Chapter 4 - The Husband Who Realized He Married the Wrong Woman to Underestimate
Graham's location was an abandoned warehouse on the South Side.
I didn't go alone.
I told the police.
I told Evelyn.
And Lucien sent two security teams who stayed far enough away not to be seen.
When I entered the warehouse, Graham was tied to a chair.
Sienna stood behind him.
She was bruised but alive.
Adrian Cross stepped forward.
He wore a dark suit and a smile that made my skin crawl.
“Well.”
He looked at me.
“Princess.”
I stopped.
“Everyone seems to know that name.”
“Your father made sure it would become meaningless.”
I studied him.
“Untie them.”
He laughed.
“You're in no position to give orders.”
“Actually, I am.”
I held up the red ledger.
His smile disappeared.
“Where did you get that?”
“From my husband's nursery.”
Graham closed his eyes.
“You found it.”
“You hid it badly.”
“I didn't hide it.”
“Then who did?”
He looked at Sienna.
She shook her head.
“I told you.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Give me the ledger.”
“No.”
He raised his gun.
“I can shoot your husband.”
I looked at Graham.
He was terrified.
But not for himself.
“Do it.”
Everyone froze.
Graham looked at me.
“Claire?”
“If you kill him, you lose the leverage.”
Adrian smiled.
“Interesting.”
I stepped closer.
“You don't want Graham dead.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows where the second account is.”
Adrian's expression changed.
I watched.
Hit.
Graham stared at me.
“There is no second account.”
I smiled.
“That's what I thought you'd say.”
Adrian turned toward him.
“Where is it?”
Graham shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Liar.”
Sienna spoke.
“Adrian, enough.”
He looked at her.
“You had one job.”
“You were going to kill them.”
“That wasn't the deal.”
“What was the deal?”
“To frighten Claire.”
I stared at her.
“You helped him?”
Sienna swallowed.
“I thought it would force Graham to transfer the shares.”
“You wore my ring.”
She looked down.
“I thought I was going to become his wife.”
“And then?”
“I realized he never loved me either.”
Graham's face tightened.
“You knew?”
“I knew you were using me.”
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Adrian stepped toward me.
“You and your father ruined my life.”
“My father?”
“He broke a deal worth billions.”
“What deal?”
“You inherited something that belonged to my family.”
I stared.
“Nothing belongs to you.”
He smiled.
“Your father stole the Vale shipping routes from my grandfather.”
Lucien had mentioned family disputes.
But never this.
“That's why you wanted Doyle Freight.”
“Yes.”
“And Graham?”
“A useful idiot.”
Graham went pale.
I looked at him.
“You knew he was using you?”
“No.”
“Then he was right.”
His eyes filled with shame.
Adrian raised his gun.
“Enough.”
A siren sounded.
He looked toward the door.
“Police?”
I smiled.
“You're surrounded.”
He grabbed Sienna.
“Move.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
I dropped to the floor.
Graham kicked his chair sideways.
It crashed into Adrian's legs.
Sienna ran.
Someone tackled Adrian.
Seconds later, police flooded the warehouse.
Adrian was arrested.
Graham was cut free.
He immediately looked for me.
When he found me, he grabbed my shoulders.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He closed his eyes.
“Thank God.”
I stepped back.
“You don't get to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Act like my husband.”
His expression collapsed.
“I know.”
Sienna sat on the ground.
Police surrounded her.
She looked at me.
“I am sorry.”
I believed her.
But I also knew remorse didn't erase consequences.
Adrian was taken away.
Graham remained.
“You need to go.”
He nodded.
Then he said,
“I want to tell you the truth about the money.”
I crossed my arms.
“The three million eight hundred thousand?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the floor.
“I knew it came from somewhere connected to your family.”
“How?”
“Your banking records.”
“You searched my private accounts.”
“I was desperate.”
“And then?”
“I discovered the holding company.”
“You knew I owned fifty-one percent.”
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
“Then the divorce wasn't your idea.”
“No.”
“Whose?”
“Sienna convinced me.”
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Because Adrian promised me more financing if I divorced you and consolidated the company.”
I laughed.
“So your mistress and your investor planned my removal.”
“I thought it would work.”
“You didn't read the agreement.”
“No.”
“That was your catastrophic mistake.”
He looked at me.
“Claire.”
I waited.
“I am sorry.”
It was the first time he had said it without defending himself.
I nodded.
“You should be.”
He walked away.
I watched him disappear into the night.
I expected satisfaction.
I felt none.
Instead, I felt tired.
Lucien found me outside.
“You did well.”
“I thought I'd feel better.”
“You don't.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“You're still grieving the marriage.”
“I am.”
“You loved him.”
“I did.”
He put an arm around me.
“You don't have to hate him to leave him.”
I leaned against my father.
“I don't know what happens now.”
“You become yourself.”
I smiled.
“Who am I?”
He looked at me.
“My daughter.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
I thought about the tiny apartment.
The kitchen table.
The long nights.
May you like
The woman who had believed love meant helping someone build a dream.
“I think I'm finally Claire.”
