He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

A gasp tore from Roxanne’s throat before she could stop herself.

Richard’s eyes darkened, his fists clenched on the table. "That is not happening. Never!" he snapped, his tone calm. "I want everyone to clear this room now! This meeting is over!"

The board members exchanged quick, startled glances, their jaws dropped in shock at Richard’s sudden outburst.

"You simply cannot do that, Richard," the board chairman shot back, his voice rising in protest.

"Yes, I can!" Richard shot back, keeping his tone calm but firmly rooted in absolute authority. "And you should all see this as me taking charge and handling things."

The chairman shook his head slowly, resting his hands flat on the polished table. "I see how you wish to play this. But know that a wise man would never wage an open war against his own household, because he understands that if he burns down his own roof, he will ultimately end up homeless," he warned, his eyes narrowing. "And right now, Richard, you are certainly not acting like a wise man."

Richard opened his mouth to deliver a sharp rebuttal, his chest rising with anger, but Roxanne reached out beneath the table. Her fingers gently squeezed his thigh, silently urging him to stop. He looked down at her, his nostrils flaring and his jaw locked tight, but he forced himself to remain quiet.

"If I may," Roxanne spoke up, her voice cautious yet remarkably steady despite the chaotic hammering of her heart against her ribs. "I would like to say a few words to everyone present."

All eyes instantly shifted toward her. Some directors stared with open judgment, while others looked on with genuine curiosity, waiting to hear what she would offer.

Roxanne leaned forward, placing her hands neatly against the cool wood of the conference table. "I understand that tempers are flared right now, but I firmly believe we all need to take a deep breath," she said softly, maintaining steady eye contact with the directors. "I can completely acknowledge that everyone in this room has a right to feel anxious about the recent press."

"She shouldn’t even be allowed to speak," one of the board members murmured to his neighbor, shaking his head. "She is a huge part of this entire problem."

"Get to your point quickly, Roxanne," another director cut in coldly. "We do not have time for—"

"There is no need to be rude," Roxanne replied, her tone remaining impeccably polite, though her words carried a razor-sharp edge. "This is an official meeting, and every perspective deserves a fair hearing."

The board member pressed his lips together, leaning back into his chair without another word.

Roxanne exhaled a quiet breath. "The board is naturally upset because the business you all invested in is facing a sudden crisis," she continued, her voice filling the quiet room.

She paused, casting a soft glance at Richard. "And the president is understandably upset because his personal character is being actively targeted by his competitors, while the very people who should be fighting alongside him are applying extra pressure."

"What exactly are you driving at, Roxanne?" the chairman asked, his voice laced with fading impatience.

"Let her finish her thought," Richard commanded, his deep voice leaving no room for argument.

Roxanne offered Richard a subtle nod of gratitude. "There are established protocols for executive intervention in situations like this," she explained clearly. "I believe Richard deserves his rightful window of time to dismantle the false narrative created by a bitter rival and a lying ex-partner. If he fails to restore stability within that explicit timeframe, you are entirely free to exercise your rights. But until then, we ought to be working toward a single, unified objective."

The chairman let out a low sigh, his strict expression softening just a fraction.

"And that shared objective is ensuring this scandal is debunked and destroyed," Roxanne concluded, leaning back into her seat. "Because when the dust settles, every single person sitting at this table shares a stake in the success or failure of Vance Enterprises."

Silence settled over the room as her words registered with the board.

Roxanne suddenly felt a heavy gaze fixed on her. She turned her head toward the end of the table and met Margaret’s sharp eyes.

For a fraction of a second, Roxanne could have sworn she caught a flicker of genuine admiration in the older woman’s face, but Margaret quickly narrowed her eyes, masking the emotion before it could be confirmed.

Richard leaned forward, his hands resting on the edge of the table as he addressed the room. "I have never let this board down, even during our most difficult years, and I have no intention of starting now," he declared firmly. "I am asking for 48 hours. Give me two days, and I guarantee every piece of this mess will be thoroughly cleaned up."

"And if the situation is not resolved after those 48 hours?" the chairman pressed, tilting his head.

"Then this board is fully entitled to take whatever emergency measures you deem necessary," Richard stated without hesitation.

The directors looked at one another, quiet murmurs breaking out across the table as they pondered his offer.

The chairman shifted in his seat, leaning forward to look directly at Richard. "To be entirely frank, I was expecting you to announce that you intend to marry Roxanne immediately, so you can give her and your child the protection of the Vance name so this drama with your ex could be buried once and for all."

Roxanne’s heart skipped a heavy beat. "What?" she blurted out softly, a faint scoff escaping her lips in sheer disbelief.

Richard turned toward Roxanne. For a long moment, he said nothing.

"You need to give the public a clear story, Richard. Right now, they see confusion. They see two women and an alleged pregnancy scandal. Announce your engagement to Roxanne. Better yet, marry her. Give the media one undeniable narrative. That is the concrete action this board wishes to see," the chairman added.

Marriage. The word had never been part of their discussed plans. They had talked about surviving the scandal, exposing Cara, protecting their child, and destroying Nicholas’s scheme. But marriage? He searched Roxanne’s face, trying to understand what she was thinking.

Roxanne refused to look at him.

"What is your response, Mr. President?" the chairman asked, his voice piercing through the heavy quiet.

A breathless silence fell over the entire room once more.

Richard and Roxanne sat frozen side by side. For the first time since the morning nightmare had begun, their hands were no longer holding each other.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!