Chapter Four
1078 Words
Jacob sat on the edge of his bed, his head buried in his hands as pale morning light filtered weakly through the curtains.
He hadn’t slept. Not a single minute.
The doctor’s words echoed endlessly in his mind: “You’re infertile, Mr. Winfrey. There’s absolutely no chance you can father a child.”
Each repetition sliced deeper than the last, shredding what little pride he had left. His world was collapsing piece by piece, and for the first time, he couldn’t stop it.
Sheila — his loyal, obedient wife — had once been his greatest ally. He’d turned her into a pawn, dismissed her devotion as weakness. Now, the truth of her loyalty burned through his conscience like fire.
And Elena? The greatest lie of them all.
He’d loved her, trusted her, and she’d played him like a fool.
A bitter laugh slipped through his lips. “Sheila may leave,” he muttered to the empty room, “but her properties are mine.”
That was his lifeline — the one card that could keep him afloat. Without her fortune, he was nothing. Surely, she wouldn’t dare walk away. Not after everything.
Or… would she?
The thought made his stomach twist. Losing his wealth, his company, his control — the very idea sent panic clawing through his chest.
His phone buzzed violently, shattering the silence. He snatched it up, irritation bleeding into his tone. “What is it?”
“Mr. Winfrey,” Andrew’s voice came through the receiver, taut and uneasy. “You need to come to the office immediately. The board meeting has started. It’s urgent.”
Jacob frowned. “Cancel it. I’m not in the mood for—”
“You can’t, sir,” Andrew cut in quickly. “The board is… aligning against you. If you don’t show up, you might lose everything.”
For a moment, Jacob said nothing. Then, through gritted teeth, he growled, “Fine. I’ll be there.”
He dressed hastily, but even that went wrong. None of his cars would start. Not one. Swearing under his breath, he ordered a ride instead, arriving at the company far later than he’d intended — disheveled, exhausted, and barely holding his composure.
The moment he stepped inside Evergreen’s headquarters, he felt it — the shift in the air. The silence. The whispers.
Employees who once greeted him with fake smiles now avoided his gaze entirely. The few who dared to look at him did so with poorly hidden contempt.
He ignored it, striding down the corridor toward the boardroom. But the pit in his stomach only deepened.
When he pushed open the doors, every conversation stopped.
And sitting at the head of the table — in his seat — was Sheila.
His heart skipped. “Sheila?” he demanded, his voice cracking. “What are you doing here?”
She leaned back in the chair, cool and composed, her lips curving into a slow, cutting smile. “What kind of question is that, Jacob? What would I be doing in my company?”
The chill in her tone was sharper than any blade.
Before he could speak, a board member gestured toward an empty seat. “Mr. Winfrey, please. Sit down. We have much to discuss.”
He hesitated, but the weight of their stares forced him to comply. Something was horribly, irrevocably wrong.
Sheila rose to her feet, her presence commanding the room like a queen returning to her throne.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” she said, her tone smooth but deadly. “This company has suffered greatly under Mr. Winfrey’s leadership — through embezzlement, mismanagement, and outright deceit.”
Jacob shot up from his chair. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
She ignored him and nodded to Andrew, who began distributing thick folders. “Inside those are records — transactions, false invoices, and forged signatures. All tied to you, Jacob.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Jacob snatched a file, flipping through page after page of incriminating evidence. “This is a setup!” he barked, voice trembling.
No one spoke.
Then Sheila’s voice, low and calm, cut through the tension. “The board has voted. Effective immediately, Jacob Winfrey is terminated as CEO of Evergreen Designs.”
He lurched to his feet again, face flushing red. “You can’t fire me! This company is mine!”
Sheila tilted her head slightly, amusement glinting in her eyes. “Yours?” she repeated softly. “Care to explain that, Jacob?”
He reached into his briefcase and slammed a file onto the table. “This! The will Sheila signed before our marriage — transferring all her properties and this company to me.”
The board members exchanged looks, disbelief spreading like wildfire. One of them took the document, scanning it briefly before scoffing aloud.
“Mr. Winfrey,” he said coolly, “this is a forgery. A bad one. Did you really think this would pass legal review?”
A hush fell over the room.
Jacob’s face drained of color. “It’s not fake! It can’t be—”
Sheila’s laugh was soft, dangerous. “Oh, Jacob. Did you really think I’d hand over everything I built to you?” She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the marble. “Five years ago, I drafted that will as a test — a fake one. You just proved exactly why I made it.”
The room fell completely silent. Jacob swayed where he stood, his confidence crumbling.
“Why?” he whispered. “Why are you doing this to me?”
Sheila’s gaze was ice. “I’m not doing anything, Jacob. You did this to yourself. You lied. You cheated. You mocked me. This—” she gestured around the room, “—is simply the consequence.”
She turned to the guards waiting by the door. “Escort Mr. Winfrey out of my building.”
Jacob’s eyes widened. “You can’t do this!” he shouted, his voice cracking. “I’m your husband!”
Sheila’s lips curved into a slow, mocking smile. “Not for long.”
The guards grabbed his arms. As they dragged him out, his protests echoed through the hall, desperate and hollow.
When the doors finally closed, Sheila exhaled quietly, her mask of calm never slipping.
But across the table, a man watched her intently — sharp eyes, unreadable expression.
The new majority shareholder.
And the stranger from that one reckless night.
- Writer
