Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Upon voicing the question, Newton realized he had come across as rather harsh. Despite that, Anne remained composed without a hint of resentment. “No, Mr. Walsh. I love Javier very much, but I am not the ideal candidate to be his wife and lead the Walsh Group with my health condition. I don’t know how much longer I have with him.
“He deserves a lovely and capable woman who could care for him and his children and elevate his career. But I cannot fulfill those duties, and I do not want to be a burden to him. I’d rather he move on from me so I can leave without worries.”
Newton teared up when he recounted the exchange.
One could only imagine the shock Javier received upon learning about the truth behind Anne’s decision. Standing frozen, he wore an expression of blank disbelief, grappling with the pain that threatened to crush him.
He mumbled, “No. How could that be? How …” Even his cheeks were quivering.
Javier’s response reminded Newton of Jeremy. Although Newton perceived Jeremy to be more capable than Javier in every aspect, he noticed that the father and son shared a trait of obstinance-a refusal to admit to their foolish and absurd decisions.
“Anne requested that I keep this a secret from you because she wanted to leave in peace. She did not want you and Jeremy to miss her.” Newton shook his head remorsefully. “To be honest, I was blinded and selfish at that time. I did not care about her feelings and your relationship with her. I was only concerned about keeping Jeremy in the family.
“Never have I thought that Sophia would show up in your life out of nowhere. I was more surprised that you fell in love with her and married her. Oh, I regret it so …”
Javier countered, “H-Had Anne not given me the cold shoulder… Had she not hated me so… I wouldn’t have…”
Deep within, Javier still held Anne in higher regard than Sophia. Even if Sophia weren’t such a troublemaker, she would never replace Anne’s place in his heart. Unfortunately, Javier was too stubborn to admit to his mistake, all due to his pampered upbringing.
Therefore, he could not get over Anne’s aloof attitude and her lack of feelings for him.
The colict with Anne was why Sophia, who was cruel and had nothing to show except for her looks, captured his heart and married into the family, replacing Anne.
Newton sighed softly and instructed, “Ben, give him the item I safeguarded for Anne.”
“Of course, Mr. Walsh.” Ben extracted a wooden box from his bag and handed it to Javier. “Mr. Javier, this box belonged to Madam Anne. She gave it to your father before leaving because it reminded her of sad memories, but it was a waste to throw it out. Instead, she’d like to return the items to the rightful owner. This box contained the gifts you bought her.”
Javier stared blankly at the box. He clenched his fists and hesitated to receive it.
Upon seeing that, Newton’s eyes darkened. He lamented, “Oh, well. Anne is history anyway. Besides, you have a new wife. There’s no need for you to see what she kept in that box, but personally, I think it’s time to hand the box to you, or you’ll never discern your feelings and understand the gravity of your mistake.”
Javier finally accepted the box. His throat tightened. He was at a loss. for words.
After Javier left the office, Newton rubbed his forehead, looking deflated and exhausted.
Ben began, “Mr. Walsh, I am confused.” After a pause, he gently asked, “Ms. Anne originally requested that you dispose of the box. Why did you keep it over the years instead of throwing it out as she wished?”-
Newton replied, “I decided to hold onto it until the day Javier saw through Sophia’s true colors.”
Ben wondered, “But you saw it just now, didn’t you? Mr. Javier still sided with Sophia. Maybe he hasn’t-“
“Hmph. No. What he did was to protect his ego. No one knows my son better than myself.” Newton leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. “Now, it’s only a matter of time before he gives up on Sophia. Reminding him of his love for Anne might push him in the right direction. After all, the dead usually carries more impact than the living. Learning about the truth will make him regret the past.”
As the luxury car headed toward Seaview Manor, Javier sat in the seat, gripping the box tightly and bracing himself before opening it. The box had two layers. The first layer stored a tidy array of velvet pouches. With each pouch Javier opened, his heartache deepened.
He saw the diamond ring he bought for the proposal. The diamond. might have been considered tiny by today’s standards, but it was a big deal 30 years ago.
The emerald bracelet was his birthday gift to Anne, which he had. carefully selected. He remembered her birthday and all their anniversaries. Regretfully, he was unwilling to remind himself of her death anniversary.
Taking a deep breath, he checked out the second drawer in the box, only to find a stack of old and faded photos.
Hands shaking, he looked through the photos. When he was done, his eyes were brimming with tears, and his ears were ringing from the shock.
He was reminded of Anne’s love for photography. She loved taking walks in Seaview Manor and snapping away. He always wondered what she had captured, and he finally found the answer.
He was the only subject under her camera lens. Behind the photos, she scribbled down heartfelt sentiments that she couldn’t express to him.
She wrote, “I miss you in the silent hour when shadows stretch thin and long; in the startled bird’s lonely cry, its mournful song echoed.” “Before I knew it, I could not bear to be separated from you. Perhaps this is why they say that the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam.”
“Javier, I hope you don’t mind my humble background, my problematic past, and my clumsy way of expressing my love. I know my love is nothing special for you compared to all the shiny things you possess, but it is all I can afford to give you. I love you so much.”
Gripping so hard that he crumpled the photos, he sobbed, tears staining her neat handwriting. He mumbled, “W-Why have you never said this to me … Anne, do you know that I still love you so?”
Upon learning that she was being grounded, Sophia went stir-crazy at home, venting her anger on anyone she encountered.
“I’m sorry, Madam Sophia. This is Mr. Javier’s order. We have to do as he instructed.”
Javier’s secretary, Rory Odom, stared at her coldly. His tone revealed a hint of sarcasm as he said, “I suggest you go back to your room and don’t make things difficult for us or yourself.
“After all, because of your actions, the entire Walsh Group is in chaos. Please don’t make it worse for Mr. Javier.”
“How dare you!” With bloodshot eyes, Sophia slapped Rory across the face. “I’m the matriarch of the Walsh family! How dare you speak to me like that? You’re just Javier’s secretary!”
Instead of being angry, Rory chuckled. “Indeed, even though I’m just a secretary, Mr. Javier has been generous to me. But aren’t you also taking advantage of your status as Mr. Javier’s wife to behave recklessly and abuse your subordinates?”
Sophia was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure.
This guy was indirectly insulting her!
Just as Sophia was about to slap him again to teach him a lesson, Javier walked in, expressionless.
“J-Javier.” Sophia immediately withdrew her hand, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself in front of her husband. “You’re finally back… I can’t live without you by my side… I really can’t!”
Her demeanor changed from a fierce woman to a weeping wife in a
Rory sneered, filled with disdain.
“You seem to be doing just fine without me here, even finding the strength to scold my secretary,” Javier said coldly. His gaze was icy as he stared at her, sending shivers down her spine.
“Javier, I saw the negative news about me at the funeral has been suppressed. It must be you, right?” she asked.
Tearfully, Sophia attempted to bury herself in Javier’s arms. “I knew it… I knew it… Javier, you must have done it for me. I knew you wouldn’t sit idly by if I got into trouble.”
Javier stepped back abruptly, making Sophia miss her target, stumbling forward.
Perplexed, she looked up to see his eyes devoid of warmth.
“Who told you that I did that for you?” Javier sneered. “I did it for the Walsh family and Walsh Group.”
“Javier, you.
Sophia was dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe these words were from her husband.
“Sophia, I may be your husband, but my role as the chairman of Walsh Group is more important. I won’t clean up your mess again and again.”
Javier averted his gaze, not wanting to look at her any longer. “This is the last time. Next time, I’ll throw you out to face public criticism. Even if you become a pariah or a prisoner, it has nothing to do with me or the Walsh Group.
“You should bear the consequences of your actions. No one has the responsibility or obligation to bear your mistakes.”
With that, Javier walked away without looking back. Yet Sophia clung
“Javier! How can you say that? I’m your wife! Your lover! How can you bear to throw me out to be bullied by others?”
“Wife? Don’t insult that word.” Javier laughed bitterly, prying her fingers from his arm. “My family can’t tolerate someone like you, who acts lawlessly and causes trouble. I can’t afford a wife like you.”
“Javier! Are you … Are you going to divorce me?” Sophia almost shouted.
“Do you think I don’t want to?”
Javier finally couldn’t hold back his anger. “Do you think I don’t want to divorce you? If it weren’t for all the troubles around Walsh Group and the fact that you raised two daughters for me, do you think I would have kept you until now?”
Shocked, Sophia shivered, feeling her whole body go cold.
She had always believed she had some control over Javier, especially with the two daughters she bore for him. She thought that he would never mention divorce, whether it was for the sake of Walsh Group’s interests or his own reputation.
However, when she heard the word “divorce” from his mouth, she felt. her world shatter.
She had truly lost Javier.
Sophia was in disbelief. How could this have happened?
Sophia was nothing without her status as the Walsh Group’s chairman’s wife. No one would pay her any respect.
It was precisely because she was Javier’s wife that Jeremy and Alyssa had been tiptoeing around her, making it impossible to target her directly.
Jeremy and Alyssa would undoubtedly tear her apart if she lost Javier’s protection.
