I Lost a Husband, But I Gained an Empire

Aurelia's POV

I had just informed a few clients that I was cutting ties with the Ellingtons, and before the news could even settle, the headlines exploded everywhere.

They wanted to corner me and leave me with no way out.

I grabbed my phone and headed for the door, but Philip caught my arm.

“Aurelia, you’re pregnant. Don’t go out there. I’ll handle it.”

But I pushed his hand away. “I’ve already crawled out of hell once. A little storm doesn’t scare me.”

The moment I stepped outside, I understood why Philip’s assistant had been so panicked.

It wasn’t just reporters.

Lined up at the entrance were several major figures from the city’s business circle—people with influence, the kind who never show up unless something big happens.

And among them were Callum’s parents.

Soon, Mrs. Ellington spotted me from afar, and her face immediately softened into a smile as she hurried toward me. The moment she reached me, she grabbed my hands.

“Aurelia, I don’t know how things escalated like this. It must be because of that forty-million contract, right? Did we upset Mr. Ashford somehow?”

Mr. Ellington chimed in, smiling like nothing was wrong. “She’s right. You can’t just cancel a deal like that and expect no consequences. So, be a good girl. Go apologize, get the contract back, and once the reporters leave, this will all blow over.”

I gently pulled my hands away and smiled. “Mr. Ellington, Mr. Ashford isn’t upset at all. I just signed that contract with his company under a friend’s name. He’s in a great mood, actually.”

I watched as their faces went from red to ghostly pale, and a cold, bitter smile tugged at my lips.

So, they were in on this, too.

All these years, I’d poured my blood and soul into saving their family, only to realize I’d been feeding a pack of ungrateful wolves.

Mrs. Ellington’s smile instantly disappeared. “Aurelia, what are you saying? You signed the deal under someone else’s company? You’re our daughter-in-law. Why are you helping outsiders?!”

I met her gaze, reached into my bag, and pulled out the divorce papers. “Sorry. I’m no longer part of your family.”

I handed them to her and stepped away.

But the crowd of reporters surged forward like a tidal wave.

In eight years, I’d stood in front of the media more times than I could count. So, I knew better than anyone that at moments like this, the more you talked, the more mistakes you made.

Knowing that, I just turned and headed for the back exit.

That was when a sugary, mocking voice called out behind me. “Well, well. Isn’t this the always-so-poised Ms. Crawford? What’s the matter? Feeling guilty, so you’re running away now?”

Melina appeared arm-in-arm with Callum, walking toward me with a smirk.

Even so, I ignored her and kept moving. But I’d barely taken two steps when someone grabbed my wrist.