Chapter 3

"Miss Sterling!"

Arthur's voice was steady and profoundly respectful. "You've finally reached out. The Chairman has been very worried about you. Everything you requested has been handled. The legal documents confirming your personal fifteen percent stake in Hayes Enterprises, along with your proof of identity as the sole Sterling heir, have just been faxed directly to the legal department and the board of directors."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, I have formally submitted a motion to the Hayes board requesting an emergency shareholders' meeting. We will re-evaluate the appointment of the Head of Strategic Development... and launch a formal investigation into Mr. Hayes's personal misconduct."

Arthur's words dropped like a bomb across the lobby.

Everyone stood frozen in shock, including Chloe.

The blood drained from her face as she stared at me in disbelief.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my lip and stepped toward her, the sharp clicking of my heels sounding like a death knell.

"Miss Vance, do you still think I'm a fake?"

I snatched the desk phone from Mr. Miller's hand and dialed the board secretary directly.

"This is Vivian Sterling. Notify every board member. Emergency meeting in the top-floor boardroom in thirty minutes. Anyone absent will face the consequences."

My voice wasn't loud, but it held absolute authority.

Hanging up, I leveled a cold gaze at the ash-faced Chloe.

"And you, Miss Vance. Instead of wasting time here, you'd better think long and hard about how you're going to explain your title of 'CEO's wife' to the board in thirty minutes."

"And what, exactly, your relationship is with my husband, Ethan Hayes."

Thirty minutes later, the top-floor boardroom of Hayes Enterprises was locked in a suffocating chill.

Seated along the massive mahogany table were all the board members. Their expressions were deadly serious, their complicated gazes darting back and forth between me, Ethan, and Chloe.

Ethan sat at the head of the table, his face as dark as a storm cloud. He glared at me, his eyes filled with fury, confusion, and an internal conflict I couldn't quite decipher.

Chloe sat huddled beside him like a terrified rabbit, completely stripped of her earlier arrogance.

I sat directly opposite Ethan, cold and detached, twirling a pen between my fingers.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin," I said, breaking the silence. "I called this emergency meeting for two reasons."

"First, regarding my identity. I am Vivian Sterling, sole heir to the Sterling Empire and the second-largest shareholder of Hayes Enterprises. You should all have copies of the verification documents in front of you."

The directors nodded one after another, their gazes toward me tinged with newfound respect.

"Second," I paused, my eyes locking like daggers onto the man and woman across the table, "I'd like to ask Mr. Hayes: who exactly is this Chloe Vance? And in what capacity did you permit her to parade around the company calling herself your wife, even laying hands on a legal major shareholder?"

Every eye turned to Ethan.

He took a slow, heavy breath and spoke, his voice raspy. "Vivian, this is a private matter between us. There's no need to air it out in front of the board."

"A private matter?" I scoffed. "Mr. Hayes, you cheated on your marriage, kept a mistress on company grounds, allowed her to ruin the corporate reputation, and nearly had the second-largest shareholder thrown out the front door. This severely threatens our business and public standing. How is this private?"

Every word hit like a bullet. Ethan's face turned completely pale.

An older board member cleared his throat. "Mr. Hayes, Miss Sterling makes a valid point. You owe everyone an explanation."

"Indeed, Ethan. Miss Vance's 'Chloe Center' project tied up nearly two billion dollars of corporate capital. If there's an issue with her background, we can't answer to the public shareholders."

In an instant, outrage spread through the room, every finger pointing straight at Ethan.

Under the table, Ethan's fists clenched so hard the veins bulged across the back of his hands.

He stayed silent for a long moment. Just when I thought he was going to defend Chloe against the world, he suddenly turned to her, his gaze devoid of any warmth.

"Chloe Vance. Tell them yourself. Who are you?"