My Happy Marriage

Frost between us

Chapter 12 — Frost Between Us

The office felt colder than usual. Amelia walked past cubicles, trying to ignore the wary glances and murmurs that seemed sharper than ever. She had thought the storm with Bianca was over, that victory had solidified her place beside Chris—but she hadn’t accounted for envy brewing quietly among her coworkers.

A meeting alert popped up on her screen. She frowned. It was from Chris. “Boardroom. Now.”

Her stomach tightened. Something about the terse message, the absence of his usual warmth, made her heart pound.

When she entered the boardroom, she froze. Chris was already there, arms crossed, his expression hard, eyes sharp as knives. Amelia barely recognized the man before her. Gone was the gentle warmth, the protective glow that had been her anchor through all the chaos. Now, he radiated cold authority, his gaze icy.

“What’s going on?” Amelia asked cautiously.

Chris didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he motioned toward the presentation on the screen. Numbers, reports, and charts flickered—a trail of company credits that had mysteriously disappeared, traced to a sale with a rival firm. And at the center of the evidence: Amelia’s name.

“Amelia,” Chris said, voice low and controlled, but every word cut sharp, “explain why company credits were sold to our competitor—and why your fingerprints are on the transaction.”

Amelia’s chest tightened. “I… I didn’t do this!” she protested, panic rising. “Someone’s framing me—I swear!”

Chris’s eyes darkened, the storm of betrayal evident. “The system shows it. The logs show it. And it’s tied to your account. Do you expect me to believe this isn’t your doing?”

Tears pricked Amelia’s eyes, but she clenched her fists to hold back her fear. “Chris, please! I would never betray you… never betray this company. Someone’s jealous of us—someone wanted to ruin me and your trust in me!”

Chris’s jaw tightened, his usual calm authority cracking into something colder, sharper. “I wanted to trust you, Amelia. I wanted to believe Bianca was the only threat. But now…” His gaze pierced her, and the warmth that had made her heart safe was gone. “I cannot afford to be blind. Not in love, not in business. You’ve put us at risk.”

Amelia felt a pang of pain. His words were logical, precise, unyielding—but the love she had counted on seemed distant now. “Chris… please. I’ll prove it. Give me a chance.”

He shook his head slightly, his posture stiff, his hands clasped behind him. “Actions speak louder than words. Until I see the proof, I have to operate as CEO first. Coldly. Ruthlessly. No sentiment, no exceptions.”

The meeting ended. Amelia left the boardroom, her heart aching, aware that the world she had fought so hard to secure now seemed fragile. Behind her, Chris was already issuing directives, contacting IT, and ordering a full investigation—his mind sharp, untouchable, untamed.

Hours later, Amelia returned to her office, alone. The hum of the computers was a hollow comfort. She thought of Chris, of the warmth they had shared, now replaced by frost. And though she was determined to clear her name, she realized that love and trust could be shattered faster than she had imagined.

Yet beneath the fear, a spark of resolve burned. She would uncover the truth, expose the jealous coworker, and earn back the trust of the man she loved. But for now, the CEO she adored was gone, replaced by a shield of ice—and Amelia understood that some battles could cut deeper than any rival or rumor.

The office lights flickered above her, cold and indifferent. Outside, the city moved on, unaware of the storm brewing between Amelia and the man she loved.