CHAPTER 6 — The Wife He Thought Was Weak

That afternoon, Olivia walked into Carter Technologies for the first time since Ethan had publicly replaced her with Vanessa.

The lobby fell silent.

Employees stared.

Some with pity.

Some with fear.

Some with guilt.

Richard Vale was already waiting near the elevators.

His smile was thin.

“Mrs. Carter.”

“You no longer have business here.”

Olivia smiled back.

“That’s strange.”

She lifted the court order.

“Because according to the judge, I’m Lily Brooks’ temporary legal representative until the estate review is complete.”

Richard’s face tightened.

“You have no idea what you’re stepping into.”

Olivia stepped closer.

“No, Richard.”

“You have no idea who you tried to bury.”

For the first time, his confidence flickered.

Then the elevator opened.

Ethan stepped out.

He looked exhausted.

Unshaven.

Empty.

“Olivia…”

She turned toward him.

“Did you know Richard threatened Emily?”

Ethan froze.

Richard quickly said,

“That is a dangerous accusation.”

Olivia handed Ethan a copy of the contract.

His hands shook as he read it.

Page one.

Page two.

Then the handwritten note.

His face collapsed.

“I never saw this.”

Olivia studied him carefully.

For once, she believed him.

And that terrified her.

Because if Ethan had not ordered it…

someone else had acted in his name.

Someone powerful enough to silence Emily.

Someone close enough to control the company.

Suddenly, the boardroom doors opened.

Seven board members stepped out.

At the center stood an elderly woman in a silver suit.

Evelyn Carter.

Ethan’s mother.

She looked at Olivia with cold, perfect calm.

Then she said,

“Emily Brooks was warned.”

“She should have stayed gone.”

Ethan turned pale.

“Mother…”

Evelyn didn’t even blink.

“You were always too weak to protect the empire.”

The entire lobby went silent.

Olivia slowly looked at Ethan.

Then at Richard.

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Then at Evelyn.

And in that moment, she realized the real villain had finally stepped out of hiding.