She Rejected Him on a Blind Date—Then Another Woman Said, “Marry Me”
Chapter 10
Sophia had built a successful career since leaving the restaurant.
She was now a financial strategist.
And she claimed she had been investigating the same network.
Ethan didn’t know whether to believe her.
Claire didn’t trust her.
Sophia asked to meet them.
“I know how this looks.”
Claire folded her arms.
“How does it look?”
“Like I came back because I regret rejecting him.”
Claire smiled.
“Do you?”
Sophia laughed.
“Maybe a little.”
Ethan said nothing.
Sophia continued.
“I was wrong about you.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“You weren’t the first.”
“But I also discovered something.”
She handed them a file.
“Your marriage saved the company once.”
“Now someone is trying to use it again.”
Claire opened the file.
The thefts were tied to a dormant family trust.
A trust controlled by a former Bennett lawyer.
That lawyer had disappeared after Richard was arrested.
Ethan recognized the name.
He had seen it in the original documents.
“This guy.”
Sophia nodded.
“He’s working with someone else.”
“Who?”
She looked at Ethan.
“Your former business partner.”
Ethan froze.
His own past.
The man who had helped launch his logistics company.
The man who had later disappeared.
His name was Michael Reed.
Michael had sold his shares years earlier.
Or so Ethan thought.
Apparently, he had secretly retained control of several shell companies.
Ethan was furious.
He confronted Michael.
Michael admitted everything.
He had worked with Richard.
Then continued stealing after the scandal.
Why?
“Because I thought you had everything.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You had everything too.”
“Not enough.”
“You never knew what enough was.”
Michael looked away.
Claire stepped forward.
“The thefts stop now.”
Michael laughed.
“You think you’re safe?”
Ethan answered:
“No.”
He looked at Claire.
“But we’re not alone.”
Michael was arrested.
The remaining network collapsed.
The company was fully cleaned up.
For the first time, there was no hidden enemy.
No corrupt executive.
No secret trust.
No threat.
Claire finally felt free.
That evening, she asked Ethan:
“Do you think it’s really over?”
He smiled.
“I hope so.”
She leaned against him.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For staying.”
He kissed her.
“Always.”
Their children ran into the room.
“Mom!”
“What?”
“Dad promised ice cream.”
Ethan looked offended.
“I did?”
“Yes!”
Claire laughed.
“You’re outnumbered.”
Ethan smiled.
“Fine.”
The family ran toward the kitchen.
Ethan followed.
He realized something.
The blind date rejection that started the story no longer mattered.
The marriage deal no longer mattered.
The billions no longer mattered.
What mattered was the family waiting in the next room.
