Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 32: Action Stefan

The next morning, the tension in the conference room was thick enough to cut through.

Papers rustled, pens tapped against notepads, and the quiet hum of whispered discussions filled the space.

Ruby sat beside Stefan, her fingers flipping through one of the many contracts sprawled across the table. Everyone from the legal team was present, their brows furrowed in concentration as they combed through the ten-year lease agreement with the troublesome Mr Sherlock.

Every now and then, one of the lawyers would point out a clause, murmur a possible lead, or scribble down a note. The urgency in the room was palpable—this wasn’t just another corporate strategy meeting. This was a mission, a desperate search for a legal lifeline to sever ties with a man whose negligence was endangering lives.

Ruby glanced at Stefan, who sat still beside her, his jaw tight, eyes hidden behind dark glasses. Even though he couldn’t see the chaos of documents in front of him, he was clearly tuned in to every word being said. Naomi stood on the other side of the table, flipping through pages of older contracts, highlighting differences between the drafts.

"It’s got to be here," muttered one of the senior attorneys. "There has to be a clause on safety violations or breach of operational standards..."

Just then, the heavy wooden door to the conference room slammed open with a loud bang, startling everyone. All heads turned sharply as Richard Winters stormed in, his face flushed with anger and disbelief.

"What the hell is going on here?" he barked, eyes sweeping across the room until they landed on Stefan.

The lawyers froze, unsure whether to speak or retreat. Ruby stiffened, her back straightening as she closed the folder in front of her.

Stefan didn’t flinch. Calmly, he turned his head toward the sound of his uncle’s voice and said, "Exactly what you think, Uncle. We’re going through the contract, again." fre(e)webnove.l.c.om

Richard took a step forward, fury radiating off of him. "You’re going to ruin everything we’ve built with this foolishness," he snapped. "That man is one of our best-paying investors. You can’t just kick him out over some drama stirred up by workers."

Ruby stood up, her voice calm but firm. "Drama?" she repeated. "What we saw yesterday wasn’t drama—it was disaster. People are getting hurt. Someone is in the hospital, fighting for his life. And you want us to sit back and pretend like everything’s fine just because you care more about the money than the people?"

Richard turned to her, his tone sharp. "And since when did you start poking your nose into business matters, young lady?"

Ruby didn’t back down. "Since I married into this family," she replied without hesitation. "And as part of this family, I won’t keep quiet and let lives be destroyed for the sake of profit."

"You have no idea how business

she cut in. "And I also know that a business built on the suffering of others is

to Stefan. "You’re letting her speak for you now?"

chair, his posture composed but commanding. "No," he said, his voice calm yet final. "She’s speaking for herself—and everything

looked between his nephew and Ruby. When neither backed down, he scoffed in frustration, turned on his heel, and stormed out

few members of the legal team glanced at Ruby with newfound admiration. Naomi gave her a small nod of approval, while Oliver let out a breath he didn’t know he’d

obvious this Ivy wasn’t the one they knew. She had probably hit

but it felt necessary. She looked over at Stefan, unsure of how he was

he said, quietly but firmly, "let’s

that, the room came back to life—this time with more urgency and unity than

room, slamming the door behind him

detail, sat up straighter in his seat. "There it is," he said,

room stilled. Naomi looked up first, brows furrowed. "You

it?" Ruby asked, her heart picking up speed. She hoped it would be enough to go

his throat. "The contract can’t be terminated arbitrarily, yes. But there’s a clause under Section 4, Subsection 9. It states that if the company deems that the investor is repeatedly failing to implement safety protocols and has been found negligent with no attempt to make amends despite formal

silence again. And then—a smile broke out on every

a whisper before it rose with excitement. "That’s the

with relief and pride. "He’s definitely been

as he nodded. "Then we’re not waiting around anymore." His voice was low but resolute. "I’m calling Mr. Sherlock in for a meeting. If he refuses to show

composed, so determined—it stirred something warm in her chest. It wasn’t just about business anymore. He

nodded. "I’ll contact his office

Friday at noon," Stefan added, turning toward her

a

brilliant back there," she said in a hushed voice meant only for his ears. "That was the kind