The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 83

Chapter 74: Hollow Victory

Bella pov

The board meeting lasted another two hours. In the end, the vote was unanimous-Richard was out as CEO and chairman, and I was in. He’d keep his shares, what few he had left, but he’d have no control, no authority, nothing.

As the board members filed out, Richard stayed behind, his face twisted with rage and something that might have been fear.

“You can’t do this,” he said again, but there was desperation in his voice now. “This company is all I have.”

“You should have thought of that before you tried to destroy mine.” I gathered my materials. “You’ll receive a severance package, enough to live on if you’re careful. That’s more than you gave me.”

“I gave you everything! A marriage to the richest man in the city”

“You sold me like property to save this company, then threw me away when I was no longer useful.” I met his eyes. “Now you know how it feels.”

“Bella, please.” He actually looked pathetic now. “I’m your father, I made mistakes, but you can’t just”

“I already did.” I walked toward the door. “Security will escort you out within the hour. Clean out your office, Father. This is my company now.”

“You’ll regret this,” he called after me. “You’re just like me, cold and ruthless. One day Tom will see that and he’ll hate you for it.”

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit, but I didn’t let it show. “The difference between us is I protect what’s mine. You destroy it.”

I left him there, probably for the last time, and felt nothing but relief.

In the elevator down, my phone buzzed with a text from Caleb: “How did it go?”

“It’s done. Hart Industries is mine.”

“Congratulations. Come home when you’re ready.”

Home. He’d said home, and I didn’t even correct him.

I returned to the penthouse to find Tom and Caleb making a mess in the kitchen, flour everywhere as they attempted cookies.

“Mommy!” Tom ran to me, leaving floury handprints on my black suit. “We’re baking!”

“I see that.” I hugged him despite the flour. “Are they good cookies?”

“The best! Daddy says we’re making them to celebrate because you did something amazing today.”

I looked at Caleb over Tom’s head. He smiled, genuine and warm, and something in my chest loosened.

“I did,” I admitted. “I did something amazing.”

1/3

Chapter 74 Hollow Victory

+25 Points

That night, after Tom was in bed, I sat in my room looking at the Hart Industries ownership documents. I’d done it-taken back my family’s company, destroyed my father’s schemes, proven I wasn’t the powerless girl he’d thrown away.

So why did I feel empty2 A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts, “Come in.”

Caleb entered carrying two glasses of wine. “Thought you might need this.”

“Thanks.” I took the glass, gestured for him to sit.

We sat there in silence for a while, drinking wine and watching the city lights.

“Are you okay?” Caleb asked finally.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I thought I’d feel more satisfied. I just destroyed my father’s entire life, took his company, left him with nothing. But mostly I just feel tired.”

“Revenge rarely feels as good as we think it will.” Caleb set down his glass. “But Bella, you didn’t do this for revenge. You did it to protect your company and your employees. Hart Industries will be better under your leadership.”

“Will it?” I looked at him. “Or am I just as ruthless as he is?”

“There’s a difference between being ruthless and being cruel.” Caleb’s voice was firm. “Richard destroyed people for profit and ego. You protect what you’ve built and make sure others can’t hurt you. That’s not the same thing.”

I wanted to believe him. “You know. Richard said I’m just like him, cold and ruthless. What if he’s right? What if Tom grows up and sees me the way I see my father?”

“That’s never going to happen.” Caleb moved closer, his hand covering mine. “You know why? Because you love Tom more than anything, and every decision you make considers him first. Richard only ever thought about himself.”

“I took Tom’s grandfather away from him.”

“You protected Tom from a man who would use him as a weapon,” Caleb corrected. “There’s a difference.”

I looked at our joined hands, at the way his thumb stroked my knuckles, and felt tears building. “I’m so tired of fighting.”

“Then stop.” Caleb’s other hand cupped my face, gentle and warm. “You’ve won, Bella. You’ve built an empire, protected our son, and destroyed everyone who tried to hurt you. You can rest now.”

“Can I?” I leaned into his touch without meaning to. “Or is there always going to be another fight, another threat, another person trying to take what’s mine?”

“Maybe,” he admitted. “But you don’t have to fight alone anymore.”

We sat there, closer than we should be, his hand on my face and mine still caught in his, and I felt the walls I’d built starting to crack.

“Caleb, I can’t”

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