Mr. Chairman’s Devious Wife

Chapter 5

Smooth jazz tunes danced through the air, creating a mellow atmosphere in the dining room of the Beaumont Mansion. The gentle hum of the nearby man-made lake and the sounds of birds outside the mansion added to the tranquil setting.

However, this did not ease the tension that wrapped around Mrs. Beaumont as she feigned a smile toward the beautiful woman with blond hair across from her. “I never expected that you would still remember the perfume that | like, Zoe. | truly appreciate it,” Mrs. Teresa Beaumont said.

Her gaze drifted toward Alexander, who was sitting next to Zoe, silently sipping his tea. Seeing his lack of interest in the current conversation, she quickly added, “How was your trip to Paris?” She took a sip of her tea, her gaze again darting towards Alexander.

Zoe smiled in response, her dimples showing. “It was perfect. Sadly, | did not visit Paris for a vacation. | barely had any sleep,” Zoe Smith said. “The fashion week was brutal as always.”

“Ah... look, | believe your favorite cookies are done. Let me get the chefs...” Teresa got up and quickly rushed towards the kitchen without waiting for them to say another word.

Seeing his stepmother gone, Alexander immediately stood up.

“Alex... where are you going?” Zoe asked, her innocent blue eyes meeting his brown icy ones. For a few seconds, she froze, unable to cope with the coldness of his eyes.

“| have a meeting in five...” Alex said.

“But | just | just arrived and-” She looked at the box on the table. “You have yet to open the gift that | bought.” “Let mother open it,” Alexander said. He turned around, but just as he

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started walking, he felt someone grab his arm.

“Are you planning to avoid me forever?” Zoe asked softly.

Alexander turned and stared at the woman wearing a beige frilly dress. “I would appreciate it if Miss Smith stopped touching me. | believe it would not be appropriate if the media took a single picture of this. It would ruin Miss Smith’s reputation.”

“Alex, look...”

“Call me Mr. Beaumont,” Alexander said. While his voice was not loud, it was icy, devoid of any expression. Almost immediately, Zoe’s eyes reddened.

“It's been five years...” Zoe said, almost meekly. “I know | hurt you. Please-

“If | had known that Miss Smith would visit today, | would not have come,” Alexander said. “I would prefer it if Miss Smith kept her distance from me. There is nothing between us. | do not want the media to misunderstand anything.”

“Alexander, | was your fiancée...” “Was...” Alexander snorted as he corrected her. “Was is a complete sentence.” With that, he shook his arm, prompting her to let go of his suit. However, Zoe was far from being done.

“Can you at least... treat me like a friend?” Zoe’s words echoed inside the mansion. “I— | know | made a mistake, but that was in the past. Can— Can we start over?”

Alexander pursed his lips. Just as he was about to answer, his phone suddenly rang. He opened it, and his icy gaze immediately vanished. “What took you so long?” he smirked. There was a brief silence on the other line before he heard a sigh. “Let’s get married.”

He chuckled at that. “Send me your address. | will send Josef for you.” Then he ended the call and started walking away, his strides long and fast.

This time, Zoe did not stop him from walking outside the mansion. What surprised Alexander was seeing his younger brother, Daniel Beaumont, about to walk inside.

“Alex...” Daniel greeted. “You didn’t tell me you would be visiting Mother today.” “Hmmm...” Alex simply nodded. “Tell your mother to stop involving herself in my affairs.” “What? What did she-” Daniel sighed. “Was it Zoe again?”

Alexander walked past him without saying a word.

“Look, Mother just wanted you to settle down. Father and she are-

“How was your trip, Daniel?” Alexander interrupted him. “How was the conference?” oeUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“It seems that you are too free lately. You even have the time to talk about my affairs.” “What? That is not-

“There is a new project in Asia. | am going to send you to supervise it.” Alexander started walking towards his car. Hearing his words, Daniel immediately ran after him.

“Alex wait, what are you talking about? | thought you were sending me to Europe? How about France?”

“France is too easy... you need something more challenging. Something that would take a lot of your time.”

14:15 Chapter 5 “France is challenging. | think you need to reconsider. 1—”

“Tell your mother this is but a warning. Next time she does something like this, | am kicking you out of the company.” Alexander smirked. “You know very well how | keep my word.”

Daniel stood there, frozen when he heard his brother’s words. As the CEO and acting Chairman of Beaumont Empire, Alexander had all the power to do all these things. However, Daniel could only glare at his brother’s tall back as he watched him drive away from the mansion.

The moment his brother left, his face immediately turned ugly. He, too, was a Beaumont. However, he was treated as if he were a rat. Always. currying favors, running around to simply maintain his position in the company! Sadly, even their father could not do anything about this

matter.

He gritted his teeth as he walked towards the mansion, his gaze complicated. Instead of wallowing in jealousy and anger, he should do something about his current situation. Almost immediately, his thoughts. turned to—Sofia Lockhart.

Her shares would solidify his position in the Beaumont Empire. Her name alone would help Daniel have a steady position in the company. Surely, Alexander would not do anything to someone who would soon lead the LH Group, right?

He sighed as he walked inside. Just as he expected, he saw Alexander’s ex- fiancée and Teresa on the couch. Zoe was crying in his mother’s arms.

If this were in the past, Daniel would have comforted Zoe and told her to be more patient with his brother. However, he was not in the mood for any of this. He glared at his mother before turning towards his room to

call Sofia.

She was the only thing that could change his status!