Chapter 41 The CEO's Last Stand （And the 1 Chance）
?The Maldives sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the villa that usually signaled romance.
But for Lucian Cross, it looked like the dying light of his dignity.
?Arielle sat on the terrace, flipping through a legal tablet.
Beside her, AJ (Mochi) was aggressively highlighting clauses in a document titled “The Cross-Vance Restructuring Act.”
?"Mother," AJ said, her tiny voice sounding like a gavel hitting a block. "I’ve reviewed Father’s performance as a 'reformed husband.
' He has achieved a 42% success rate in emotional labor, but his 'Goat-Management' skills are still in the negatives.
"
?Lucian, standing five feet away and looking like a kicked puppy in a $3,000 linen shirt, cleared his throat.
"I brought you a fresh mango smoothie. I hand-pressed it.
I have three blisters."
?Arielle didn't look up.
"Put it on the table, Lucian. And tell me—why is there a private investigator’s report in my inbox regarding Lin Yue?
"
?Lucian froze. "I... I just wanted to make sure she was a reliable Chairperson! She’s your friend now, and I didn't want—"
?"You didn't want to lose control," Arielle finished, finally looking at him.
Her eyes were sharp, reminiscent of that "Princess" energy she’d felt in her vision.
"Lucian, the old Arielle would have been flattered that you were 'protecting' her. The new Arielle finds it annoying. You’re micromanaging my allies. "
?The four giant sons emerged from the villa like a wall of expensive muscle and high-IQ judgment.
?Rhett: "Dad, we’ve decided. If you don't pass Mom’s final test by the end of this week, we’re moving our trust funds to her new offshore 'Legacy Account'.
"
?Zayden: "The market value of your 'Husband Status' is currently crashing.
Even the speculators are pulling out."
?Emrys: "But on the bright side, the goat really likes you now!
He tried to sleep on your face again!"
?Darian: "We’ve prepared a final challenge.
If you want Mom to stay in this marriage—you have to prove you can protect the family without using a single cent of Cross money.
"
?Lucian looked at his sons. "No money? I’m a billionaire!
My money is my personality!"
?"Exactly," Arielle said, standing up.
"That’s the problem. Tomorrow, the Director is stripping us of our 'VIP' status. We’re going to spend the last few days of the show living like the local villagers. No staff. No gold cards. Just us."
?The next morning, the "VIP Villa" was locked.
The family was moved to a small, traditional shack on the other side of the island.
?"Where is the Nespresso machine?" Lucian asked, staring at a bag of raw coffee beans and a heavy stone.
?"That's the 'Manual Grind' edition, Dad," Emrys laughed, filming the whole thing for the fans.
"Get cracking."
?Lucian spent three hours trying to start a fire for breakfast. He looked like a caveman who had been hit by a glitter bomb.
His hair was messy, his hands were covered in soot, and he was currently engaged in a staring contest with a very stubborn coconut.
?"I can do this," Lucian muttered, his voice cracking.
"I am a titan of industry. I have conquered the New York Stock Exchange.
I can... open... a fruit!"
?CRACK.
?The coconut didn't open. Instead, Lucian’s grip slipped, and he fell backward into a laundry tub full of cold water.
?Arielle, who was busy teaching AJ how to weave a basket (a skill she inexplicably knew from her "vision"), burst into laughter.
It wasn't a polite, society laugh. It was a loud, belly-aching roar.
?Lucian sat in the tub, soaking wet, and looked at her.
He didn't get angry. He didn't huff. He just started laughing too.
?"I look like a drowned rat, don't I?
"
?"A very expensive, very glittery drowned rat," Arielle said, walking over and offering him a hand.
?Suddenly, the "Prunes" (the fired board members) returned.
They hadn't given up. This time, they brought a legal team and a "Mental Incompetence" filing, claiming Arielle was unfit to lead because she was "seeing visions" (referring to her fainting spell).
?"She’s clearly unstable!" Mr. Henderson shouted, waving a paper.
"She belongs in a facility, not a boardroom!
"
?Arielle stepped forward, ready to unleash a CEO-level roast, but Lucian moved faster.
?He didn't use his bodyguards. He didn't call his lawyers.
He simply stood in front of Arielle, soaking wet and smelling like burnt coffee, and looked Henderson in the eye.
?"You want to talk about stability?" Lucian said, his voice cold and dangerous.
"I’ve spent ten years being a 'stable' CEO, and I was miserable. My wife has done more for this company in two weeks than you did in twenty years. If she’s 'unstable' for wanting a better life for her kids, then I’m proud to be her second-in-command.
"
?He then looked at the cameras. "And if any of you shareholders agree with this prune, feel free to sell your stock. I’ll buy it all back with my personal savings. Because I’d rather be bankrupt with her than a billionaire with you.
"
?The crowd (and the viewers online) went absolutely wild.
??? Viewer Comment: "REDEMPTION ARC ACTIVATED!
???"
?? Viewer Comment: "Wet Lucian is actually kind of a hero? ?"
?That night, as the family sat around a small campfire eating charred (but edible) fish, Arielle felt the jade pendant in her pocket hum.
?It was getting warmer.
?She looked at her five children, all laughing together, and then at Lucian, who was currently letting AJ paint his fingernails pink because "it boosted his morale."
?I’ve done it, Arielle thought. I’ve fixed them.
They don't need the 'Original Arielle' to be a martyr anymore. They are strong. They are a family.
?But as she looked into the fire, she saw a flicker of a wooden staff. She saw Su Lan’s tearful face.
She felt the weight of the Imperial title calling to her soul.
?The "Modern" chapter was nearly at its end.
?"Mom?" Zayden looked at her, his eyes narrowing.
"You’re doing that 'glowing' thing again.
Are you okay?"
?"I'm fine, Zayden," Arielle whispered, clutching the jade.
"I’m just... getting ready for a very long trip. "
?CHAPTER 41 COMPLETE! ?????
Lucian just defended Arielle without using his money! Is he finally becoming "The One"? Or is it too late?
?In this chapter:
?Lucian vs. The Coconut (The coconut won). ????
?The Sons issued the "Final Verdict" challenge. ???
?AJ is officially the family's bossiest member. ????
?The "Glitch": The jade is getting warmer... ????
?4 CHAPTERS LEFT UNTIL THE BIG MOVE! ????
I hope you guys are ready!
Remember, the next book "The Modern Princess Dowager" is where the real "Barren Audit" comedy happens!
?? VOTE if you loved Lucian’s "Wet Rat" redemption!
? COMMENT "STAY OR GO" – Should Arielle give Lucian one last kiss before she transmigrates?
? FOLLOW me for Chapter 42—the Final Will and Testament of the Cross Empire!