My Comatose Husband Woke Up To Realize I Sold His Entire Empire

Two years of marriage. Then, my husband got into a car accident and ended up in a vegetative state. Without hesitation, my mother-in-law whisked him out of the country for medical treatment. I was left behind, running his family company and paying off their massive debts, working like a relentless machine day in and day out. Tonight, at yet another high-pressure corporate dinner, I drank myself to the point of nausea again. My stomach was in knots, and I collapsed onto the sofa in the hotel lobby, too exhausted to even walk up to a room. My Bluetooth earbuds slipped out of my purse. I mindlessly put them on, wanting to listen to some music to take the edge off. But my phone accidentally paired with someone else’s device nearby. The voice that came through the earbuds made me sober up instantly. It was my husband's voice— "Once that idiot Chloe pays off all the company's debts, I'll bring Vivian back." "By then, I’ll have plenty of ways to make sure she leaves with absolutely nothing." A year ago, Miller Group suddenly faced a massive cash flow crisis, leaving the entire company on the brink of collapse. Right at that critical moment, my husband, Austin, collided with a semi-truck due to fatigued driving. The crash left the truck driver dead and two passengers injured, while Austin himself was rushed straight into the ICU. By the time I rushed to the hospital, the emergency surgery was over. The doctor said that if he stayed in the country, there was a high probability he would remain in a vegetative state forever. However, if we sent him to a specialized clinic in Europe, there might still be a chance. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, made the decision on the spot to send him abroad. "Chloe, I’m taking Austin to Europe. I will cure him and bring back a healthy husband to you." "You’ll be running the company all by yourself. It’s going to be so hard on you. Please, take good care of yourself." I didn’t think twice back then. In fact, I was deeply moved. I truly believed that as long as we stood together as a family, things would eventually get better. "Eleanor, don't worry. I won't let Miller Group fall apart." "Don't worry about expenses over there either. Just tell me whenever you need money." ... And just like that, Eleanor took Austin abroad for treatment. Meanwhile, I stayed behind, struggling to keep the company afloat. The voice in my earbuds had cut off. I snapped back to reality and looked up, only to see a familiar face walking into the hotel lobby. It was Cole Bennett, Austin’s childhood best friend. It clicked. He must have been on the phone with Austin just now and accidentally paired his audio with my earbuds. Cole didn't see me. He was still talking on the phone. "Sorry, my Bluetooth accidentally paired with some random device just now, but it's good now..." I didn't know what Austin said on the other end, but Cole let out a sly, mocking laugh. "You're really something, Austin. Having a woman so insanely devoted to you." "Vivian hasn't even come back to the country all these years because of you. Once you guys return this time, you definitely need to throw another massive wedding." Sitting not far away, I heard every single word clearly. The "Vivian" he mentioned was the girl they had grown up with. Her full name was Vivian Thorne. Supposedly, she and Austin were once engaged. But later, the Thorne family went bankrupt, and the engagement was never mentioned again. Before marrying Austin, I had asked him about this. He told me he only saw Vivian as a sister. "That was just a joke our parents made when we were kids. No one took it seriously." "If my family were really that superficial about wealth, why would I have married you?" The hotel lobby’s air conditioning was blasting, sending chills down my arms and raising goosebumps. I sat on the sofa, frozen. In the dead of night, the hotel lobby was nearly empty and incredibly quiet. Quiet enough that I could even hear the muffled leaks of the voice from Cole's phone. Cole sat down on the sofa directly behind me, completely oblivious to my presence. Cole: "Seriously though, Chloe is a beast. Not to mention your family's living expenses in Europe this past year, what about the thirty million dollars of debt your company had? Your mom said Chloe has almost paid it all off?" "Almost," Austin’s lazy voice drifted through. "Once she grinds through another few months and clears the last chunk of it, I’ll head back." "What do you plan to do then?" "What do I plan to do?" Austin chuckled. "I'll just hire someone to set her up, take some compromising photos, and claim she cheated. As the guilty party in the divorce, she won't get a single penny. She'll leave with absolutely nothing." Cole burst into loud laughter. "Man, you are absolutely destroying her." "She brought it on herself," Austin’s voice turned cold. "A girl from a nobody family, marrying into the Miller family was already the luckiest thing that could ever happen to her. Letting her run the company these past few years was basically giving her a chance to see the real world. What more does she want?"A nobody family? Yeah, in his eyes, I was just a girl from a modest background. My parents were just retired low-level civil servants, living in a modest house in a quiet countryside town, with my two unmarried older brothers. Even at our wedding, my brothers weren't present. To them, I was probably just an afterthought in my own family. They assumed that even if I got mistreated by my in-laws, no one from my family would ever come to stand up for me. Behind me, Cole hung up the phone. I remained seated on the sofa. Motionless. My mind felt like a machine running at top speed, pulling up every single event from the past year, re-evaluating and rearranging them piece by piece. A year ago, Miller Group's cash flow broke. Right when I was losing my mind trying to fix it, Austin got into that car accident. Something wasn't right. Immediately after, Eleanor insisted on taking him abroad for treatment. At the time, I thought she was just incredibly strong and loved her son fiercely. But looking back now— She left way too quickly. So quickly that it felt like she had planned it all along. And then there was the three hundred thousand dollars paid to the victims' families. According to the accident report, it was Austin’s fault for driving while fatigued. He was held fully responsible. To prevent the family from getting dragged into a massive lawsuit, Eleanor quickly agreed to pay a three-hundred-thousand-dollar settlement out of court. "Chloe, just wire me the money, and I'll handle it. You focus on the company." Eleanor said she didn't want me to get too overwhelmed, promising she would take care of it. I didn't ask a single question. I wired the cash I had just collected from a client straight to Eleanor’s account. What was I thinking back then? I thought that as a family, we had to trust each other. I thought that as long as he was safe, money didn't matter. I thought that since I was Austin's wife, I had to carry this family on my back. My fingernails dug deep into my palms. It hurt. Incredibly so. But that pain woke me up completely. I pulled out my phone and went to Austin’s Snapchat. The last message was sent by Eleanor using his account. It was a photo. In the photo, Austin lay on a hospital bed, hooked up to all kinds of tubes, his face as pale as paper. The caption read: "Chloe, I'll take good care of Austin. Don't worry." I had cried for a long time looking at that photo back then. But looking at it now, I suddenly noticed something off. The bed. The power outlet on the wall. It was a European standard outlet. Eleanor had told me they were in the United States. I closed Snapchat and dialed a number. It rang twice before someone picked up. "Nathan." "Chloe?" My oldest brother, Nathan Carter’s voice sounded surprised. "Why are you calling this late? Aren't you asleep?" My brother Nathan was eight years older than me. To outsiders, he was just a typical tech workhorse, always busy working overtime. He was so busy that he couldn't even make it to his only sister's wedding, and since he was in his mid-thirties and still single, my parents sighed every time his name came up. But what outsiders didn't know was that while he was indeed a tech guy, he was the founder. His tech company was valued at over ten billion dollars last year. The reason he couldn't make it to my wedding was because he was busy ringing the opening bell at Nasdaq that day. The last chunk of debt Eleanor mentioned—I had actually planned to bid on a highly lucrative project in partnership with Nathan’s company to cover it. Now, there was no need for that. "Nathan, I need you to look into something for me." "Go ahead." "Look into Austin. Find his exact location right now, his medical records for the past year, and the detailed report of his car accident from a year ago." The other end went silent for a few seconds. "Did something happen?" I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My throat felt like it was blocked by a massive lump. "Chloe?" Nathan’s voice deepened. "What's wrong?" "Nathan," I took a deep breath. "Just look into it for me. And don't tell Dominic yet." "Too late," Nathan said. "Dominic came back today. He's sitting right next to me." Another voice came through the phone—deep, curt, and carrying an undeniable authority. "Chloe, what's going on?" My second brother, Dominic Carter. He joined the military at eighteen and was twenty-eight this year. He had earned multiple Medals of Honor, and we only heard rumors that his rank was rising rapidly. But as for his exact position or rank, our family never asked, and he never spoke about it. Dominic always said that knowing too much would only be a burden to us. But one year when he came home for leave, the local county officials somehow got word of it and showed up at our door in droves to pay their respects. He didn't see a single one of them. "Dominic," my voice finally trembled. "I think... I was scammed into a fake marriage." Silence fell over the line. Dominic’s voice was terrifyingly calm: "Explain everything."I told them everything I had heard tonight. From the accidental Bluetooth connection to the conversation between Austin and Cole. The phone stayed dead silent. When I finished, Dominic only said four words. "I got this." Then he handed the phone back to Nathan. Nathan paused for a few seconds before speaking. "Chloe, what do you want to do?" "Investigate first," I said. "We'll talk once we have the facts." "Alright." Nathan sighed. "No matter what the results are, your brothers have your back." "I know." After hanging up, I sat on the sofa for a long time to gather my strength. Once my legs stopped shaking, I stood up. I walked over to the front desk and booked a room. In the shower, as the hot water washed over me, I finally broke down, crouching on the floor with my face buried in my knees. I didn't cry. I just felt cold. A bone-chilling cold radiating from within. The next day at noon, I received a file from Nathan. The first part was a search record from major hospitals across the United States. There was no record of Austin Miller ever being admitted. Not a single one. The second part was the travel logs for Austin and Eleanor. Dominic must have used his connections to pull this. They had never even set foot in the United States. They went to Switzerland. For the past year, they had been living in a small, picturesque Swiss town. There were rental agreements, credit card transactions, and even reservation records for Austin at high-end restaurants. The third part was about the car accident from a year ago. The accident report was completely forged. The so-called "one dead, two injured" family of the truck driver who allegedly received the three-hundred-thousand-dollar settlement was actually a shell account. Once the three hundred thousand was wired in, ten thousand was deducted as a processing fee, and the remaining two hundred and ninety thousand was transferred right back into Eleanor’s bank account. There was no accident. There was no settlement. It was all a giant lie. Staring at the files on my laptop screen, I poured myself a glass of wine. This past year, I had grown to absolutely despise drinking. But today, I needed the alcohol to numb the pain. My phone rang. It was Eleanor calling. Looking at the name "Eleanor" flashing on the screen, my lips curled into a smirk. A smirk so cold it even frightened me. "Hey, Eleanor," I answered, keeping my voice perfectly steady. "Chloe!" Eleanor’s voice was overflowing with joy. "Amazing news! Austin’s condition is improving!" "Really? That’s wonderful." "The doctor said they started him on a new trial medication, and it's working wonders. Austin can actually move his fingers now!" "Are you serious? That is incredible. Thank you for taking care of him, Eleanor." "Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing." Eleanor sighed heavily. "It's just... Chloe, this new medication is extremely expensive. One cycle costs a hundred thousand dollars. Is there any way you can wire us some more cash?"A hundred thousand dollars. I let out a silent laugh. "Eleanor, you know the company is at a critical juncture right now. I really..." The moment I showed even a hint of hesitation, Eleanor immediately cut in. "Chloe, I know things are incredibly tough for you. But think about it, what's more important, a person's life or a company? If Austin is gone, what's the point of keeping the company anyway..." I seriously wondered if Eleanor had taken acting classes in her youth. How else could she start sobbing so realistically on cue? She was putting on such a grand show; it would be a shame if I didn't play along. I took a deep breath, matching her tone: "Alright, Eleanor. Give me a couple of days. At most a week, and I'll make sure the money is wired to you." "Good, good. I knew you were a sensible girl, Chloe." Eleanor’s voice instantly turned warm and motherly again. "Once Austin recovers, we'll live happily ever after as a family." "Yes, we'll live happily ever after as a family." I hung up. Then, I shot a message to Dominic. "Dominic, can you get some hidden cameras installed in the apartment Austin is staying at?" "Already on it," Dominic replied instantly. Looking at his text, my eyes stung. But I forced the tears back. Now was not the time to cry. The next day, Dominic sent me a link. I clicked on it. It was a home security monitoring app. I downloaded it, opened it, and a beautifully decorated apartment living room appeared on my screen. Austin was lounging on the sofa in designer loungewear, playing video games. Vivian was sitting right next to him, gently peeling grapes and feeding them to him. Eleanor walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of sliced fruit, her face practically glowing with joy. "Austin, I called Chloe yesterday and told her to send another hundred thousand." Austin didn't even look up from his screen. "She didn't suspect anything?" "How could she? I told her you were getting better, and she was over the moon." Vivian popped a grape into Austin’s mouth, giggling. "Austin, how can Chloe be so stupid? It’s been a whole year and she hasn't suspected a thing?" "She’s a simple-minded idiot," Austin mumbled around the grape. "Once she decides someone is her husband, she trusts them blindly. Besides, she's so busy drowning in debt, she doesn't have the brainpower to think about anything else." "True." Eleanor sat down and sighed. "Honestly though, that girl is pretty capable. Clearing thirty million dollars of debt in just one year... she actually did it." "Mom, what are you trying to say?" Austin glanced at her. "Are you feeling sorry for her now?" "Why would I feel sorry for her? I just think she’s such a money-making machine. If we dump her the moment she clears the debt, isn't it a bit of a waste?" "Waste? If I run the company myself, do you really think I’d do worse than her?" Austin scoffed. "Mom, think about it. Why did I even marry her in the first place?" Eleanor didn't say anything. Austin put down his controller. "Back in college, she turned a few thousand dollars of seed money into three hundred thousand. If she weren't so good at making money, would I have ever married her?!" Austin’s voice rose. "The only woman I, Austin Miller, have ever wanted to marry is Vivian. Who does Chloe think she is? A girl from some small town with nobody parents, she thinks she deserves me?" Vivian snuggled into his chest. "Austin, don't be mad. Anyway, just a few more months and we can finally be together out in the open." Austin wrapped his arm around her, his tone softening. "Yeah, just a few more months. By then, I’ll have plenty of ways to make sure she leaves with nothing. She’s spent this past year taking out clients to drink to pay off those debts. I'll just use that against her and claim she slept around to secure those contracts." Eleanor nodded in approval. "That’s a great idea. We’ll make sure the evidence looks solid so she can never crawl back from it."I shut down the app. I walked out onto the balcony, lit a cigarette, and watched the neighbors downstairs walking their dogs and tending to their gardens. Everyone had their own life, their own joys, and their own sorrows. But my life for the past year had been nothing but a complete joke. No. Not a joke. A scam. A meticulously planned, elaborate trap. They made me believe I was a cherishable part of the Miller family. They made me believe my mother-in-law cared for me and my husband needed me. They made me believe that as long as I worked hard enough, we could get through the storm together. But from the very beginning, I was nothing but an ATM to them. An ATM that sweated, stayed up all night, and drank herself to stomach bleeding at dinner tables, all without ever uttering a single complaint. And once this ATM ran out of ink, they planned to throw me away. No. Not just throw me away. They wanted to destroy me. My reputation, my dignity—they wanted to crush all of it. I stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, watching the sparks die instantly. Then I unlocked my phone and dialed a number. "Hi, Mr. Vance? This is Chloe Carter. I'd like to consult you about selling the company." Mr. Vance’s shocked voice came through. "Chloe, you want to sell Miller Group?" "Yes." "But... the company's debts aren't fully cleared yet..." "I know," I said. "That's exactly why I'm selling." "Selling the company, plus the family villa they live in, should be just enough to cover the remaining debt." Mr. Vance was quiet for a few seconds. "Chloe, are you sure you want to go through with this? Miller Group was your father-in-law's life's work..." Life's work? I almost laughed out loud. If Austin actually cared about Miller Group, he wouldn't be relaxing in a luxury Swiss apartment having his mistress peel grapes for him while I was literally killing myself to pay off his debts. Besides, didn't Eleanor say it herself? A person's life is much more important than any company. "There’s nothing to think about," I said calmly. "Mr. Vance, please draft the contract. Austin's medical expenses abroad are piling up. The most important thing is that the family stays together. I'm sure even when Austin wakes up, he won't blame me." After hanging up, I opened the app again. On screen, Austin and Vivian were excitedly planning their future. "Once we go back, we’ll sell that old villa. The place is practically cursed since Chloe lived there anyway. We’ll buy a much bigger one." "Yay! I want a massive walk-in closet." "Of course, baby. You'll get whatever you want." I stared at their faces through the screen, my lips slowly curving upward. So you want a big mansion? You want a massive walk-in closet? Sure. Let me tear down your cozy little nest first. That night, for the first time in a year, I had no business dinners to attend. I boiled a simple bowl of noodles at home, added a poached egg and some vegetables. I sat at the table and ate every single bite while it was hot. After cleaning up the kitchen, I sat in the study and began organizing the asset inventory of Miller Group. The blue light from the laptop screen illuminated my face. My expression was perfectly serene. Miller Group. Three subsidiaries. One trading company, one small e-commerce platform, and one manufacturing factory. Over the past year, I had shut down the heavily bleeding factory, laid off a third of the staff, and renegotiated dozens of contracts. The debt was indeed almost gone. Only about $2.5 million was left. The corporate headquarters building and the family villa, if sold well, could easily fetch around $2.6 million. It would be just enough to clear the debt, with about $100,000 to spare. Coincidentally, the money I had wired for Austin’s "treatment" and the fake "settlement" over the past year totaled just around $500,000. Well, this leftover amount would make a perfect divorce payout for me.