I was about to start the board meeting when the new intern sat at the head of the table. She told me I was unqualified to be CEO and demanded I step down. She claimed that as a woman, I was only good for a political marriage, not for inheriting the family empire. She also announced she was pregnant with my father's son, and that everything in the company belonged to her unborn child. A shareholder stood up, furious. "Security! Drag this crazy woman out!" But she calmly displayed a family photo on the big screen. In the photo, she was wearing a wedding dress, my father's arm around her, standing behind my grandparents. Then she accused the shareholder and me of having an affair, claiming we had imprisoned my father just to embezzle the company's assets. I rushed up and slapped her across the face. She immediately video-called my father to complain. My father roared through the phone, calling me unfilial for hitting my stepmother and demanding I kneel and apologize. I was stunned. My father died in a plane crash five years ago. I identified the body myself. 1 "Chloe Vance, your father wants me to take over as CEO." Jessica Miller crossed her legs, twirling her hair while speaking in a provocative tone: "Since you're a daughter, you're only useful for marriage alliances, not for inheriting the business." "Now that I'm carrying your father's son—the only male heir of the Vance family—your father said the company is mine to manage." Listening to this absurdity, I couldn't help but ask: "My father died five years ago. Did you not do any research before coming here to cause trouble?" Five years ago, my father went on a business trip abroad and died in a plane crash. When I arrived, all that was left was a charred body. Though I couldn't believe it, I had to accept the facts. I watched him being pushed into the crematorium. I buried him with my own hands. Five years later, someone claims to be pregnant with his child? How is that possible? Even if it were his, has she been pregnant for five years? Everyone in the conference room looked at Jessica with disbelief. New employees whispered in the corners, but most people looked at her like she was insane. The accident was huge news back then. Every major media outlet reported it. The company's management knew clearly about my father's death. If I hadn't taken over back then, Vance Corp would have been eaten alive by competitors. Uncle Zhang, my father's former partner, couldn't help but speak up: "I saw Robert's body. It was burned beyond recognition. I helped his niece handle the funeral. How could he have a child with you?" My assistant, sensing the mood, stepped forward to ask Jessica to leave. Suddenly, she stood up, lifted her shirt to reveal a baby bump, and pointed righteously at the assistant. "I'm pregnant! You can't touch me!" Everyone froze. No one dared to use force on a pregnant woman. I looked at Jessica coldly and said: "My father has been dead for five years. Everyone here knows it. I don't care whose child you're carrying, but it's impossible to be my father's." "If you don't leave, I'm calling the police!" Jessica sneered. "Tch. That's just your side of the story. Who here attended your father's funeral?" "I'm here today to get justice for your father!" As soon as she said this, whispers started, and people looked at me with suspicion. I was angry but helpless. Recovering my father's body from the crash site had taken days. Because of the delay and condition of the body, the funeral was very simple, known only to the closest family members. A memorial service was held three years later. "Speechless, right?" Jessica looked at me triumphantly. "Do you have evidence that it's my father's child?" I asked curiously. "Hmph, I knew you wouldn't cry until you saw the coffin. This is the disownment letter your father wrote!" Jessica slammed a document on the table. I picked it up immediately, wanting to end this farce. But when I saw the signature, my mind went blank. It was my father's handwriting, stamped with his personal seal. But my father has definitely been dead for five years. What is going on? 2 Looking at Jessica's arrogant face, a doubt surged in my heart. Did my father come back from the dead? But that's impossible. Uncle Zhang looked at the document and frowned. "This isn't right. Robert's seal was buried with him." I remembered. All my father's personal items were buried with him. Including his personal seal. Handwriting can be forged, but to get the seal, someone would have to rob the grave. Uncle Zhang was experienced. He quickly deduced everything. He took out his phone and called the cemetery manager. "Check Robert Vance's grave. See if it's been disturbed." The manager replied quickly: "Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment. I'll check right now." Uncle Zhang hung up and tossed the asset transfer document aside. "Little girl, Robert is dead. His seal was voided. Even if someone robbed the grave, this document is invalid." Soon, the manager sent a video of the grave. Uncle Zhang played it. My father's grave was intact. Not robbed. So how did she get the stamp? I stared at the video, lost in thought. Jessica glanced at the screen, her face twisting into a hideous expression. She snatched Uncle Zhang's phone and smashed it on the floor. Smash! The screen shattered into a spiderweb. "Chloe Vance, you're really something! To steal the company, you conspired with outsiders to build a fake grave!" "Are you two sleeping together?" "Zhang, you have no shame, sleeping with your partner's daughter." She pointed at us and cursed. Uncle Zhang, over fifty years old, turned red with rage at being insulted by a young girl. "The airline notified Robert's niece to identify the body. We even did DNA testing. It was undoubtedly Robert." "Do you think we wouldn't know these things?" I couldn't help but remind her. "Jessica, were you scammed?" Unexpectedly, this sentence poked the hornet's nest. She became even more agitated. "You are the biggest liars!" "You lied to everyone saying your dad died, but he's alive! You've been keeping him prisoner in the old mansion!" "Once I control the company, everyone will know about your collusion!" I couldn't tolerate Jessica's nonsense anymore. I shouted, "Enough!" "I don't care where you heard these lies or whose child you're carrying." "This has nothing to do with me or Vance Corp. But I will investigate where you got that seal!" Instead of waking up, she sneered sarcastically. "You adulterous couple are scared now." "You think I don't have proof? Fine, look at this!" She took out her phone, opened the gallery, and shoved it in my face. Looking at the photo on the screen, I felt like I'd fallen into an ice cave. It was a photo taken inside the Vance family estate. Jessica was wearing loungewear, relaxing on the sofa. On the table sat my father's favorite antique vase, worth millions. What shocked me more was the next photo— She lifted her shirt to reveal her pregnant belly, and a smiling man was leaning close to it. It was my father, who had been dead for five years. My face turned ashen instantly. 3 Seeing that photo, I felt nauseous. I suppressed my anger and asked, "How did you get into my house? Who is this man?" She laughed contemptuously. "How else? Your dad let me in." She held out her right hand. On her finger was a jade thumb ring. "Recognize this?" My heart clenched. That was the Vance family heirloom ring. My father used to joke that if he couldn't give me a brother, he'd take this ring to his grave. After his accident, I really buried it with him as a funerary object. But now, it was on Jessica's hand. I stared at the jade ring, rage boiling in my chest. "Take it off! That's the Vance family heirloom. How do you have it?" I shouted sternly and reached out to grab it. Jessica dodged nimbly. She wagged her finger smugly. "Your dad put this on me personally." "He said it's the family treasure, to be passed down to our son." "Besides, you're just a girl. What right do you have to compete with my son?" "The Vance family assets belong to my son. Even if you steal them, you'll have to give them back." "Can you afford to pay if you lose such a precious item?" I couldn't hold back anymore. I lunged to snatch the ring. Jessica dodged suddenly. I fell hard onto the floor, my elbow hitting a chair. I gasped in pain. She, on the other hand, lay on the floor and started wailing. "Murder! Chloe Vance is killing people!" "To steal the inheritance, she's killing her unborn brother!" Jessica's scene made everyone look at me strangely. They had seen her evidence and started to believe her, pointing fingers at me. "CEO Vance is ruthless. Imprisoning her dad, conspiring to steal the family fortune..." "The Vance family raised an ungrateful wolf. Looks like we have to cancel our contracts with Vance Corp." "But she is capable. Expanded the company several times in a few years." "Who knows if Zhang helped her? Serves him right for doing all the work for someone else!" Uncle Zhang was slandered as having an affair with me. Partners demanded to cancel contracts. He couldn't defend himself, so he turned to Jessica. "Miss, I have no grudge against you. Why slander me?" Jessica climbed up from the floor, smugly saying: "Who's slandering you? It's a fact you two are sleeping together." "Also, I called the police when I arrived. You adulterous couple wait for jail." Then Jessica made a video call. "Honey, what's wrong? Is Chloe bullying you?" The voice from the phone made my eyes wet. It really was my father's voice. I snatched the phone and saw the man on the screen. I couldn't believe it was real. But the man's face changed instantly. "Chloe Vance, you have the face to see me? You locked me in the mansion for five years. If not for Jessica, I wouldn't know when I'd get out." "Resign immediately! Let Jessica take over!" "And Zhang, taking advantage of my injury to say I died. I will settle this score with him!" Jessica snatched the phone back, arrogant. "Hubby, these dogs are terrible. They still won't step down." I finally lost it and slapped her face. Jessica clutched her cheek, looking at me in disbelief. "You dare hit me?" "Do you know who I am? Technically, I'm your mother! Your father's child is in my belly!" She cried, screaming hysterically: "Come to the company quickly! Your daughter is killing me!" "You wait! When your dad gets here, I'll have him kick you out first!" I slapped her again. Gritting my teeth, I said, "My father is dead. How can that man be my father?" She sneered. "If he's dead, how did he sleep with me? How did I get pregnant with the Vance heir?" I froze. If that man isn't my father, how does he look exactly like him, sound exactly like him? Who is orchestrating this? What is their goal? I wanted to question Jessica, but Uncle Zhang stopped me. "Wait for him to come. Let's see if it's really Robert. If not, I won't spare them!" Just then, a squad of police officers pushed open the door. "Chloe Vance, David Zhang. We received a report that you imprisoned Vance Group CEO Robert Vance." "Please come with us." I was shocked. Uncle Zhang was furious. "Do you have evidence? I'll file a complaint for false arrest!" Uncle Zhang was quickly subdued and pinned to the table. "Since we are here, we have evidence." They showed their badges and the report evidence. Photos were spread out, all showing my father in the Vance estate. Jessica seized the moment. "I also want to report that Chloe Vance conspired with David Zhang to build a fake grave for my husband." "They are having an affair and want to steal Vance Group!" "Just now, Chloe Vance assaulted a pregnant woman, almost causing a miscarriage!" I felt cold all over. Uncle Zhang shouted about injustice to no avail. The evidence was there. We had to be taken away. The conference room was chaotic. Some gloated, some rushed to distance themselves. In an instant, Uncle Zhang and I became public enemies. Suddenly, Jessica rushed towards the door. "Hubby, you're finally here!" Everyone looked. The room went silent. When I saw the person clearly. I froze too. It was him?
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