Caldwell Capital was preparing for the largest fundraising round in company history. Even a small delay could cost millions.
Ethan finally called Claire straight to voicemail. He tried again.
Blocked. He stared at the screen in disbelief.
She had never blocked him before. Never.
That evening, he drove to the Whitmore estate. Massive iron gates stood between the road and the mansion beyond.
A security guard stepped outside before Ethan even reached the entrance.
“I’m here to see Claire.”
“I’m sorry, sir.
She isn’t receiving visitors.”
“I’m her husband.”
The guard didn’t react.
“Please turn the vehicle around.”
Ethan felt anger rising.
“You can’t keep me from seeing my own wife.”
A second guard approached. Neither man looked aggressive.
Neither moved. They simply waited.
For the first time in years, Ethan realized that his title meant absolutely nothing outside his own company. He drove away without seeing her.
Inside the estate, Claire watched his car disappear through the security cameras. Andrew stood beside her.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
She shook her head.
“If he wanted to talk, he had years.”
Andrew didn’t argue. He simply switched off the monitor.
