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."

mistake," Elizabeth warned. "You need to release him—talk to the lawyers, drop the charges. Do it quietly before the media turns

like nothing happened. If I let him go, what message does that send to every

her mouth, but Stefan cut her off

where I draw the line."

at her son for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she picked up her

live with yourself," she said coldly before marching out of

his fingers resting on the edge of the desk. Ruby slowly moved to his side, placing a gentle hand on his

okay?" she

nodded once. "She’ll come

knew the weight of going against one’s family—even when it was the right thing.

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

Zeden. Soft jazz played in

private booth, champagne glasses half full,

smile soft and teasing. "So... Mr. Winters slayer of corrupt uncles, conqueror of boardrooms, and destroyer

one arm draped across

head briefly against

against her cheek. "This is all the

lips met in a soft, lingering kiss that made the outside world fade

they pulled apart, Ruby’s

at the screen and brightened

faintly. "Oh, I see. You should answer

You’re calling late—everything okay?" she said, wondering if she had

this—the