Andrew nodded.
“That truth may destroy Ethan.”
Claire looked out at the city lights.
“No,” she said calmly.
“Whatever he built will destroy him.”
She had spent years protecting Ethan from the consequences of his choices. That protection ended tonight.
Ethan didn’t return to New York until four days after Claire left the hospital. By then, he believed the hardest part would be convincing her to sign the divorce papers.
He had no idea she was already gone. When he unlocked the front door of their townhouse, the silence felt strange.
Usually Claire’s favorite jazz station played softly in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee lingered in the mornings.
There was always some sign that someone actually lived there. Today, nothing.
He walked upstairs. The nursery was empty.
No crib, no blankets, no baby monitor. Even the framed ultrasound photo had disappeared from the shelf.
His phone rang. It was his mother.
“Did you find her?”
Victoria asked.
“No.
I thought she would wait.” Ethan frowned.
“She has nowhere else to go.”
Victoria didn’t answer immediately.
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
For the first time, a faint sense of unease settled over him. The next morning, Ethan arrived at Caldwell Capital, expecting another ordinary workday.
Instead, Adrian was already waiting outside his office.
“You have visitors.”
“I don’t remember scheduling anyone.”
“They didn’t ask for an appointment.”
