The Good Girl Isn't Coming Back

CHAPTER TEN

Just then, the sound of notification alerts echoed throughout the hall.

One after another.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Every phone in the room lit up at the same time.

The laughter died instantly.

"Oh my God..." the secretary gasped, staring at her screen. "I've... I've been fired!"

"No..."

"That can't be right!"

One by one, the board members checked their phones. Their faces turned pale as they read the official notices that had just been sent from the company's legal department.

Some staggered backward.

Others stared at their screens in disbelief.

I smiled.

Slowly, I walked toward the secretary, who looked as though she was about to collapse.

Gently, I lifted her chin so she could look me in the eye.

"You see, darling," I said with a smile, "you were right."

"I did come here to put on a show."

I paused.

"And I must admit... I'm enjoying your reactions."

She lowered her head in shame.

Then I turned my attention to Henry.

"Oh, don't worry."

"I didn't forget you."

His trembling hands opened the notification on his phone.

His face instantly lost every trace of color.

It was an official arrest warrant issued for financial fraud, embezzlement, forgery, and abuse of corporate authority.

His phone slipped from his hand and crashed onto the marble floor.

"No..."

"This... this can't be happening..."

The board members exchanged frightened glances before several of them suddenly dropped to their knees.

"Mrs. Hart!"

"We're sorry!"

"We didn't know the truth!"

"Please forgive us!"

I looked at them without the slightest hint of pity.

"Now you remember who I am?"

"Interesting."

Henry rushed toward me before the officers grabbed him.

"Mrs. Summer..."

"Mr. Blackwood..."

"Please forgive me!"

His voice trembled with desperation.

Then, in a pathetic attempt to save himself, he turned toward his fiancée and slapped her across the face.

The sound echoed through the hall.

"You stupid woman!" he shouted. "If you had kept your mouth shut, none of this would have happened!"

She burst into tears.

"I'll discipline her," Henry pleaded, turning back to me.

"I promise this will never happen again."

"Please... just don't send me to prison."

I stared at him in silence.

Then I laughed.

It wasn't a joyful laugh.

It was cold.

"You want forgiveness?"

"You stole from me."

"You lived in luxury using my company's money."

"You sat in my office."

"You spent every single day enjoying a life you never built."

"And today..."

"You dare to beg for mercy?"

His lips trembled.

"I..."

I raised a hand, stopping him before he could continue.

"You should be grateful."

"If I had wanted revenge instead of justice..."

"...you would already be behind bars."

I looked at the officers.

"Take him away."

Without another word, they handcuffed Henry and led him toward the exit.

His desperate pleas echoed throughout the lobby until the doors finally closed behind him.

Silence settled over the building.

Then I turned toward the secretary who had mocked me earlier.

She couldn't even lift her head.

"There are thousands of qualified people outside this company looking for an opportunity."

"But people like you..."

"...don't deserve one."

She bit her lip to stop herself from crying.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hart."

I didn't respond.

Instead, I faced everyone in the room.

"I want every financial transaction made during the last five years."

"Every shareholder report."

"Every partnership agreement."

"Every investment record."

"And every document signed during my absence."

I let my gaze sweep across the room.

"I want everything delivered to my office within one hour."

"Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mrs. Hart!"

Their voices rang out in perfect unison.

"Good."

"You may all return to work."

No one dared waste another second.

The employees hurried back to their departments, moving with a fear that hadn't existed just a few minutes earlier.

I glanced at Harden.

He was looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

Surprise.

Admiration.

Pride.

Victor, on the other hand, remained as calm and expressionless as ever.

I smiled faintly.

"Let's see what Henry did to my office."

Without waiting for a response, I walked toward the executive floor.

Every hallway felt strangely familiar.

The conference rooms.

The research department.

The marketing division.

Even after five years, I remembered where everything was.

Nothing had changed.

Except the people.

When I pushed open the office door, I stopped in my tracks.

"What..."

The once elegant office had become a disaster.

Fashion magazines were scattered across the desk.

Empty coffee cups sat on expensive furniture.

Stacks of paperwork were thrown carelessly onto the floor.

The room looked more like a lounge than the office of a CEO.

I let out a slow breath.

"So this is how he treated my company."

Harden looked around in disbelief.

"Oh, gosh..."

"What a mess."

I rolled up my sleeves.

"I'll clean it."

As I reached for the magazines, Harden gently caught my wrist.

"Don't."

I looked up.

"Why?"

"You have employees for that."

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"You're the CEO."

"Your job isn't to clean up someone else's mess."

I smiled.

"Harden..."

"Being the owner of a company doesn't stop me from picking up trash when I see it."

"I've never been too proud to do honest work."

He chuckled softly.

"I know."

"But today..."

"...sit with me."

His voice was gentle.

For some reason, I couldn't refuse.

I nodded.

"Okay."

Harden glanced toward Victor.

"Give us a few minutes."

Victor understood immediately.

"I'll wait outside."

As soon as the door closed, silence filled the office.

I lowered my eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Harden looked at me.

"For what?"

"For hiding this from you."

"The company..."

"My identity..."

"I should have told you."

He smiled.

"Summer."

"We're married."

"You don't have to carry every burden alone."

His words settled deep inside my heart.

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

For the first time...

Marriage didn't feel like a prison.

It felt like peace.

I finally looked at him.

"How did you find out?"

He smiled knowingly.

"I protect what's mine."

I blinked.

"I'm confused."

"I knew something didn't add up."

"So I asked Victor to investigate."

"I never expected to discover that my wife owns one of the country's biggest companies."

I couldn't help smiling.

"You surprised me today."

He reached for my hand.

"No."

"You surprised everyone."

"The confidence..."

"The courage..."

"I've never admired you more."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I..."

A knock interrupted me.

"Come in."

The glass door opened slowly.

The same young woman entered, carrying several thick files.

She walked carefully, keeping her head lowered.

"Mrs. Hart..."

"These are the documents you requested."

Something about her caught my attention immediately.

She looked frightened.

Almost broken.

As she placed the files on my desk, I noticed a fresh cut on her arm.

Blood had stained the edge of her sleeve.

I stood up immediately.

"You're hurt."

She instinctively hid her arm behind her back.

"It's nothing, ma'am."

Her voice trembled.

Harden reached into his pocket and handed her a small packet of antiseptic wipes and bandages.

"Take these."

She hesitated before looking at me.

It was as if she was asking for permission.

I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Go ahead."

"You need them."

Her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Thank you, sir."

She bowed slightly before leaving the office.

The moment the door closed, I turned toward Harden.

"Did you notice it?"

He nodded.

"The cut?"

"No."

"The fear in her eyes."

I looked toward the closed door.

Something told me that young woman was hiding far more than an injury.