My CEO HUSBAND sign the divorce novel Chapter 331

Chapter 331: How things should be.

The entire room applauded once more.

I slowly stood.

"Thank you, Chairman."

I looked around the conference room.

"I won’t disappoint the Board... or the trust you placed in me."

As the conference room erupted into an applause once again, I simply sat there, quietly taking it all in.

The last time I had been in this very room, these same people had argued that I should resign.

Now...

Two years later...

They were welcoming me back with warm smiles and congratulating me on my promotion.

Life truly was unpredictable.

The meeting continued, but my mind was elsewhere.

One question kept lingering in my thoughts.

Was Alexander involved in this promotion?

If he had influenced the Board’s decision...

I didn’t think I could accept the position.

After the meeting ended, the company secretary escorted me to my office.

Before he left, I made one request.

"I’d like Vicky to be assigned as my assistant again if possible."

"I’ll make the arrangements immediately, Mrs. Blackwood."

"Thank you."

Once I settled into work, I buried myself in the stack of documents on my desk.

I deliberately avoided leaving my office.

Every time I stepped outside, I could feel curious gazes following me, and quiet whispers would begin among the employees.

Some were talking about my return.

Others were discussing Alexander and me.

Pretending not to notice was much easier than responding to their curiosity.

Almost noon, the office phone rang.

"The CEO would like to see you."

"I’ll be right there."

After hanging up, I stood and straightened my blazer.

The new CEO was Alexander’s cousin, Tristin.

Although we’d met once or twice years ago before he was transferred overseas, we had never actually worked together.

Standing outside his office, I took a quiet breath before knocking.

"Come in."

His calm voice came from inside.

I pushed the door open and stepped in.

Tristin was seated behind the large executive desk.

For a brief second...

The sight reminded me of Alexander back when he had occupied the same office.

"CEO Tristin," I greeted politely.

"You wanted to see me?"

He looked up from the document in his hand and smiled.

"No need for formalities, Alicia."

"Just call me Tristin."

I returned the smile.

"Welcome back to Blackwood Dominion."

"Thank you, Tristin."

"I’ve never had the opportunity to work with you personally," he continued, "but I’ve heard a great deal about your achievements."

"I look forward to working with you."

"Thank you for placing your trust in me."

"I won’t disappoint you."

"I’m sure you won’t."

He leaned back slightly.

"I only hope this time your stay will be permanent."

"I’d hate to see someone with your ability leave because of personal matters again."

His tone wasn’t critical.

It sounded more like sincere advice from an older brother.

I nodded.

"I understand."

Just then, the office phone rang.

He answered briefly.

"Alright."

"I understand."

After hanging up, he looked back at me.

"That’s all for now."

"If anything comes up, my office will contact yours."

"Thank you."

I turned to leave.

"And one more thing..."

I paused.

"The Chairman would like to see you."

For a moment, I froze.

Thankfully, Tristin simply returned to his documents, not seeming to think anything of it.

I nodded before quietly leaving.

It was already lunchtime.

Why would Alexander suddenly want to see me?

Whatever it was...

I wanted to speak with him as well.

I made my way directly to the Chairman’s office.

The door was slightly ajar.

After knocking lightly, I pushed it open.

The moment I stepped inside...

I stopped.

An elegant middle-aged woman was seated on the sofa opposite Alexander.

I didn’t know much about the Summer family.

But I was almost certain...

She was Lilian’s mother.

"... She’ll soon be discharged," the woman was saying.

Alexander looked up.

The moment our eyes met, his expression softened.

Noticing his attention shift away from her, the woman turned around.

She looked just as surprised to see me.

I immediately straightened.

"I’m sorry..."

"I’ll wait outside."

"No."

Alexander interrupted gently.

"Come in, Alicia."

He stood up from the sofa and walked toward me.

The woman looked at him with obvious confusion, but he didn’t seem to notice.

"It’s alright," I began.

"I can wait—"

"Come in."

His voice remained warm...

Yet carried the quiet firmness I knew so well.

After hesitating for only a moment, I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

Alexander walked over, gently took my arm, and led me to the sofa beside him.

Without the slightest hesitation...

He invited me to sit at his side.

"Mrs. Summer," Alexander said as he gently slipped an arm around my waist. "Meet my wife, Alicia."

Then he looked at me.

"Alicia, this is Mrs. Isabelle Summer."

The elegant woman rose to her feet and offered me a polite smile.

"It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Blackwood."

There wasn’t the slightest hint of hostility in her expression.

Only courtesy.

I returned the smile politely.

"It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Summer."

Although she appeared warm, I couldn’t allow myself to lower my guard.

After everything Lilian and Lucas had done to my family...

I could never convince myself that the Summer family had nothing against me.

Alexander’s voice remained polite, but there was no room for negotiation.

"I can’t help you."

He held her gaze steadily.

"I agreed to postpone her sentence because she genuinely required psychiatric treatment."

"That was the only exception."

"Now that her treatment is ending..."

"The matter returns to the law."

"And the law should decide the outcome."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"I have nothing to do with Lilian anymore."

"And I have no intention of involving myself in anything concerning her."

His words were firm.

Without anger.

Without hatred.

Simply final.

"I agreed to meet you today out of respect for the long-standing relationship between Blackwood Dominion and Summer Corporation."

"Nothing more."

Mrs. Summer slowly lowered her head.

For the first time since I’d entered the office...

She seemed to understand that there was nothing left to say.

Alexander’s voice softened just slightly.

"So..."

"Please don’t expect anything from me."

Silence settled over the office.

Mrs. Summer nodded faintly.

"I understand."

There was disappointment in her eyes...

But not resentment.

Only the quiet heartbreak of a mother who had exhausted every possible way to protect her child

She quietly rose to her feet.

"I won’t take up any more of your time."

She gave us one last polite nod before turning and leaving the office.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Almost immediately, Alexander stood up as though nothing significant had happened.

Only then did I notice the neatly stacked takeaway boxes resting on the coffee table.

They were from my favorite restaurant.

He walked over, opened each box one by one, and carefully arranged the dishes on the table.

The rich aroma instantly filled the office.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Why did you call me here, Alexander?"

Without looking up, he replied casually,

"It’s lunchtime, isn’t it?"

I blinked.

"But this isn’t the cafeteria."

My tone clearly implied, Isn’t that obvious?

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"No."

He finally looked at me.

"But you’re having lunch with me."

My heart skipped ever so slightly.

"This isn’t necessary, Alexander..."

"It is," he interrupted before I could finish.

He met my eyes, his expression calm yet unwavering.

"From today onward, no matter how busy we are..."

"I’ll only have lunch with my wife."

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

The words were spoken so naturally...

As though spending every lunch together wasn’t a special gesture at all.

As though to him...

It was simply how things should be.