drove smoothly.Joy felt something tight settle in her chest.Logically, his phone died. Not intentional.But my fingers still ache from peeling that crab. I'm allowed to be irritated.Still...He was out of breath opening the door. He must've sprinted up five flights.A small smile crept across her face before she caught it, smothering it fast.Back at Highgate Residences.Walking in, Joy found a steaming pot