The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 85: This isn’t just a wedding... It’s a war

Chapter 85: This isn’t just a wedding... It’s a war

Darla finally broke, her face pale and desperate. "We’re trying to find her, I swear. She just... disappeared. We didn’t think she’d go this far."

Daniel stepped forward again, lowering his voice until it was nearly a hiss. "Then you better start thinking. Because the countdown has begun."

And with that, the Dominics turned and walked out... leaving behind a room full of silent, shaken Adams.

As the Dominics stormed out, leaving behind a trail of tension and thinly veiled threats, Darla exhaled sharply and stood, brushing invisible dust from her designer skirt.

"Well, that went beautifully," she muttered sarcastically.

Derek, her husband, remained near the fireplace, scowling. "That lunatic Tyler nearly tore the place apart. We’re lucky he didn’t pull a gun."

Alex, lounging with his feet on the table, scoffed. "They’re bluffing. They won’t do anything unless Jean disappears for good. Which she won’t."

Darla shot him a sharp glare. "You think this is a joke? If we don’t deliver her in twelve hours, those bastards will ruin everything we’ve built. We can’t afford that kind of scandal... especially not now."

"So what do you want to do?" Alex yawned. "We don’t even know where she is."

"That assistant of hers... my brother’s daughter," Darla snapped, pacing now. "Emma Adams. She always came running to her like some pathetic shadow. Jean might be hiding with her."

"She won’t talk," Derek grunted. "That girl’s loyal."

"Everyone talks if you squeeze them hard enough," Darla replied coolly, stopping mid stride. "We’ll start with pressure. Financial audits, company inspections, surveillance. If that doesn’t work... maybe a little physical encouragement."

Alex raised a brow. "You’re going to send someone after her?"

Darla smiled thinly. "We’ll send someone after all of them. Friends. Staff. Anyone who’s ever had contact with Jean in the last month. I want every corner turned over. I want every shadow searched. Do you understand?"

Derek nodded. "Fine. I’ll put our security team on it."

"Make sure it’s discreet," she warned. "We can’t have the press catching wind of this. Not until Jean is found and paraded back to us like nothing happened."

Alex stood and stretched. "And what happens after we find her?"

Darla’s eyes narrowed with cold determination. "We hand her over to the Dominics with a smile... and pray she keeps her mouth shut. If she ruins us, she better be ready to go down with us."

Alex slammed his fist on the table, startling both Darla and Derek.

"We can’t sit on our asses anymore," he muttered coldly. "That Emma girl... Jean’s pet... she has to know where she is."

Darla scoffed, "Even if she does, she won’t give up Jean easily. That brat always had a rebellious streak."

Alex ignored her. He turned to his assistant, who had just entered with a stack of documents. "Drop that. I’ve got a new assignment for you."

The assistant looked up quickly. "Sir?"

"I want you to follow Emma Adams. Discreetly. I want to know where she goes, who she meets, and what she’s planning. Keep your distance but don’t lose her. Not even for a second."

"Yes, sir," the assistant nodded and immediately left, phone in hand, already tracking down Emma’s car and location.

Derek crossed his arms, voice laced with cynicism. "What do you expect to find? That she’s hiding Jean in some closet?"

Alex’s eyes glinted darkly. "I expect to find out exactly what our little heiress is scheming. She’s up to something, and I want to know what it is before the Dominics find her and ruin what we’ve worked for."

Darla snorted bitterly. "That girl always brought trouble. She should’ve just married Tyler and been done with it."

Alex didn’t even glance at her. "She’s still an Adams. And as long as she holds shares, her decisions matter. If she’s planning to sabotage us with a public stunt, we stop her before it happens."

As the room filled with bitter plotting and whispered threats, the storm that Jean had sparked grew fiercer... and its eye now settled directly on Emma Adams.

_______________________________

Outside the penthouse, the cold morning air bit into their skin, but Emma moved with unshaken purpose. Her phone was pressed to her ear, her brows furrowed as she spoke in a low, commanding tone.

"I want every board member available in the marriage registry office in exactly four hours. No delays."

On the other end, the Adams Corporation’s legal representative, Mr. Stanley was clearly not pleased. "That’s not how this works, Ms. Emma. You’re not even an executive. You have no authority to summon the entire board..."

"You’ll do it," Emma snapped, cutting him off, "or I’ll go to the press and tell them why this board couldn’t show up for their heiress’ most critical decision."

Silence.

Then came the slow, reluctant reply. "Why do you want them there? What’s so urgent? Is this about Jean? Has something happened?"

Emma’s grip on the phone tightened. "This isn’t a negotiation. I said bring them in... and don’t inform the Adams family. Not a word to Darla, Derek, or Alex."

"That’s impossible. They’ll notice the board’s absence..."

"Then make up something. Tell them it’s a last minute audit. I don’t care. Just do your job and do it quietly." She ended the call before he could argue further.

Henry, who had been walking beside her silently, finally spoke up as she tucked her phone away. "You’ve been on edge since we left. Are you sure you’re okay?"

Emma sighed, running a hand through her hair as they entered her car. "No, Henry. I’m not okay. I’m trying to get my best cousin married before a pack of wolves finds her and eats her alive. This isn’t just a wedding... it’s war."

She paused, staring out the window as they pulled away from the parking lot.

"She’s doing this to protect everything she has left. I need to make sure it actually protects her. Otherwise..." her voice trailed off.

Henry glanced at her again as he drove. "You really care about her, don’t you?"

"She’s more than a boss. She’s the sister I chose," Emma said quietly, then leaned back with a tired exhale. "And I won’t let them take her down."