The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 97: Valerie’s Revenge Plan

Mara sat in her office at the foundation, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on her shoulders. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting long shadows over the stack of files littering her desk. Each one held the name of someone who had abused their position, siphoned funds, or turned a blind eye to corruption. The foundation, which was meant to be a beacon of hope, had instead become a playground for the greedy.

She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. There was so much to clean up, so much filth to scrape away. From misallocated funds to shady partnerships, she had uncovered a network of deceit that had gone unchecked for far too long. It wasn’t just about getting rid of corrupt people; some activities weren’t legal, and deals that only benefited a select few while the very people they claimed to help continued to suffer.

Her fingers tapped against a particular file, one that made her stomach churn. It was a report detailing how a high-ranking member of the foundation had funneled money meant for relief projects into luxury vacations. Mara clenched her jaw. She had known the road ahead would be difficult, but she hadn’t expected to feel this furious. This foundation was supposed to change lives, not line the pockets of the undeserving.

A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she called out, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and the manager, Cai, stepped inside, clutching a tablet. "Miss Shepherd, we have a situation," he said, his tone grim. "Some of the board members are pushing back against the audits. They’re saying it’s unnecessary—"

"Of course, they are," Mara cut in, shaking her head. "Because they have something to hide."Cai nodded. "Exactly. I also got wind that someone is trying to delete records. IT caught an attempt to wipe some financial documents last night."

Mara’s blood ran cold. "Then we don’t have time to waste. I want every document backed up and secure." he grabbed his phone and started dialing. "If they think they can cover their tracks, they’re in for a rude awakening."

She had made a promise to herself when she took over this foundation: no more exploitation, no more corruption, and most importantly to expose her uncle. And she intended to keep it, even if it meant tearing the whole thing down to build it back up the right way.

The press conference orchestrated by their uncle had done its job at least for a while. For a few days, the narrative had shifted, public perception softened, and the storm seemed to settle. But Valerie had waited too long, suffered too much, to let Philip slip away unscathed. She had spent years gathering evidence, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now, with the world’s eyes still on them, she decided it was time to cut the iron while it was still hot.

Unlike first when they had taken their fight to the internet, Valerie went straight to the authorities. She compiled every shred of undeniable evidence she had amassed over the years and delivered it directly to the FBI. The files contained bank records, hidden transactions, surveillance footage, and testimonies that left no room for denial. The weight of the evidence was too great to ignore. What had once been whispered accusations now stood as unshakable truth.

The consequences were swift. The authorities had no choice but to act, and one by one, Philip’s allies fell. High-ranking officials who had shielded him for years were exposed and brought to justice. The underground operations he had built, the shadowy network that had allowed him to thrive, crumbled beneath the sheer force of Valerie’s revelations.

A new committee was formed to oversee the investigation, free from corruption and manipulation. It was a fresh start, but Valerie knew the fight wasn’t over. She had dragged Philip into the light and revealed the man behind the mask, but the moment he realized he had been cornered, he did what cowards always did—he ran.

Philip vanished without a trace.

His disappearance sent shockwaves through both his remaining allies and his enemies. Some whispered that he had fled the country, others believed he had gone into hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike back. Valerie knew better. He was dangerous when desperate, and a cornered man always had one last move left to play.

But she wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.

For years, Philip had controlled the game. Now, it was her turn to make the final move.

Valerie sat in the dimly lit vault, surrounded by an array of computer screens, her fingers poised over the keyboard. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. Nineteen years of secrecy, pain, and patience had led to this exact point. The soft glow from the monitors illuminated her face, reflecting the fire in her eyes.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. The past had shaped her, but it would not break her now.

Her mind drifted back to the moment everything changed—the moment she realized she had to hide her own daughter from her father. Philip had always been a monster, but she hadn’t truly understood how deep his darkness ran until she found out she was pregnant.

She had been young, reckless, and rebellious—the Andersons’ wild princess. She had given her parents hell, thinking herself untouchable. And then she met Philip. What started as an intoxicating whirlwind quickly became a nightmare.

She still remembered the moment she learned she was carrying his child. At first, shock had overtaken her. But when the doctor told her it was a girl, she knew. She knew Philip would never let them go. He had wanted a son—an heir to mold in his image. A girl would mean nothing to him. Or worse, she would be a pawn in his games.

So she hid it. Every flutter, every kick, every sleepless night spent dreading what would happen if he found out. She was lucky. Philip traveled constantly back then, and she became a master of deception. When the time came, she gave birth in secret and placed her daughter, Goldie, in the care of people she trusted. It was the hardest thing she had ever done, but it was the only way to save her.

The abuse had started soon after. She had tried to leave him, but Philip was relentless. He had vowed she would never escape him. And for years, he made good on that promise.

Until she found a way out.

She faked a pregnancy, making Philip believe she was carrying the son he had always wanted. Then, when the time was right, she staged her own death. For ten years, the world believed she was gone. Philip believed she was gone. But Valerie had never truly disappeared.

She had watched over Goldie for the first eight years of her life, ensuring she was safe. But the abuse she endured in her final years with Philip had nearly broken her. She knew she couldn’t keep living in the shadows, not like that. So she vanished completely, preparing for the day she could finally return—not as a victim, but as the force that would bring Philip to his knees.

And now, that day had come.

She wiped the tears from her face. Goldie would be eighteen now. A young woman. She had missed so much, but she would make up for it. After tonight, she could finally step out of the darkness.

With a deep breath, she straightened in her chair and pressed a key on her computer. The files she had been gathering for years began uploading to encrypted servers, ready to be unleashed at her command. Philip had run, but there was nowhere left for him to hide.

She was coming for him. And this time, she would end it for good.

--

Back in Mara’s office, the air was calm yet filled with unspoken emotions. Vera sat across from Mara, her hands resting protectively over her growing belly. A gentle smile played on her lips, but her eyes carried a mix of uncertainty and longing.

"Your parents would be so proud of you," Vera said warmly, looking at Mara with admiration. "Everything you’ve accomplished... you’ve turned this foundation into something real, something good."

Mara let out a soft chuckle. "It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it."

Vera hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice quieter. "I wish I had something to be proud of too. Something to hold onto when...if...my birth parents ever find me. But what can I accomplish now? I’m eighteen and pregnant." She let out a sad, self-deprecating laugh, shaking her head.

Mara’s expression softened. She knew how difficult it had been for Vera to decide to keep the baby. It wasn’t an easy choice, and the weight of it sat heavily on her young shoulders.

"Being pregnant doesn’t mean your life is over, Vera," Mara said firmly. "You still have plenty of time to make things right for yourself and your child. If you want, I can help you find your birth parents—or even the man responsible for this."

Vera’s jaw tightened, and she shook her head. "I’m not ready to face my family. Not yet. Not until I’ve made something of myself. But him... I know who he is, Miss Stef, and I don’t want him to know. I don’t want to hold him accountable—not in the way the world expects. He’s powerful, and I refuse to let him dictate how my life plays out. I want to handle him myself."

Mara studied her for a moment before nodding. She respected Vera’s decision, even if she wished things were different. "Alright. I won’t push you on that. But I won’t let you give up on your future either. Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin evening school so you can get your high school diploma. After that, you can think about college."

Vera’s eyes widened, hope flickering through her expression. "You’d really do that for me?"

"Of course."

Without thinking, Vera jumped up and hugged Mara, only to pull back abruptly, realizing she had crossed a line. "I—sorry, I shouldn’t have. You’re my boss, not my—"

Mara cut her off with a warm smile and pulled her back into the embrace. "I’m your boss, but that doesn’t mean I can’t care about you. You’re not alone in this, Vera. You never will be."

Vera felt a sense of security a feeling that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as lost as she thought.