Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby! - Chapter 25: Chapter 25
You are reading Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby!, Chapter 25: Chapter 25. Read more chapters of Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby!.
Two weeks later, James Peterson held a massive inauguration at Peterson Tower.
Under the spotlights, James dropped a bombshell at the end of his speech.
"On behalf of the Peterson board, I'd like to recognize someone whose brilliant strategy saved our company during this crisis—Charlotte Pierce!"
"By unanimous vote, we're awarding Charlotte a permanent 3% equity stake in Peterson Group, and appointing her Chief Strategic Advisor, reporting directly to the board!"
The room exploded in shock.
That 3% stake instantly made Charlotte a hundred-millionaire.
And Chief Strategic Advisor gave her serious power in the company.
Charlotte stood up as all eyes turned to her, accepted the paperwork and badge with a gracious smile.
Back at the Blackwell hillside mansion, Adrian's mother grabbed Charlotte's arm, crying.
"Charlotte! Please, help Adrian! Ask the chairman if he can come home!"
The chief secretary who'd escorted Charlotte stepped between them with a formal response.
"Mrs. Blackwell, we can't discuss Young Mr. Blackwell's status until the board announces their decision."
Charlotte's heart plummeted.
Had they really sacrificed him? Just thrown him away after using him?
She kept it together and squeezed the older woman's hand: "Get some rest. I'll handle this."
In her empty office, Charlotte sat frozen for hours.
Until darkness fell outside.
She suddenly grabbed her keys and bolted for the door.
She had to get to that special detention center for white-collar criminals—she needed to see if Adrian was alive!
But at the facility, Charlotte was told no prisoner named Adrian Blackwell existed.
She exhaled in relief, feeling both lost and hopeful.
He wasn't in the worst place, but where was he?
Next morning.
A bombshell story exploded across news feeds.
#Former Fitzgerald CEO Preston Fitzgerald Guilty of Multiple Financial Crimes, Sentencing Today#
#Corporate Espionage, Insider Trading, Market Manipulation—Preston Facing Life in Prison#
The photo showed Preston being escorted by officers from the detention center to a prison transport.
In his prison jumpsuit, hair disheveled, all his arrogance completely gone.
Charlotte stared at the photo, her knuckles white around the phone.
If this was Preston's fate... what about Adrian?
She grabbed her keys and rushed out, driving like a maniac toward the courthouse.
Outside, a sea of people swarmed around, reporters and cameras blocking every inch of the entrance.
The prison transport doors had just closed.
Through the crowd and windows, Charlotte could only see Preston's hunched, defeated back.
The vehicle's harsh lights flashed as it slowly pulled away.
She stood frozen, like all the strength had been drained from her body, her blood turning to ice.
"Charlotte."
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Charlotte spun around.
Through tears, she saw him standing under a tree, sunlight filtering through the leaves onto his face.
He wore a simple gray coat, looking tired but calm as he watched her.
Adrian!
Charlotte stumbled into his arms.
"You're not going to jail?" Her voice cracked. "Peterson didn't—"
Adrian rubbed her back gently. "I'm okay. Don't worry. The chairman gave me a pass. I just need to help with some final investigations."
He pulled back and took out a small velvet box from his pocket.
Inside sat a diamond the size of a quail egg.
Adrian's deep eyes showed a hint of nervousness.
"This ring—I've kept it separate. No one else has ever worn it."
"I've carried it everywhere but never dared to show it."
His voice was rough, cautiously testing: "I don't expect you to accept it, or forgive my stupidity and all the ways I hurt you..."
He paused, holding the ring out to Charlotte, his gaze intense:
"But Charlotte, I have to ask—is there any chance we could put aside all the schemes, manipulation, and painful history, and start over?"
Charlotte looked at the ring and slowly shook her head.
The light in Adrian's eyes instantly dimmed.
But then, with a slight catch in her voice, Charlotte said:
"Not that one."
She rose on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and teased:
"I want a new one. A more expensive one. And Mr. Blackwell, you still owe me a proper proposal."
Adrian froze, then suddenly tightened his arms, pulling her against him.
"Anything! Whatever you want!"
Charlotte nestled against him, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling nothing but relief and lingering fear.
Thank God.
Thank God he was safe.
Later, Adrian finalized his divorce from Jessica.
Jessica, diagnosed with severe mental instability and violent tendencies, was sent to a private overseas facility where she'd spend the rest of her life under supervision, with medication and a wheelchair for company.
The Pierce family was exposed for deep involvement in Maxwell Peterson's illegal financial network. All of Mr. Pierce's assets were frozen and liquidated.
The Pierce name fell from grace, vanishing from high society.
The skies cleared.
Charlotte knew that her life—rich with wealth, power, and love—
Was just beginning.
Under the spotlights, James dropped a bombshell at the end of his speech.
"On behalf of the Peterson board, I'd like to recognize someone whose brilliant strategy saved our company during this crisis—Charlotte Pierce!"
"By unanimous vote, we're awarding Charlotte a permanent 3% equity stake in Peterson Group, and appointing her Chief Strategic Advisor, reporting directly to the board!"
The room exploded in shock.
That 3% stake instantly made Charlotte a hundred-millionaire.
And Chief Strategic Advisor gave her serious power in the company.
Charlotte stood up as all eyes turned to her, accepted the paperwork and badge with a gracious smile.
Back at the Blackwell hillside mansion, Adrian's mother grabbed Charlotte's arm, crying.
"Charlotte! Please, help Adrian! Ask the chairman if he can come home!"
The chief secretary who'd escorted Charlotte stepped between them with a formal response.
"Mrs. Blackwell, we can't discuss Young Mr. Blackwell's status until the board announces their decision."
Charlotte's heart plummeted.
Had they really sacrificed him? Just thrown him away after using him?
She kept it together and squeezed the older woman's hand: "Get some rest. I'll handle this."
In her empty office, Charlotte sat frozen for hours.
Until darkness fell outside.
She suddenly grabbed her keys and bolted for the door.
She had to get to that special detention center for white-collar criminals—she needed to see if Adrian was alive!
But at the facility, Charlotte was told no prisoner named Adrian Blackwell existed.
She exhaled in relief, feeling both lost and hopeful.
He wasn't in the worst place, but where was he?
Next morning.
A bombshell story exploded across news feeds.
#Former Fitzgerald CEO Preston Fitzgerald Guilty of Multiple Financial Crimes, Sentencing Today#
#Corporate Espionage, Insider Trading, Market Manipulation—Preston Facing Life in Prison#
The photo showed Preston being escorted by officers from the detention center to a prison transport.
In his prison jumpsuit, hair disheveled, all his arrogance completely gone.
Charlotte stared at the photo, her knuckles white around the phone.
If this was Preston's fate... what about Adrian?
She grabbed her keys and rushed out, driving like a maniac toward the courthouse.
Outside, a sea of people swarmed around, reporters and cameras blocking every inch of the entrance.
The prison transport doors had just closed.
Through the crowd and windows, Charlotte could only see Preston's hunched, defeated back.
The vehicle's harsh lights flashed as it slowly pulled away.
She stood frozen, like all the strength had been drained from her body, her blood turning to ice.
"Charlotte."
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Charlotte spun around.
Through tears, she saw him standing under a tree, sunlight filtering through the leaves onto his face.
He wore a simple gray coat, looking tired but calm as he watched her.
Adrian!
Charlotte stumbled into his arms.
"You're not going to jail?" Her voice cracked. "Peterson didn't—"
Adrian rubbed her back gently. "I'm okay. Don't worry. The chairman gave me a pass. I just need to help with some final investigations."
He pulled back and took out a small velvet box from his pocket.
Inside sat a diamond the size of a quail egg.
Adrian's deep eyes showed a hint of nervousness.
"This ring—I've kept it separate. No one else has ever worn it."
"I've carried it everywhere but never dared to show it."
His voice was rough, cautiously testing: "I don't expect you to accept it, or forgive my stupidity and all the ways I hurt you..."
He paused, holding the ring out to Charlotte, his gaze intense:
"But Charlotte, I have to ask—is there any chance we could put aside all the schemes, manipulation, and painful history, and start over?"
Charlotte looked at the ring and slowly shook her head.
The light in Adrian's eyes instantly dimmed.
But then, with a slight catch in her voice, Charlotte said:
"Not that one."
She rose on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and teased:
"I want a new one. A more expensive one. And Mr. Blackwell, you still owe me a proper proposal."
Adrian froze, then suddenly tightened his arms, pulling her against him.
"Anything! Whatever you want!"
Charlotte nestled against him, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling nothing but relief and lingering fear.
Thank God.
Thank God he was safe.
Later, Adrian finalized his divorce from Jessica.
Jessica, diagnosed with severe mental instability and violent tendencies, was sent to a private overseas facility where she'd spend the rest of her life under supervision, with medication and a wheelchair for company.
The Pierce family was exposed for deep involvement in Maxwell Peterson's illegal financial network. All of Mr. Pierce's assets were frozen and liquidated.
The Pierce name fell from grace, vanishing from high society.
The skies cleared.
Charlotte knew that her life—rich with wealth, power, and love—
Was just beginning.
End of Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby! Chapter 25. Continue reading Chapter 26 or return to Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby! book page.