Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 53: A Future

An hour later, the sound of the office doors slamming open startled even Naomi outside.

"Where is he?" Elizabeth Winters’ voice boomed through the hallway.

Before Naomi could respond, the matriarch had already pushed past her and stormed into Stefan’s office like a hurricane, her heels clicking furiously against the marble floor.

Stefan was seated behind his desk, calm and collected, as though he’d expected this.

Ruby stood beside him, eyes widening at the sight of Elizabeth’s flushed face and furious expression.

"What in heaven’s name have you done?" Elizabeth shouted, marching right up to Stefan’s desk and slamming her purse down. "How could you humiliate your uncle like that in front of the entire board? It’s all over the news! You had him dragged out of the building like a criminal!"

"Because he is one, mom," Stefan said coolly, not even flinching.

Elizabeth looked stunned. "Excuse me?"

"He stole from the company, Mother," Stefan said, voice firm but respectful. "For years. Millions. From employee benefit funds, from pension accounts. We have the documents. Verified. I didn’t accuse him—I proved it."

"I don’t care!" Elizabeth snapped, face flushed. "You don’t treat family like that. You could have handled it privately. He’s your uncle, Stefan. Your blood."

"I never told Richard to steal," Stefan said, standing slowly. "I never told him to forge signatures or siphon money through dummy accounts. He made those choices. And now he gets to live with the consequences."

Elizabeth’s eyes darted to Ruby, then back to Stefan. "You’re letting her fill your head—"

"What? This has nothing to do with Ivy and you know it," Stefan interrupted sharply. "This is business. Company business. And I’m the one who has to clean up the mess Richard left behind."

need to release him—talk to the lawyers, drop the charges.

"No. He doesn’t get to walk away from this like nothing happened. If I let him go, what message does that send

mouth, but Stefan cut her off

where I draw the line." There was a silence—icy,

unreadable. Then she picked up her purse and

can live with yourself," she said coldly before marching

edge of the desk. Ruby slowly moved to

she

come around. She always

further. She knew the weight of going against one’s family—even when it was the right thing. Stefan had always carried that weight in silence, but now she was here, standing beside

of their success in putting Richard’s case behind them, Stefan had suggested they eat out and open a bottle of champagne to celebrate

Soft jazz played in the background, and a

a private booth, champagne glasses half

Mr. Winters slayer of corrupt

draped across the back of her

her head briefly against his shoulder.

a hand against her cheek. "This

kiss that

Ruby’s phone buzzed on the

at the screen and brightened instantly. "It’s

"Oh, I see. You should answer

to accept. "Hey! You’re calling late—everything okay?" she said, wondering if she had received help

through the speaker, filled with excitement and disbelief. "Ruby! You will not believe this—the people withdrew the case! Just like that! It’s gone. It’s like... like