All Chapters of The Blind Heiress Returns: Wanted By My Ex's Mafia Uncle: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

84 Chapters

031. Counting on you...

“You’ve got to hold it together, Chloe,” Adam continued. “You’re the only one left standing. We need you to step up.”Chloe’s breath hitched. Me? She had barely come to terms with being back in the Westbrook family, let alone taking on the responsibility of the entire empire. Her hands trembled as she gripped the chair beside her, her mind spinning.“I don’t... I don’t know if I can,” Chloe whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t know anything about running a company. How am I supposed to—”“You don’t have a choice,” Adam cut her off. His tone was harsh, bordering on desperation. “You’re a Westbrook, Chloe. That name carries more weight than you realize. The board, the shareholders—they’ll listen to you, but only if you show them you’re strong enough to lead.”Chloe shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “But I—”“Chloe,” Adam cut her off, his voice was steady despite the pain etched on his face. “I’ve seen you fight through things people can’t even imagine. You didn’t let the world
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032. Who will lead?...

The next hour was a whirlwind. Chloe barely had time to process Adam's words before his assistant, Marcus, arrived at the hospital to pick her up. Adam had made the calls, and everything was moving fast—too fast. You’ve got to step up, Chloe. You’re the only one left. Adam’s voice echoed in her ears as Mrs. Warren led her to the parking lot.As they pulled out of the hospital parking lot, Marcus’s calm voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "The board members are gathering, and the media’s already at the building. They know about the accident."Chloe’s heart raced. "And they know about my parents’ condition?""Only what’s been reported publicly—critical, no specifics. But the board’s uneasy. Stocks are dropping. People are panicking. They need someone to reassure them."Chloe pressed her hands against her legs, trying to steady herself. Me? Reassure them? She wasn’t ready for this, not even close. But with Adam and Francis in the hospital and her parents fighting for their lives,
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033. Let the vote begin...

“We will be holding an immediate vote,” Sterling continued. “The board will decide whether you are the right person to take temporary control of Westbrook Industries or if we should consider other candidates—your uncle, Henry Westbrook, included.”Chloe’s pulse raced as Robert Sterling’s words sank in. ‘An immediate vote?’ She hadn’t expected this. It was all happening too fast. She opened her mouth to speak but her voice was shaky.“That’s not fair,” Chloe countered, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “My family is in the hospital. My father built this company. I should be given time to—”Sterling raised his hand, maintaining a neutral but stern expression on his face. “Ms. Westbrook, fairness doesn’t change the reality we’re facing. Westbrook Industries cannot be without leadership, not even for a day. Stocks are plummeting, investors are pulling out, and the media is circling like vultures. The board is within its rights to elect a leader.”Chloe clenched her fists, trying t
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034. What's next?

“The vote will now begin.”As Sterling prepared to call the vote, the boardroom became more tense. Chloe’s heart thudded in her chest as the board members prepared to cast their ballots. This was it. The moment everything would be decided. Her future, her family's legacy—everything was on the line.The board members began submitting their votes electronically, each click on their tablets echoing like a ticking clock in Chloe’s mind. She sat perfectly still, her fingers gripping the armrests of her chair until her knuckles turned white from the pressure.She tried to keep her breathing steady, but it felt like the walls were closing in. Across the table, Henry sat with his usual smirk, a perfect picture of calm confidence. Every now and then, he glanced in her direction with the faintest hint of triumph flickering in his eyes.Chloe doesn’t news her eyes to feel Henry’s on her. The thought of it sent chills down her spine and goosebumps on her skin.“Stay focused,” Chloe whispered to
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035. A call...

One of the board members leaned in, his tone curious. “So, Ms. Westbrook, what’s next?”Chloe blinked, her thoughts snapping back to the present. What’s next? She wasn’t sure yet. The victory was hollow. There was so much work to be done, so many fires to put out, and Henry wasn’t going to disappear quietly.She straightened, her voice steady as she answered. “Now, we move forward. We stabilize the company, we regain the trust of our investors, and we prove that Westbrook Industries is as strong as ever.”Sterling gave her a curt nod. "Agreed. I think it would be wise to hold a press conference to reassure investors and the public. We can’t afford to let rumors circulate, not after everything that’s happened today."Chloe felt a tight knot form in her stomach. A press conference. It made sense—they needed to send a clear message, show that the company was still strong, and that she, as the new leader, was in control. But the idea of standing in front of cameras, with the world watchi
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036. 2nd time in the garden...

“Leo?” Chloe’s voice was soft, and for the first time that day, the weight on her chest lifted slightly.“Hey,” Leo replied warmly. “I heard about the accident. How are you holding up?”Chloe sighed, her grip tightening on the phone as she processed his question. "It’s... been a lot. My parents are in critical condition, and Adam and Francis are recovering slowly. And now this..." She trailed off in a shaky voice.She felt a lump rise in her throat but swallowed it down. The boardroom, the vote—it had drained her emotionally. But Leo's presence, even through the phone, felt like a calm in the storm.“I can’t even imagine what you’re going through,” Leo said, his voice low with concern. “But I know you’re strong enough to get through this, Chloe. You always are.”Chloe felt a small smile tug at her lips, despite everything. Leo always had a way of making her feel seen, not just as the blind girl struggling in a world of sight, but as someone capable and resilient. "Thanks, Leo.""And c
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037. Press conference...

Chloe stood just behind the podium, feeling Marcus’s steady hand guiding her forward. The sound of hushed voices in the room grew louder as the reporters and investors gathered, waiting for her to speak. The weight of their expectations felt like a thousand-pound anchor around her chest, and though she couldn't see them, she knew all eyes were on her.Her heart raced, pounding in her ears. This was it—the moment she had to face the world as the new interim CEO of Westbrook Industries. She clenched her fists by her sides, then forced herself to take a deep breath. The familiar scent of roses and freshly cut grass from the garden lingered in her mind, calming her just a bit. She remembered Leo’s words: You’re not alone.The fact that she couldn’t see the crowd helped a little. She didn’t have to endure the piercing stares or skeptical glances she knew were directed at her. But still, she could feel the tension in the room, the unease. And she knew it was up to her to change that.As
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038. Torn between two worlds...

A few minutes before Chloe stood at the podium, Leo found himself lingering at the back of the crowd. He hadn’t planned on staying for the press conference, but here he was. Why? He wasn’t entirely sure. He told himself it was curiosity—that he simply wanted to see how Chloe would handle herself in front of the press, how she would respond to the sharks waiting to tear into her. But that wasn’t the whole truth, and he knew it.The truth was more complicated. Leo had first seen Chloe Westbrook weeks ago, during the scandal with her ex-husband, Dan Sawyer. It was everywhere in the papers, their faces splashed across tabloids like an endless parade of dysfunction.Dan. Leo’s nephew.When Leo learned that piece of information, it had felt like a cruel twist of fate. He’d known all along he should stay away, keep his distance. There were enough red flags to make it obvious—Chloe’s complicated past, the age difference between them, and the fact that she had been married to his nephew of
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039. Now it's real...

Chloe slowly stirred, her senses coming to life before her consciousness fully returned. The first thing she registered was the faint and steady beeping of machines nearby, a rhythmic sound that echoed softly through the room. The air was filled with a strong smell of antiseptic, mixed with a light hint of roses—Mrs. Warren must have brought flowers.Then came the distant murmur of voices, low and concerned.Chloe blinked, her world still a blur of darkness, but she wasn’t disoriented. She knew where she was. The hospital.A sigh escaped her lips, and she shifted slightly. Her body felt heavy, like the exhaustion had finally sunk into her bones. Just as she tried to push herself up, a gentle hand was on her arm."Chloe, dear, don’t rush," came the soft, familiar voice of Mrs. Warren. "Just lie back. You need to rest."Chloe let herself sink back into the bed, feeling the softness of the pillows beneath her head. She didn’t want to rest. Not now. "I’m fine," she muttered weakly, he
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040. Don't lie to me...

Chloe could hear the soft beeping of medical machines from the other side of the door, and the faint murmur of voices. Mrs. Warren gently knocked before pushing the door open.As she pushed Chloe’s wheelchair into the hospital room, the sound of a news anchor’s voice reached her ears.“…following her sudden collapse at the press conference, many are questioning whether Chloe Westbrook is ready to lead Westbrook Industries during this critical period…”Chloe’s stomach dropped. The newscaster’s words felt like a knife twisting in her gut, confirming all the fears and doubts she had been trying to suppress. They were talking about her—her failure, her collapse—broadcasted for the world to see.The sound of the news cut off abruptly, followed by a flurry of movement. Adam, fumbling with the remote, had quickly turned off the television as soon as he noticed her entering the room.“Chloe!” Adam called out, his voice sounding too bright, too forced as he tried to pretend, hoping Chloe didn
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