She Hired Him as Her Fake Husband… He Never Expected to Fall in Love
Chapter 12
Five years later, Charlotte was still CEO.
Ethan was now chairman of the legal foundation.
Together, they had transformed Bennett Holdings.
The company had expanded.
Employee benefits increased.
Several unethical business practices were eliminated.
And the family trust no longer required marriage.
Eleanor had changed the rules.
Charlotte asked her why.
“Because I was wrong,” Eleanor said.
“About what?”
“Marriage isn’t proof of character.”
She looked at Ethan.
“Neither is wealth.”
Charlotte smiled.
The family had finally changed.
But one last challenge remained.
Charlotte’s father returned to the company.
He wanted control.
He believed Charlotte had weakened the family empire.
The board was divided.
Ethan told her,
“You don’t have to fight him.”
Charlotte smiled.
“I know.”
“So?”
“I choose peace.”
She offered him a consulting position.
He refused.
But he stopped fighting.
For the first time, Charlotte realized winning didn’t always mean defeating someone.
Sometimes it meant no longer needing their approval.
That evening, she and Ethan sat on their balcony.
“Are you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
She smiled.
“I have a husband who started as an employee.”
He laughed.
“And I have a wife who hired me.”
“Fake husband.”
“Real wife.”
She leaned against him.
“What are you thinking?”
“That I never expected to fall in love with you.”
She looked at him.
“Neither did I.”
