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."

the lawyers, drop the charges. Do

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

but Stefan

draw the line."

for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she picked up her purse and

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

the desk.

okay?" she

once. "She’ll come around. 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,

Stefan had suggested they eat out and open

of Zeden. Soft jazz played in the background, and a candle flickered gently between Stefan and Ruby’s plates. fr.e

a private booth, champagne glasses half full,

leaned closer, her smile soft and teasing. "So... Mr. Winters slayer of

across the back of her seat.

her head briefly against his shoulder. "You deserve a

brushing a hand against her

a soft, lingering kiss that made the outside world

Ruby’s phone buzzed

glanced at the screen and brightened instantly.

"Oh, I

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

and disbelief. "Ruby! You will not believe this—the people withdrew the case! Just like that! It’s gone. It’s like... like some kind of