She Rejected Him on a Blind Date—Then Another Woman Said, “Marry Me”
Chapter 7
His name was Richard Hale.
He had advised Claire’s father for thirty years.
He had attended family weddings.
Funerals.
Board meetings.
He was practically family.
And he had been working with Blackwell for years.
Richard denied everything.
But the recording was clear.
He had planned the takeover.
Victor was only the visible part.
Richard’s motive was simple.
He believed Claire’s father had chosen the wrong heir.
He wanted the company.
The board was shocked.
Claire was devastated.
“My father trusted him.”
Ethan replied:
“So did everyone.”
The evidence went to prosecutors.
Richard was arrested.
Victor was found soon after.
The company survived.
But Claire wasn’t celebrating.
She was grieving the loss of her father’s image.
Ethan stayed with her.
“You don’t have to forgive everyone.”
“I know.”
“You don’t even have to feel okay.”
She nodded.
“I just want my father back.”
Ethan had no answer.
He hugged her.
She cried against his chest.
That night, she said:
“I never wanted this marriage.”
“I know.”
“I wanted to solve a problem.”
“I know.”
“But now…”
He waited.
“I don’t want it to end.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Neither do I.”
They kissed.
This time, there was no contract between them.
No business reason.
No arrangement.
Just love.
The next few months were peaceful.
Ethan helped restructure the company.
Claire took control of the board.
Victor and Richard faced trial.
The employees kept their jobs.
Blackwell withdrew.
Then Claire discovered something unexpected.
Ethan had been quietly building his own company for years.
A logistics technology firm.
It had recently become extremely valuable.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“You’re rich.”
He smiled.
“Comfortably.”
“How comfortably?”
“Enough.”
She laughed.
“You really are impossible.”
He kissed her.
The marriage that had started as a deal was now completely real.
But one problem remained.
Ethan’s company was growing rapidly.
Investors wanted him to return full-time.
Claire asked:
“Would you leave me?”
“No.”
“What if the company needs you?”
“It does.”
“What then?”
He smiled.
“We build both.”
Claire shook her head.
“You make everything sound easy.”
“It isn’t.”
Then she said:
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want easy.”
He smiled.
“Neither do I.”
