The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Alexander

“There’s no espionage,” Olivia said, her voice stronger now. “I haven’t leaked anything to anyone.”

“Of course you’d say that,” Victoria replied smoothly. “What else could you say?”

I felt my patience wearing thin. “This conversation is over.”

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“Is it?” Victoria took another step closer. “Because I don’t think it is. Those articles are everywhere, Alexander. Social media, business publications, and even mainstream news. Your wife’s reputation is in tatters, and by extension, so is Carter Enterprises.”

“One scandal doesn’t define a company.”

“No, but it raises questions about leadership. About judgment. About whether the CEO can be trusted to make sound decisions when he’s clearly being manipulated by a woman who married him for money and position.”

Olivia stiffened beside me. I felt her anger like heat radiating off her skin.

“Be very careful what you say next,” I warned Victoria.

“Or what? You’ll have security escort me off the property?” Victoria laughed. “This is my family’s estate too, cousin. You don’t get to silence me.”

“I’m not trying to silence you. I’m asking you to stop making baseless accusations.”

“Baseless?” Thomas pulled out his phone. “We can pull up twenty articles right now that suggest otherwise.”

“Articles based on deliberately misleading photos,” I shot back. “Anyone with half a brain can see they’re designed to create drama where there isn’t any.”

Victoria’s smile widened. “Then why are you so defensive?”

“I’m not defensive. I’m tired of this conversation.”

“Truth tends to make people uncomfortable,” she mused. “Especially when it threatens carefully constructed lies.”

I opened the car door for Olivia. “Get in.”

She hesitated, looking between Victoria and me.

“Olivia,” I said more firmly. “Car. Now.”

She climbed into the passenger seat without argument. I closed the door gently, then turned back to Victoria and Thomas.

“This ends now,” I said quietly. “Whatever game you’re playing, whatever you think you know, it stops here.”

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Chapter 253

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“I’m not playing games,” Victoria replied. “I’m simply observing reality. And reality suggests your marriage is exactly what everyone suspects it to be.”

1 took a step closer to Victoria, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact. Thomas shifted uncomfortably beside her.

“Let me tell you something about reality,” I said softly. “Reality is that you’ve been gunning for my position since we were children. Reality is that you thought Grandfather’s ultimatum would hand you the company on a silver platter. And reality is that you lost.”

Victoria’s smile faltered slightly.

“So now you’re scrambling,” I continued. “Spreading rumors, leaking photos, trying desperately to undermine what you can’t have. But here’s what you’re missing.”

I paused, letting the silence stretch.

“Everything comes out eventually,” I said. “Every secret, every manipulation, every desperate attempt to tear someone else down. And when your day comes, when your own carefully constructed image starts crumbling, don’t expect sympathy from anyone.”

Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s an observation.” I stepped back. “You see, not everyone is perfect. Not everyone’s life is as pristine as they pretend. And when the bad times come, when reality catches up with the lies, everything gets revealed.”

“My life is an open book,” Victoria shot back.

“Is it?” I smiled slightly. “Because from my vantage point, you’re awfully concerned with other people’s marriages. Makes me wonder what you’re trying to distract from in your own.”

Thomas stiffened, his hand moving to Victoria’s elbow.

“There’s nothing to distract from,” Victoria said, but her voice had lost some of its certainty.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I moved toward my car. “But remember this conversation when your turn comes. Because it will. And all those skeletons you’ve buried so carefully? They’ll come crawling out.”

“You’re being dramatic,” Victoria called after me.

I stopped with my hand on the door handle, looking back at her over my shoulder.

“Am I? Or am I just pointing out that karma has a way of catching up with everyone eventually. The only question is timing.”

“And when do you think my ‘bad time‘ will arrive?” Victoria asked, her tone mocking.

I opened my car door, pausing before getting in.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But when good times are rolling, everything looks perfect. People get comfortable, careless. They think they’re untouchable. And that’s usually when things start to unravel.”

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Chapter 253

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“Philosophical advice from someone whose marriage is currently tabloid fodder,” Victoria observed. “How touching.”

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