All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S REPLACEMENT BRIDE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

Sunday arrived wrapped in the kind of quiet that made Kingsley Manor seem less like an estate and more like a place where people simply happened to live.Emma found Ethan in the conservatory. Not with a laptop. Not with a report. Just a cup of coffee and the morning paper folded beside him."I'm beginning to think you secretly own every room in this house.""I pay the mortgage.""I suppose that helps.""You slept?""Better than you.""I slept.""Barely."He didn't argue. That counted as progress.Nathan arrived carrying a slim folder. "I apologize for interrupting.""You rarely do," Ethan said."Our investigator checked in."Emma looked away automatically. Business. She had learned that much. "I'll leave you to it.""You don't have to.""It's all right."She smiled politely and headed toward the gardens. Neither man noticed that she slowed when she reached the open French doors.Not enough to eavesdrop. Only enough to hear the next sentence."The woman has been identified."Emma's foo

Tuesday mornings rarely waited for anyone.By eight-thirty, the executive floor of Kingsley Industries was already alive with assistants moving between conference rooms, lawyers carrying thick binders, and the quiet urgency that came with decisions worth millions.Emma stepped out of the elevator beside Ethan. "I still think I shouldn't be here.""You've said that three times.""I've had several minutes to think about it.""You'll probably say it again.""I probably will."Nathan, a step behind them, cleared his throat. "I've made a note that Mr. Kingsley smiled before nine o'clock.""I did no such thing," Ethan said."I'll amend the record to 'almost smiled.'"Emma laughed softly. The sound followed them all the way to the boardroom doors.Conversation stopped as they entered. Around the polished table sat directors Emma recognized from newspaper photographs and annual reports.One of them didn't bother hiding his surprise. "I wasn't aware today's meeting included guests."Before Emm