“You disappeared while she was giving birth.”
“So?”
The single word stunned even her for the first time since their affair began. Vanessa saw something she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge.
Ethan didn’t just neglect people. He genuinely believed they would always stay.
Across town, Claire sat in her father’s library reading financial reports Andrew had gathered. She wasn’t searching for revenge anymore.
She was searching for answers. One report caught her attention.
Several transactions had been approved using investment entities connected to her original trust. She frowned.
“I never authorized these.”
Andrew nodded.
“That’s why we froze everything.”
She closed the folder slowly.
“Ethan may not even realize what’s been happening.”
“Maybe,” Andrew answered.
“But someone inside Caldwell Capital certainly does.”
Claire looked toward the window. For the first time, she began wondering whether Vanessa had ever been the real problem or merely the distraction hiding someone else’s game.
At that exact moment, Andrew’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked at Claire.
“The forensic accountants found something.”
“What?”
Andrew took a slow breath.
“It isn’t just your marriage that’s in danger anymore.”
He slid the report across the table.
“It looks like someone has been moving money through Caldwell Capital for over two years, and Ethan’s signature appears on every authorization.”
Ethan refused to believe the report.
“There has to be a mistake.”
His chief financial officer remained silent. The conference room felt unusually cold.
