Chapter 3 - Claire Built an Empire of Her Own—Then Discovered Someone Was Trying to Destroy It From the InsideClaire never intended to compete with Dominic.
She told herself that.
But business had a way of turning emotions into numbers.
Blackwater Transit grew.
She remained ruthless about hiring.
She refused anyone who admired Marcus more than they respected the work.
And she established one rule.
No one used her company to hurt Vale Maritime.
Marcus disliked the rule.
“You're still protecting him.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I won't become him.”
Marcus studied her.
“You love him.”
Claire said nothing.
That was answer enough.
She worked harder.
She stayed late.
She stopped talking about her marriage.
She became a name in rooms that once ignored women.
Then her finance director disappeared.
A week later, $18 million vanished from an account.
Claire called the bank.
Frozen.
She called legal counsel.
Confusion.
Then a regulatory notice arrived.
Blackwater was being investigated for financial misconduct.
Claire stared at the papers.
“I didn't do this.”
Her lawyer nodded.
“I believe you.”
“Then someone wants me blamed.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
He hesitated.
“Your husband is the obvious candidate.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if Dominic wanted me destroyed, I wouldn't be getting a warning.”
She was right.
The evidence was too clean.
Too obvious.
Someone wanted the blame to point toward Dominic.
That meant the real enemy was closer.
Claire investigated quietly.
She found irregularities in three employees' records.
One connected to Marcus.
One connected to her former employer.
One connected to a Vale subsidiary.
The pattern was deliberate.
Someone was creating conflict between Claire and Dominic.
Someone who understood both companies.
Then Claire found a name.
Richard Sloan.
Dominic's uncle.
She remembered him.
A charming man who had visited the Vale estate twice during her marriage.
He had always called her “sweetheart.”
She had disliked him immediately.
Now she understood why.
Richard had controlling interests in several companies connected to Vale Maritime.
He had also been trying to force Dominic out of the family business for years.
Claire called Dominic.
It was their first conversation in seventeen months.
He answered immediately.
“Claire.”
She closed her eyes.
His voice still affected her.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Someone is targeting both companies.”
He was silent.
“How do you know?”
“Because they're using my name to hurt you.”
“Who's behind it?”
“I think your uncle.”
Dominic went still.
“Why?”
“Because he has access to both organizations.”
“I'll handle it.”
“No.”
“What?”
“That's the problem, Dominic.”
She breathed in.
“You always think everything is yours to handle.”
Silence.
Then he said,
“I miss you.”
Claire closed her eyes.
She had not expected that.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because I can't survive hearing it if you don't mean it.”
“I mean it.”
“You didn't three years ago.”
“I was wrong.”
She swallowed.
“Goodnight.”
She ended the call.
But the words followed her.
I miss you.
That night, someone broke into her office.
Nothing was stolen.
Except one thing.
A photograph of Claire and Dominic from their wedding.
She stared at the empty frame.
Then she understood.
This wasn't business.
It was personal.
The next morning, Dominic arrived at her office.
Claire opened the door herself.
He looked older.
Tired.
More human.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I know.”
“Why are you?”
“Because the man threatening you threatened my family first.”
She stepped aside.
He entered.
They stood in the office where Claire had built everything.
Dominic looked around.
“You did this.”
“Yes.”
“Without me.”
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly.
“You always were stubborn.”
“And you always thought that was inconvenient.”
“I was wrong.”
She looked at him.
He reached into his coat.
He removed her wedding ring.
The ring she had left behind.
He had kept it.
“I came to return this.”
Claire stared.
“I don't want it.”
“I know.”
“Then why bring it?”
“Because I don't want you wearing something you no longer chose.”
Her eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
He put it on the desk.
Then walked toward the door.
Claire stopped him.
“Dominic.”
He turned.
“I never hated you.”
“I know.”
“I hated being invisible.”
His face tightened.
“You were never invisible to me.”
“You just never looked.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
And he left.
Claire watched through the window.
Neither noticed the man across the street.
Richard Sloan.
May you like
Holding a phone.
Waiting.
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