Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law-Chapter 248: Who?

"Even if there is proof. You, Adam Collins, have no rights here, regardless of if you are a shareholder or not!" The man who burst out the words glared at Adam as if they shared a personal enmity. Melanie did not have to guess that this was one of the names on the file that Adam had just presented.

But, Adam, on the other hand didn’t react to the outburst with anger or indignation. Instead, he simply let out an amused chuckle as if someone had told a joke only he understood. He leaned back again, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he placed his chin on his palm and asked lightly, "So let me get this straight. Are we all gathered here today to stop the chairman of StormEdge from taking over ABC Estates... or to help him make his decision easier? I mean here you all are, threatening me with no power because StormEdge might just take over ABC? So, you are actually hoping that they do take over so that I am helpless?"

A few people looked around, not daring to meet his eyes. One of the senior board members straightened and said, "Of course we’re here to stop him! What do you think we’ve been preparing about all morning?"

Adam’s smile deepened. "Right. So if the plan is to stop him... how exactly are you going to do that?"

There was a beat of silence.

He continued casually, "As far as we know, StormEdge wants to break this company apart, sell it off in chunks, and walk away with a hefty profit. You think the chairman is coming here to babysit a sinking ship?"

"We’re not a sinking ship!" someone shouted. "We’re in trouble, yes, but we’re not beyond saving!"

"Oh?" Adam tilted his head. "How do you plan to convince him of that? What kind of assurance are you going to give him?" He gestured to the room. "What’s your plan—other than maybe reappointing Melanie and hoping she magically pulls the original deliverables out of thin air?"

Melanie’s lips tightened. Okay... Suddenly she was regretting giving him an analysis of what she had discovered.

"You think StormEdge is going to back off because you... what? Show them last year’s press coverage? Or claim you’ve got ’plans in motion’? Let me remind you—" his voice dropped, losing all humor, "—you can’t even stop your own people from leaking internal documents. So how do you plan to convince a man like him that you won’t bleed him dry too?"

There was silence.

Adam pressed on. "You think he hasn’t already seen the sales forecasts? The pulled contracts? The project delays? The HR reports that somehow made it to their legal team before they made it to yours?" He laughed softly. "You are already exposed." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Enough with the drama," someone barked, flustered. "We can rebuild. We just need a chance."

"Rebuild with what?" Adam asked. "With trust? With loyalty? With transparency?" He raised his brow. "You’ve got none of those left."

"Don’t talk like you know everything, Adam!" a man on the left snapped, "You don’t even know how to run a company! So, just sit there and enjoy your parties from our money as long as you can."

"Maybe. Maybe not. The point is not whether I have the experience or not. It is that is there anyone here who can save ABC from StormEdge?"

"We’re doing what we can!" another voice insisted. "StormEdge trusts Melanie, they signed a previous deal with her and have accepted themselves that she did it honestly without any bribes or other ways to profit herself. Maybe if she signs the deal and assures them of the promised support..."

Adam cut in, sharp now. "And if she can’t? If she’s not able to deliver what they’re asking for because Spencer and his little allies made sure to bury the pipeline before it even began? Then what? What’s your Plan B?"

No one had a reply.

A director shifted in his seat, eyes darting to Melanie and then to the others. "Well, we can’t just... sit back and let this company be gutted."

"And yet that’s exactly what you’ve been doing," Adam replied. "All of you sitting there claiming innocence, you knew Spencer was playing dirty. You knew things were being leaked. You knew Spencer was being paid off or had at least guessed it. And yet, none of you stood up or tried to do anything about it instead burying your heads in sand. You waited. You hoped it would resolve itself. That’s not strategy. Because you knew that even if ABC was finished, you would still get some gains and you were okay with it! Most of you still are."

There was an uncomfortable silence now, heavier than before.

Melanie’s gaze hadn’t moved from Adam. She’d gone utterly still, her fingers resting lightly on the table, her brows faintly drawn together. Her eyes narrowed slowly, scrutinizing him—not out of suspicion, but with a dawning curiosity. He was being too deliberate. Too prepared and too knowing.

And then it struck her. Her eyes widened just slightly. And then her expression turned calculating.

Under the table, Melanie reached for her phone. Her fingers moved quickly, typing out a message. The screen glowed briefly in her lap before she hit send. No one seemed to notice.

Meanwhile, the same man who had earlier snapped that Adam had no rights here stood up again, as if he hadn’t said enough. He jabbed a finger in Adam’s direction.

"You can keep talking in circles all day long, but at the end of it, you’re just a spoiled brat riding on your family name. You have no experience, no credibility, and frankly, no business sitting in this room. You think sarcasm and accusations make you powerful? They make you pathetic. Lady Collins built something, but you’ve done for it. And you are merely an adopted son who has been enjoying the fruit of their labour while the real heir has been thrown behind the bars!"

A few board members winced, but no one interrupted.

Adam didn’t move. He didn’t smile. He didn’t even blink.

But just before he could speak, Melanie’s phone buzzed silently under the table. Her gaze flicked down and then her eyes widened.

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