“You Almost Married Her?” Millionaire’s Wife Mocked Her—Unaware of Who Just Arrived!
Chapter 2
Nobody understood what had just happened.
Vanessa looked between Emily and the newcomer.
Richard stood frozen.
The man walked toward Emily.
He was in his late forties, silver beginning to show at his temples, wearing a charcoal suit without a visible logo.
Behind him were two attorneys and a woman carrying a leather portfolio.
Emily stepped backward.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
The man smiled.
“No, Miss Carter.”
He extended his hand.
“Jonathan Reed.”
Emily hesitated before shaking it.
The name meant something.
Everyone in the business world knew it.
Jonathan Reed was the founder of Reed Global, an investment company with interests in construction, technology, healthcare, and real estate.
He was one of the wealthiest men in the country.
And according to financial magazines, he rarely appeared at public events.
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
“Jonathan?”
He finally looked at her.
“Mrs. Sterling.”
His tone was polite.
Nothing more.
Vanessa recovered quickly.
“I didn’t realize you knew Emily.”
Jonathan turned toward Emily.
“Knew her?”
He smiled.
“She’s the reason I’m here.”
A murmur passed through the room.
Richard stepped forward.
“Jonathan, can we speak privately?”
“No.”
Richard stopped.
Jonathan looked around the dining room.
“I’d prefer everyone hear this.”
The room became silent.
Emily felt increasingly uncomfortable.
“What is this about?”
Jonathan’s expression softened.
“Your mother.”
Emily’s heart skipped.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
He opened the leather portfolio.
Inside was an old photograph.
Emily took it.
Her mother stood beside Jonathan at a community clinic.
She was younger.
Smiling.
Emily’s eyes filled instantly.
“How do you know her?”
Jonathan answered quietly.
“She saved my life.”
Emily stared at him.
Seven years earlier, her mother had worked two jobs.
One was at a community health center.
The other was cleaning offices at night.
She had died after a long illness.
Emily had spent years believing her mother’s life had been small and ordinary.
Jonathan gently closed the portfolio.
“She wasn’t ordinary.”
Vanessa gave a dismissive laugh.
“This is touching, but what does it have to do with tonight’s dinner?”
Jonathan looked at her.
“Everything.”
He turned to Richard.
“Did you tell Emily why you invited her?”
Richard hesitated.
“No.”
Jonathan nodded.
“I thought so.”
Emily looked at Richard.
“What did you want?”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
Before he could answer, Jonathan spoke.
“Richard is about to announce a merger involving the children’s foundation.”
Emily frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
Jonathan smiled.
“You will.”
He handed her another document.
At the top was a familiar name.
Carter Children’s Initiative.
Emily’s breath caught.
That was her mother’s name.
The foundation had been built around her mother’s work.
But there was something else.
A percentage of the foundation’s funding had been transferred through a private trust.
And Emily was listed as the beneficiary.
She looked at Richard.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Richard looked down.
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“This is absurd.”
Jonathan turned toward her.
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“What’s absurd is that you spent ten minutes humiliating the person who legally controls the project your husband is trying to acquire.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Emily stared at the papers.
She suddenly understood.
She hadn’t been invited because Richard wanted to apologize.
She had been invited because they needed her signature.
And now she knew why.
