Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Empire
Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Empire
The company's chief legal officer placed several thick folders on the table.
Every page contained financial records.
Investment agreements.
Debt restructuring contracts.
Emergency capital injections.
Andrew flipped through them.
His face slowly turned pale.
Every signature carried one name.
Evelyn Carter.
Impossible.
He looked up.
"You forged these."
Evelyn remained calm.
"No."
"You simply never bothered reading what you signed."
The oldest board member cleared his throat.
"Four years ago, Hawthorne Group was thirty-six hours away from bankruptcy."
"Our banks refused additional loans."
"Investors had already withdrawn."
"It was Mrs. Hawthorne who purchased the debt through private investment companies."
Andrew stared blankly.
"I...never knew."
"Exactly."
Evelyn folded her hands.
"You never asked."
The director continued.
"She personally negotiated every international partnership."
"She covered payroll during the pandemic."
"She prevented three hostile takeovers."
Another document appeared.
The room became completely silent.
It revealed the ownership structure of the holding company controlling Hawthorne Group.
Andrew read the percentage twice.
Then a third time.
Evelyn owned sixty-eight percent.
He owned twelve.
The rest belonged to institutional investors.
Andrew looked at his wife as though seeing her for the first time.
"You..."
She met his eyes.
May you like
"I never wanted power."
"I only wanted a husband who loved me more than my money."
