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He spat in my face in front of 23 relatives and called me worthless. Then I opened the folder he was laughing at and showed him the title beneath my signature: CEO of the $50 million company that had just bought his employer. / Chapter 10 / 10

Chapter 10 - The Unbought ValuationSixteen months after the night of the spit and the signature.

It was a quiet, golden Sunday evening.

The sun was setting over Lake Michigan, painting the sky in brilliant shades of rose, gold, and deep purple.

I sat on the wide stone terrace of my newly purchased lakeside home—a magnificent, quiet property sitting on five acres of private forest, completely separate from the gaudy, debt-ridden lake house Ryan had once bragged about.

My driver set a silver tray with fresh tea and fruit on the wooden outdoor table.

My phone chimed on the table. It was an email notification from my corporate legal team containing the quarterly valuation report for Bennett Strategic Holdings.

I opened the document and scrolled to the final page:

TOTAL NET ASSET VALUATION: $85,000,000.00

I smiled softly, setting the tablet down beside my teacup.

Eighty-five million dollars. Built on hard work, quiet discipline, unyielding integrity, and the courage to stand up when everyone expected me to bow my head.

A car pulled up the long, gravel driveway.

My father and Madison stepped out of the vehicle, carrying bags of fresh groceries for our Sunday family dinner. They walked up the stone steps to the terrace, smiling warmly.

“Hey, CEO,” Madison called out with a soft, genuine laugh, setting the grocery bags on the outdoor counter. “We brought the fresh herbs for the roast. Dad promised he wouldn't let me burn the vegetables.”

“I’m holding you to that promise, Dad,” I laughed, standing up to welcome them.

Dad walked over, pulling me into a warm, fierce, fatherly hug—a hug built on real respect, love, and understanding.

“How was your week, Claire?” Dad asked softly, pulling back to look at me with clear, proud eyes.

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I looked out over the calm, sparkling waters of the lake, feeling a deep, unbreakable peace resting deep within my soul.

“My week was quiet, Dad,” I smiled, taking his arm as we walked inside to cook dinner together. “Just the way I like it.”

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