?Chapter 882:


    Eric paused, his expression apologetic. “Sorry, I might be overstepping. When does the meeting resume?”


    “Soon,” Rachel replied. “You’ve just arrived, so do you need some time to get acquainted with thepany’s situation?”


    Eric gave a nod. “Yes, go ahead without me. I’ll catch up in about half an hour.”


    The second half of the meeting picked up right where it left off—tense, with several long-time board members standing their ground, their words cutting and sharp.


    Just as the meeting hit a standstill, the door creaked open, and Eric stepped inside.


    The room froze when they saw him. Thepany had tried to hire him before, but he had always turned them down.


    Now, seeing him standing in the doorway, the board members shifted ufortably. It was obvious he wasn’t there to support them.


    Eric broke the silence, his voice calm butmanding. “Hello, everyone. I’m Eric Riley, and I’ve been hired as a legal consultant by Ms. Marsh.”


    The group exchanged nces, first looking at Eric, then shifting their eyes to Rachel, waiting for her reaction.


    In the end, it felt as though Eric single-handedly calmed the storm. His presence was enough to steady the tense situation.


    Ericid out a truth that left no room for argument. After An’s passing, Rachel, as his wife, had every right to inherit his shares.


    But as those words settled in, Rachel instinctively rubbed her temples, her heart pounding in her chest.


    Once the meeting ended, she turned to Eric and said, “Mr. Riley, I really appreciate your help today, but there’s something I need toe clean about.”


    Eric raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”


    “An and I… we never actually registered our marriage.” Her words were shocking, hitting Eric like a cold wave.


    He stopped sorting the files and stared at her in disbelief. “That’s not a funny joke.”


    “I’m not joking. It was a staged marriage.”


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    Eric reached up, massaging his temples as if trying to dispel the sudden dizziness. He was a bit overwhelmed and said, “Hold on, I need a minute to think this over.”


    After stepping outside to clear his mind, he came back and looked at her. “If what you’re saying is true, then everything we discussed in the meeting is meaningless. The board members are sharp; your fake marriage will be exposed soon enough. When that happens, you’ll face serious consequences. Are you ready for that?”


    Rachel took a deep breath, knowing the weight of the situation. “I understand, which is why I need your advice on how to handle this.”


    Eric grabbed his folder, giving her an apologetic nce. “Sorry, but my help today was just a favor to someone, and I don’t n to work long-term with the Vance Group. You’ll need to find someone else for this.”


    His refusal was firm and unwavering, without a second thought.


    Before long, he was gone. He had truly arrived and left in the blink of an eye. Rachel understood that it was only a matter of time before the board members uncovered the truth. The immediate priority was for Lizzie to regain her strength and prove herself with aplishments that would bring stability to thepany.


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