Chapter 267

Tears cascaded down Penelope's porcelain cheeks as she gazed at Leonard with desperate, pleading eyes. "I thought I'd lost you forever," she whispered hoarsely. "These past days...they've been pure torture! I was terrified, Leo—"

Leonard's heart ached seeing his wife's distress. The usually composed socialite now looked utterly broken.

Yet the weight of recent events pressed heavily on his shoulders. The last thing he felt capable of was offering comfort.

The wall-mounted television suddenly blared to life with breaking news, capturing their attention.

The screen displayed Sebastian Kingsley, CEO of Monarch Group, shaking hands with Mayor Harrington at the Westridge project signing ceremony. Flashes from press cameras illuminated their triumphant smiles as contracts were exchanged.

Nathan's knuckles turned white around his teacup, veins protruding along his tense forearm. His aristocratic features hardened into an icy mask as fury simmered beneath the surface.

Simultaneously, Leonard's expression darkened. That cunning Evelyn stole what rightfully belonged to us, he thought bitterly.

Penelope's pulse quickened. She clutched Leonard's arm, her voice dripping with venom. "She's gone too far this time! What did our family ever do to deserve this? First stealing our project, now trying to imprison me! After everything we did for her during her marriage to Nathan—"

"Kindness?" Nathan interrupted coolly, setting down his cup with deliberate precision. "You consider three years of domestic servitude as kindness?"

Penelope's manicured nails dug into her palms. "She chose that life willingly! Nobody forced her hand!"

"Penelope," Leonard finally spoke, his voice grave. "There's something you need to know." He took a measured breath. "The board has made its decision. Effective immediately, Nathan assumes presidency of Blackwood Industries and the deputy chairmanship. This isn't negotiable."

The words struck Penelope like a physical blow.

"What?" she gasped, her face draining of color. "Leo, how could you—"

Leonard remained silent, his jaw clenched.

Nathan observed their interaction with detached amusement. How touching—the mighty Leonard Blackwood actually hesitating to crush his wife's ambitions.

"The reason should be obvious, Aunt Penelope," Nathan interjected smoothly. "A senior executive under investigation for bribery, abuse of power, and corruption charges can hardly retain a leadership position. The scandal would make Blackwood Industries the laughingstock of Crestview's business elite."

"Framed!" Penelope shrieked, bolting upright. "This is all Evelyn's doing! She used Vincent's confession to set me up!"

Her vision swam as rage overwhelmed her. "Vincent admitted everything! I had no part in it! Why shouldn't I remain deputy chair?"

Nathan merely smirked and strode from the room, leaving Penelope trembling with impotent fury. That wretched bastard! she seethed internally.

She turned desperate eyes to Leonard. "You promised me that position! After twenty-five years of marriage, you'd trust rumors over your own wife?" Her voice cracked with theatrical distress.

Leonard wrenched his arm free with surprising force. "Blackwood Industries answers to shareholders, Penelope. Not my personal promises." His piercing gaze held hers. "And tell me truthfully—are you truly innocent?"

The question hung between them like a guillotine.

Penelope's breath hitched. The calculating glint in Leonard's eyes chilled her to the core.

It's over, she realized with dawning horror. All my schemes, everything I've worked for—gone in an instant.