A Billionaire Heiress Walked Into My Clinic and Gave Me 3 Days to Marry Her… Then I Discovered Why
Chapter 10
Midnight approached.
Charlotte stood on the balcony overlooking Boston.
Ethan joined her.
“You don’t have to choose tonight,” she said.
“My choice is already made.”
She looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ethan thought for a moment.
“Because when you walked into my clinic, I thought you were asking me to save your company.”
“You were.”
“But that’s not what you needed.”
She looked down.
“I needed someone who wouldn’t sell me out.”
“And you found me.”
“I hope so.”
Ethan smiled.
“You did.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“What happens after six months?”
“We decide.”
“And if you want to leave?”
“I’ll tell you.”
“And if I want you to stay?”
“I’ll listen.”
She smiled.
The clock struck midnight.
The trust activated.
The documents were signed.
Ethan became permanent co-trustee.
But neither cared about the money.
The next morning, the board met.
Charlotte walked into the room with Ethan beside her.
Richard Vale’s allies were gone.
Federal investigators had already begun reviewing the company’s finances.
Charlotte stood at the head of the table.
“My father built this company.”
She paused.
“But he also built safeguards because he knew power could corrupt people.”
She looked at Ethan.
“My husband and I will rebuild Whitmore Holdings.”
One board member raised his hand.
“Your husband?”
Ethan almost laughed.
Charlotte smiled.
“Yes.”
The board approved the restructuring.
Over the following months, Ethan discovered that running a billion-dollar company was harder than practicing medicine.
He hated meetings.
He hated corporate dinners.
He hated being photographed.
Charlotte found all of it amusing.
“You married into this.”
“I married you.”
She smiled.
“Technically, both.”
Their relationship slowly changed.
They stopped pretending.
They ate breakfast together.
Worked together.
Traveled together.
Talked about their fathers.
Sometimes they argued.
Sometimes they laughed.
And sometimes they sat silently because neither needed words.
One evening, Ethan returned home after a fourteen-hour day.
Charlotte was waiting.
“You look exhausted.”
“I am.”
She handed him a cup of coffee.
He smiled.
“You made this?”
“Yes.”
He tasted it.
“It’s terrible.”
She laughed.
“I’ve never made coffee.”
“I know.”
They sat together.
Then Charlotte became serious.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Ethan froze.
The cup almost slipped from his hand.
“What?”
She smiled nervously.
“I found out this morning.”
He stared.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
Charlotte looked frightened.
Then he hugged her.
She laughed against his shoulder.
“That’s a good reaction.”
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“Neither did I.”
Ethan stepped back.
“How do you feel?”
“Terrified.”
He smiled.
“Me too.”
She looked at him.
“Do you think our fathers would have wanted this?”
Ethan touched her cheek.
“I think they would have been proud.”
