Divorce To Marry a CEO

Chapter 22: The Legacy Of Shadows

Alexander stood at the window of his private study, gazing out over the sprawling estate that was now bustling with the presence of Sophia’s family. His mind, however, was far from peaceful. The weight of his family’s legacy pressed heavily on his shoulders, and with Gerald’s arrest, so much had been set in motion. Yet despite this small victory, there was still the looming threat of Gerald’s influence and the secrets that bound them all together.

Sophia entered the room, her soft footsteps drawing him from his thoughts. She walked over to him and leaned against the windowsill, watching him closely. She could tell there was something weighing on his mind.

"You're quiet," she said gently, her voice like a balm to his tension. "Is it Gerald? Or something else?"

Alexander's jaw tightened as he glanced at her. He didn’t want to burden her with the tangled mess of his family’s history, but something about Sophia’s presence made him want to open up. She was becoming more than just a part of his life—she was becoming the person he could share it with.

"It’s not just Gerald," he finally said, his voice low. "It’s everything tied to him—my family, the company, and the conditions my grandfather left behind."

Sophia frowned. "Your grandfather?"

Alexander nodded, a flicker of old pain crossing his face. "My grandfather, Edward Evans, built Evans Industries from the ground up. When he died, he left the company to me, but there was a condition: I had to be married before I could officially take control."

Sophia’s eyes widened. “That’s why you agreed to this marriage. It wasn’t just about… us?”

He turned to face her, his gaze softening. “At first, it was a necessity. But now…” His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Now, it’s more than that.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, the charged air between them filled with unspoken feelings. Then, in a swift motion, Alexander cupped her face and kissed her deeply. It wasn’t the kind of kiss born out of obligation or convenience—it was the kind of kiss that told her everything she needed to know about how he felt.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. “You’re not just a solution to my problem anymore, Sophia. You’re everything.”

Sophia’s heart raced at his words, her fingers lightly tracing the outline of his jaw. She kissed him again, her lips tender against his. The walls that had once separated them were crumbling, and with every touch, every kiss, Alexander was showing her a side of him that few had ever seen.

But the weight of his family’s history still lingered between them, and Sophia knew there was more to uncover.

“Tell me about Gerald,” she whispered after a moment. “Why does he have so much control over your family?”

Alexander sighed, stepping back slightly as he gathered his thoughts. “Gerald is my uncle, but he’s always been more of an enemy than family. My grandfather never trusted him, and for good reason. Gerald was reckless, irresponsible, and constantly in debt. But somehow, he managed to manipulate my grandfather into giving him control of a significant portion of the company’s assets.”

Sophia’s brow furrowed. “But why would your grandfather do that if he didn’t trust him?”

“Because Gerald was desperate,” Alexander replied, his voice tight with frustration. “He threatened to destroy the company’s reputation, to leak damaging secrets to the press. My grandfather had no choice but to give him control over some of the business’s most valuable ventures. Gerald’s been using that control to build his own power ever since.”